Common name:Frades or Compact Escallonia
Botanical name:Escallonia 'Frades'
The 'Frades' is an evergreen shrub that grows to 6'-8' tall and wide. It is valued for its glossy foliage and clusters of pink flowers. The heaviest bloom period is during spring and fall, with some flowers all year. The Escallonias grow best in sun to part shade, but will tolerate mostly shade if necessary. These plants usually need little or no summer watering. This is the most tolerant of poor drainage of all Escallonia varieties. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Mexican Fan Palm
Botanical name:Washingtonia robusta
The Mexican Fan Palm is a very tall, rapidly growing palm with large, fan-shaped leaves. It has a tropical look, and can grow several feet a year. This species is excellent for larger gardens and lining streets and avenues.
Common name:Amazing Red Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Amazing Red'
Phormium 'Amazing Red' is an evergreen perennial. It is a 2' tall, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves in a fan pattern. Leaves are dark reddish brown in color.
Common name:Yellow Dead Nettle
Botanical name:Lamium maculatum 'Aureum'
The 'Aureum' grows to a size of 6" tall, spreading by underground stolons or rooting in the stems. Its light green leaves are flushed light yellow, and in the summer, produces pale pink flowers. Considering their delicate appearance, the plants are remarkably cold and drought tolerant and do not seem to be bothered much by bugs. When established in coastal gardens, the plant needs little summer watering. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Designer: Los Angeles Arboretum | Nettle Border |
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.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.