To those people who claim that honeysuckle is a nuisance, nothing but a weed that takes over your entire yard, I must respectfully blow a ginormous raspberry.

I’ve always loved honeysuckle. Not only is it gorgeous, it’s the sweetest smelling flower there is. Sure, it attracts bees—but that’s awesome for the rest of your garden’s sake. And it also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, the most welcome visitors any garden could ask for!

The Thurber’s Desert Honeysuckle, also known as Anisacanthus Thurberi, is a gorgeous example. Think all desert plants are nothing but cactuses and…more cactuses? Not so! A perennial shrub native to New Mexico and other Southwestern areas, it’s a spring and summer-blooming plant with rich green elongated leaves and small but gorgeous red to orange blossoms.

Did I mention that these are gorgeous blossoms? The tubular vessels feature the most blazing display of orange featuring four curling lobes, two protruding stamens with yellow-tipped anthers and a single long, white pistil. In some ways they truly resemble nature’s brilliant tiger lily.

Following the Desert Honeysuckle’s blooming period, the plant produces seeds and fruits in the summer, which continues through the fall season. Fruits are dry capsules made up of five chambers and filled with seeds. The fiery plant has a very long life span and can grow up to 4.5 feet high.

Like the honeysuckle of the Midwest, Thurber’s Desert Honeysuckle isn’t usually available for purchase at a local nursery—but it can be found growing wild. The shrub is mostly found in areas above 800 meters in elevation. The most common areas of growth are East and South of Phoenix and near Tucson, though they can be found throughout the Southwest.

If taken to re-plot, it should be planted by seed or bare root, and can be grown within a container. During planting, be aware that seed germination will be slow, and that the plant will not live in temperatures below three degrees. In fact, mere exposure to such temperatures can cause the plant to die. For best results, the plant should be kept in dry, hot areas. Monthly watering will foster the best growth results.

With a high drought tolerance, a low moisture requirement, and a need for constant sunlight, Thurber’s Desert Honeysuckle can make a beautiful addition to any Southwest garden—and especially for people interested in attracting some hummingbirds. It’s also no threat to other plants or livestock, if those factors are a concern.