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Pastel Punch
Sea Lavender
Spanish Lavender
Powis Castle Artemisia
Lemon Swirl Lantana
Peruvian Verbena
Azure or Russian Sage
Giant Catmit
Lavender Cotton
Moonshine Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewo
Purple Smoke Tree
Early Sunrise Coreopsis/Tickseed
Border or Garden Penstemon
Sea Lavender

Common name:Sea Lavender
Botanical name:Limonium perezii

This mounding shrub will reach about 3' high and has large, dark green leaves with small blue and purple flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Spanish Lavender

Common name:Spanish Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula stoechas pedunculata

This dense shrub grows 2'-3' tall with blue-grey foliage and deep purple flowers that have large showy bracts in spring and summer near the top of the spikes. It has low watering needs once it's established. It prefers full sun. Foliage is aromatic.

Powis Castle Artemisia

Common name:Powis Castle Artemisia
Botanical name:Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

This mounding shrub reaches 3 ft. high and up to 5ft. wide with fine silver foliage. It does well in coastal areas as well as inland warm areas. It rarely blooms but is used for its beautiful foliage. It is striking next to perennials with bright colors. This shrub prefers full sun and well draining soil. It is drought tolerant once it's established.

Lemon Swirl Lantana

Common name:Lemon Swirl Lantana
Botanical name:Lantana 'Lemon Swirl'

This bloomer is reliable almost all year. This variety has cheerful yellow flowers, and prospers from deep, infrequent watering and some pruning.

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.

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.

Giant Catmit

Common name:Giant Catmit
Botanical name:Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'

From the early summer and into the fall, this aromatic plant will bloom with gray-green foliage and lavender blue flowers. This perennial grows from 30" to reach a height and width of 3'. It is tolerant of both humidity and drought. This perennial is effective when grown below roses, as a filler in perennial gardens, and as an edging plant. It also is complemented by pines and pale yellow flowers. The perennial should be placed in a well-drained location.

Lavender Cotton

Common name:Lavender Cotton
Botanical name:Santolina chamaecyparissus

This groundcover-small shrub will grow to 3' tall and has small, greyish-silver leaves with yellow flowers that bloom in the summer.

Moonshine Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewo

Common name:Moonshine Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewo
Botanical name:Achillea 'Moonshine'

Long, straight stems with pale yellow flowers are striking on the mats of green to grey-green leaves of this plant, which are flatter and less divided than those of the Achillea millefolium. This Yarrow propagates easily from rooted cuttings or divisions which should be performed in the early spring or fall. Following bloom, one should dead head the plant and divide the clumps when it appears crowded. Introduced by Alan Bloom in the 1950's.

Purple Smoke Tree

Common name:Purple Smoke Tree
Botanical name:Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus'

A deciduous shrub or small tree that grows up to 10' tall, the "Purpureus" is grown for its wispy, thread-like flower clusters in summer. Its green foliage turns a brilliant purple and then yellow to red in the fall. This shrub is a show stopper! It prefers full sun but will do better with afternoon shade in hot inland areas. This attractive shrub is drought tolerant once it's established.

Early Sunrise Coreopsis/Tickseed

Common name:Early Sunrise Coreopsis/Tickseed
Botanical name:Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'

The 'Early Sunrise' is a wonderful cultivar and showy, southern U.S. native. Semi-double, deep yellow flowers that flush to orange-yellow near the center on 18" tall bushy plants bloom from June to September in full sun and average to dry soils. It makes for good cut flowers, and pruning keeps the plants abundant with blooms. -Holland WIldflower Farm

Border or Garden Penstemon

Common name:Border or Garden Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon hybrids selection

This perennial plant will reach 3' high and has medium-sized, glossy dark green leaves with red, pink, lavender or purple flowers that bloom in summer and fall. It needs a bit extra water in the summer and no water in the winter. Hummingbirds love the flowers. This plant is great for cut flowers and color borders.

Designer: Terri Nichols

Pastel Punch

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:

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