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.

Surprisingly cold hardy, award-winning Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming pretty rosettes of thick, rigid, silvery-blue to silvery-green leaves, tipped and edged with short, dark spines. While infrequent, mature plants (over 10 years) flower only once. They are topped with a magnificent flowering spike that can reach 15 ft. (5m), and bears dense clusters of yellow flowers, tinged red or pink in bud.

A plant full of surprises, Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo) is a very distinctive, upright shrub of vase-shaped habit with up to 100 long, thorny, wand-like, gray stems that rise and radiate from the crown. Small, fleshy, rounded, bright green leaves appear in response to rains and disappear with drought. With rainfall the plant quickly becomes lush with leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months. In the spring, attractive clusters of brilliant red, tubular flowers bloom at stem tips. The blossoms may also occur after summer rains. They are happily pollinated by hummingbirds and bees.