Common name:Japanese Anemone
Botanical name:Anemone X hybrida
Anemone japonica is a long-lived, fibrous-rooked perennial which produces great fall color when grown in partial shade. Its graceful, branching stems rise 2'-4' out of clumps of dark green, lobed, hair-covered foliage. Flowers are semi-double and are found in white or pink colors with green or yellow centers. Once established, it spreads rapidly as long as the roots remain undisturbed. It needs well draining, moist soil and partial shade.
Common name:Deodar Cedar, Calif. Christmas Tree
Botanical name:Cedrus deodara
This fast-growing, coniferous evergreen is capable of reaching a size of 80' high by 40' wide. Its needles are a light, silvery green color.
Common name:California Field Sedge
Botanical name:Carex praegracilis
This native Carex can be successfully used as a lawn substitute but requires significant water to obtain good coverage. Once coverage is reached, water can be reduced and maintenance is close to zero. Unmowed, the plant can be used effectively in a variety of conditions and will reach a height of 6" or under and spreads up to 2' by rhizomes.
Common name:Mondo Grass, Lily Grass
Botanical name:Ophiopogon japonicus
This Ophiopogon japonicus is a grass-like plant growing to about 6"-8" high. Its leaves are 1/8" wide, and about 8"-12" long. It makes a beautiful ground cover or accent plant, and does well in Asian style gardens.
Common name:Blue Lily Turf
Botanical name:Liriope muscari
Grass-like clumps of dark green leaves 1" wide up to 18" long are found on the Liriope muscari. It can reach a height of 12"-15", and dark blue flowers spikes can be seen held above the leaves during the summer. This is an excellent border, accent or ground cover plant that requires part shade exposure.
Common name:Lily of the Nile
Botanical name:Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis
This evergreen groundcover/shrub will grow about 3' tall and has large green leaves with blue flowers ( there is also a white variety) that bloom in spring and summer. It will grow in all soils but prefers loam soil.
Designer: Stephanie Blanc | LA Hilltop Garden 3 |
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.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.