The jasmine is really pretty! I wouldn't mind a whiff of the scent - but I guess scratch-and-sniff screens are not in the cards for some time to come. The fern looks really cool too! -The other day, I was just about to throw out some stuff from a window box, that had been overgrown with weeds (after salvaging a few samples of what I wanted to keep of course), when I noticed a tiny little fern seedling in there. It must have come with the wind or a bird or something, as I have never grown ferns myself. -Do you have any recommendations? -I don't know what kind it is of course, but I'm hoping it's cold hardy, and not just something from someone's house fern! -It COULD be the same kind as yours. For now, I have just planted it with the morning glories as my guess was, not to use too much fertilizer. VG

Thank you guys for all the ideas! I will have to do some further research and see what will work best. The roses are leading the way thus far (and I think my wife likes them too). The pergola gets pretty harsh sunlight all summer and into the fall where I am. temps get well above 100 most summers for extended periods of time. We are going to mulch a big area around the pergola and plant shrubs and lantana against the fences. I can get water to the vines or roses if needed, it's the heat that worries me. The pergola faces west, so it gets sun most of the afternoon. I plan on shutting down a few sprinkler heads, but already have a drip system set up, so I would only have to run a T to get water to the plants. I had some bower vines planted in another part of the yard, and they just never took off. It could be the clay soil, or the acidity, I'm not sure, but they have been there for two years with very little growth, but I love them. The trumpet vine is also a good idea and I cant believe I didn't think of it. My neighbor, who I know for a fact NEVER waters anything, has trumpet vines which have grown right to the back and left of the pergola from his side and up and over the fence. Will they climb up the pergola? The star jasmine is also a great idea. Thunbergia sounds great too, and I know I have seen it around my neighborhood. So many choices... ahhhhh. I do wonder if planting it and irrigating it right next to the pergola might rot the wood, but other than that, it's only the intense heat that I really have to factor in to this decision.

If you check out the Tropicos database specimen data for this plant you'll see that most come from 1500 m or higher. This alone suggests that it probably prefers cooler temperatures. So I think your suspicions are probably right. Perhaps the quickest way to find out would be to post in the Arizona forum (if this is allowed) and see if anyone in the low desert has had success with this species. Surely someone has tried. Good luck. Here, Cobaea scandens is a vigorous, continuous bloomer. A stunning vine. Here is a link that might be useful: Tropicos specimen data for Cobaea scandens

Hi Aggie, I think I've mentioned it several times - moved into my new home in mid-June, and I've been planting solidly since (!). My biggest mistake was to place too much faith in the huge Poincianas at the back of the block - the angle of the Winter/Spring sun and the semi-deciduous nature of Delonix has left me with some pretty sorry tree ferns, and my mature palms (2m plus) have all suffered with wind and sun damage, but they seem to be coping. Its not all natives - I've been seduced by a lot of exotic tropical plants - but I've tried to plant natives where possible. Carpenteria, Macarthur, Solitaire and Bangalow palms over an understorey of lillipillies, cordylines, ferns and a mishmash of Austromyrtus, Backhousia, Nandina and other species, with Lomandra, Emu Bush and Liriope at the bottom. Give it another year or three :) Cheers, Artie