Lantana montevidensis
Purple Trailing Lantana
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Festuca glauca
Blue Fescue
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Parkinsonia aculeata
Mexican Palo Verde
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Agave desmetiana 'Variegata'
Smooth Agave
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Pittosporum tobira 'Variegata'
Variegated Tobira
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The area next to the driveway has a soothing palette. Groundcovers Lantana in lovely violet/lavender and Festuca in calming blue soften the edges of the concrete. The variegated Agave encourages one to pause for a moment to admire its curvaceous foliage. Pittosporum is also variegated but in slightly lighter colors. This shrub is reliable and can be pruned to your liking. Parkinsonia with its attractive yellow flowers dominate this area during the spring. This is a tree for all seasons since it has fruit that appears after the flower season and bare-looking branches during the winter show off the beautiful branching. What a wondrous sight while walking down the driveway!
Plant Type
Ground cover
Water
Low
Height Range
1-3'
Flower Color
Purple
Flower Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Constant
Design Styles
Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Tropical
Accenting Features
Showy Flowers, Standard
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sun
Full, Half
Growth Rate
Fast, Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Poor, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral, Basic
Location Uses
Entry, Perennial Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Patio, Parking Lot, Raised Planter, Walls / Fences, Walkways, With Rocks
Special Uses
Cascade, Container, Erosion Control, Filler, Mass Planting, Small Spaces, Hanging Baskets
Attracts Wildlife
Butterflies
Lavender flowers accent the trailing growth habit of this Lantana. It is excellent for spilling over walls or down banks. Eventually, it will reach about 2' tall by 6' wide; size is controlled by pruning and severity of winter. It does best in full sun and is drought tolerant. It grows rapidly, even in heat, smog and poor soil. It is cold hardy to 25 degrees F, but recovers quickly. Fruit is poisonous. Butterflies are attracted to Lantana.
Plant Type
Ground cover, Grass
Water
Low
Height Range
Under 1'
Flower Color
n/a
Flower Season
n/a
Design Styles
Japanese, Meadow
Accenting Features
Unusual Foliage
Seasonal Interest
n/a
Sun
Full, Half
Growth Rate
Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Loam, Rocky
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral
Location Uses
Perennial Border, Parking Strip, Patio, Parking Lot, With Rocks
Special Uses
Container, Mass Planting, Small Spaces
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue-green, evergreen leaves that are very thin and hair-like. Flowers appear in the summer but are insignificant. This dependable but short-lived ground cover prefers full sun in coastal areas and afternoon shade in warm inland areas. It needs well draining soil and is drought tolerant once it's established. Leaves may burn during the summer but trim in winter to keep it looking refreshed. Does not tolerate wet soil.
Plant Type
Tree
Water
Very Low
Height Range
6-12', 12-25'
Flower Color
Yellow
Flower Season
Spring, Summer
Design Styles
Ranch
Accenting Features
Showy Flowers, Specimen
Seasonal Interest
Winter, Spring
Sun
Full
Growth Rate
Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral, Basic
Location Uses
Background, Lawn
Special Uses
n/a
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
aculeata=prickly Very fast growing with sparse foliage & very long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers with orange red throats spring for month+. Very messy, thorny, weedy & shortlived. Usually found on limestone soils in areas with moisture but is strongl
Plant Type
Succulent
Water
Low
Height Range
1-3'
Flower Color
Yellow
Flower Season
Spring
Design Styles
Ranch, Spanish, Wild Garden
Accenting Features
Specimen, Unusual Foliage, Unusual Shape
Seasonal Interest
Spring
Sun
Half, Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Soil Type
Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Poor, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral, Basic
Location Uses
Foundation, Patio, Raised Planter, Swimming Pool, With Rocks
Special Uses
Container, Mass Planting, Naturalizing
Attracts Wildlife
Birds, Hummingbirds
Agave with an open rosette form grows quickly to 3' x 3'. Very attractive plant resembles Octopus Agave but smaller. Fleshy leaves are light green with smooth edges and a sharp tip. Will grow best in filtered sun or full shade. After several years, flower stalk will appear with bright yellow flowers in spring. Like most agaves, it will die after flowering but produces an abundance of offesets. Somewhat cold sensitive.
Plant Type
Tree, Shrub
Water
Low
Height Range
3-6', 6-12'
Flower Color
White
Flower Season
Spring
Design Styles
English Cottage, Japanese, Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape, Spanish, Woodland
Accenting Features
Fragrance, Multi-trunk Tree, Unusual Foliage
Seasonal Interest
Spring
Sun
Full, Half
Growth Rate
Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral, Basic
Location Uses
Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, Patio, Swimming Pool, Walls / Fences, Walkways
Special Uses
Container, Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
This variegated evergreen shrub or small tree has creamy margins on its gray-green leaves. In spring, clusters of small, cream-colored flowers appear with the fragrance of orange blossoms. Variegated Mock Orange is often used to brighten shaded areas.