Hi, Desert Gardener!

Flowers and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, but here in the desert southwest, winter, not summer, is the best time to be outside enjoying your yard.

So it makes sense that you’d want your yard to have pops of color in the winter. In today's featured post, you'll find 20+ plants that add color to winter gardens.

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Green Things Nursery in Tucson is Arizona's largest grower of poinsettias. They are currently having a "buy one get one free" sale. (Please check that the sale is still going on before heading out there.)

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The week of Christmas, I'll be taking a break for the holidays, so you can expect your next SWG newsletter on Jan. 2nd. In the meantime, you can read our previous newsletters to catch up on any you may have missed in 2025.

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What you'll find in this week's newsletter:

• Featured plant: Cascalote
• What's the deal with scientific names?
• Plants for winter color
• What to do in the garden in December
• Upcoming gardening classes & events
• and more!

A Reader Asks:

"I notice you always use the scientific name when talking about a plant. What's wrong with using common names?"

Most times knowing the common name will be perfectly adequate. But there are times when common names can be confusing. For example, there are five plants grown in the southwest called bird of paradise, and over 1,000 plants that go by the common name morning glory! So in cases like these, it's important to know the scientific name to be sure you are getting proper care instructions or are buying the right plant.

Tucson Garden Events & Classes

There are always plenty of garden-related activities happening around Tucson, even during the holidays. (Tuscon gardeners are HARD CORE!) Upcoming highlights include:
​* Companion Gardening @ Pima Co. Master Gardeners
​* Trees Around the World Guided Tour @ University of Arizona
​* Winter Citrus Care @ Green Things

Get the details on these events and more in our Tucson Gardening Events Calendar →

Not in Tucson? Look for online classes denoted with this icon. 💻 You can participate in these no matter where you live.

In Case You Missed It

​The ‘Ins & Outs’ of Growing Poinsettias​

​Does Desert Mistletoe Kill Trees? (You May Be Surprised)​

​Why Desert Plant Scientific Names Are Important​

Garden Quote

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." -- Greek proverb

Before You Go...

Do you have a gardening question you'd like to see answered here? Send it to ask@swgardener.com.

If you found this information helpful or interesting, please share it with friends! They can sign up for this newsletter here.

And please stop by the Southwest Gardener Facebook page and "Follow", "Like", or "Share".

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Keep growing and learning,
​Desert Dee