Plant of the Month
Autumn Daffodil Sternbergia lutea Plant Form: Perennial bulb Water Use: Low Mature Size: 0.25 – 0.5 ft. tall and wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Fall (Sept – Oct) Native to: Southern Europe, Asia Hardiness: Cold hardy to 28°F Autumn Daffodil pops up through bare ground when you least expect it, just as autumn arrives. Its crocus-like, goblet-shaped, waxy yellow flowers each appear singly on 5 to 6-inch-tall stems. Soon after, deep green, strap-shaped leaves emerge that persist through winter, […]
Plant of the Month – October
Lion’s Tail Leonotis leonurus Plant Form: Semi-evergreen shrub Water Use: Low Mature Size: 3 – 6 ft. tall x 2-3 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Summer (Aug), Fall (Sept-Nov) Native to: South Africa Hardiness: Cold hardy to 20°F Lion’s Tail is prized for its dazzling, tubular flowers covered with a fur-like coat of fine hairs, said to resemble either lions’ tails or lions’ ears. Tiered whorls of orange blossoms encircle the square stems, which are covered with dark […]
Plant of the Month – September
Yellow Bells, Esperanza Tecoma stans ‘Gold Star’ Plant Form: Semi-deciduous shrub Water Use: Low, moderate Mature Size: 4 – 6 ft. tall and wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Spring – Fall (Apr-Nov) Native to: Florida, Texas, W. Indies, Mexico, Central & South America Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15-20°F Yellow Bells, or Esperanza, impresses everyone with its large clusters of golden yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers, bending the branch tips into arches with their weight. The profuse, 1 to 2-inch-long blossoms […]
Plant of the Month – December
Chinese Pistache Pistacia chinensis Plant Form: Deciduous tree Water Use: Low, Moderate Mature Size: 25-40 (to 60) ft. tall x 25-35 (to 50) ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part shade Bloom Time: Spring (Mar-May) Native to: China, Phillipines, Taiwan Hardiness: Cold hardy to 10°F Chinese Pistache delivers what few other trees do: vibrant fall colors in warmer climates. Besides transforming its foliage to crimson in autumn, it adds to its year-round interest with attractive bark and bright red fruit that turns […]
Plant of the Month – August
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Plant Form: Deciduous tree, shrub Water Use: Low, moderate Mature Size: 2-22 ft. tall and wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Summer (June – August), Fall (September – November) Native to: China Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15°F Crape Myrtle’s claim to fame is its incredibly showy, ruffled flowers, but it has many other admirable qualities. This ornamental shrub or tree offers year-round interest: flowers from summer into fall, fall foliage color, sculptural branching in winter […]
Plant of the Month – May
Basketbush Sumac, Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica Plant Form: Deciduous Shrub Water Use: Low Mature Size: 5-6 ft. tall x 6-8 ft. wide Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Bloom Time: Spring (Mar-May) Native to: California, western U.S., Canada to Mexico (below 7,500 feet) Hardiness: Cold hardy to -15°F Basketbush Sumac is a surprisingly lush plant to be found in dry desert habitats. It is a tidy shrub with arching stems and dense leaves, spreading by rhizomes to form a thicket. […]
