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: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: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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.