Common name:Sapphire Tower
Botanical name:Puya alpestris
Other worldly is the best way to describe the inflorescence and flowers as they are a teal color that is seldom if ever seen in the plant world. The tall cone shaped flower spike emerges from the green bromeliad-like ground plant with leaves of one to two feet. The inflorescence explodes with hundreds of 3 petaled alien blue flowers and bright green horn like branch protrusions. Hummingbirds are sure to be frequent visitors.
Common name:Chilean Wine Palm
Botanical name:Jubaea chilensis
This beautiful stately palm slowly reaches 60' tall and 25' wide. The smooth gray trunk can reach 3' in diameter. Mature trees have scarring from leaf bases on the trunk. Leaves are feather-shaped, dark green on the top and dull green on the bottom. They can be 16' in length. It has insignificant flowers. This palm prefers full sun in well draining soil. It does not tolerate hot weather and coastal conditions. It does tolerate some frost. It is drought tolerant once it's established.
Designer: UC Berkeley
Photographer: Vicki Anderson
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.
