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7 plants perfect for a Palm Springs-style garden

How to landscape in a mid-century modern style with cacti, pebbles and palms.
Chris Jones, Brent Wilson

Love Palm Springs style? Get the look in your garden with our guide to the top seven plants for a mid-century modern look. 

WATCH: A Palm Springs-style makeover

The sculptural stands of cacti with the soft drapes of a banana tree in the corner complete the Palm Springs look. 

DIY Palm Springs style garden
A living art gallery (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

Top a low-maintenance, drought-resistant dry landscape with small, unpolished, whitewashed pebbles as a contrast to the smooth paving. Then add boulders for a finishing flourish. 

Here are the top 7 plants to create a Palm Springs garden:

1. Opuntia ‘Burbank Spineless’

Opuntia Burbank Spineless
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

There are no sharps here with the sculptural Opuntia ‘Burbank Spineless.

2. Echinocactus grusonii

Echinocactus grusonii
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

These little barrel cacti (Echinocactus grusonii) are full of spines, so take care – they’re no bundles of joy. 

3. Yucca rostrata

Yucca rostrata
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

This ground-hugging Yucca rostrata will eventually grow a thick trunk, but keep its spiky, funky haircut.

4. Cereus repandus

Cereus repandus
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

Create a mini desert city with groupings of towering Cereus repandus.

5. Parodia magnifica

Parodia magnifica
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

They’re like collapsing air balloons, but Parodia magnifica come back to life when they produce beautiful lemon-yellow flowers. 

6. Bismarckia nobilis

Bismarckia nobilis
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

It’s a palm not a cactus, but the Bismarckia nobilis is not out of place in a modernist-style succulent garden.

7. Opuntia

Opuntia
(Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson) (Credit: Chris Jones, Brent Wilson)

Also known as prickly pear, Opuntia come with or without spines and is perfect for a Palm Springs garden.

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Before and After: the perfect Palm Springs makeover

7 tips for drought-proofing your garden

12 dreamy ways to decorate with cacti

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