Common name:Yellow bulbine
Botanical name:Bulbine frutescens 'Yellow'
This clumping groundcover grows 1' tall and 1'-3' wide. It produces 12"-18" flower stalks that bear clusters of small yellow flowers almost all year. Succulent evergreen leaves are fragile, so locate away from foot traffic. Growth habit is not very tidy whereas the orange cultivar 'Hallmark' is a bit more so. This So. African native blooms most heavily in spring and fall with sporadic spikes in summer. It is also a good container plant and for erosion control.
Common name:Mexican Bush Sage, Velvet Sage
Botanical name:Salvia leucantha
The Mexican Sage is a bushy shrub that grows 3'-4' tall and wide. It has hairy white stems, gray green leaves and velvet-like purple flower spikes that bloom summer through fall. This shrub tolerates sun, light shade, little water, and is hardy to 15 degrees F. The Mexican Sage is drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Eulalia or Japanese Silver Grass
Botanical name:Miscanthus sinensis
Miscanthus sinensis is popular ornamental grass. Flowers are held well above foliage clumps and may be cut for fresh or dry arrangements.
Common name:Sageleaf Rockrose
Botanical name:Cistus salviifolius
This low-spreading shrub reaches a size of 2' tall by 6'-8' wide. It bears white flowers that are 1" wide with yellow centers. This variety makes a good groundcover. The plant requires average to good drainage, and little or no summer watering when established. It should be grown in sun or part shade. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Dwarf Strawberry Tree
Botanical name:Arbutus unedo 'Compacta'
This is a compact evergreen shrub that grows to 5' high. It has white flowers and red fruit throughout the year. It is also a very clean, colorful , " deer resistant " shrub.
Photographer: GardenSoft
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
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.