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Italian Villa Entry
California Coffee Berry
Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Bearberry
Italian Cypress
Olive
Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily
California Coffee Berry

Common name:California Coffee Berry
Botanical name:Rhamnus californica

The California coffeeberry is an evergreen shrub that reaches 6-8 ft. high. It grows inland and has large green to black berries between in late summer. This shrub tolerates sun or partial shade in all soil types. The California coffeeberry is a native to California and is drought tolerant. It is a beneficial insect plant and attracts butterflies. -Cornflower Farms

Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave

Common name:Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Botanical name:Agave attenuata

Makes a bold statement in the garden because of its tropical form. Even light frost can damage succulent leaves. Great for containers. In the low desert partial sun will be best. If it becomes top heavy, simply cut and stick in ground to root. Not a fast grower. Light green foliage. This will also die after flowering but pups around the mother will survive. Distinctive with its large rosette of leaves perched on a long curving trunk. Soil tolerant. Unarmed. From Mexico Central Jalisco.

Bearberry

Common name:Bearberry
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

A hardy, creeping evergreen shrub, it grows 6-12" high and spreads as much as 10-12'. It has glossy green leathery leaves attached to dark brown branches. Its flowers are white to light pink in late winter and early spring; berries are bright red.

Italian Cypress

Common name:Italian Cypress
Botanical name:Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta'

Conifer, evergreen tree, very narrow columnar, to 20 ft in 10 years, finally to 40-60 ft tall and about 3 ft wide. Branches are flattened; leaves are dark green and aromatic when crushed. It has a narrow, columnar form. It does best in full sun with well draining, sandy soil. It does very well in Mediterranean types of climate thus does well in parts of California. Looks great next to tall buildings.

Olive

Common name:Olive
Botanical name:Olea europaea

This broad tree will grow to 40' tall and has small, gray/green leaves with fleshy black fruit that appears in fall.

Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily

Common name:Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes iridioides

This clumping evergreen Iris bears tall, narrow leaves to 30" tall and white flowers marked purple in the center on stalks up to 3' tall. This variety has stiffer, darker foliage than the bicolor form. It requires sun to part shade with little or no summer watering when established.

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Italian Villa Entry
Image: 2 of 16

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.