Common name:Royal Purple Smokebush
Botanical name:Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
Royal Purple Smokebrush is a large shrub with handsome, oval purple leaves all summer and silvery-purple clouds of seed heads in fall. It is subject to winter dieback. It is best in a protected location. It needs full sunlight. -Fort Collins Nursery
Common name:European Grey Sedge
Botanical name:Carex divulsa
Berkeley Sedge is a fast growing, vibrant green clumping sedge to 2' tall and wide. Widely adaptable, it can be planted in wet soil or arid soil, tolerates sun to partial shade and can be drought tolerant. Tan to brown flowers show in spring.
Common name:Ground Cover Natal Plum
Botanical name:Carissa macrocarpa 'Prostrata'
This wonderful groundcover will grow 2' high and can be trained as an espalier. It spreads quickly to provide good cover. It blooms with white flowers followed by red or purple fruit. Thorns make it a good barrier planting.
Common name:Tree Roses
Botanical name:Rosa Tree varieties
Tree roses are actually shrubs that have been grafted or grown in a way that looks like a tree, ie with a trunk. Tree roses can be floribundas, hybrid teas, or grandifloras. They are typically used as specimen plants. Make sure the plant is tied to a stake in case of strong winds.
Common name:Climbing Rose
Botanical name:Rosa Climbing varieties
With its dark green foliage and fragrant flowers with full and double blooms, this upright shrub is generally grown as a vine or pillar rose. Climbing varieties come in many colors.
Common name:Italian Cypress
Botanical name:Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta'
Italian Cypress is often associated with Italian and Spanish architecture, providing columns in the landscape. They often reach 60' tall. 'Stricta' is compact, columnar and produces long, straight branches with deep green foliage.
Designer: Stephanie Blanc | LA Hilltop Garden 7 |
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.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.