It’s winter in Arizona and, to the surprise of some, it can and does get chilly. Including cold-tolerant plants in your landscape design can keep things colorful and interesting even when the weather gets a little colder and a little more drab. Here are our suggestions for cold-tolerant plants that thrive in our winter season.
Our 5 Favorite Hardy Arizona Plants
In no particular order, here are 5 winter-loving, Arizona plants, trees, and shrubs:
- Pansies: These beautiful little flowers are tougher than they look. They’re cold-resistant, water wise, and bring a beautiful little pop of texture and color to your flowerbeds in winter. Water them one to two times a week for best results. If the winter is mild enough, they can come back next year, especially if they have a strong root system, have been well-protected with mulch, or are left to self-seed.
- Cirtus Trees: There’s nothing like growing your own food, and having a bright reminder of summer colors and flavors during the darker colder months. Do both at once: care for your citrus trees this winter. Note: while you don’t need to fully prune these trees during winter, you will likely need to shape them in February for them to grow their best in the spring.
- Cape Aloe: It wouldn’t be an Arizona landscaping blog if we didn’t mention a succulent. We love Cape Aloe for it’s low maintenance care needs and its beautiful blooms.
- Baja Fairy Duster: If you like the unique look of native Arizona shrubs, try growing the Baja Fairy Duster this season. It’s frost-hardy and draught-tolerant, and its delicate pink blooms are sure to impress.
- Parry’s Penstemon: This dashing perennial is bright in color, and thrives in either full sunlight or partial shade. It’s long-lasting and attracts pollinators that help beautify not only your yard, but our entire local ecosystem. They’re a great plant for anyone who wants to make a statement. With proper care, they can grow up to five feet tall!
Tips for Winter Plant Care
While it’s always good to know the specific care, watering, and fertilizing needs for each plant you add to your yard, some care tips remain true no matter what you plant.
- Keep an eye on the weather, so you know when the temperature is about to drop.
- Protect plants and shrubs from frost by watering thoroughly before a freeze.
- Cover any sensitive plants with frost cloth or a sheet, but don’t forget to remove it the following morning when the temperature goes back up.
- Don’t prune or fertilize trees and plants that don’t explicitly need such care.
- Remove any barriers to sunlight you can.
- Keep soil moist, and insulate it with good-quality mulch.
Need Help This Winter? We’re One Call Away
The winter should be a calm and cozy season. There’s no need to stress over winter landscape maintenance and lawn care when you’ve got experts to help. Zebrascapes are Northern AZ’s local landscaping experts: we’re ready to help you tackle all your cold-weather projects. Contact us today to book your services and get ready for a more beautiful, resilient yard.