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Canna, Canna Lily
Japanese Garden Juniper
Sago-Palm
Italian Stone Pine
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Lily of the Nile
Sago-Palm
Carolina Jessamine
Large Blue Fescue, Tufted Fescue
Canna, Canna Lily

Common name:Canna, Canna Lily
Botanical name:Canna X generalis

These lilies will grow anywhere from about 2'-5' tall and have large dark green or bronzy green leaves that look like banana leaves. Exotic looking flowers in purple, red or lavender bloom in summer. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooming. Canna Lily prefers full sun and a medium amount of watering, more in hot summer areas. It tolerates coastal conditions and wet areas.

Japanese Garden Juniper

Common name:Japanese Garden Juniper
Botanical name:Juniperus procumbens

This groundcover-small shrub will reach 1'-2.5' tall with a 4'-5' spread. It has small, blue-green, evergreen leaves. This dependable conifer is used for bonsai. It prefers full to part sun with occasional watering once it's established. It can also be used for topiaries.

Sago-Palm

Common name:Sago-Palm
Botanical name:Cycas revoluta

Sago Palm resembles small palms; it is evergreen. It can slowly grow to 10'. It is used for a tropical effect and also looks great in planters. In the low desert, light shade and additional moisture are best. Side sprouts can form multi-trunked individuals. Apply fertilizer at leaf expansion. This plant has few pests.

Italian Stone Pine

Common name:Italian Stone Pine
Botanical name:Pinus pinea

Italian Stone Pine has a moderate growth rate to 40'-80' in height, spreading 20'-40' wide. It eventually forms a broad umbrella with a shaped, flat crown. The needles cluster in 2's, 5"-8" long, and brown to gray green in color. Bark is fissured, reddish brown with orange. Cones appear in spring, starting off green colored and changing to brown. They are shaped like small footballs. Some folks use the juvenile pine as Christmas trees.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Common name:Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Botanical name:Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula'

Another large, slow-growing conifer which exhibits weeping growth form. Its golden leaves are 1" in size, and it also requires full sun in order to best develop its color. It serves as an excellent specimen or rock garden subject.

Lily of the Nile

Common name:Lily of the Nile
Botanical name:Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis

This evergreen shrub will grow about 3' tall and has large green leaves with blue flowers that bloom in spring and summer. It will grow in all soils but prefers loam soil. It can be grown in sun or shade. Lily of the Nile prefers a moderate amount of water; established plants have low water use.

Sago-Palm

Common name:Sago-Palm
Botanical name:Cycas revoluta

Sago Palm resembles small palms; it is evergreen. It can slowly grow to 10'. It is used for a tropical effect and also looks great in planters. In the low desert, light shade and additional moisture are best. Side sprouts can form multi-trunked individuals. Apply fertilizer at leaf expansion. This plant has few pests.

Carolina Jessamine

Common name:Carolina Jessamine
Botanical name:Gelsemium sempervirens

As a vigorous evergreen, this vine has fine, rich, glossy foliage complete with trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers that are borne from late winter to spring. Carolina Jessamine will bloom best in full sun.

Large Blue Fescue, Tufted Fescue

Common name:Large Blue Fescue, Tufted Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca amethystina 'Superba'

'Superba' is a hardy fescue with finely textured blue-green foliage that grows 8"-12' tall. It has spring flowers with tan spikes and purple tones that are 12" above the foliage .This fescue is a very showy, neat grass for sunny well draining spots. It prefers regular watering. This lovely ground cover is great in dry creek beds and borders.

Designer: Mariette Olsen

Pool Edge

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:

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.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.