Desert House

Most of the plants in this house are from desert regions that annually receive less than 10 inches of precipitation, one-fourth of the yearly amount that falls in Cincinnati. Many desert plants either have long taproots that draw water from deep pockets of moist soil or have wide-spreading roots that absorb water from surrounding areas of ground.

The desert plants known as succulents store water in their roots, stems, or leaves. Note that the stems and leaves of desert plants display a light coloration that reflects the sun's rays and thereby minimizes the evaporation of stored water.