Common name:Frades or Compact Escallonia
Botanical name:Escallonia 'Frades'
The 'Frades' is an evergreen shrub that grows to 6'-8' tall and wide. It is valued for its glossy foliage and clusters of pink flowers. The heaviest bloom period is during spring and fall, with some flowers all year. The Escallonias grow best in sun to part shade, but will tolerate mostly shade if necessary. These plants usually need little or no summer watering. This is the most tolerant of poor drainage of all Escallonia varieties. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Amazing Red Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Amazing Red'
Phormium 'Amazing Red' is an evergreen perennial. It is a 2' tall, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves in a fan pattern. Leaves are dark reddish brown in color.
Common name:Yellow Dead Nettle
Botanical name:Lamium maculatum 'Aureum'
The 'Aureum' grows to a size of 6" tall, spreading by underground stolons or rooting in the stems. Its light green leaves are flushed light yellow, and in the summer, produces pale pink flowers. Considering their delicate appearance, the plants are remarkably cold and drought tolerant and do not seem to be bothered much by bugs. When established in coastal gardens, the plant needs little summer watering. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Sundowner Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Sundowner'
The 'Sundowner', which grows to 6'-7', bears light bronze leaves with rosy salmon, pink margins and streaks. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Hybrid Daylily (various)
Botanical name:Hemerocallis hybrids
These summer-blooming perennials form clumps with large, grass-like leaves. Its showy flowers, resembling lilies, are borne in clusters on stems held well above the foliage. They prefer full sun to light shade, well draining soil that is slightly acidic and rich. They do better with deep watering once a week. Daylilies make excellent cut flowers. Apply a layer of compost every fall.
Common name:Compact Karo
Botanical name:Pittosporum crassifolium 'Compactum'
Pittosporum crassifolium 'Nana' is an evergreen shrub or tree. It can reach 25' tall and 20' wide in 8-10 years. Branches are densely clothed in gray green, with 1"-2" long leaves that have rounded ends. It produces maroon flowers in late spring.
Designer: Los Angeles Arboretum | LA Arboretum 6 |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Mulching and adding compost to soil can minimize evaporation and help soil absorb and store water.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.