Common name:New Zealand Flax, Purple
Botanical name:Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'
Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves can reach 5' tall. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1"-2" blossoms in dark red.
Common name:Blue Fescue, Blue Fescuegrass
Botanical name:Festuca glauca
This groundcover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue green leaves.
Common name:Olive, European Olive
Botanical name:Olea europaea
This broad tree will grow to 40' tall and has small, gray green leaves with fleshy black fruit that appears in fall.
Common name:Ivy Geranium
Botanical name:Pelargonium peltatum
Clouds of single or double flowers are produced from spring through fall on this plant, which should be planted in areas that receive afternoon shade in warm inland valleys. Foliage resembles ivy (pointed lobes) and are bright green and glossy. Ivy Geranium looks great in hanging baskets, window boxes or in planters. Do not use for erosion control.
Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax
New Zealand Flax is a large, bold plant with stiffly vertical, sword-like, green leaves that arise from its base. It should be grown under full sun for best color. Varieties will offer different growth habits and leaf color.
Common name:Bougainvillea, Rosenka
Botanical name:Bougainvillea 'Rosenka'
This tender, subtropical evergreen does best with full sun; when established, it needs infrequent watering and feeding. It should be exposed to as little frost as possible. The bracts age to a salmond pick color in summer and fall. 'Rosenka' quickly reaches 3'-4' tall and 4'-6' wide, with a mounding, cascading habit. Be careful not to damage roots. Prune in springtime.
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:Hidcote English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
This is a slow growing lavender that grows to 1' tall with deep purple flowers. It is drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. -Cornflower Farms
Designer: Anon | Invitation to Enter |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.
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.