Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden is a great place to view and purchase plants that grow well in Southern California. Their collections and nursery include plants that do well in the Mojave Desert. Their botanists are also a great resource. The bookstore includes books on: propagation of native plants, gardening with native plants, and drought tolerant plants.
If you purchase plants from them, be sure to verify that the plants will do will in the high desert. Site specific variables include: tolerance for frost (especially in mid to late spring), soil pH, soil texture (clay, silt, sand or loam), water requirements (very dry to inundation), heat tolerance, and nutrient requirements.
Information can be found at: Free Spring Day with Discount at Native Nursery
Caliche Challenge 