Common name:Western Redbud
Botanical name:Cercis occidentalis
This deciduous shrub ranges from 6'-20' tall and 10'-15' wide. It is desirable for its magenta spring flowers, yellow to red fall color, and dangling winter seed pods. It is tolerant of many soil types, drought and oak root fungus. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The Western Redbud can be found statewide in CA in the foothills below 4500' elevations in chaparral and woodland communities.
- Cornflower Farms
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 and outstanding fall color. Its foliage has a reddish purple color that turns somewhat green in summer. The plant requires sun to part shade, with little or no summer water. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes iridioides
This clumping evergreen Iris bears tall, narrow leaves to 30" tall and white flowers marked purple in the center on stalks up to 3' tall. This variety has stiffer, darker foliage than the bicolor form. It requires sun to part shade with little or no summer watering when established. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Red Fringe Flower
Botanical name:Loropetalum chinese 'Rubrum'
Red Fringe Flower is a 6'-12' shrub with arching branches and light green and reddish leaves .
Common name:White Chinese Wisteria
Botanical name:Wisteria sinensis 'Alba'
While the sinensis is similar to the floribunda, it bears more rounded, full clusters of strongly fragrant flowers which open more or less, all at once. There are usually 13-15 leaflets per leaf, and they require full sun and average to little watering. This is a white flower variety.-Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Star Jasmine, Maile Haole
Botanical name:Trachelospermum jasminoides
The Star Jasmine is an evergreen vine that grows 20' tall or as a groundcover that reaches 1'-2' tall and 4'-5' wide. It has white fragrant flowers in the summer and can tolerate sun or partial shade. The Star Jasmine is also drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Sweet Orange cultivars
Botanical name:Citrus sinensis
This tree will grow 20'-30' high and 10'-15' wide; it produces sweet, tasty oranges. It has shiny green, leathery foliage and produces clusters of fragrant white flowers that bloom in the spring.
Common name:White Bacopa
Botanical name:Sutera cordata
White Bacopa is an annual that is used as a groundcover with white flowers. It stays under 12" in height but may spread 3'-4'. White Bacopa is lovely in hanging baskets or borders where it is allowed to spill over. It needs moist, rich soil for flowers to look healthy. It blooms from spring through fall.
Designer: | Neatly Stacked Rock Wall |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
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.