Common name:Japanese Maple
Botanical name:Acer palmatum
This magnificient plant can used as a small tree or shrub. It is deciduous with graceful leaves which have a scarlet color in spring as it leafs out. Leaves later turn orange or yellow in fall. It is slow growing to 20', and requires shelter from the hot sun. The leaves of this tree are small, light green in color, and deeply lobed. It should also be noted that this tree remains spectacular throughout all seasons. It can be used as a bonsai plant.
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.
Common name:Beach Strawberry, Sand Strawberry
Botanical name:Fragaria chiloensis
This perennial grows 4"-8" high with tooth-edged leaves and ornamental strawberries during the fall. Cut back or mow in early spring to encourage new growth.
Common name:White Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri
White Gaura is a profusely flowering perennial for all zones; it grows 2'-4' high. It has pink buds that open to showy white flowers in spring and fall. It needs full sun and is drought tolerant.
-Cornflower Farms
Common name:Sansanqua or Sun Camellia
Botanical name:Camellia sasanqua
In contrast to other Camellias, this broad-leaved evergreen shrub has small foliage and a more open habit. Its long shoots are easily trained on a wall or fence. Flowering occurs in the fall to early winter, and produces single to fully double blossoms. There should be an incorporation of organic material into the planting bed.
Common name:Wide-Leaf Myoporum Putah Creek
Botanical name:Myoporum parvifolium 'Putah Creek'
This evergreen groundcover grows 1' high and 8' wide. It is drought tolerant once established and blooms with white flowers in the summer. It cannot take foot traffic. Leaves are bright green and held close to the stems. This shrub is great for erosion control. It tolerates ocean spray as well as heat.
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.
Common name:Lily of the Nile hybrids
Botanical name:Agapanthus hybrids
This evergreen groundcover/shrub will grow about 3' tall and has large green leaves with blue flowers (there is a white variety and dwarf varieties) that bloom in spring and summer. It will grow in all soils but prefers loam soil.
Common name:Australian Willow, Wilga
Botanical name:Geijera parviflora
This evergreen tree reaches a height of 25', with 3"-6" long, medium length, green colored leaves that are narrow. Its main branches sweep up and out, while the smaller branches tend to hang down.
Common name:Star Jasmine, Maile Haole
Botanical name:Trachelospermum jasminoides
The Star Jasmine is an evergreen vine that grows 20' tall or as a groundcover that reaches 1'-2' tall and 4'-5' wide. It has white fragrant flowers in the summer and can tolerate sun or partial shade. The Star Jasmine is also drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Wendy Alum Root
Botanical name:Heuchera 'Wendy'
Heuchera 'Wendy' belongs to the group of large leaf (H. maxima), native, Heuchera hybrids that prefer, dry, shady conditions. They thrive under native oak trees or in similar situations. Once established, they require virtually no care other than removal of the dead flowers after bloom in the spring. They are most effectively shown when planted in mass.
Common name:Dalmation Bellflower
Botanical name:Campanula portenschlagiana
The Dalmation Bellflower is a mounding, deciduous perennial that forms a curtain of purple flowers often blooming in waves throughout the year. It should be grown in areas with sun to partial shade. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:White Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri
White Gaura is a profusely flowering perennial for all zones; it grows 2'-4' high. It has pink buds that open to showy white flowers in spring and fall. It needs full sun and is drought tolerant.
-Cornflower Farms
Designer: Stephanie Blanc | LA Hilltop Garden 14 |
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.
Be sure to fix all leaks promptly no matter how small they may seem.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.