Accent Plants

Accent plants for Tucson, AZ include a variety of cacti, succulents and ornamental grasses. With a minimum amount of care, accents provide dramatic sculptural qualities that are unique to Southwest landscapes. Accent plants add contrast to uniform areas. Many have extraordinary flowers that bloom during warm periods. The following accent plants are ideal for Tucson and low-elevation zones in Southern Arizona.

Photo	Name	Description
Click on photos or the name of the plant to view more information
	Century Plant Agave Agave americana	Century Plant agave is relatively fast growing, to about 6 feet tall by 8-10 feet wide. The wide leaves have stiff terminal spines and re-curved teeth along the margins.
	Parry's Agave Agave parryi	This highly prized succulent accent produces larger leaves and rosettes than other agaves. Compact, nearly round rosettes consist of gray-green leaves 7-20 inches in length.
	Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens	Ocotillo makes a wonderful accent plant. It has a graceful, natural form with upright stems. Periods of low water will push it to bloom. Grows slowly to 12 feet tall.
	Octopus Agave Agave vilmoriniana	Unlike most agaves, the Octopus Agave is relatively unarmed and may be planted in high traffic areas. The arched, twisting leaves provide an artistic contrast to rock elements.
	Green Spoon Dasylirion acrotriche	An excellent accent plant that blends well with other desert shrubs and ground covers. Green Spoon develops short, thick trunk and reaches a mature size of 6' tall.
	Desert Spoon Dasylirion wheeleri	This long-lived accent grows slowly to form a dense rosette of silver-blue foliage. Grows 4-5 feet tall. Desert Spoon develops a stout, short trunk and a tall flower spike.
	Deer Grass Muhlenbergia rigens	Dependable and adaptable, Deer Grass is the backbone of many desert gardens. The lush foliage softens boulders, cacti, and is ideal for use around water features.
	Bear Grass Nolina microcarpa	For sheer ease of maintenance, it is hard to find a better plant than Bear Grass. This ornamental grass, with its blooming stalk, makes a dramatic statement in Southwest gardens.
	Fishhook Barrel Cactus Ferocactus wislizenii	The Fish-hook Barrel Cactus has a hooked central spine and a ribbed, barrel-shaped body. Yellow to dark orange flowers appear in a ring around the apex of this cactus.
	Purple Prickly Pear Opuntia santa-rita	Mix the Purple Prickly Pear in with shrubs and perennials for a softer effect. It is quite spiny, so set it well back from high traffic areas. Blooms yellow flowers in the spring.
	Englemann's Prickly Pear Opuntia englemannii	The sage green pads of Opuntia engelmannii blend well in desert landscapes and provide a great backdrop for the red fruit that appears in the summer.
	Spanish Bayonet Yucca aloifolia	Spanish Bayonet is a large sprawling yucca. Growth is slow. Stiff, dense leaves have sharp points. It tends to bloom when under stress. Grows to 10 feet tall by 10 feet wide.