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If you happen to live in the high desert country and want to plant perennial shrubs, usually thought of as non-woody perennials you'll need lots of information, hope this helps.
A shrub is a woody plant that grows from a group of stems, not from a main trunk. Even though the shrubs listed below are drought hardy, they should be provided with extra water during their first two seasons so that they become well established.
Deep watering is preferrable because it encourages he roots to go deep into the soil, thus making the shub even more drought resistant. Once the shrub is established in the high desert country the shrubs will be very tough. Also, most of these shrubs I am listing do not require rich soils. Be sure to consult a local nursery in your area for expert advice on these shrubs as you always have to remember lack of rainfall, climate and winds are factors in growing anything in the high desert country.
Caragana arborescents- Siberian pea-shrub
Cercocarpus- mountain mahogany (check for cold
hardiness)Chysothaninun nauseosus- chamisa
rabbitbrush
Cotinus coggygria- smoke tree
Fallugilia paradoxa- Apache plume; not always hardy in coldest areas.
New Mexico privet
Juniperus- most varieties tolerate drought but may
require water during prolonger dry spells
Syrings- lilac
Mahonia- Oregon grape; there are other varieties
but check for cold hardiness.
Potentilla fruticosa- cinquefoil, potentilla
Quercus gambelii- Gambel oak
Rhus glabra - smooth sumac; can get to tree size
Rhus trilobata- sumac; can get to tree size
Rosa rugosa
Shepherdia arentea- silver buffaloberry
Tamarix- salt cedar; can grow to tree size.
If you will try to plant any or all of the above varieties of shrubs you are very likely to have beautiful shrubs with lots of care those first two growing seasons.
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