Plant of the Month – October
California Fuchsia Epilobium canum/Zauschneria californica Plant Form: Semi-evergreen perennial Water Use: Low Mature Size: 2 ft. tall & wide Exposure: Full sun, part shade Bloom Time: Summer, Fall (June – Oct) Native to: California, Arizona, and Baja California (below 10,000 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 10°F California Fuchsia is an easy-to-grow, herbaceous, perennial subshrub with tubular orange-red flowers that are an important nectar source for hummingbirds during migration (the plant is dependent on hummingbirds for pollination). Also known as […]
Plant of the Month – June
Mojave Desert Sage Salvia dorrii Plant Form: Evergreen Sub-shrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall x 2-3 ft. wide Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Bloom Time: Spring (May), Summer (June-July) Native to: California, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada,Oregon,Utah, Washington (between 2500 – 8500 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 10°F Mojave Desert Sage is an aromatic, native “shrublet” with striking blue-violet flowers that emerge from purplish, ball-shaped flower heads along the stems. This compact, herbaceous perennial is impervious to […]
Plant of the Month – April
Bladderpod Peritoma arborea Plant Form: Evergreen shrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 4-6 feet tall & wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Year-round; heaviest bloom Feb – June Native to: California (between 200 – 6,000 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 25°F Bladderpod is a hardy, drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub with lacy gray-green leaves. This relative of capers produces showy, yellow flowers year-round with only occasional water. Bladderpod derives its name from its seed pods that are shaped like small […]
Plant of the Month – February
Firecracker Penstemon Eaton’s Firecracker Scarlet Bugler Penstemon eatonii Plant Form: Evergreen perennial Water Use: Low Mature Size: 2 ft. tall & wide (flower stalks 2-4′ tall) Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Late Winter – Spring (Feb – June) Native to: S. California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona (between 3000 – 9500 feet) Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F Firecracker Penstemon is irresistible to hummingbirds due to its nectar-filled, brilliant, scarlet flowers. It is among the first to bloom in spring, providing an early-season […]
Plant of the Month – October
Aloe ‘Blue Elf’ Aloe ‘Blue Elf’ Plant Form: Succulent Water Use: Low Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall and wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Winter (Jan-Feb), Spring (Mar-Apr) Native to: Hybrid of South African parents Hardiness: Cold hardy to 20°F Aloe Blue Elf is a tough, vigorous, fuss-free succulent that thrives in poor soil and dazzles with its tubular orange flowers from winter through early spring. This tight-clumping, dwarf aloe grows attractive rosettes of narrow, upright, blue-gray […]
Plant of the Month – July
‘Bells of Fire’ Tecoma Tecoma stans ‘Bells of Fire’ Plant Form: Semi-deciduous shrub Water Use: Low, moderate Mature Size: 3-6 ft. tall x 3-5 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Spring (May), Summer (June-Aug), Fall (Sept-Oct) Native to: Hybrid of parents from the Americas Hardiness: Cold hardy to 25°F ‘Bells of Fire’ Tecoma catches everyone’s eye with its large clusters of red-orange, trumpet-shaped flowers adorning its deep-green, fern-like foliage. Besides attracting humans, hummingbirds and butterflies will flock […]
