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Echium and Friends
Pride Of Madeira
Snapdragon
California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Coast  Live Oak
Cape Rush
Catmint
Matilija Poppy
Common Foxglove
California Black Walnut
Pride Of Madeira

Common name:Pride Of Madeira
Botanical name:Echium candicans

Mature specimens of this evergreen shrub can grow to a size of 6'-8' tall and 8'-10' wide. In the spring, spikes of rosy-violet to blue-purple flowers appear. It should receive sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. This plant can be severely damaged by frost below 25 degrees F. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Snapdragon

Common name:Snapdragon
Botanical name:Antirrhinum majus

This annual will grow 1'-3' tall and has dark green leaves accented by red, orange, yellow, pink, and white flowers.

California Poppy, Golden Poppy

Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica

This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Coast  Live Oak

Common name:Coast Live Oak
Botanical name:Quercus agrifolia

The Coast Live Oak is an evergreen round headed tree. It can reach 15'-40' high and 20' wide; it grows very well from the coastal areas to the interior valleys. It is native to California, is drought tolerant, and attracts butterflies. -Cornflower Farms

Cape Rush

Common name:Cape Rush
Botanical name:Chondropetalum tectorum

Chondropetalum tectorum has 3'-4' tall stems that shoot out in all directions from the roots. Each stem has papery bracts connected to the ends that turn from tan to dark drown, then fall off. Chondropetalum can grow in marshes, in the ground with regular watering, or in drought conditions.

Catmint

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, grey-green, undulating mounds to 1.5' high in bloom, spreading 3'-4' wide. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in summer. Catmint can be planted in sun or shade and needs medium amount of water. Prune spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

Matilija Poppy

Common name:Matilija Poppy
Botanical name:Romneya coulteri

Crowned by white poppies, this high-impact, spreading, gray green perennial stands statuesque at 5"-8" tall. It is best used where its scale and habit will not overpower, and it requires no summer water and thrives on dry alluvial slopes..

Common Foxglove

Common name:Common Foxglove
Botanical name:Digitalis purpurea

This biennial foxglove will reach up to 4' when blooming in the early summer. The large spire of huge, bell-shaped flowers ranges from purple to pink to cream with purple specks. Large, textured leaves form an attractive rosette until bloom time. The plant likes a moist, filtered-sun area similar to the Lobelias and Columbines. -Holland Wildflower Farm

California Black Walnut

Common name:California Black Walnut
Botanical name:Juglans californica

The Juglans californica is a deciduous, drought tolerant tree capable of surviving aridity and poor soils. It is not very ornamental and as a result, is not frequently commercially grown. It typically looks like a shrub, growing to 25' tall. Foliage is aromatic. Leaves turn yellow in fall. This tree is important to wildlife and birds as it provides food and shelter. Nuts are edible.

Designer: Descanso Gardens

Echium and Friends

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.

Water Saving Tip:

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.

Integrated Pest Management:

Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.