Warren Jones "never met a plant he didn't like," says a former student.

Other articles by Kimberly Matas:

Romance writer knew about love — the real kind In his final days, caring soul reaped what he sowed Dougherty, 40, dies of melanoma; 5-year Tucson chamber executive Solar-energy pioneer, artist enjoyed breaking the rules He helped all to discover a worthy pathBowling-ball driller had a world of knowledge at his fingertipsMagician pediatrician made fear disappearTeenager enlivened others' lives, but she couldn't save her own'Dead Eye' Sinclair a crack shot, devotee of Old West traditionsGreasy pizza, cheese-steak legend dies at age 78

Mechanical
Pioneer Landscaping
Diesel Fleet Mechanic Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Driver/Transportation
CPC Southwest Materials
Drivers Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Trades/Construction
Wentz and Patrick Construction
Carpenters & Helpers Production and Manufacturing
Pioneer Landscaping
Crushing Crew Trades/Construction
Baker Brothers Plumbing
Dry Wallers

Arid-climate landscaping was hardly a dry subject for Warren D. Jones.

The author, landscape architect and retired University of Arizona professor was an early proponent of xeriscaping — landscaping that conserves water — and taught two generations of landscape architects the importance of using drought-tolerant plants.

"I don't think he ever met a plant he didn't like," said Mary Rose Duffield, one of his former students at the UA.

In 1981, Duffield co-wrote "Plants for Dry Climates" with Jones. The book is now in its third printing.

Helen Fisher, Jones' former publisher, had his book in her hands — looking up information about agave — when she got a call from Scott Jones a few days ago, telling her his father had died at his home April 7. He was 92. Services are planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.

"A few of us had lunch with him just a few weeks ago, and his mind was just as sharp as it ever was," Fisher said.

They were at Jones' home talking about old times when Fisher's son spotted a plant he didn't recognize growing near the patio. He took in a cutting for Jones to identify.

"Even though Warren's vision was limited because of macular degeneration, he felt it and gave it a little sniff and said, oh yes, that's what this plant is. He described it, the genus and everything and how to take care of it," Fisher said.

Jones' knowledge was gained from more than 70 years spent studying landscaping and sharing his knowledge with others.

"You talk to anyone in the plant world here in Tucson and they all knew Warren," said Greg Starr, owner of Starr Nursery on the West Side.

Starr was a student in Jones' plant-materials class at UA. Now Starr is passing on the knowledge.

"He taught with an eye for the beauty of the plants and their functionality and their place in the landscape," said Starr, who traveled with Jones to Mexico and Texas in search of dry-climate seeds and plant cuttings. "I am teaching a plant-material class modeled after his class. He inspired me to teach and pass on the love of plants."

Though Jones had retired from teaching at the university 20 years ago, he continued to instill his love of plants in younger generations.

"Just a week ago, I was over there (Jones' home) with my two boys," said UA professor and friend of 40 years Mark Frederickson. "We were talking about plants and gardens, and my youngest son came home and planted a garden. That's because of Warren.

"He certainly was a supporter of the use of native plants and drought-tolerant plants," Frederickson said. "A lot of us who moved to Tucson brought with us our more temperate-climate dispositions, so we'd have lawns and deciduous trees and a lot of plants around our homes that needed a lot of water.

"All of the sudden you're talking to Warren and you begin to see the beauty of a palo verde or some innocuous shrub out in the desert. He was out at the forefront of all of that."

Jones, a father of three, moved to Tucson from California in 1966 after the death of his wife, Patricia. He took a job at the UA but didn't limit his teaching to plants found only in the Sonoran Desert. He travelled to dry-climate countries around the world — including the Middle East, Africa, New Zealand and Australia — in search of plants suitable for Tucson.

"Warren had a real natural curiosity about adaptive plants and did quite a bit of exploring," said Scott Millard, who edited the Jones-Duffield book and a second book Jones wrote with Charles Sacamano titled "Landscape Plants for Dry Regions," published in 2000.

"Being ahead of the curve on the plants that would do well, plants for dry climates, was really sort of a groundbreaking work in that it stepped away from what some people in the nursery would call the 'green stuff' — traditional lawn, junipers," Millard said.

"He really was a mentor and launched interest in arid landscaping for a lot of people who are now practicing and changing the landscaping of the Southwest," Millard said.

Jones also influenced landscape design in Saudi Arabia, where he was contracted to develop drought-tolerant gardens.

"He really traveled internationally, and he became known worldwide for his interest in plants and adapting plants to the desert," Fisher said. "He always had an eye open for new plants that were in a similar climate to Tucson. Through his endeavors, he introduced so many plants to the area that everyone has in their yards now."