Plant Name: Datura meteloides Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall and wide Grow It With: Salvia, which offers wonderfully contrasting spiky blooms Zones: 7-11; often grown as a self-seeding annual in colder areas Plant Name: Agave americana Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 25 feet tall in bloom and 6 feet wide Grow It With: Western columbine for a bold combination of color and texture Zones: 9-11 Plant Name: Tagetes lucida Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 30 inches tall and 18 inches wide Grow It With: The lush blooms of desert primrose Zones: 8-10 Plant Name: Penstemon heterophyllus Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall and wide Grow It With: Salvia; the two have a similar shape and texture Zones: 7-10 Plant Name: Salvia farinacea Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall and wide Grow It With: Creeping phlox, which makes a great skirt for the plant Zones: 8-11 Plant Name: Opuntia selections Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall and wide Grow It With: Echeveria, another easy-care succulent, for a fun mix of color and texture Zones: 5-11, depending on type Plant Name: Aquilegia formosa Growing Conditions: Partial shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide Grow It With: Pasque flower for a topnotch springtime display Zones: 4-7 Plant Name: Mirabilis jalapa Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall and wide Grow It With: The morning blooms of coneflower Zones: 10-11; often grown as a self-seeding annual in colder areas Plant Name: Calylophus hartwegii Growing Conditions: Part shade in dry soil Size: To 1 foot tall and several feet wide Grow It With: Salvia—the yellow and blue color combination is a garden classic Zones: 5-9
