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A Sparkling Water-Wise Border with Desert Spoon, Cactus and Opuntia

Plant Combinations, Spring Borders, Summer Borders, Fall Borders, Winter Borders

Garden ideas, Mediterranean garden, Water wise Garden, Drought-tolerant Garden, Dasylirion wheeleri, Desert Spoon, Echinocactus, Barrel Cactus, Opuntia santarita

Quite colorful, this water-wise border provides visual impact while being extremely low-care. Three striking plants star with majesty: Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus) with its barrel-shaped stem adorned with prominent ribs covered with bright golden spines; Opuntia ‘baby Rita’ (Prickly Pear) with its colorful, fleshy pads turning rich purple in winter or direct sunlight; and finally, Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon) with its perfectly symmetrical rosette packed with hundreds of long, narrow, silvery blue-green leaves.

Terrific at adding texture, color and shape to the landscape, all these plants look good year-round, are deer resistant, drought tolerant and some have even won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Garden Information

Hardiness 9 - 11
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden

Plants In This Garden

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Dasylirion Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus)
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Los Angeles Region
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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Garden Information

Hardiness 9 - 11
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Dasylirion Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus)
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Los Angeles Region
Get Garden Design Ideas
Search Gardens

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Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus) N/A Buy Plants
Opuntia 'Baby Rita' (Prickly Pear) N/A Buy Plants
Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon) N/A Buy Plants

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