There are annual flowers that grow here that can receive partial sun. I have a flower bed along my front patio that gets partial shade so I know the challenge! For annuals look at pansies, marigolds, and sweet peas.

There are a number of bulbs as well. Lillies, hyacinths, tulips and daffodils will all tolerate partial shade.

Flowering bushes like bleeding heart (this one can do full shade!), morning glory, coral bells, candytuft, mexican honeysuckle and penstemon all do well here and can handle the shade.

Hope these give you some ideas!

This is a website that has some useful information including a vegetable planting guide for this area. http://desertgardening.org/

Here is a link that might be useful: Desert vegetable planting guide

Plants that flower and fair well in partial shade are liriope, star jasmine, agapanthus, and gardenia. There are many others that will grow well in partial shade but the blooms are often sacraficed.

Lynn

Here is a link that might be useful: Desert Rose Ramblings

Gardenia and jasmine at least are plants that require high humidity - which could be a challenge almost anywhere in this state, but particularly in Las Vegas. I'm not sure about the rest. My jasmine did much better in MO than it is doing here. Sure, it loves the heat - but it loves the humidity, too!

This post was edited by zensojourner on Mon, Aug 18, 14 at 0:14

Star Jasmine is not a real jasmine. It does fine here with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Gardenias are very hit and miss.

Even so - it comes from Vietnam and southern China, neither of which are exactly desert climes. They are humid subtropical regions.

Star jasmine tolerates less humidity than "true" jasmines - but it still does better where there is some actual humidity (as long as its feet don't get too wet). And at 4" average annual rainfall, LV is even drier than it is up here in Northern Nevada (where we get a whole 7" of precipitation per year).

But if you can grow it there in LV, more power to you! The proof is in the pudding.

I would check with the local extension agency for ideas for native plants that might do well in the yard, or check the University of Nevada ag publications - there are a bunch for LV and the Mojave region.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nevada extension publications - check horticultural and agricultural both