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Ridge Road Garden 3
Summer Coreopsis
Trailing Gazania
Red Yucca
Organ Pipe
Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Summer Coreopsis

Common name:Summer Coreopsis
Botanical name:Coreopsis grandiflora

The Coreopsis, a plant which grows up to 30", produces striking double bright yellow flowers. It is excellent as cut flowers or as a backdrop. The bloom period occurs from spring to fall.

Trailing Gazania

Common name:Trailing Gazania
Botanical name:Gazania rigens

This trailing groundcover grows at a moderate rate to 8" x 18". Leaves are silver to green. Billiant daisylike flowers come in many colors orange, bronze and yellow. Long bloom season from late winter to spring. Grows well in most soil conditions, and needs only occassional water once established. May die out if overwatered. Native to South Africa.

Red Yucca

Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora

Upright rosettes grow quickly to 3' x 5' wide. Spectacular accent for desert landscape. Leaves are dark green and strap-like. Coral red flower spikes emerge in spring & remain on plant till end of summer. Tolerates tough conditions including reflected heat and frost. Attracts humingbirds. Native to western Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Organ Pipe

Common name:Organ Pipe
Botanical name:Stenocereus thurberi

Evergreen columnar cactus grows slowly to 10' x 10'. Olive-green stems covered in black spines. Pale pink night blooming flowers appaer spring to summer. Accepts reflected heat. Striking focal point in the landscape given time. Native to the Sonoran Desert.

Santa Rita Prickly Pear

Common name:Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia violacea 'Santa Rita'

Shrublike cactus grows at a moderate rate to 4' x 5'. Pads are green-purple turning more purple with cold or dry weather. Small tan spines line the pads. Striking yellow flowers appear on the tips of pads in the spring. Accepts reflected heat. Native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.

Designer: Sallie Homan

Ridge Road Garden 3

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

Integrated Pest Management:

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