July Nursery Update

Between the heatwaves and humidity, it was a surprisingly productive July here at Sonoran Starts.

🌿 New Summer Starts

I sowed a small round of desert tree and shrub seeds in mid-July (part experiment, part stubbornness) and to my surprise, they’ve taken off.

So far, I’ve got:

  • Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)
  • Prosopis/Neltuma velutina (velvet mesquite)

…germinated and growing steadily outside in deep pots. About half a dozen of each have pushed out strong taproots and are reaching upwards hopefully.

Chilopsis seedlings in deep pots Little velvet mesquite forest coming up

🌺 Chuparosa Surge

The Justicia californica (chuparosa) seedlings I started back in March have exploded with growth this past month. These will be among the first plants I use in guerrilla planting efforts this fall around Phoenix. They’re tough, hummingbird-friendly, and beautiful. So is Chilopsis linearis; which is in fact my oldest seedling (germinated in January of this year), and has undergone significant lignifcation and new leaf growth through the summer. In terms of germination reliablity, growth rate, and factoring in the eventual visual + ecological appeal, this species is really growing on me.

Healthy Justicia californica in pots Spring-sown Chilopsis developing nicely

My oldest Palo verde and velvet mesquite specimens have also taken off through the heat. The rest of my spring-sown plants such as my lone Calliandra eriophylla (fairy-duster) and screwbean mesquite (Strombocarpa pubescens) have kept more compact and steady growth as expected, but are faring the heat just fine.

Calliandra eriophylla showing impressive stem lignification as well Strombocarpa growing slow and steady compared to the other mesquites

Same goes for my Caesalpinioideae genera, which were thriving earlier in the summer but have slowed down with the extreme heat. The most stubborn grower of all is my spring-sown Olneya tesota (Ironwood), which has not notably changed above-ground in weeks/months, and I suspect is focusing on underground development. All of my plants are under 30% shade cloth from about 10AM onwards, which I will likely leave up through October.

🌱 New Batch Underway

Just this past week, I sowed another round of seeds focused on native shrubs and sub-shrubs.

So far, I’m seeing early germination on:

  • Senna covesii (desert senna)
  • Calliandra eriophylla (fairy-duster)
  • Justicia californica (becomming a favorite of mine)

A few sprouts of each are already pushing through. I’ll be finishing up this round with more tree seeds—Parkinsonia, Olneya, and others over the rest of the week. Keep an eye on our Insta/FB for live updates.

Looking Ahead

As summer winds down (eventually!), I’m planning to:

  • Keep expanding the seed inventory
  • Germinate + harden off more seedlings outdoors
  • Scope out local spots for fall guerrilla plantings
  • Start prepping for fall giveaways and spring sales

If you’re interested in fall planting or want to suggest a public spot in the East Valley that could use some native color, feel free to reach out or follow along:

Thanks for following along,
Ammar
Sonoran Starts Nursery