Deciding which plants to put in front of your Phoenix home’s windows is important because you want to make sure they won’t grow too bushy, obstruct your view or invite termites. Below we suggest some plants that will be beautiful to look at and low maintenance.
Salvias (Autumn Sage) are a great choice to plant in front of your windows because they stay low to the ground, only growing about 2 feet high. They can survive full Arizona sun with well-drained soil. Autumn sage is an especially fine species that bears evergreen foliage and clusters of red, purple, pink, or violet flowers from late summer through autumn. Like most salvias, this is a favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds so you will enjoy the view.
Yellow Columbine, which only grows to about 3 feet tall, is a graceful Desert Southwest plants to put under your windows. These plants are heat-tolerant and hearty with delicate yellow flowers. The delightful part of planting Yellow Columbines in front of your windows is that their flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and bloom almost continually if deadheaded. So, even if your window gets full sun, the Yellow Columbine will thrive in Phoenix.
Winecups are a great choice if you’re looking for a tough little groundcover to plant under a window. These lovely little plants burst with burgundy-red flowers from late spring to midsummer. Even when not in bloom, this low-growing foliage is always attractive yet can take full Phoenix sun.
Bunny Ears Cactus is a great cactus to plant under your windows, growing only about 2 feet high. You can plant these cacti in full sun. They will remain green year ‘round and don’t produce spines so can be safely planted along sidewalks as well. In spring and summer, it will produce bright yellow flowers.
The Texas Red Yucca planted under your window will bring bright red flowers in summer that attract hummingbirds that you can enjoy watching from inside your home. Because this is a Southwestern native, it can take the Phoenix heat and only grows to about 4 feet.
Pineleaf Penstemon is another plant you’ll enjoy planting in front of your windows if you are looking to attract hummingbirds. Pineleaf Penstemon, growing only to about 16 inches tall, have beautiful fine foliage and bright orange-red flowers over 6 weeks in summer.
With so many native southwest plants to choose from, if you do your homework, you’re sure to find some lovely plants to put in front of your windows to keep the view from your Phoenix home delightful throughout the seasons.
