Common name:Canary Island Pine
Botanical name:Pinus canariensis
This graceful, slender-growing pine has a pyramidal form, reaching 50'-70' tall. Its needles are 12" long and drooping in bundles of 3. The foliage is a blue-green color, maturing to a dark green shade. Needles do drop periodically, creating litter. Flowers are insignificant. Cones appear in the spring.
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.
Common name:Homestead Purple Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena 'Homestead Purple'
This perennial will reach 1'-2' tall and has small green leaves with purple flowers that bloom during warm weather. It is frost tender but will come back when the ground warms up. Feed with an all-purpose fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Verbena works as a great groundcover. Pinch ends to promote dense growth.
Common name:Parry's Agave, Orange Century Plan
Botanical name:Agave parryi v. huachucensis
This slow growing succulent reaches 1'- 2' tall and wide. It is clump forming with a dense rosette made of short gray leaves with dark thorns on the margins. This is the largest of the subspecies of parryi with leaves 2' long. It is subject to the Agave weevil. It blooms once in its lifetime, sending up a tall flowering yellow spike. This signals the death of the plant but typically, there are pups surrounding the plant. It may take 30 years for this plant to bloom.
Common name:Barbara Karst Red Bougainvillea
Botanical name:Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'
The large amount of flamboyant color on this species creates a wonderful accent in a garden. Varieties can be in bush or vine form; colors vary. Once established, they tend to be carefree. All varieties are susceptible to frost damage. The 'Barbara Kost' variety blooms bright red in full sun; more crimson if in shade. It blooms in summer and fall.
Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora
This spectacular succulent grows to 3'-4' tall and wide. Blue green leaves are strap-like, leathery, long, with white fraying fibers on the edges. During the summer, dark pink flowers are seen on red flower arching stalks. Hummingbirds love these flowers. This evergreen plant is drought tolerant once it's established but will appreciate extra water during the summer to promote blooms. Plant in full sun or light shade, with well draining soil. Deer like the foliage. This plant looks great in pots.
Designer: Amy Bartell | Southwest in Fresno |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Check the soil's moisture level before watering.
You can reduce your water use 20-50% by regularly checking the soil before watering.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.