# Southwest Plant Selector

> Xeric landscape plant database for New Mexico and El Paso. (iPhone/iPad app by New Mexico State University Board of Regents.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southwest-plant-selector/id526449181 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [New Mexico State University Board of Regents](https://appshunter.io/developer/337567846)
- Category: Lifestyle, Reference
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.00/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 14 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.3 · 581 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2012-06-29
- Data updated: 2026-07-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southwest-plant-selector/id526449181/reviews.md

## What is Southwest Plant Selector?

Southwest Plant Selector is the only app of expert-recommended xeric landscape plants specifically for New Mexico, El Paso, and surrounding areas.  All plants in this app thrive on little or no supplemental water and are typically both available and used in regional xeriscapes.

Browse through a database of hundreds of 700+ plants or search based on specific criteria.  Each plant includes photo(s) and relevant information on use and care.  Mark your “favorites” for quick access at the nursery or in your yard.

Gold winner (2013) in the interactive media program category, awarded by the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences. 

Southwest Plant Selector is the result of a cooperative effort between the Center for Landscape Water Conservation and the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and was developed for iTunes by New Mexico State University Media Productions.

## Key features

- Expert-recommended xeric plants
- Database of 700+ plants
- Search by criteria
- Plant photos and care info
- Mark favorite plants

## Recent user reviews (10 of 14)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southwest-plant-selector/id526449181/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Please keep it updated

*2018-10-04, version 2.0*

Love this very helpful app! Please keep it updated. Thank you!

### 5/5 — Thanks Not Romney

*2017-05-19*

Thanks for pointing out the blurry pictures, we will do our best to upgrade these as resources become available. NMSU executive producer

### 3/5 — Nice but needs work

*2017-05-07*

This is a great app for looking for regional plants. However, information is somewhat limited and pictures are poor, mostly blurry. With a bit of effort, could be outstanding.

### 1/5 — will not download on mini-iPad w 8.3 OS

*2015-04-19*

Would love to try this, but I don't own an iPhone.

### 5/5 — I love this app!

*2014-12-14*

It is a wonderful resource to have to know what will thrive in this climate.

### 4/5 — Just What I Was Looking For

*2014-10-10*

Wow, I am working on my back yard and this is just the app I've been looking for. I can tell that I will be using this app quite a bit. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is it would be nice to have the zones for each plant. I have several different micro-zones and having the zone info would be helpful.
It is nice to have an app for New Mexico plants!! Thank you!

### 1/5 — Crashes on iPad 1

*2013-05-26*

Touch a plant photo and the app crashes on an iPad 1.

### 3/5 — NM vs. NV

*2012-09-12*

I was excited to see this app as I live in Las Vegas NV and am always looking for new plants.  However, everything on this app is geared for New Mexico and it's not the same as Las Vegas, NV not NM.

### 4/5 — Great app!

*2012-07-13*

Very useful app! I agree with folks sorting by color would be useful but also adding information and sort function for things such as plant attracts hummingbirds or butterflies, deer and rabbit resistance, toxicity, etc would be invaluable. I look forward to seeing this app develop.

### 5/5 — Excellent app!

*2012-07-12*

I'm a relative newcomer to the desert and have found this app interesting and very useful in the 3 days I've had it so far. I agree with previous raters in that a search by color option would be nice. 

And, as a pet owner it would be nice to either show toxicity to dogs and cats, or link to another app that does this.

## Frequently asked questions about Southwest Plant Selector

### What plants does Southwest Plant Selector feature?

Southwest Plant Selector features over 700 expert-recommended xeric landscape plants that thrive with little or no supplemental water, specifically chosen for New Mexico, El Paso, and surrounding areas.

### Can I save plants I like in Southwest Plant Selector?

Yes, you can mark your favorite plants within Southwest Plant Selector for quick access, making it convenient to remember your choices when visiting nurseries or planning your yard.

### What information is available for each plant in Southwest Plant Selector?

Each plant entry in Southwest Plant Selector includes photos and relevant information on its use and care, helping you make informed decisions for your landscape.

### Is Southwest Plant Selector available on Android devices?

Based on the provided data, Southwest Plant Selector is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Information regarding Android availability is not specified.

### How often is Southwest Plant Selector updated?

The latest version of Southwest Plant Selector was released on July 8, 2015. The app was initially released on June 29, 2012.

### What is the age rating for Southwest Plant Selector?

Southwest Plant Selector has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in gardening and landscaping.

### Does Southwest Plant Selector have ads?

No, Southwest Plant Selector does not contain advertisements. It is a free application without any ad interruptions.

### What awards has Southwest Plant Selector received?

Southwest Plant Selector won the Gold award in the interactive media program category in 2013, presented by the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 2.0 — 2015-07-08

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

*  Brand new, simpler interface written from the ground up to be more usable and attractive.
*  New, easier method for searching and filtering the plant listing.

### 1.0.6 — 2013-05-25

New for version 1.0.6:

*  New plants and photos.
*  Search the plant list by bloom color.
*  Browse plants by scientific name in the new "scientific mode" (available from your Settings app).
*  El Paso County added as a supported growing region.
*  iPhone 5 support.
*  Corrections and additions to content.
*  Support for emailing plant summaries.
*  Text search now searches across common name, scientific name, and alternate names without you having to specify.
*  Updated credits and "about" information.
*  Bug fixes and usability improvements.

### 1.0.3 — 2012-06-29

Fixes to some issues with the data, some new photos.

### 1.0 — 2012-06-01

No release notes.

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## More apps by New Mexico State University Board of Regents

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All apps by New Mexico State University Board of Regents: https://appshunter.io/developer/337567846

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-04.*