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Ridge Road Garden 11
Texas Honey Mesquite
Gaillardia
Indian Fig
Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree
Texas Honey Mesquite

Common name:Texas Honey Mesquite
Botanical name:Prosopis glandulosa

Deciduous tree grows to 30' x 30'. Blooms in spring with pale yellow flower long, narrow beans in summer. Foliage is larger and brighter green than other mesquites. Native to Texas and Mexico.

Gaillardia

Common name:Gaillardia
Botanical name:Gaillardia pulchella

Flowers of this plant are 3-4" across, with orange petals edged in yellow that frame a rust-colored center. This plant thrives in full sun and needs good drainage. It blooms from June until frost.

Indian Fig

Common name:Indian Fig
Botanical name:Opuntia ficus-indica

Cactus grows at a moderate rate to 12' x 18'. Usually has no spines. Flowers are yellow to orange and appear in spring. Fruit is edible. Accepts full sun. When this plant is young, the pad (or nopales) are used to make a delicious salsa. This cactus has treelike sculptural qualities.

Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree

Common name:Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree
Botanical name:Albizia julibrissin

This is a very graceful tree with a unique flat top which creates an interesting canopy effect. The light sensitive leaves close at night. It has delightful, fluffy pink summer flowers and fern like leaves. It is a fast grower to 40' tall when given adequate water. It enjoys high summer heat. It is especially interesting when viewed from above, so it works well on down slopes. Can have a short life span, around 10-20 years. Does well in most soils but has a low tolerance for salts.

Designer: Sallie Homan

Ridge Road Garden 11

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Water Saving Tip:

As the weather gets hotter avoid the temptation to increase run times.

Instead, schedule more start times with one to two hours in between to allow the water from the previous session to soak in before watering again.

Integrated Pest Management:

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