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Civano Originals

Some plants are bred for show. Others are bred for purpose. 

Ours are both.  

A vigorous Texas Sage bred with pride

Texas Sage is notorious for cold tolerance, drought resistance, and love for hot, sunny climates as it thrives in poor soils throughout the Southwest. Our cultivar, Purple Rain, was bred as a superior alternative to 'Heavenly Cloud' because it grows densely upright and requires little maintenance. Birds and bees are attracted to its lightly fragrant flowers. More info

Better for urban landscapes because: 

  • Large, deep purple flower

  • Tight and dense growth habit

  • Tough plant that is easy to grow

Purple Rain

It'll Stop You In Your Tracks

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Stoplights Hesperaloe parviflora is one of our two newest dwarf Hesperaloe selections. Where most Hesperaloe can easily outgrow tight areas, Stoplights is a compact, yucca-like succulent with soft, green leaves that maintains a mature size of under two feet tall and wide. Three-foot-long crimson-red stalks rise from the center of Stoplights in spring through summer, with the same crimson-red tubular-shaped flowers, which are a favorite of hummingbirds and many pollinators. Stoplights Hesperaloe thrives in poor soils, and hot, arid climates. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Thrives in full/reflective sun

  • Attracts pollinators

  • Dwarf growth

A prolifically blooming desert darling

Orange Crush is our selection of Desert Globemallow that exhibits grayish green foliage and vibrant bright orange blooms. This hardy, native perennial flourishes in just about any xeric landscape throughout the Southwest. This heat loving desert darling also attracts bees and native birds. More info

Better for urban landscapes because: 

  • Compact size

  • Rounded shape

  • Blooms prolifically from November through May

Orange Crush

Fast growing and drought tolerant

Bubba Jones

Bubba Jones is a spectacular hybrid of two beloved Desert Willows that exhibits the best prominent features of both parent plants. It’s fast growing and low seed with large, deep green, glossy leaves like ‘Bubba’ and overall shape, height, and flower color of ‘Warren Jones’. Cold hardy, drought tolerant, pollinator friendly, and proven to thrive in landscapes throughout the Southwest—this tree has it all! More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Biggest bloom of any pink Desert Willow

  • Extremely long bloom period

  • Minimal seeds means less mess

An essential host for native pollinators

Butterfly Magic Milkweed is a regal, vase-shaped perennial that boasts thick, elegant stems and star-like cream colored flowers that butterflies find delectable. This plant is an essential host for Monarch Butterflies. It is also heat loving, drought tolerant, and a fantastic addition to any xeric landscape. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • More cold hardy 

  • Thicker stems make a tougher plant for streetscapes

  • Roots don't rot in poorly draining soil

Butterfly Magic

Big things do come in smaller packages

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Where Hesperaloe funifera is known for maturing at a large scale, Little Giant Hesperaloe x funifera is our dwarf hybrid of this massive accent plant. Little Giant Hesperaloe only reaches a maximum size of four feet tall and wide, with a matte pink stalk and flowers that flower from spring through summer stretch up to seven feet tall. Long spineless leaves grow from the base with a white thread-like fringe that grows along the margins of the leaves. This texturally striking accent plant thrives in hot areas and poor soils, and because of its smaller stature, Little Giant Hesperaloe requires very low maintenance in the urban landscape. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Smaller mature size

  • Matte pink flowers attract pollinators

  • Low maintenance

Our first of many Texas Rangers to come

Our cultivar of cold tolerant, drought resistant, heat loving Texas Ranger was chosen as a superior alternative to 'Compacta' because of its tighter growth habit, tougher demeanor, and substantially larger bloom. Silver leafed branches burst with bright rose pink blooms continuously throughout the summer, especially when humidity spikes. San Antonio Rose won't damp off like other Texas Rangers either-- it's a bulletproof crop bred to thrive in landscapes throughout the Southwest. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Tolerant of high humidity and wet feet

  • Larger flower than other cultivars

  • More compact, dense growth habit

San Antonio Rose

Best oak for Southwest and Texas urban environments

Joan Lionetti

Civano Growers pays homage to the founder of Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Joan Lionetti, by naming this unrivaled oak clone in her honor. This beautiful evergreen oak is praised for its fast growth, straight trunk and symmetrical canopy. Its superior form will provide any landscape with dense shade all year long. The tree prefers full sun and moderate water until established. It grows to 30’ tall at maturity. These noteworthy features, along with the tree's tough-as-nails demeanor and smaller structure make the Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak an ideal residential or streetscape tree. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:​​

  • Predictable uniformity

  • Upright growth habit with dense shade

  • Original seed sourced from Central Texas

The first Green Hopseed clone on the market

Discovered after the hard freeze that devastated Tucson landscapes in 2011, this uniformly rounded shrub survives temperatures down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal damaged once established. This extremely cold-resistant form of Hopseed bush can survive temperatures 10 degrees colder than any of its counterparts, making it the perfect cold hardy hedge or privacy screen. Just as any other Hopseed, this shrub is evergreen, extremely drought tolerant and flourishes in full sun. As the plant blooms clustered yellow flowers in the Spring, the blooms contrast verdant foliage. All characteristics lend its name, ‘Emerald Ice’. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • The most cold hardy hop bush on the market

  • Upright uniform growth habit means less pruning

  • Dense branching creates the perfect privacy hedge

Emerald Ice

Just when we thought our Desert Willow couldn't get any better

Sweet Bubba

'Sweet Bubba' is the love child of two Desert Willow varieties that many thought were already perfect. A hybrid of 'Bubba' and 'Sweet Katie Burgundy', Sweet Bubba exhibits the dark green glossy leaves of one parent plant, and the enormous bloom of the other. Desert Willows perform very well in arid landscapes; however, Sweet Bubba boasts an exquisite upright growth habit with perfect symmetry. Our cultivar is also virtually seedless making it perfect for any manicured landscape. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Virtually seedless requiring less maintenance

  • Unique pearl white flower bud

  • Smaller stature is perfect for streetscapes

Asclepias linaria 'Monarch Magnet 2.0' PPAF

This compact shrub is one of several milkweed hosts to Monarch and Queen butterflies, who sip nectar from white flower clusters appearing spring through fall. Its unique foliage resembles bright green pine branches extending delicately outward from the central plant. Native to the dry, rocky slopes of the desert Southwest, this tough shrub is extremely drought tolerant and thrives in intense reflected heat. Monarch Magnet is our cultivar that was selected for its full, bushy, compact growth habit that makes it a great plant for containers, landscapes, or butterfly gardens. We've taken it one step further and improved Monarch Magnet to be denser and easier to grow. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Evergreen shrub that won't die back in the winter

  • Compact dense growth habit requires less pruning

  • More trunks = more flowers = more pollinators

Monarch Magnet 2.0

Our bulletproof Turpentine Bush

Butterbloom

Unlike its seed-grown siblings, the cutting-grown Butterbloom Turpentine Bush sports bright yellow flowers in the fall and bright green foliage all year long. The plant’s blooms attract pollinators, and its dense and uniform growth habit requires less maintenance to stay compact. Butterbloom maxes out at 2’ tall and wide at maturity and is evergreen. Like all desert natives, this plant is drought tolerant and prefers full sun. The plant manages well in extreme heat or cold. Although this plant can be found growing native throughout the Sonoran Desert, it is a bullet proof choice for any desert landscape. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Extremely compact growth habit

  • Guaranteed bright yellow blooms

  • Foliage stays lush and green year-round

Our clean and attractive landscape Ash

Our selection of this tree stands out against any other typical Little Leaf Ash. Named after the founding director of the University of Arizona's Campus Arboretum, 'Libby Davison' has an attractive, uniform growth habit and neat structure. Its leaves are glossy and deep green. The plant uses little water and prefers full sun. Libby Davison is a cutting-grown clone that is perfect for any commercial or residential landscape in need of a large shrub or petite tree. The plant requires little to no pruning to maintain and can be placed near pools, patios or entryways for extra shade and architectural interest. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Bigger dark green leaf 

  • Virtually seedless

  • Upright and tree-form

Libby Davison

Our exceptionally cold hardy Lady's Slipper

Chilly Willy

We are proud to introduce Chilly Willy, our new cold-hardy selection of Lady's Slipper that outperforms all others. Chilly Willy first caught our attention after a hard winter that should have left it frozen to the ground. Our trials have shown that Chilly Willy can weather a full week of temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and survives temperatures as low as 1°F with no damage. Chilly Willy is an attractive specimen that blooms small, red flowers in the summer. The blooms look like ladies' slippers, and they attract hummingbirds. The plant prefers full sun to part shade and requires very little water. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • The most cold hardy pedilanthus on the market

Stunning bloom with superior foliage

Our Desert Willow, ‘Sweet Katie Burgundy’, is a fast-growing prolific bloomer, that produces an abundance of showy flowers flush from spring to fall. The tree boasts very few seed pods. Unlike other Desert Willows, it has a uniform, compact growth habit and, though deciduous, the minimal presence of seedpods and tidy structure give it an exceptionally attractive winter appearance. This gem of a tree requires little care. It is drought tolerant once established and loves the sun. Best of all- it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with it’s profusion of fragrant, orchid-like burgundy flowers. More info

Sweet Katie

Our signature thornless Mesquite

Leslie Roy

Civano Growers' signature Mesquite, ‘Leslie Roy’, is a cross between the hardy Velvet Mesquite and thornless Chilean Mesquite, combining the best qualities of both. Although Mesquites are common throughout the Southwest, the Leslie Roy is quite unique. Named for the patriarch of the Shipley family, the Leslie Roy has a beautiful upright, multi-branching habit. Like most Mesquites, the tree is drought tolerant, semi-deciduous, thrives in full sun and reaches heights of 40’x40’ once mature. Hardy in both extreme heat and cold, this beautiful thornless tree will make a great addition to any desert landscape. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Thornless

  • Upright, vase shape makes it great for streetscapes

  • Cold hardy and drought tolerant

Superior color and compact form

After years of scrutinizing in the test garden, Civano Growers proudly present Tecoma ‘Red Hot’. Red Hot was handpicked by our horticulturists for its quality, form and health. The Red Hot is one of our 2018 shrub introductions that has many unique qualities. As the name suggests, the plant is characterized by its intense flower color. Best of all, this Tecoma reaches only 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity, and it is root hardy to 15°F once established. The Red Hot has a long bloom season that is a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators. Plant it and sit back and enjoy the show! More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Dwarf form stays small

  • Compact and heavy blooming

  • Seedless

Red Hot

Outstanding lemon blossoms to color your landscape

Tucson Drops

This Civano Growers selection was chosen for its tidy growth habit, generous flower production and exceptional heat resistance. Calylophus is fancied for its large, buttercup-shaped flowers that open with a creamy-yellow color and fade to orange and then pink before finishing completely within 24 hours. Blooming lasts from spring through summer, making Tucson Sun one of the most evergreen colorful groundcovers available in the Southwest. It is also one of the toughest groundcovers, spreading from hardy rhizomes that withstand periods of drought and temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. More info

Prolific blooms brighten any landscape

This rare giant perennial has soft, velvety leaves and stems, and is best known for its sunny yellow flowers with broad, orange centers. Unlike true sunflowers that usually feature one large flower per plant, Mexican Sunflowers continuously support hundreds of blooms per plant from spring until the first winter frost. Because of its extended blooming season, the plant attracts butterflies and birds from spring through fall. ‘Goldylocks‘ is a cutting-grown cultivar that was selected by Civano Growers for its uniquely uniform growth habit, outstanding heat tolerance, and impressive flower power. More info

Goldylocks

Stunning silvery green and purple groundcover

Mediterranean Carpet

Mediterranean Carpet was selected by Civano Growers for its superior flower production and performance in the landscape. As its name suggests, the evergreen groundcover produces silvery-green foliage that remains lush year-round. Mediterranean Carpet can reach 5’ wide while staying 1’ tall. The plant produces abundant clusters of tiny, purple, honey-scented flowers in early spring and the blooming continues throughout summer and fall. Mediterranean carpet only stops blooming for a short time in winter when temperatures drop near freezing. A favorite for pollinators, this plant requires moderate water and full sun to part shade. More info

Our compact and clean Buckwheat with exceptional cold hardiness

‘Little Rascal’ is an Arizona native that was selected by Civano Growers for its compact growth habit, long flowering season, beautiful silvery foliage, and superior heat tolerance. It also endures temperatures as low as -20° Fahrenheit, so ‘Little Rascal’ does great in colder climates, too. Because it needs very little maintenance throughout the year, this drought tolerant perennial is a wonderful choice for commercial or streetscape settings. It grows in any soil with good drainage, and its branching root system does a great job of controlling erosion on slopes. Our ‘Little Rascal’ clones come from a parent plant that was grown from seed collected in the Catalina Mountains, so each one has the same endurance and exceptional character as the original. More info

Better for urban landscapes because:

  • Tougher than other varieties

  • Handles high heat

Little Rascal

The pollinators' favorite

Calliandra x 'Mexicali Rose'

This seemingly everblooming Baja native exhibits a soft puffball-like red flower that attracts numerous native pollinators, including the Monarch and Queen butterfly. Mexicali Rose has a dense growth habit and is naturally symmetrical. Exceptionally cold hardy and heat tolerant, Mexicali is perfect for streetscapes and xeric landscapes.

More info

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