Common name:Rosemary
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary is hardy in full sun areas where winter temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees F. They can be grown in a clay pot with well-drained, porous soil in bright indoor light, and will also flourish on the backporch in spring, summer and fall. Its beautiful, slowly trailing stems and shiny slender leaves are perfect for showing off the small, light blue flowers that blossom in the summer.
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:Spanish Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula stoechas
This dense shrub grows 2'-3' tall with blue gray foliage and deep purple flowers that have large showy bracts near the top of the spikes. It is drought tolerant .
Common name:Flowering or Evergreen Pear
Botanical name:Pyrus kawakamii
This variety grows as a small tree to about 20' tall and as wide. In mildest climates, it is an evergreen, and the leaves are glossy, oval, and pointed. During the winter, clusters of white flowers can be seen.
Common name:Olive
Botanical name:Olea europaea
This broad tree will grow to 40' tall and has small, gray green leaves with fleshy black fruit that appears in fall. Purchase fruitless varieties to avoid the mess.
Common name:Euryops
Botanical name:Euryops pectinatus
As a small perennial shrub with 2" wide, bright yellow, daisy-like flowers, blooms on this plant are seen seen almost year round. Its leaves are gray green in color. 'Viridis' is a variety with deep green foliage.
Common name:Grosso Long Stemmed Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula X intermedia 'Grosso'
Long Stemmed Lavender has beautiful violet colored plumes in the summer. It is very drought tolerant and is a great plant to create that Mediterranean effect.
Common name:French Lavender, Toothed Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula dentata
This lavender has green leaves and will grow 3' tall and 5' wide. It has lavender flowers that are prominent in the spring and summer months.
Putting the right plants in the right places in the right groupings is both the challenge and art of good landscape design.
Click in the green box for more information
Designer: O'Hara, Snow, Madrone | Front Garden |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.
Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.