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:Mission Fig
Botanical name:Opuntia ficus-indica
This Opuntia is more tree-like than other types; it grows to15' tall. It usually has no spines but some glochids can be found. Flowers are yellow to orange in late spring and early summer. Fruit is edible. It does best in full sun and is frost sensitive. It needs well drained soil. The major pest and source of the red dye cochineal comes from a scale.
Common name:California Wild Grape
Botanical name:Vitis californica
The California Wild Grape is a woody deciduous vine that with round large leaves. The flowers are in small fragrant blooms and berry clusters appear in the summer. This vine has a sprawling, climbing growth habit. The California wild Grape is native to California and is drought tolerant. It will cover up fences nicely. Grapes are ornamental.
Common name:Concha California Lilac
Botanical name:Ceanothus 'Concha'
Concha is a lilac that grows 6'-8' in height and width. It has small narrow leaves with intense dark blue flower clusters in spring. It is tolerant of coastal and inland conditions. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Flannel Bush, Fremontia cv.
Botanical name:Fremontodendron 'California Glory'
'California Glory' is an open and spreading evergreen shrub 10'-20' in height with many yellow flowers blooming in spring. It needs good drainage and little summer water. It is a native plant to California as the name suggests and it is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Germander Sage
Botanical name:Salvia chamaedryoides
Low mounding perennial with long bloom spreads by underground runners. Produces a small, silvery foliage which serves as a background for bright blue flowers. Bruised leaves have spicy fragrance. Native to eastern Mexico 7-9000' in desert habitat Grows to mature size of 2' tall and wide. Heaviest bloom in spring and early fall, intermittent throughout the rest of the season. Full sun, well drained site. No fertilizer. Drought tolerant.
Common name:Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name:Agave americana
This plant is fast growing to about 6'-10' tall and 8'-13' wide. Wide gray leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. It prefers full sun and well-drained situations. After blooming, which could take several years, it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted.
Common name:Canary Island Pine
Botanical name:Pinus canariensis
This graceful, slender-growing pine has a pyramidal form to about 70'. ITs needles are long and drooping inb bundles of 3. The foliage is a blue-green color, maturing to a dark green shade. Pines are highly combustible plants.
Common name:River She-Oak
Botanical name:Casuarina cunninghamiana
A fast evergreen tree that grows to 30'-60', the River Oak has an open canopy and pine-like foliage. It will tolerate considerable soil moisture or extended drought, and is often used to control soil erosion. It should receive sun to part shade. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Designer: Wynne Wilson | Color Border |
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.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.