Common name:Japanese Maple
Botanical name:Acer palmatum
This magnificent plant can used as a small tree or shrub. It is deciduous with graceful leaves which have a scarlet color in spring as it leafs out. They turn orange or yellow in fall. It is slow growing to 20', and requires shelter from hot winds. The leaves of this tree are small, light green in color, and deply lobed. It should also be noted that the tree remains spectacular throughout all seasons. Second picture by Steve Mullany.
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
Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Wings of Gold'
The Phormium tenax is a large, bold plant with stiffly vertical, sword-like, green, strap-like leaves that arise from its base. It should be grown under full sun.
Common name:Common Blue Fescue, Blue Fescuegras
Botanical name:Festuca glauca
This groundcover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue-green leaves.
Common name:Pride Of Madeira
Botanical name:Echium candicans
Mature specimens of this evergren shrub can grow to a size of 6'-8' tall and 8'-10' wide. In the spring, spikes of rosy-violet to blue-purple flowers appear. It should receive sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. This plant can be severely damaged by frost below 25 degrees F. Reseeds vigorously.
Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii
Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray-green, undulating mounds o 1.5 ft. high in bloom. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring, and early summer.
Common name:Coast Redwood
Botanical name:Sequoia sempervirens
This fast-growing, aromatic tree has soft, dark green foliage with long needles appearing in flat sprays and brown, barrel-shaped cones that appear after 1 year. Its soft, red-brown bark is fiberous and furrowed. Particularly after mechanical damage, this tree will stump sprout to form new, young trees around the stump. Avoid planting in areas of high foot traffic.
Common name:Blue Moor Grass
Botanical name:Sesleria caerulea
This grass will grow to about 18-24"H x 18-24"W. It has blue/green or gray/green leaves.
Common name:Liquidambar, American Sweet Gum
Botanical name:Liquidambar styraciflua
A tall, deciduous tree of upright, pyramidal habit, the liquidamber has dark green, maple-like leaves that turn beautiful shades of red and yellow in the fall season. It can be used as a single specimen, hedge, or grouped plant.
Common name:Japanese Garden Juniper
Botanical name:Juniperus procumbens
This groundcover-small shrub will reach 3' tall and has small, blue-green leaves.
Designer: Barbara Jackel Landscape Dsgn | Corner Garden |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Check soil moisture below the surface with a soil probe or large screwdriver, trowel or shovel. Don't assume the plants need water just because the soil surface looks dry.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.