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Gallery: Low Maintenance Gardens

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Color Blast
White Birch, European White Birch
Shrimp Pink Aloe
Rock Purslane
Pindo or Jelly Palm, Yatay
Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Amazing Red Flax
Smooth-edged Agave
Kangaroo Paws, Red
Sunburst Pinwheel
Red Pencil Tree
Hens and Chicks
White Birch, European White Birch

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.

Shrimp Pink Aloe

Common name:Shrimp Pink Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe maculata

This succulent plant will grow about 2' high and has large, greenish/white leaves with orange, pink, and red flowers that bloom in spring and fall.

Rock Purslane

Common name:Rock Purslane
Botanical name:Cistanthe grandiflora 'Jazz Time'

This perennial will grow 12"-36" and produces large blue-green rosettes that last for a long season. It produces large, silky, lavender pink flowers that have lime-green, purple spotted calyces.

Pindo or Jelly Palm, Yatay

Common name:Pindo or Jelly Palm, Yatay
Botanical name:Butia capitata

This slow-growing tree has leaves that vary from bluish gray to green and has round, yellow to orange fruit that is edible and delicious. Arching leaves spread 10'-15' wide; palm can reach 20' tall.

Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave

Common name:Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Botanical name:Agave attenuata

Makes a bold statement in the garden because of its tropical form. Even light frost can damage succulent leaves. Great for containers. In the low desert partial sun will be best. If it becomes top heavy, simply cut and stick in ground to root. Not a fast grower. Light green foliage. This will also die after flowering but pups around the mother will survive. Distinctive with its large rosette of leaves perched on a long curving trunk. Soil tolerant. Unarmed. From Mexico Central Jalisco.

Amazing Red Flax

Common name:Amazing Red Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Amazing Red'

Phormium 'Amazing Red' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves in a fan pattern. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1-2 in. blossoms in red.

Smooth-edged Agave

Common name:Smooth-edged Agave
Botanical name:Agave weberi

This is a striking medium-sized agave that can grow to 5' tall by 6-10' wide. This agave has very fine marginal teeth, and is sometimes spineless. Supplemental summer watering can prevent yellowing from heat stress in the summer. These plants are also moderately cold hardy, tolerant of temperatures down to 12f. More refined looking than americana. Prone to weevils. Native in Eastern central Mexico. One of the largest of the Agaves.-Mountain States Nursery

Kangaroo Paws, Red

Common name:Kangaroo Paws, Red
Botanical name:Anigozanthos hybrids

This tender perennial is a clump-forming evergreen that produces fuzzy, yellow green flowers that bloom in spring and last for over 2 months. Many sizes and varieties are available including yellow and pink flowers.

Sunburst Pinwheel

Common name:Sunburst Pinwheel
Botanical name:Aeonium haworthii 'Sunburst'

This colorful succulent reaches 1.5'-2' tall and wide. Rosettes of leaves are green and yellow, with white colored margins. White flowers bloom in summer. This plant tolerates full sun in coastal areas but needs afternoon shade in warm inland valleys. It prefers sandy, well draining soil. After plant is established, watering requirements are low.

Red Pencil Tree

Common name:Red Pencil Tree
Botanical name:Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'

This plant is probably one of the most popular and well known of the Euphorbias; its beautiful, freely branching, vertical lines of deep green, mottled in the center with a zig-zaggy pattern of cream colors makes it outstanding. Generally grows to 6' tall x 2' wide, but can get to be much larger. It does well in full sun in cool coastal areas or part shade elsewhere in hotter climates. Branches are as thin as pencils and are reddish color. Leaves are inconspicuous. When pruning or breaking stems, sap may irritate skin.

Hens and Chicks

Common name:Hens and Chicks
Botanical name:Echeveria 'Imbricata'

This succulent perennial is very small, growing only 2-3" high. It produces orange, pink, and red blooms and does best in full sun and moist soil.

Designer: Laura Dalton

Color Blast
Image: 18 of 20

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.