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Magenta Appeal
Ground Cover Myoporum
Monarch Blanket Flower
Peruvian Verbena
Grey Desert Spoon, Sotol
Whirling Butterflies White Gaura
Azure or Russian Sage
Large Blue Fescue, Tufted Fescue
Ground Cover Myoporum

Common name:Ground Cover Myoporum
Botanical name:Myoporum parvifolium

This great groundcover will grow 9" high and 9' wide and does well in partial or full sun with moderate watering. It produces delicate white flowers that bloom in summer and are surrounded by tiny, bright green leaves.

Monarch Blanket Flower

Common name:Monarch Blanket Flower
Botanical name:Gaillardia X grandiflora 'Monarch'

Gaillardia gra. 'Monarch' is a perennial. Grows to 2'-4' high, 1.5' wide, with roughish grey-green foliage and single or double mixed red and yellow bicolor blooms 3"-4" across. Exceptionally long bloom. Keep dead-heading and they'll bloom til frost.

Peruvian Verbena

Common name:Peruvian Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena peruviana

This perennial forms a flat mat that covers an area rapidly. It has dark green leaves with clusters of bright flowers that bloom all year. Hybrids will have a little more height, different flower colors and spread more slowly. It has medium watering needs.

Grey Desert Spoon, Sotol

Common name:Grey Desert Spoon, Sotol
Botanical name:Dasylirion wheeleri

Grey desert spoon requires little maintenance and is popular in desert themed gardens. Plants tolerate drought, reflected heat and poor soils. It slowly develops a short, thick trunk while reaching 6' tall and wide. Leaves look like swords, are 3' long gray-green with thorns on the margins. During late spring to summer, an erect stem of white creamy flowers emerge from the center, up to 10' high. This long lived plant needs well draining soil. Do not plant near walkways.

Whirling Butterflies White Gaura

Common name:Whirling Butterflies White Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'

'Whirling Butterflies" is a profusely flowering perennial that grows 3' high. It has pink buds that open to showy white flowers (larger than other cultivars) in spring and summer. It needs full sun in most areas but afternoon shade in desert areas. It needs regular watering. This is a great plant for cut flowers and flower borders.

Azure or Russian Sage

Common name:Azure or Russian Sage
Botanical name:Perovskia X atriplicifolia

This broad perennial will grow 3'-6' tall and has small, grey-green leaves with blue-violet flowers that bloom in the summer. Foliage is aromatic if brushed against it.

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:

Magenta Appeal

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:

In general, lawns only need to be watered once every three days.

Check your irrigation controller and reduce watering times if necessary.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.