• Much of the American West is dominated by deserts. Desert plants developed special adaptations such as succulent, fleshy leaves or spines that help them survive under extended drought conditions. Despite their harsh environment, American deserts are home to a wide variety of desert plants, many of which are suited for landscaping and gardening purposes.
  
  

Palo Verde

• Mexican, Foothills, Blue and Sonoran palo verde trees are native to the desert Southwest, and they have several desert adaptations. "Palo verde," which translates from Spanish into English as "green stick," describes the palo verde tree's bark. It is green and can photosynthesize, unlike most tree species that rely exclusively upon leaves for photosynthesis. Palo verde leaves are small, which decreases water loss. The trees produce bright yellow flowers in April and are some of the most drought-tolerant trees available, according to the Arizona Cooperative Extension's website. They adapt easily to most desert landscape settings.
  
  

Octopus Agave

• The octopus agave, or Agave vilmoriniana, is native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern desert. It grows to about 3 or 4 feet tall with a 5- to 6-foot spread. The plant produces thick, succulent leaves that grow about 3 feet in length. It produces a large spike topped with an elongated yellow flower. This evergreen plant dies after blooming, but the baby plantlets still cling to the stalk after the mother plant dies. The small plants eventually fall to the ground and root. Octopus agave plants require full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They need water once or twice a month during summer heat, and plants that flower and then die should be removed.
  
  

Bougainvillea

• Bougainvillea spectabilis plants are native to Brazil rather than the Sonoran region, but they are popular desert plants nonetheless. Bougainvillea are sprawling evergreen plants that grow to about 15 feet tall with a 20-foot spread. They have medium-green leaves and a medium texture. They produce brightly colored blossoms year-round in warm climates; the blossom colors and sizes vary depending upon the cultivar. Bougainvilleas are cold-hardy to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. They have large thorns and are messy plants; the blossoms and foliage fall from the tree to the ground on a regular basis. They are heat-tolerant, require little water and prefer full or reflected sunlight.
  
  

Creosote Bush

• The Larrea tridentata, or creosote bush, grows in the desert Southwest at altitudes up to 5,000 feet. This vase-shaped evergreen shrub reaches 3 to 10 feet tall, has small, yellowish-green leaves and produces small yellow flowers that blossom sporadically throughout the year. The flowers are replaced by light-colored, fuzzy, pea-sized balls. Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant is tolerant of most dry soil types and prefers full sunlight.