Common name:Victor Reiter Thyme
Botanical name:Thymus 'Victor Reiter'
This evergreen ground cover needs full sun to light shade. It grows to 3" tall, forming a dense, thick mat. It needs well-drained, light soil. This thyme is considered drought tolerant. The foliage is dark green and slightly hairy. It has a pleasant, minty fragrance when crushed, though not considered for culinary uses. Flowers are lilac purple and bloom in the summer. It attracts bees and butterflies.
Common name:Blue Fescue, Blue Fescue Grass
Botanical name:Festuca glauca
This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue-green, evergreen leaves that are very thin and hair-like. Flowers appear in the summer but are insignificant. This dependable ground cover prefers full sun in coastal areas and afternoon shade in warm inland areas. It needs well draining soil and is drought tolerant once it's established. Leaves may burn during the summer but trim in winter to keep it looking refreshed.
Common name:Blue-Eyed Grass
Botanical name:Sisyrinchium bellum
Following winter rains, this grassy perennial brings a soft texture back into the garden. It produces an abundance of small blue-purple flowers which have a long bloom. Foliage is similar to Irises. This California native prefers full sun and is drought tolerant once it's established. It's great in small spaces and among rocks. This plant reaches about 1' tall.
Common name:Butterfly Iris or Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes iridioides
This clumping evergreen iris bears tall, narrow leaves to 30" tall and white flowers marked purple in the center on stalks to 3' tall, appearing spring through fall. This variety has stiffer, darker foiliage than the bicolor form. It requires sun to part shade with little or no summer watering when established. This is a very reliable plant. Divide every 3-5 years to keep it looking fresh.
Common name:Snow-In-Summer
Botanical name:Cerastium tomentosum
Masses of snow white flowers highlight this plant during the early summer season. This attractive ground cover is a great filler among other plants and rocks. Foliage is silver gray or gray/green and is woolly. This plant tolerates coastal conditions and desert areas. Use in rock settings, in hanging baskets, containers, or as a lawn substitute. Cut back in fall to refresh plant.
Common name:Copper King Gazania
Botanical name:Gazania 'Copper King'
This perennial groundcover will grow 6"-10" tall and has soft, greyish-green foliage with yellow-orange flowers that bloom April to September.
| Designer: | Magical Path |
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:
Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.
Integrated Pest Management:
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.