Slowly growing, Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus) forms a pale green, barrel-shaped stem with prominent ribs adorned with areoles sprouting bright golden spines. Bright yellow flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm) are produced from late spring to summer on mature specimens receiving enough full sun. Over time, this cylindrical cactus takes on an oblong shape and tends to lean to the south or southwest so that the spines can better protect the body of the plant from the desert sun.

Frost hardy, Opuntia 'Baby Rita' (Prickly Pear) is a dwarf succulent shrub with colorful, round, ovate, fleshy pads. Covered with spines, the pads turn rich purple in winter before changing back to soft blue gray with warmer temperatures. This purple pad coloration also intensifies in direct sunlight and drought. Sitting on the outer edges of the pads, abundant, brilliant pink flowers appear in spring or early summer and re-bloom modestly throughout the whole summer, creating a stunning contrast with the purple pads. 'Baby Rita' Prickly Pear is a very decorative cactus which adds beauty to the garden year-round.

Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon) is a very ornamental evergreen succulent boasting a perfectly symmetrical rosette packed with hundreds of long, narrow, silvery blue-green leaves tipped with white fibers. The leaves can reach 5 ft. in length (150 cm) and are adorned with golden spines along their margins. In summer, it is topped with a dramatic flowering stalk, up to 15 ft. (450 cm), bearing thousands of tiny flowers. Bees and hummingbirds relish the flowers. Slow-growing, carefree and very drought tolerant, Desert Spoon makes a great specimen plant for xeriscape gardens.