Common name:Oriental Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum orientale
Oriental Fountain Grass is a clumping, warm-season grass with spectacular pink flowers.
Common name:Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy
Botanical name:Erigeron karvinskianus
This low mounding perennial, with fine leaves and white to pinkish, daisy-like flowers, is an excellent asset to rock gardens.
Common name:Dazzler Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Dazzler'
Dazzler Flax is a New Zealand flax with striped maroon and scarlet leaves from 3'-6' in height.
Common name:Southern Sword Fern
Botanical name:Nephrolepis cordifolia
Nephrolepis cordifolia is tough and easy to grow. This fern has bright green, narrow, upright fronds in tufts to 2'-3' tall. Fronds have closely spaced, finely toothed leaflets.
Common name:California Field Sedge
Botanical name:Carex praegracilis
This native Carex can be successfully used as a lawn substitute but requires significant water to obtain good coverage. Once coverage is reached, water can be reduced and maintenance is close to zero. Unmowed, the plant can be used effectively in a variety of conditions and will reach a height of 6" or under and spreads up to 2' by rhizomes.
Designer: | Dry Creek Bed Walk |
Photographer: Amy Palmer |
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.