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California Greek Garden 19
Golden or Gold Edge Elaeagnus
Tree Aloe
Blue Moor Grass
New Zealand Flax
Kangaroo Paw 'Yellow'
California Gray Rush
Esparto Grass
African Sumac
Golden or Gold Edge Elaeagnus

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.

Tree Aloe

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.

Blue Moor Grass

Common name:Blue Moor Grass
Botanical name:Sesleria caerulea

This grass will grow to about 18"-24"tall and 18"-24" wide. It has bluish green or gray green leaves.

New Zealand Flax

Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax

New Zealand Flax is a large, bold plant with stiffly vertical, sword-like, green leaves that arise from its base. It should be grown under full sun for best color. Varieties will offer different growth habits and leaf color.

Kangaroo Paw 'Yellow'

Common name:Kangaroo Paw 'Yellow'
Botanical name:Anigozanthos 'Yellow'

This herbaceous perennial can reach 4'-6' tall and 2'-3' wide. Kangaroo Paw has strap-like leaves and fuzzy tubular-shaped, yellow flowers that bloom in spring and fade as summer progresses. They can be used for cut or dried flowers. The flowers have nectar which attract hummingbirds. Kangaroo Paw does well in full sun and looks great in borders, mass plantings, and in pots. It can do well in drought tolerant conditions. It prefers sandy soil and deep, infrequent watering.

California Gray Rush

Common name:California Gray Rush
Botanical name:Juncus patens

Although a wetland plant, Juncus patens can tolerate fairly dry conditions. It will slowly clump to 2'-3' wide and a height of 2'-2.5'. There are many selections of this species available with different heights and widths. It is carefree, with little to no maintenance. It provides great upright structure to many styles of landscapes.

Esparto Grass

Common name:Esparto Grass
Botanical name:Lygeum spartium

This plant is an ornamental grass reaching 1'-3' tall and wide. It has silver blue stems and wheat colored, spring flowers that look like origami birds. It has some salt tolerance and can be grown in sandy soil near the coast but will thrive in deserts also. This grass looks great in containers. Cut down in early spring to revive it.

African Sumac

Common name:African Sumac
Botanical name:Rhus lancea

This small, evergreen tree grows slowly to 25' and exhibits an open, spreading habit. Its leaves are dark green, glossy, and divided into 3 willow-like leaflets 4"-5" long. The bark has a dark red color. The tree has males and females. It often has a drooping habit and is prone to Texas Root Rot.

Designer: Stephanie Blanc

California Greek Garden 19

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.