Common name:Mexican Bush Sage
Botanical name:Salvia leucantha
The Mexican sage is a bushy shrub that grows 3-4 ft. tall and wide. It has hairy white stems, gray-green leaves and velvet like purple flower spikes that bloom summer through fall. This shrub tolerates sun, light shade, little water, and is hardy to 15 degrees F. The Mexican sage is drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Society Garlic
Botanical name:Tulbaghia violacea
This clumping perennial will grow less than 1' tall and has narrow, blue green leaves. Clusters of lavender flowers bloom in spring and summer. Leaves and flowers have a distinct onion or garlic smell if crushed.
Common name:Golden Breath Of Heaven
Botanical name:Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'
Sunset Gold Breath of Heaven is a fine textured, low growing shrub to 10" high and wide with bright yellow foliage. It is excellent for rock gardens. It is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Purple Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum 'Rubrum'
This grass will reach 6' high and has deciduous, purplish red leaves with clusters of purple flowers that appear in summer and fall. Tall grasses are highly combustible.
Common name:Kangeroo Paws Tall Red
Botanical name:Anigozanthus flavidus 'Tall Red'
Anigozanthos flavidus 'Tall Red' is a perennial with dark green, smooth, swordlike evergreen leaves. Produces spikes of striking, fuzy, tubular flowers in yellow-green tinged with red that are curved at the tips. The flowers attract hummingbirds. Flowers bloom from late spring to fall if spent flowering spikes are cut to the ground. Makes for a good cut flower.
Common name:Manzanita Emerald Carpet
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Emerald Carpe
The 'Emerald Carpet' is an evergreen groundcover that grows to 1' tall by 6-8' wide. It is favored by many landscapers as the manzanita of choice for inland situations. It has dark green leaves and exhibits compact growth.
The variety is relatively tolerant of adverse soil conditions. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Dwarf Orange Bulbine
Botanical name:Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark'
Compact variation of yellow bulbine. Plant grows to about 1' tall by 1-2' wide. Orange flowers bloom almost all year long. Plants stay evergreen, but will freeze to the ground in the event of serious frost. Frost-damaged plants will regrow in spring. Delicate coppery orange flowers with fluffy yellow centers are on tall spikes that rise above the foliage. This selection is free flowering spring summer and fall. 1' x 2'
Common name:Blush Pinkâ„¢ Nandina
Botanical name:Nandina domestica 'Blush Pink'
This Nandina has unique blush-colored young foliage from spring until fall, then turns to deep red over winter. Blush Pink makes the perfect short hedge or color accent to evergreen shrubs. Its dense low growth habit is perfect for any garden or mixed container. Reaches about 2' tall and wide. Does best in full or part sun.
Common name:John Dourley Manzanita
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'
This California native shrub is reliable and attractive. Because it reaches 2'-4' tall and may spread up to 6' wide, it can be used as a high ground cover or filler. It has a mounding habit. It is a full sun, low water plant. Leaves are evergreen and are reddish orange in the spring, slowly changing to gray green by middle of summer. Clusters of pink flowers appear in late winter and early spring, followed by reddish purple berries. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love the flowers. A great plant for difficult, hot hillsides.
Designer:
Photographer: Vicki Anderson
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.