Common name:Miniature Annual Marguerite
Botanical name:Chrysanthemum paludosum
Chrysanthemum paludosum is an annual or perennial, depending on location. Flowers are button sized and typically are white with yellow centers, blooming in summer and fall. Foliage is dark green and scented. Plant for summer color, along walkways and entries. This plant barely reaches 12" high. It needs rich, moist, well-draining soil in sun.
Common name:Calla Lily or Calla
Botanical name:Zantedeschia aethiopica
This perennial will grow 2'-4' tall and has large, glossy green leaves with beautiful cream or white flowers with a central yellow "finger" that bloom in spring and sometimes even summer. Calla Lily prefers afternoon shade in warm, inland areas. It prefers rich, moist soil and does well near water features or boggy conditions. Cally Lily is beautiful for cut flowers.
Common name:Rose selected cultivars
Botanical name:Rosa species
These shrubs and vines are the most-loved in the West and are very resilient. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors and are easy to maintain with proper care. Roses can be espaliered or used on a trellis or as shrubs along walkways. Some are fragrant; most have thorns.
Common name:Garden or Common Geranium
Botanical name:Pelargonium X hortorum
Pelargonium X hortorum is a shrubby, succulent annual stemmed to 3' or more. Round or kidney-shaped leaves are velvety and hairy, soft to the touch, aromatic, with edges distinctly lobed and scalloped toothed. Single and double flowers are flatter and smaller than those of Pelargonium domesticum variety, but clusters bear more blossoms. Comes in many colors such as white, pink, red, salmon and bi-colored.
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: Jody Palmer | Jacuzzi Spa |
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.
Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.