Common name:Palo Verde Dudleya
Botanical name:Dudleya cv.'Palo Verde'

Palo Verde Dudleya is an attractive succulent with a 12" diameter rosette and waxy, light gray leaves. Foliage is somewhat lance-shaped and thick. During spring and summer, tall reddish spikes appear with orange flowers on top. This plant does best in full sun with well draining, sandy soil. It needs minimal irrigation. It looks great in containers and rock gardens.

Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica

This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue/green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'

Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves (9 ft. long, to 5 in. wide) in a fan pattern. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1-2 in. blossoms in dark red to yellow.

Common name:Royal Purple Smokebush
Botanical name:Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Royal Purple Smokebrush is a large shrub with handsome, oval purple leaves all summer and silvery-purple clouds of seed heads in fall. Subject to winter dieback. Best in protected location. Needs full sunlight. -Fort Collins Nursery

Common name:Margarita Bop Foothill Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita Bop'

This is one of the easiest and most versatile California native plants. This is a hybrid Penstemon, which will produce beautiful, purple blue flowers through much of the year when spent flowers are removed. Foliage grows in low growing mats to 6"-8" tall and 12"-18" wide.

Common name:Tower of Jewels
Botanical name:Echium wildpretii

This perennial will grow 4-6' tall and spread 2' wide. It has silver-gray, narrow and 2' long leaves. During spring, a tall vertical spike shoots up from the foliage containing hundreds of dark pink flowers. Birds and bees love the flowers. If flowers are left on plant, seeds will propagate the plant. Echium prefers full sun and well draining soil. Tolerates coastal conditions. This plant has low watering needs once it's established. Little or no summer irrigation needed.