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 […]
Plant of the Month – May
Smokey Coast Rosemary Westringia fruticosa ‘Smokey’ Plant Form: Evergreen Shrub Water Use: Low Mature Size: 3-6 ft. tall x 4-5 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part shade Bloom Time: Spring (March – May), Summer (June – August) Native to: Australia Hardiness: Cold hardy to 20°F Smokey Coast Rosemary is a rugged Australian native with dainty evergreen leaves covered in soft white hair that makes the whole plant appear “smokey”. Its dark green leaves are edged in creamy white margins, creating […]
Plant of the Month – March
Greek Sage Salvia fruticosa Plant Form: Perennial sub-shrub Water Use: Very low, low Mature Size: 3-3.5 ft. tall x 3-5 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, very light shade Bloom Time: Spring (March – May), Summer (June – Aug) (Sept – Nov) Native to: Mediterranean region, North Africa, Canary Islands Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15 – 20°F Greek Sage is as beautiful as it is useful, from its aromatic leaves to its tall spikes of striking blue flowers. No pampering is […]
Plant of the Month – February
Red Valerian Jupiter’s Beard Centranthus ruber Plant Form: Perennial sub-shrub Water Use: Very low, low Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall x 1-2 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, light shade Bloom Time: Spring (March – May), Summer (June – Aug), Fall (Sept – Nov) Native to: Mediterranean region, North Africa Hardiness: Cold hardy to -10°F Red Valerian, also known as Jupiter’s Beard, is a moderately fast-growing, erect sub-shrub that is not fussy about its growing conditions. Showy, rose-red flowers appear continuously […]
Plant of the Month – November
Desert Broom, Broom Baccharis Baccharis sarothroides Plant Form: Semi-deciduous shrub Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 6-12 ft. tall x 6-7 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Summer (June – August), Fall (September – October) Native to: Southern California, southwest US, Mexico Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15°F Desert Broom has branches that are so green, you won’t notice that it drops its small, narrow leaves during drought, making this rounded shrub look like a giant, green broom. This fast-growing, […]
