Common name:Sweet Acacia
Botanical name:Acacia farnesiana
Large thorny shrub or small tree has a soft texture as a result of its finely divided leaves. Bright yellow flowers have a light, sweet fragrance. Bloom is heaviest in the spring and may continue intermittently throughout summer and fall. Evergreen in mild winters. Branches are armed with paired spines to 2". Flowering can be impaired by cold.
Common name:San Marcos Hibiscus
Botanical name:Gossypium harknessii
Evergreen shrub grows at a moderate rate to 3' x 4'. Leaves are dark green, glossy and heart-shaped. Flowers are showy yellow with a red center and appear summer to fall. Accepts full sun. Native to the Sonoran Desert.
Designer: Homeowner
Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.