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LA Hilltop Garden 1
Liquidambar, American Sweet Gum
Hybrid Daylily (various)
Strawberry Madrone
White Birch, European White Birch
Yew Pine
Ruby King Penstemon
Purple Hopseed Bush or Hop Bush
Variegated Tobira
Liquidambar, American Sweet Gum

Common name:Liquidambar, American Sweet Gum
Botanical name:Liquidambar styraciflua

A tall, deciduous tree of upright, pyramidal habit, the Liquidambar has dark green, maple-like leaves that turn beautiful shades of red and yellow in the fall season. It can be used as a single specimen, hedge, or grouped plant.

Hybrid Daylily (various)

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.

Strawberry Madrone

Common name:Strawberry Madrone
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'

The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as Pacific Madrone. Its flowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage. -Monterey Bay Nursery

White Birch, European White Birch

Common name:White Birch, European White Birch
Botanical name:Betula pendula

This medium-size weeping tree will grow to about 40' tall and has a whitish/brown bark with deciduous green leaves.

Yew Pine

Common name:Yew Pine
Botanical name:Podocarpus macrophyllus

The Podocarpus macrophyllus is a beautiful plant that forms a slender column. Its pointed leaves are dark green in color, with a length of 4". This makes a good hedge, screen, or single specimen plant. This shrub is great in containers inside a well lit mall and regular watering, at least once a week.

Ruby King Penstemon

Common name:Ruby King Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon hybrids 'Ruby King'

Penstemon 'Ruby King' has tubular flowers. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. It needs fast drainage. It is usually short lived (3-4 years).

Purple Hopseed Bush or Hop Bush

Common name:Purple Hopseed Bush or Hop Bush
Botanical name:Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'

This fast-growing shrub has an upright, branching habit that reaches a height of 12'-15', with willow-like leaves that are 4" in length. Its foliage is bronzy-green in color, which turns a reddish-purple shade in the fall and winter. It has compact growth and requires full sun for the best results.

Variegated Tobira

Common name:Variegated Tobira
Botanical name:Pittosporum tobira 'Variegata'

This variegated evergreen shrub or small tree has creamy margins on its gray green leaves. In spring, clusters of small, cream-colored flowers appear with the fragrance of orange blossoms. Variegated Tobira is often used to brighten shaded areas.

Designer: Stephanie Blanc

LA Hilltop Garden 1

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:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.