Groundcovers under mesquite

My property in the Chihuahua desert of West Texas has a few isolated mesquite trees. I am planning to severely prune them this winter to help them grow up. There appears to be small lichen colonies near the trees. There isn’t much else under the trees.

Can you recommend some ground covers for me to try? Specifically, I’m worried about the Mesquite roots poisoning them and I’m wondering if anybody’s had success that I haven’t heard about.

Mesquites are good nurse trees for a range of understory plants. If you travel west to the Sonoran desert you'll find some of the best wildflower clumps growing under mesquites in the winter and early spring, when the leaves have fallen and sunlight comes through. And those fallen leaves provide a nitrogen boost as well. I had night-blooming cacti, pipevines and chiltepines growing beneath big mesquites at my place in Tucson. I also used to keep lots of potted plants there in the summer to take advantage of the shade. That was where I grew most of my tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, basil and lemon grass.

I would look at the native plants that are already growing in the area.

What plants do you feel will grow well without needing to be watered after being established?

Not a native though Moss Rose would work for me if I water when needed.

Here are some suggestions:

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-native-ground-covers-for-southwestern-landscapes-stsetivw-vs~70289833