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Mexican Feather Grass, Needlegrass
Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Lavender Cotton
Our Lord's Candle
Mexican Feather Grass, Needlegrass

Common name:Mexican Feather Grass, Needlegrass
Botanical name:Nassella tenuissima

Soft, flexible foliage move with a breeze. Grows to 2'. Goes somewhat dormant during summer but green spring & fall. Prefers a sunny, well-drained site. This plant can be invasive in some areas, so use caution. Native to N. Mexico, Tx, Mex & Arg 5-8000'. To keep reseeding to a minimum, drip irrigation will be best. Cut back in early spring to remove dormant foliage and dried seed heads. Can also tolerate dry shade. 14" x 10" Finest textured of ornamental grasses. Very dr tolerant. Cool Grower

Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn

Common name:Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Botanical name:Parkinsonia aculeata

Prickly stems. Very fast growing with sparse foliage & very long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers with orange red throats spring for month+. Very messy, thorny, weedy & shortlived. Usually found on limestone soils in areas with moisture but is strongly drought tolerant. Withstands saline conditions. Can be cold or drought deciduous. Half hardy to Dallas. Light airy tree. Green bark.

Lavender Cotton

Common name:Lavender Cotton
Botanical name:Santolina chamaecyparissus

This ground cover/small shrub will grow to 3' tall and has small, grayish/silver leaves with yellow flowers that bloom in the summer.

Our Lord's Candle

Common name:Our Lord's Candle
Botanical name:Yucca whipplei

Stemless, it produces dense clusters of rigid, gray-green lvs 12-18" long. Its drooping, bell-shaped flowers appear on large, branched spikes 3-6'. Plants die after blooming, much like agaves, but only individual rosettes will die off, others in in clump will continue to live & eventually bloom. Overall plant grows 3' x 6'. Native Calif. into Baja usually in chaparral 1-4000'. Prefers well drained soil. Drought tolerant but will lose lower leaves with extended drought. Great accent. Sharp

Designer: Jill Salmon: Apache Gardens

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Image: 8 of 9

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.