Common name:Mexican Evening Primrose
Botanical name:Oenothera speciosa
Oenothera berlandieri is a perennial. Grows 10"-12" high, with profuse showing of 1.5" rose pink blooms in summer. Flowers open in daytime and stems die back after bloom. Can be highly invasive.
Common name:Crimson Pygmy Japanese Barberry
Botanical name:Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'
Pygmy purple leaf barberry is a deciduous shrub with arching branches which reaches 2 ft high and 3 ft wide. The foliage becomes bronzy red in summer and fall. 'Crimson Pygmy' prefers full sun and regular watering, more in hot summer months. This plant has thorns. It makes a great hedge. Prune in winter to re-shape.
Common name:Lemon Bottlebrush
Botanical name:Callistemon citrinus
A large evergreen shrub, the Lemon Bottlebrush bears masses of bright red flowers in the spring and summer that are shaped, as the name implies, like a 'bottle brush.' New foliage grows in a bright, bronzy red.
Common name:Elijah Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
The 'Elijah Blue' is a lovely ground cover grass with silver blue foliage that quickly reaches 12" tall and wide. This evergreen grass has golden flowers that bloom in summer. However, 'Elijah Blue' is grown for its foliage. Plant in full sun in coastal areas; in warm inland areas, it should receive afternoon shade to prevent it from turning brown. It is drought tolerant once it's established. It prefers well draining soil.
Designer: Susan Stiltz | Colorful Border |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.
Fix leaking sprinklers, valves, and pipes.
One broken spray sprinkler can waste 10 gallons per minute - or 100 gallons in a typical 10 minute watering cycle.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.