Common name:Myers Asparagus
Botanical name:Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers'
An evergreen groundcover, the 'Meyers' also makes an excellent hanging basket when larger in size. Its formal looking fronds have an even, spiral arrangement of leaflets. It is damaged by severe frosts, and looks best with at least occasional watering.
-Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Whale's Tongue Agave
Botanical name:Agave ovatifolia
This versatile Agave is a solitary plant, growing quite large, with rosettes that can reach 7' across. Leaves are grayish white color with small marginal teeth. The leaf blade is short, wide and distinctively cupped, thus the common name, Whale's Tongue. This Agave looks great in a pot on a patio, under trees, with large boulders or planted with other succulents. It can take intense heat and cold. It grows moderately fast but prefers well drained soil.
Common name:Lemon Fizz Lavender Cotton
Botanical name:Santolina virens 'Lemon Fizz'
Santolina is an amazingly tough plant with small, yellow, button-sized flowers that cover the 3' tall and 3' wide shrub in the summer months. Low mounds of fragrant, bright yellow to chartreuse, scale-like foliage. Little, pale yellow flowers. More dense growth habit than the S. chamaecyparissus. Tolerates full to part sun with well draining soil. Established plants need little water except during hot summer spells or if in containers. This plant looks great in borders, containers, rock gardens, roof gardens or as a ground cover.
Common name:Wynyabbie Hightlight Westringia
Botanical name:Westringia 'Wynyabbie Highlight'
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Highlight' (Australian Variegated Rosemary) - A compact evergreen shrub that grows to at least 3-4 feet tall and as wide with cream margined, slender, gray-green (white beneath) 1 inch long leaves that radiate out from the dark stems in evenly spaced whorls. The clusters of attractive mauve-pink flowers are produced throughout the year. Plant in full sun to light shade. It is drought and seaside tolerant, and like 'Wynyabbie Gem', should take cold down to 25 degrees F. It is distinct from the parent plant with its more compact growth form and attractively variegated leaf margins.
Common name:Hairy Wattle
Botanical name:Acacia vestita
Ornamental dense to open shrub or small tree 15-20' with weeping habit and bright yellow ball flowers in spring (absolutely beautiful in flower!). Tolerant of most soil types both coastal and inland. Care should be taken when pruning to maintain pendulous growth habit. Tolerates water logging for short periods. Beautiful specimen for small or large gardens.
Common name:Grass-leaf Hakea
Botanical name:Hakea francisiana
Tall shrub or small tree 8-18'. A spectacular hakea in full bloom. Coral-pink flowers in winter. Hardy to drought and frost. Tolerant of well-drained sandy or clay alkaline soils. For best flowering plant in full sun. Hardy landscape plant. Attracts Hummingbirds.
Designer: Cricket Riley
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.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.