Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'
Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves (9 ft. long, to 5 in. wide) in a fan pattern. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1-2 in. blossoms in dark red to yellow.
Common name:Rock Purslane
Botanical name:Calandrinia grandiflora
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.
Common name:Shrub Rose
Botanical name:Rosa Shrub varieties
The dark green, heavily veined leaves of this bushy shrub are strong support for the pure white or pink, nearly double flowers it produces. This is a very tolerant, heavily scented plant with an impressive fall color. Also, large hips appear intermittently with this plant.
Common name:Yellow Bush Spurge
Botanical name:Euphorbia characias wulfenii
Broad clusters of lime green flowers appear in winter and spring. These flowers create dense, round cylindrical masses! This evergreen perennial has upright stems forming a 4' tall dome-shaped bush. Crowded all along the stems are narrow, blue-green leaves. Once it's established, it is drought tolerant. Until the seeds ripen, the flower color holds with only slight fading. At that point, the stalks should be cut out at the base. Use gloves as sap is poisonous.
Designer:
Photographer: Vicki Anderson
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.