At Cyclovia on Sunday Nov. 2, 2014 we were giving away trees and butterfly plants. Read on to learn a little more about the plant or plants you picked up. Mesquite tree; these trees are hybrid mesquites. They are hybrids with our native mesquite and Argentinian mesquite. I choose these plants because 1) they grow faster than out native 2) they provide LOTS of shade 3) they are mostly spineless as they mature and 4) their pods are sweet and our dogs favorite to eat. Desert Willow; Arizona native plants that have beautiful pink to purple flowers. Very drought tolerant once established. Desert willows are slow to get started but if given adequate water in the beginning they will reward you with a beautiful small (15 foot) tree. Perfect as a street tree if pruned to a single trunk. Desert Milkweed; Asclepias subulata is a Sonoran Desert native. Once established this plant is very drought tolerant. The clusters of white flowers in summer are a fabulous butterfly attractor. You will see the Queen, Monarch, gulf fritillary and swallowtail butterflies visit as well as others. Tropical Milkweed; Asclepias curassivica is native to more tropical areas. This milkweed has beautiful orange flowers that attract most butterflies. In a cold winter the plant will die back but come back in the spring each year.
