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Raised Planter Garden 6
Chinese Pistache
Yarrow, Milfoil 'Moonshine'
Autumn Sage
Mexican or Texas Needle Grass
Gaura
Yellow Bulbine
Desert Willow 'AZT Bi-Color'
Chinese Pistache

Common name:Chinese Pistache
Botanical name:Pistacia chinensis

Deciduous tree with rounded crown 40' x 35'. Its leaves have 10-16 leaflets, and the striking fall coloring arrives in beautiful shades of reds and orange. Dense shade tree. Red fruit on female trees. Native to China and the Philippines.

Yarrow, Milfoil 'Moonshine'

Common name:Yarrow, Milfoil 'Moonshine'
Botanical name:Achillea 'Moonshine'

Long, straight stems with pale yellow flowers are striking on the mats of green to grey-green leaves of this plant, which are flatter and less divided than those of the Achillea millefolium. This Yarrow propagates easily from rooted cuttings or divisions which should be performed in the early spring or fall. Following bloom, one should dead head the plant and divide the clumps when it appears crowded. Introduced by Alan Bloom in the 1950's.

Autumn Sage

Common name:Autumn Sage
Botanical name:Salvia greggii

Evergreen sprawling shrub grows quickly to 2' x 2'. Red pink or white flowers appear in spring and fall. Prefers filtered shade in Phoenix. Attracts hummingbirds.

Mexican or Texas Needle Grass

Common name:Mexican or Texas Needle Grass
Botanical name:Nassella tenuissima

The Mexican Fan Grass is a beautiful, fine, airy grass that is emerald green in color. It has many soft yellow-beige flower stalks in the spring. This grass grows 1' x 2' and is drought tolerant.

Gaura

Common name:Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri

Flowering perennial that quickly reaches 1' x 1-1/2'. This semievergreen plant has pink buds that open to showy white flowers spring to fall. The flowers resemble butterflies and it attracts butterflies. Accepts full sun to partial shade. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico.

Yellow Bulbine

Common name:Yellow Bulbine
Botanical name:Bulbine frutescens 'Yellow'

Clumping groundcover grows quickly to 1' x 2'. Produce 12-18" flower stalks that bear clusters of small yellow flowers winter to spring. Succulent evergreen leaves are fragile, so locate away from foot traffic. Native to South African. This small, charming succulent does well in containers.

Desert Willow 'AZT Bi-Color'

Common name:Desert Willow 'AZT Bi-Color'
Botanical name:Chilopsis linearis 'AZT Bi-Color'

Chilopsis linearis 'AZT Bi-Color' grows quickly to 30' x 15'. Glossy green leaves contrast nicely with the gray-white bark. Fragrant flowers appaear spring to fall and are unique among the Desert Willows with dark burgandy petals and pink throats. This tree will need some pruning to achieve and attractive single or multitrunked form. They provide excellent filtered shade for understory plantings. Consider planting where you need winter sun, as they are deciduous. -Arid Zone Trees

Designer: Sabina Munoz

Raised Planter Garden 6

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:

Remember to check your irrigation system at least once a month, especially your valves, sprinkler heads, and drip emitters.

Integrated Pest Management:

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