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Lamb's Ear Garden
Yellow Margin Century Plant
Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily
Catmint
Century Plant
Lamb's Ear
Bearded Iris
Hamelin White Plume Fountain Grass
Yellow Margin Century Plant

Common name:Yellow Margin Century Plant
Botanical name:Agave americana marginata

Marginata has a creamy yellow margin around the edge of the leaves and will grow 6-10' tall x 13' wide. It is a native to Mexico, and has a very open growth habit with leaves that recurve along their length.

Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily

Common name:Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily
Botanical name:Kniphofia hybrids

This perennial will grow to about 6' tall and has large green leaves and has red, orange, and yellow flowers that bloom in spring, summer, and fall.

Catmint

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, grey-green, undulating mounds to 1' tall in bloom, spreading 3'-4' wide. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in summer. Catmint can be planted in sun or shade and needs medium amount of water. Prune spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

Century Plant

Common name:Century Plant
Botanical name:Agave americana

This agave is fast growing to about 6-10' tall and 8-13' wide. Wide, gray leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. It prefers full sun and well-drained situations. It is prone to agave snout weevil which will eat the roots and leaves. 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. Water once a month during the summer.

Lamb's Ear

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

This tiny shrub will grow less than 1' tall and has medium-size, greyish-green leaves with blue and lavender flowers that bloom in the spring. This shrub is grown more for its velvety leaves than the flowers. It is drought tolerant once it's established. Be careful not to overwater.

Bearded Iris

Common name:Bearded Iris
Botanical name:Iris Bearded Hybrids

This perennial will grow 1'-3' tall and has medium sized, blue green leaves with flowers of different colors that bloom in spring. It needs well draining soil and full sun. Many are fragrant and rebloom in the fall. Plant rhizomes in Sept or Oct. They need water once a week during the hot spells. Top dress with compost and gypsum in January and August.

Hamelin White Plume Fountain Grass

Common name:Hamelin White Plume Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hamelin'

This beautiful dwarf grass reaches 2'-3' tall and 1'-2' wide. Bright green foliage is grass-like. Creamy white fluffy plume flowers appear in thin arching stalks in summer and fall. Foliage turns gold in fall. This grass prefers full sun and low to moderate watering.

Designer: Mark Lewis

Lamb's Ear Garden

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.

Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.