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Warm Color Trend
Oriental Fountain Grass
Dropmore Catmint
Ultra Violet Hybrid Sage
Oriental Fountain Grass

Common name:Oriental Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum orientale

Oriental Fountain Grass is a clumping, warm-season grass with spectacular pink flowers.

Dropmore Catmint

Common name:Dropmore Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii 'Dropmore'

Dropmore Catmint has soft, grey-green, fragrant foliage that reaches 1'-3' tall, spreading 3'-4' wide. The small leaves are not attractive to cats but bees and butterflies love this plant. This perennial has lavender blue flowers from spring through fall (may depend on heat). Catmint can be planted in sun or part shade in warm inland valleys with well draining, sandy, dry soil. It tolerates coastal conditions. It is drought tolerant once it's established. Prune spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Flowers are fragrant and great for flower arrangements. It is deer and rabbit resistant.

Ultra Violet Hybrid Sage

Common name:Ultra Violet Hybrid Sage
Botanical name:Salvia 'Ultra Violet'

Salvia Ultra Violet is a great new cold-hardy Salvia greggii hybrid with showy violet-pink colored flowers. This Sage selection has demonstrated exceptional cold hardiness and blooms all season beginning in early summer through fall. Salvia Ultra Violet thrives in full sun and heat. Drought resistant/drought tolerant perennial plant (xeric). 18-20" tall x 24-28" wide. You'll enjoy an ultra garden performance from this new hybrid Salvia selected by Lauren Springer Ogden and Scott Ogden. Discovered in their Ft. Collins garden, 'Ultra Violet' is a hummingbird initiated cross between blue flowered Salvia lycioides and rose-pink Salvia greggii. The dark green foliage and copious violet-pink flowers make this plant a standout in the xeriscape. For three years now, the plant has grown beautifully after surviving erratic USDA zone 5b (-10 to -15 ° F) winters. Blooming starts in late July and continues until October frost! Select a hot, full sun location with any lean-loam or clay-loam soil that is well drained. Its aromatic foliage is very rabbit and deer resistant. During fall garden clean-up, wait to cut back the plants until spring for improved cold hardiness. Once the time is right (during spring), shear back by one-third of the plant's height. Combine it with Hymenoxys acaulis or various Oenothera for a pleasing, xeric combination.

Designer: Susan Morrison

Warm Color Trend
Image: 13 of 15

Photographer: Vicki Anderson

 

Soils and Compost:

Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.

Water-Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

Integrated Pest Management:

Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.