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Beechwood Small
Crape Myrtle
Hidcote English Lavender
Victor Reiter Thyme
Catmint
Fountain Grass
Green Lavender Cotton
Flowering Maple
Crape Myrtle

Common name:Crape Myrtle
Botanical name:Lagerstroemia indica

The new leaves of this species are 2" long, bright gren, and tinged with bronze. Its fall color is affected by the weather. While it has a bare outline, its rounded seed capsules add interest. Its delicate flowers bloom in 6-12" long clusters. The colors of its flowers are shades of red, rose, pink, purple, and white. It thrives on heat, and new cultivars have been created that resist mildew.

Hidcote English Lavender

Common name:Hidcote English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

This is a slow growing lavender that grows to 1' tall with deep purple flowers. It is drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. -Cornflower Farms

Victor Reiter Thyme

Common name:Victor Reiter Thyme
Botanical name:Thymus 'Victor Reiter'

This evergreen ground cover needs full sun to light shade. It grows to 3" tall, forming a dense, thick mat. It needs well-drained, light soil. This thyme is considered drought tolerant. The foliage is dark green and slightly hairy. It has a pleasant, minty fragrance when crushed, though not considered for culinary uses. Flowers are lilac purple and bloom in the summer. It attracts bees and butterflies.

Catmint

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, grey-green, undulating mounds to 1' tall in bloom, spreading 3'-4' wide. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in summer. Catmint can be planted in sun or shade and needs medium amount of water. Prune spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

Fountain Grass

Common name:Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum alopecuroides

Pennisetum alopecuroides is a perennial grass. Bright green, 3-4 ft. foliage clumps are topped by pinkish plumes in early summer. Leaves turn yellow in fall, brown in winter.

Green Lavender Cotton

Common name:Green Lavender Cotton
Botanical name:Santolina rosmarinifolia

Santolina is an amazingly tough shrub/groundcover. It has small, yellow, button-sized flowers that covers the shrub during the summer months. This plant reaches 3' tall and wide. The green leaves are very thin and needle like. This plant requires absolutely no care in most environments once established. Too much water will lead to mortality. Best grown in well drained soils.

Flowering Maple

Common name:Flowering Maple
Botanical name:Abutilon hybrids

Flowering Maple usually grow to 8'-10' tall and as wide. Most will tolerate frost to 25 degrees F or lower with some damage. All are irresistible to hummingbirds with their showy flowers and heavy nectar production. They will take sun to moderately deep shade and little or no summer watering in coastal areas. They should be given more shade and water in hotter, drier climates. They make an excellent plant for containers.

Designer:

Beechwood Small
Image: 11 of 16

Photographer: Vicki Anderson

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.