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Garden Variety
Strawberry Madrone, Marina Strawber
Kangaroo Paws Tall Red
California Pepper, Mission Pepper
New Zealand Flax
Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum
Century Plant, Maguey
Spanish Lavender
New Zealand Flax
Fountain Grass
Lamb's Ear
Kleinia
Red Fringe Flower
Johnson's Blue Cranesbill
Strawberry Madrone, Marina Strawber

Common name:Strawberry Madrone, Marina Strawber
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'

The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as Pacific Madrone. Its flowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Kangaroo Paws Tall Red

Common name:Kangaroo Paws Tall Red
Botanical name:Anigozanthos flavidus 'Tall Red'

Anigozanthos flavidus 'Tall Red' is a perennial with dark green, smooth, swordlike evergreen leaves. Produces spikes of striking, fuzy, tubular flowers in yellow-green tinged with red that are curved at the tips. The flowers attract hummingbirds. Flowers bloom from late spring to fall if spent flowering spikes are cut to the ground. Makes for a good cut flower.

California Pepper, Mission Pepper

Common name:California Pepper, Mission Pepper
Botanical name:Schinus molle

The California Pepper is a fast-growing evegreen tree that will mature to a height of 25-40' and as wide. Its bright green leaves are divided into many narrow, 1 1/2-2" long leaflets. Naturalizes.

New Zealand Flax

Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax

New Zealand Flax is a large, bold plant with stiffly vertical, sword-like, green leaves that arise from its base. It should be grown under full sun for best color. Varieties will offer different growth habits and leaf color.

Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum

Common name:Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum
Botanical name:Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf'

This handsome dwarf form of the Pittosporum tobira grows into a low, dense mound that is covered with glossy, evergreen foliage.

Century Plant, Maguey

Common name:Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name:Agave americana

Fast growing to about 6-10' tall x 8-13' wide. Wide, grey leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. Prefers full sun and well-drained situations. Prone to agave snout weevil which will eat the roots and heart out. After blooming, which could take several years. it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted. Naturalizes.

Spanish Lavender

Common name:Spanish Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula stoechas

This dense shrub grows 2-3 ft. tall with blue gray foliage and deep purple flowers that have large showy bracts near the top of the spikes. It is drought tolerant . - Cornflower Farms

New Zealand Flax

Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'

Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves (9 ft. long, to 5 in. wide) in a fan pattern. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1-2 in. blossoms in dark red to yellow.

Fountain Grass

Common name:Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum alopecuroides

Pennisetum alopecuroides is a perennial grass. Bright green, 3-4 ft. foliage clumps are topped by pinkish plumes in early summer. Leaves turn yellow in fall, brown in winter.

Lamb's Ear

Common name:Lamb's Ear
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina

This tiny, herbaceous shrub will grow less than 1' tall and has medium-size, grayish/green leaves with blue and lavender flowers that bloom in the spring.

Kleinia

Common name:Kleinia
Botanical name:Senecio mandraliscae

This succulent perennial will grow to about 1.5' tall and 2' wide. It has curved, blue/gray leaves that are about 3.5" long and very slender. Frost-tender.

Red Fringe Flower

Common name:Red Fringe Flower
Botanical name:Loropetalum chinese 'Rubrum'

Red Fringe Flower is a 6-12' shrub with arching branches and light green and reddish leaves .

Johnson's Blue Cranesbill

Common name:Johnson's Blue Cranesbill
Botanical name:Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

This herbaceous perennial is a favorite among geranium lovers. It grows up to 18" tall and 2'-3' wide. Saucer-like violet-blue flowers bloom from spring through fall. The leaves are bright green, finely cut and quite divided. Plant in full sun or half sun. Looks good in rock gardens, borders and containers.

Designer: Barbara Jackel Landscape Dsgn

Garden Variety

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Group plants in your garden according to water needs (hydrozone).

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.