• The cactus is a common plant in a desert garden.cactus image by olihaut from Fotolia.com
  
  Desert gardens receive lots of sun and heat, especially during the summer. Although the soil tends to have a low acid level, which affects the amount of plants that can be planted there, many colorful plants will thrive in desert gardens. A typical decorating characteristic of desert gardens is the use of rocks and clay pots. Besides their aesthetic qualities, gardeners use rocks to help facilitate drainage.
  
  

Perennials

• Planting perennials will ensure that your garden has blooms during most of the year. Salvia is a popular choice in desert gardens. It grows in both sun and shade and grows to about 2 feet tall. There are many varieties of colors so you can find ones that go with your garden.
  
  Four o' clock flowers will add lots of color to your garden and are easy to care for. They grow in sun or shade, like salvia. Also, these flowers are very fragrant and attract hummingbirds.
  
  The primrose grows about a foot tall and will bloom in every season except winter. It also goes very well with salvia.
  
  

Cactus

• Put different varieties of cacti under your windows. Their prickly nature can deter people from possibly breaking in, lest they fall onto a cactus. They grow all year long. When growing cacti, make sure that the soil is well drained. Soil that is too wet will cause the cacti to rot.
  
  The bunny ears cactus is a small cactus that produces yellow flowers. These grow well in lots of sunlight and will grow to 2 feet.
  
  The green-flowered hedgehog cactus, another good choice, grows to about 6 inches tall. Put this and the bunny ears cactus in a window box to create a small cactus garden.
  
  

Colorful Garden

• Texas red yucca is a red plant with small, clustered blooms. It grows to about 4 feet tall. This plant thrives in sunny, hot climates so it is great for desert gardens. Also, this plant will attract hummingbirds to your garden.
  
  The Spanish bayonet will grow about as tall as the Texas red yucca and has white bulbs and flowers; however, it does need partial shade.
  
  Another good choice for a colorful desert garden is red hyssop. It has red or orange flowers and repels animals like rabbits and deer.