Common name:Prairie Buffalo Grass
Botanical name:Buchloe dactyloides 'Prairie'
This perennial shortgrass grows 2-5" high and 6-12' wide. The rounded, hollow stems have gray/green curly leaves that are 1/10" wide and 2" long. This grass is very drought-resistant and turns tan in winter and lavender in autumn.
Common name:Arizona or Velvet Ash
Botanical name:Fraxinus velutina
This rounded tree will grow 30'-50' tall and has glossy, bright green leaves that turn yellow and gold in the fall. The leaves are soft and velvety, and the trunk is slender and gray. This tree is hardy to about -10 degrees F. This deciduous tree is heat tolerant and needs a moderate amount of water.
Common name:Oleander
Botanical name:Nerium oleander
Oleander is a dense, upright evergreen shrub that grows quickly to 6' x 4'. Leaves are dark green, leathery, and glossy. Accepts reflected sun. Flowers appear spring to fall. Excellent screen. Good summer color. Native to the Mediterranean.
| Designer: Sabina Munoz | Small Family Garden 5 |
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:
Water-wise plants can be beautiful as well as practical.
Ask at your local nursery for the types of plants that have minimal watering needs.
Integrated Pest Management:
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.