Common name:Hot Lips Sage
Botanical name:Salvia 'Hot Lips'
A long-blooming Sage that blooms all summer with eye-catching red and white bicolor flowers. The nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Blooms from spring through hard frost in fall. Bi-colored flowers but turn red in heat.
Common name:Giant Catmit
Botanical name:Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'
From the early summer and into the fall, this aromatic plant will bloom with gray-green foliage and lavender blue flowers. This perennial grows from 30" to reach a height and width of 3'. It is tolerant of both humidity and drought. This perennial is effective when grown below roses, as a filler in perennial gardens, and as an edging plant. It also is complemented by pines and pale yellow flowers. The perennial should be placed in a well-drained location.
Common name:Saltillo Evening Primrose
Botanical name:Oenothera stubbei
This ground cover grows quickly to 6" x 4'. The dense mat of dark green foliage provides a nice back drop for the large butter yellow flowers. Blooms appear spring through fall. The flowers have a sweet fragrance and are open from dusk to early morning. Native to northeast Mexico.
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:Cedros Island Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'
Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina' is a selection introduced by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. It follows the same wonderful characteristics described under the general species V. lilacina.
Designer:
Photographer: Vicki Anderson
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.