Diversity in the Garden

Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax

New Zealand Flax is a large, bold plant with stiffly vertical, sword-like, green leaves that arise from its base. It should be grown under full sun for best color. Varieties will offer different growth habits and leaf color.

Common name:Elija Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca glauca 'Elija Blue'

The 'Elijah Blue' is a dwarf variety with gray blue (but sometimes white-looking) foliage. It should receive sun and little summer watering.

Common name:Long-leafed Yellowwood
Botanical name:Podocarpus henkelii

This handsome evergreen tree will grow 30'-50' high and 15'-20' wide. It has beautiful drooping, shiny, green foliage year-round. Leaves are slightly crescent-shaped, 5'-7' long when young, shorter when plant matures. It makes an attractive container plant.

Common name:Indian Fig Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia ficus-indica

This Opuntia is more tree-like than other types; it grows to15' tall. It usually has no spines but some glochids can be found. Flowers are yellow to orange in late spring and early summer. Fruit is edible. It does best in full sun and is frost sensitive. It needs well drained soil. The major pest and source of the red dye cochineal comes from a scale.

Common name:Red Fringe Flower
Botanical name:Loropetalum chinese 'Rubrum'

Red Fringe Flower is a 6'-12' shrub with arching branches and light green and reddish leaves .

Common name:Golden Variegated Hakonechloa
Botanical name:Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'

This weeping grass has amazing foliage that is yellow and green in the summer, yellow and light green in the fall, and bronzy brown in winter. It is drought tolerant and can be used in a variety of areas.

Common name:Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical name:Nandina domestica 'Compacta'

The Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo is an evergreen shrub that grows 4'-5' high. It has green and bronze foliage that turns red in the winter. It is resistant to oak root fungus and hardy to 10 degrees F. The Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo is native to California and is drought tolerant.

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Water Saving Tip:

Irrigate in the early morning to minimize evaporation.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.