Common name:California Pepper Tree
Botanical name:Schinus molle

An evergreen tree that grows 25-40 feet tall with rough, twisted, dark gray bark and a wide weeping habit, spreading as wide as tall. It has bright green, pinnately compound leaves that are 5 to 12 inches long with many 1 to 2 inch-long narrow leaflets. The 1/8 inch wide fragrant whitish-yellow flowers bloom in branched pendulous panicles in summer and female trees (it is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate trees) producing 1/3-inch-wide red berries in the fall into winter. Plant in full sun and irrigate very little or not at all. It is hardy to around 10°F but in temps much below 20°F the foliage freezes then turns brown but new green growth quickly appears in the spring. This tree tolerates many adverse conditions, like poor soil, smog, wind, drought and moderate frosts but the oils in the leaf litter from this tree deter understory growth, making it difficult to grow other plants beneath the canopy. Attracts birds and butterflies. Fruit may be poisonous to poultry, pigs, calves and children. Considered potentially invasive by the CA Invasive Plant Council.

Common name:Desert Marigold
Botanical name:Baileya multiradiata

Fast growing annual or biennial forming soft clump of soft wooly gray leaves. Bright yellow daisy like flowers appear spring thru fall. At lower elevations, can bloom nearly year round. Full sun. Heat & drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. Will reseed some to establish. Flowers top at 12". Will rot with too much water. Little is needed even in the low desert. Native to mesas, plains in west, along roads to 5000'. Deadheading will prolong bloom. Great cut flower. Very cold hardy.

Common name:Sea Lavender, Statice
Botanical name:Limonium perezii

This mounding shrub will reach about 3' high and has large, dark green leaves with small blue and purple flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Common name:Yellow Moraea, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes bicolor

This clumping perennial iris relative stands 3-4' high. It has light yellow iris-like flowers with maroon blotches that are about 2" wide. It performs best in full sun and in soil with good drainage.

Common name:Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine
Botanical name:Trachelospermum jasminoides

The star jasmine is an evergreen vine that grows 20 ft. tall or a ground cover that reaches 1-2 ft. tall and 4-5 ft. wide. It has white fragrant flowers in the summer and can tolerate sun or partial shade. The star jasmine is also drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms