Common name:White Ash
Botanical name:Fraxinus americana
Fraxinus americana is a deciduous tree. Grows to 80' or taller, with a straight trunk and an oval-shaped crown to 50' wide. Leaves 8"-15" long with 5-9 dark green, oval leaflets and paler beneath, turns purplish in fall. Choose a cultivar that does not produce fruit, which is messy. It prefers full sun in well draining, moist soil. This is a great tree for parks.
Common name:Coast Live Oak
Botanical name:Quercus agrifolia
The Coast Live Oak is an evergreen, round-headed tree. It can reach 20'-70' high and 20' wide or more and grows very well from the coastal areas to the interior valleys. It is native to CA, is drought tolerant, and attracts butterflies and birds. Foliage is dark green and shaped like hollies. It is stress deciduous (leaves fall if stressed by lack of water). It prefers full sun and no fertilizer.
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.
Common name:Shamel or Evergreen Ash
Botanical name:Fraxinus uhdei
This evergreen to semi-evergreen tree is both upright and narrow when young, but assumes a spreading form when older. Since it is shallow rooted, deep waterings are essential for deeper rootings. When the tree is young, any long and unsightly branches should be cut back. It can quickly reach 80' tall and 40' wide. Leaves are evergreen with leaflets, up to 7" long. It prefers full sun and moderate amount of water.
Common name:Oriental Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum orientale
Oriental Fountain Grass is a clumping, warm-season grass with spectacular pinkish white flowers in summer and sometimes fall. Flower plumes change to light brown. Foliage is a bright green that changes to straw color as winter approaches. This grass is 1'-2.5' tall and wide. It usually does not reseed. This grass is striking if backlit to show off flower plumes.
Designer: | Mature Landscaping |
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.
Apply as little fertilizer as possible.
If you use fertilizer make sure it stays on the landscape, and carefully water it in so there is NO runoff.
Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.