The gardens bordering the entrance to the main building feature yuccas and other members of the family Agavaceae. These woody relatives of lilies conserve water in their roots and stems, making them an excellent choice for water-smart landscaping. The walls and sidewalks create a unique microclimate allowing experimentation with plants which previously were thought to not be hardy in Denver.

Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora), several varieties of tree yucca (Yucca faxoniana, Y. rostrata and Y. thompsoniana), and many varieties of agave create focal points in this garden, especially when they send up their large flower spikes in mid-summer. These flowers are especially tempting to hummingbirds and moths. Complementary plantings of desert wildflowers and drought-resistant Plant Select® plants add color from spring through fall. Pre-existing in this garden is a large specimen of weeping Norway spruce (Picea abies Pendula Group), and several Arctostaphylos cultivars.

For a list of plants in the Crossroads Garden, click here.