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Path to Bright Blue Door
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Catmint
Blue Fescue
Pink Stripe Flax
Mexican Feather Grass
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo

Common name:Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical name:Nandina domestica

Nandina domestica is a graceful upright shrub that grows from 3'-6' in height. It gets its name from its bamboo-like growth habit. When thinned from the center it bears a remarkable resemblance to bamboo. It is best used in groups. It can be used in a shaded patio or out in a shrub border with full sun. An interesting feature of Heavenly Bamboo is the bronze color in the new growth when planted in full sun. It also bears clusters of white flowers in the spring.

Catmint

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray green, undulating mounds that are 1.5' high when blooming. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring and early summer.

Blue Fescue

Common name:Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca glauca

This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue green leaves.

Pink Stripe Flax

Common name:Pink Stripe Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Pink Stripe'

Phormium 'Pink Stripe' is an evergreen perennial. It is a big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical gray-looking leaves with a pink edge, in a fan pattern. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1"-2" blossoms in dull red to yellow.

Mexican Feather Grass

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.

Designer: Gabrielle Newmark

Path to Bright Blue Door

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Lawn watering more than 5 minutes usually results in runoff. Use multiple cycle starts.

Integrated Pest Management:

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