gardening pages
Featured Plant:
Anisacanthus species: desert honeysuckle
Two anisacanthus species share the common name of desert honeysuckle. All the plants described here have tubular flowers about 11/2 inches long. Hummingbirds and butterflies can’t stay away from the brightly colored flowers brimming with nectar. Brilliant orange and red flower clusters of Anisacanthus quadrifidus brevilobus, also called mountain flame, and Anisacanthus quadrifidus wrightii, Mexican flame, produce the greatest show of color in spring, and also bloom summer and fall up until frost. Find a spot for them in a wildlife garden and sit back and enjoy the show. You won’t be disappointed. Anisacanthus thurberi is native to Arizona and New Mexico. Its tubular orange and yellow flowers bloom spring and summer. Space plants 4–6 feet apart to allow for their natural, spreading growth. Plants reach up to 3–5 feet high when mature. This species prefers sunny locations, but will accept partial shade. Take care to plant in soil that drains well. Desert honeysuckle tolerates low water once plants are established. Plants are cold hardy to 20°, which allows them to grow throughout the Tucson region. Plants may become a bit straggly in appearance by summer. If so, prune stems back about 1/4 of their length, making staggered cuts so branches and stems are not all the same length. Do major pruning (cutting back to renew) after plants go into winter dormancy by trimming branches back 6–12 inches above ground. Don’t worry—plants will regrow rapidly, putting out fresh new growth with the onset of warm spring weather. Anisacanthus thurberi seldom requires severe pruning. Groom it lightly to allow it to develop its own natural form.