Common name:Jerusalem Sage
Botanical name:Phlomis fruticosa
This hardy perennial is a useful, old-time garden plant with coarse, woolly gray green, wrinkled leaves and yellow, 1" flowers in ball-shaped whorls. It handles drought and poor soils but needs full sun.
Common name:Licorice Plant
Botanical name:Helichrysum petiolare
This groundcover will grow 1'-3' high and has clumped light green leaves. It does well in full sun and dry soil.
Common name:Bougainvillea, Barbara Karst
Botanical name:Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'
The large amount of flamboyant color on this species creates a wonderful accent in a garden. Varieties can be in bush or vine form; colors vary. Once established, they tend to be carefree. All varieties are susceptible to frost damage. The 'Barbara Karst' variety blooms bright red in full sun; more crimson if in shade. It blooms early and long.
Common name:Bush or Dome Euphorbia
Botanical name:Euphorbia characias
This perennial will reach about 4' tall and has blue green leaves with bright green flowers that bloom from late winter to early spring.
Common name:Autumn Moor Grass
Botanical name:Sesleria autumnalis
This small, mounding grass with yellow green leaves reaches 12" high. In the fall, it sends up narrow flower stems that have silvery white inflorescence. When planted in masses, it has a striking appearance. It is drought tolerant.
Common name:Black or Honey Sage
Botanical name:Salvia mellifera
This woody shrub has fragrant, dark green leaves with blue, white, or lilac flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.
Designer: Stephanie Blanc | LA Cottage Garden 5 |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.