Common name:Mexican Feather Grass
Botanical name:Nassella tenuissima
This ornamental grass grows to 2' tall. It goes partially dormant during the summer but green in spring and fall. It prefers a sunny, well drained site. This plant can be invasive in some areas, so use caution. To keep reseeding to a minimum, drip irrigation will be best. Cut back in early spring to remove dormant foliage and dried seed heads. It can also tolerate dry shade. It grows to 10" wide and is the finest textured of the ornamental grasses.
Common name:Ferned-Leaved Tickseed
Botanical name:Bidens ferulifolia 'Goldmarie'
Tickseed grows 14'-18" tall. It is a heat tolerant variety that is perfect for cascading, bright color in baskets, containers, and window boxes. Finely divided foliage is covered with gold, single flowers. It blooms until first frost. Plant in full sun. It needs well-drained soi.
Common name:Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca glauca
This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue green leaves.
Common name:Sage
Botanical name:Salvia uliginosa
This clumping plant with straight stems of 6'-7' and narrow, bright green leaves is a favorite of hummingbirds. These highly aromatic leaves are accented by pale blue and white flowers. The flowers are arranged in 7" long, branched clusters. This plant blooms throughout the entire summer.
Common name:Western Redbud
Botanical name:Cercis occidentalis
This deciduous shrub ranges from 6'-20' tall and 10'-15' wide. It is desirable for its magenta spring flowers, yellow to red fall color, and dangling winter seed pods. It is tolerant of many soil types, drought and oak root fungus. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The Western Redbud can be found statewide in CA in the foothills below 4500' elevations in chaparral and woodland communities.
Common name:Rock Purslane
Botanical name:Cistanthe grandiflora 'Jazz Time'
This perennial will grow 12"-36" and produces large blue-green rosettes that last for a long season. It produces large, silky, lavender pink flowers that have lime-green, purple spotted calyces.
Common name:Spoon-Yucca
Botanical name:Dasylirion wheeleri
Spoon-Yucca requires little maintenance, as it tolerates drought, reflected heat and poor soils. It develops a short, thick trunk while reaching 6' tall and wide. Leaves are linear gray-green to 3' long and armed. During late spring and summer, erect stems of white creamy flowers are visible. It is a long lived shrub and slow-growing. It needs a well-drained site; it is cold and drought hardy.
Designer: The Plant Nerd | Med Front Left |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
Mulching around plants helps retain water and improves the soil.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.