Common name:New Zealand Flax, Purple
Botanical name:Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'
Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves can reach 5' tall. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1"-2" blossoms in dark red.
Common name:Tree Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe arborescens
This succulent is large, full of branches and produces deep red orange blooms in fall and winter. The flowers produce a nectar that is attractive to many different birds; this plant is grown all over the world. This succulent can reach 8' tall and 5' wide. Leaves are narrow, recurved and tooth margined and can be green or yellowish or blue green, depending on how much sun it receives. It tolerates sun or shade.
Common name:Baines Tree Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe barberae
This slow-growing tree has a heavy trunk with forking branches. It produces 2'-3' leaves in rosettes and rose/pink flowers.
Common name:Scandia Juniper
Botanical name:Juniperus sabina 'Scandia'
Juniperus sabina 'Scandia' has dense, bright green foliage. It grows to 1' high and 6'-8' wide. This plant is a ground cover that can be used for erosion control. It can used for a cascading effect on walls. It is heat and cold tolerant and very reliable. It prefers full sun and is drought tolerant once it's established.
Common name:Shoestring Acacia, Dalby Myall
Botanical name:Acacia stenophylla
This plant is a fast growing, tough, open evergreen tree 15'-40' tall, with a wispy, picturesque habit. It has showy, creamy yellow flowers borne in small globular clusters against stems from late winter through spring. It tolerates heavy soils and innundation. It is very drought tolerant when established and hardy to at least 20'. It is somewhat Texas Root Rot prone but is tolerant and tough, good in groves and of Australian origin.
Common name:Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy
Botanical name:Erigeron karvinskianus
This low mounding perennial, with fine leaves and white to pinkish, daisy-like flowers, is an excellent asset to rock gardens.
Common name:Coral Beauty Bearded Iris
Botanical name:Iris Bearded 'Coral Beauty'
This perennial will grow 1'-3' high and has large green leaves with orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Common name:Purple or Gray Sage
Botanical name:Salvia leucophylla
The Purple Sage is an evergreen shrub that grows 2'-3' tall and 5'-6' wide. It has white stems and leaves and light purple flowers that bloom between May and June. This shrub tolerates heat and drought. The Purple Sage is a California native.
Common name:Golden or Gold Edge Elaeagnus
Botanical name:Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata'
Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata' is an evergreen shrub that grows 6'-8' tall and 4'-15' wide with gray green leaves. It likes half to full sun, low watering, and well drained soil.
Common name:Rosemary
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary is hardy in full sun areas where winter temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees F. They can be grown in a clay pot with well-drained, porous soil in bright indoor light, and will also flourish on the backporch in spring, summer and fall. Its beautiful, slowly trailing stems and shiny slender leaves are perfect for showing off the small, light blue flowers that blossom in the summer. -Holland WIldflower Farm
Common name:Canyon Gray Sagebrush
Botanical name:Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray'
This prostrate sage grows 3'-6' wide and 1' high with finely cut green gray foliage. This is a highly combustible plant. - Cornflower Farms
Common name:Stalked Aeonium
Botanical name:Aeonium undulatum
Stalked Aeonium is an unbranched shrub, with somewhat metallic-green, 10" long, spoon shaped leaves. The leaves form large rosettes on stems 2'-3' tall. Flowers are dark yellow; plant rarely blooms. Water regularly in summer.
Common name:Chaste Tree
Botanical name:Vitex agnus-castus
The Chaste Tree is a deciduous tree or small shrub in which the sizes vary due to their location, but they tend to be multi-trunked and widespreading. It blooms in the summer with 7" blue flower spikes and the leaflets are green above and gray beneath. The Chaste Tree is a native to California and is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Designer: Stephanie Blanc | California Greek Garden 13 |
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.
Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.