Plant of the Month
White Sage Salvia apiana Plant Form: Evergreen shrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 2-3 feet tall x 3-6 feet wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Spring (April – June) Native to: California to Baja (below 4,500 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 15°F White sage is an aromatic, slow-growing, evergreen shrub prized for a variety of qualities. Gardeners treasure this drought-tolerant native for its beautiful white foliage, almost luminous in the early evening and on moonlight nights. Bees […]
Plant of the Month – March
Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata Plant Form: Perennial Flower Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 18”- 20” tall & wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Spring – Summer, Fall (April – July, and again in Oct. if summer rain occurs or if watered) Native to: All of Western US and Mexico at elevations below 6,000 feet Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 10°F Desert Marigold is a cheery, fast-growing but short-lived perennial with bright yellow flowers from spring through fall. At lower […]
Plant of the Month – May
Goodding Verbena, Southwestern Mock Vervain Glandularia gooddingii Plant Form: Perennial herb Water Use: Low Mature Size: 1-1.5 ft. tall x 2-3 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Winter (Feb), Spring (Mar-May), Summer (June) Native to: California, SW U.S., Mexico Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F Goodding Verbena is a sensation with pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds, and also with human garden admirers. This southwest native is a strong nectar producer which may bloom most of the year if […]
Plant of the Month
Toyon, Christmas Berry Heteromeles arbutifolia Plant Form: Evergreen shrub/tree Water Use: Low Mature Size: 8-15 (to 25) ft. tall x 8-10 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Summer (June – Aug) Native to: So. California Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F Toyon, also called Christmas Berry and California Holly, is a very giving evergreen shrub or small tree from California’s chaparral communities. The city of Hollywood was named after this plant. This very adaptable, dense shrub is valued […]
Plant of the Month – October
Palmer’s Indian Mallow Abutilon palmeri Plant Form: Shrub, perennial herb Water Use: Extremely low Mature Size: 4-6 ft. tall and 3-5 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Spring (Mar – May), Summer (June – Aug), Year-round Native to: Southern California, SW U.S., Northern Mexico Hardiness: Cold hardy to 20°F Palmer’s Indian Mallow has lush subtropical foliage and fast growth that belies its extreme tolerance for heat, drought, and poor soil. This mallow is a relatively rare native of the […]
Plant of the Month – August
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’ Plant Form: Perennial grass Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall and wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Spring (Mar – May), Summer (June – Aug) Native to: Southern California, Canada, North America, Mexico Hardiness: Cold hardy to -30°F Blue Grama Grass is a long-lived bunchgrass with distinctive seed heads that look like curved combs or blonde sets of eyelashes. Its unique seed heads hover horizontally above green foliage from summer […]
