Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Wednesday - June 12, 2013
From: Buckeye, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Doorway Framing Shrub for Arizona
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
My husband and I live in Buckeye, Arizona and have a door that faces west. Anything on our patio (including our metal door) gets sizzling hot! Is there a flowering shrub that we can put right up against the foundation of our home to "frame" the entryway to shade our front door?ANSWER:
To compile a list of native plants to consider as doorway sentries that will provide shade, go to our Native Plant Database. Under Combination Search, select the following categories: State – Arizona, Habit – shrubs, Duration – perennial, Light Requirement – sun, Soil Moisture – dry, and Height – 6-12 ft. You can further narrow down the list of potential plants by indicating whether you prefer specific blooming times or blooming colors.
Some possible plants to consider are:
Acacia constricta (whitethorn acacia) 9-15 ft. tall, multi-trunk tree. Available as a thornless selection as well.
Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) Up to 9 ft tall. Pick specimens that have a short trunk (instead of being branched at the base). Very drought tolerant.
Dodonaea viscosa (Florida hopbush) To 12 ft tall (and same spread). Good for rocky, dry sites.
Lycium berlandieri (Berlandier’s wolfberry) Up to 7 ft tall and about 4 feet wide. Lavender colored blooms during spring to fall followed by round, red berries.
Mahonia haematocarpa (red barberry) Rounded shrub to 8 ft. Showy yellow flowers followed by purplish-red berries. Foliage prickly.
Quercus turbinella (sonoran scrub oak) A dense shrub to 12 ft high. Can be trained into tree from. Attractive evergreen foliage.
Please check the mature size and spread of these shrubs to see if they will fit your site.
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Vines and shrubs for wildlife cover and food
December 14, 2007 - I own property in Stephens County about 10 miles north of Breckenridge, TX along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. I have 45 acres that is open field and I want to provide cover and food for wildli...
view the full question and answer
Specimen evergreen for sun in Central Texas
August 28, 2010 - I'm soliciting suggestions for a specimen plant for a new garden we're building. It will be planted in a 3' square raised (18") Limestone bed. It will be full sun, Western exposure, and relative...
view the full question and answer
Drought resistant plants or flowering shrubs with pink flowers
September 15, 2006 - I need a hardy, drought resistant flower or flowering shrub for my renter, who likes pink flowers. She doesn't remember to water and most likely won't do any weeding. Area is Corinth, TX.
view the full question and answer
Replacing shrubs with perennials in NY
June 29, 2011 - We removed a lot of shrubs from our back yard that had been there for many years. We now want to plant perennials but there seems to be a lot of very deep roots in the soil. The roots look dead but I...
view the full question and answer
Lack of Blooms and Low Hanging Limbs on Mountain Laurels
August 06, 2014 - My mountain laurel didn't bloom this year but has a few hard pods on it. It is 9 ft tall but very top heavy with most growth low. I need to prune it a lot at the bottom because it has branches hangi...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |