Common name:Chinese Pistache
Botanical name:Pistacia chinensis
The Pistacia chinensis is a deciduous tree with broad, spreading growth to 50' in height. Its leaves have 10-16 leaflets, and the fall coloring arrives in beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. Prune young trees to shape. This tree does not have edible nuts. Female trees have tiny red fruit, turning dark blue. It prefers full sun and deep, infrequent waterings. This is a great street or park tree.
Common name:Allepo Pine
Botanical name:Pinus halepensis
The Pinus halepensis exhibits moderate growth to 30'-60' tall, with an open, irregular crown. Mature trees have horizontal spreading branches, 20' wide and more. The needles light green in color, with a length of 2.5"- 4". Flowers are insignificant. Cones appear on the tree after a few years, rounded and oval shaped, about 3" long. Allepo Pine prefers full sun and low watering, although it will drop its needles if water stressed.
Common name:Rose selected cultivars
Botanical name:Rosa species
These shrubs and vines are the most-loved in the West and are very resilient. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors and are easy to maintain with proper care. Roses can be espaliered or used on a trellis or as shrubs along walkways. Some are fragrant; most have thorns.
Common name:Liquidambar, American Sweet Gum
Botanical name:Liquidambar styraciflua
A tall, deciduous tree of upright, pyramidal habit, the liquidambar 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. Seedpods are spiky and create litter.
Common name:Homestead Purple Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena 'Homestead Purple'
This perennial will reach 1'-2' tall and has small green leaves with purple flowers that bloom during warm weather. It is frost tender but will come back when the ground warms up. Feed with an all-purpose fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Verbena works as a great groundcover. Pinch ends to promote dense growth.
Common name:Garden Pansy
Botanical name:Viola X wittrockiana
This annual will grow 6"-10" tall and 9"-12" wide. It has shiny green leaves with flowers that come in a wide variety of colors and are in constant bloom from fall to spring.
Designer: Mariette Olsen | Color Islands in the Grass |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.
Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.