Common name:Mexican Bush Sage
Botanical name:Salvia leucantha
Semievergreen low growing perennial grows to 4' tall and wide. It has hairy white stems and gray-green leaves. Velvety purple flower spikes appear late spring through fall. Accpets full sun or partial shade. Ths Salvia attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Common name:Creeping Germander
Botanical name:Teucrium chamaedrys
This ground cover grows at a moderate rate to 6" x3'. The leaves are shiny, dark green and highly fragrant. Lovely pale pink flowers appear winter to spring. It can be used as a low hedge or along walkways. Requires full sun and well drained soil.
Common name:Upright Maiden Grass
Botanical name:Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
The 'Gracillimus' is a taller variety, often growing to 6'-8' tall with delicate feathery plumes and very thin graceful leaves. It should receive sun to part shade, and average to little summer watering. Tall grasses are highly combustible.
Common name:Spineless Yucca
Botanical name:Yucca recurvifolia
This evergreen succulent is part of the Agave family and reaches 10' tall. It has distinctive blue-grey leaves that bend sharply downward. It blooms with white flowers on 3'-5' tall spikes in late spring and early summer. Leaf tips have spines but they bend and do not cause injury.
Common name:Improved Lantana
Botanical name:Lantana hybrid
Mounding trailing groundcover grows quickly to 2' x 3'. Leaves are medium green. Leaves and sap may irritate skin. Vibrant summer color. Attracts butterflies. Full sun. Flowers year-round in frost-free weather. If hit by frost wait until spring to prune back. Many hybrids, look for a variety of flower colors.
Common name:Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Botanical name:Parkinsonia aculeata
Light, airy tree with prickly stems and green bark. Very fast growing with sparse foliage & very long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers with orange red throats spring for at least a month. This is a messy and shortlived palo verdy. Usually found on limestone soils in areas with moisture but is strongly drought tolerant. Withstands saline conditions. Can be cold or drought deciduous.
Common name:Mexican Honeysuckle
Botanical name:Justicia spicigera
Evergreen shrub grows quickly to 6' x 6'. Leaves are fuzzy and velvety. Flowers borne in clusters of bright orange to reddish orange and nearly year round in warmer areas, during warm months in colder. Needs well drained soil. Pruning will induce bushiness. Attracts hummingbirds. Accepts full sun but prefers light shade. Works well under the canopy of trees. Native to Mexico into South America.
Designer: Sabina Munoz | Windy Garden 12 |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.
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.
Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.