Common name:Artichoke
Botanical name:Cynara scolymus
This perennial will grow 4' tall and 6'-8' wide. It has silvery green leaves with bluish purple flowers that bloom in spring. Artichoke is a favorite fruit/vegetable of California kitchens but it is a great ornamental plant often overlooked for color contrast. It is very tolerant of little water when planted for ornamental purposes.
Common name:Avocado, Palta
Botanical name:Persea americana
This is a large tree that can grow as large as an oak. Its exotic, semi-tropical, drupe fruit is famous for making guacamole dip. Frost damages this plant.
Common name:Gingerbread Man Hybrid Daylily
Botanical name:Hemerocallis 'Gingerbread Man'
This Daylily has attention-getting, mahogany and orange blooms over dark green foliage. It is very heat tolerant.
Common name:Mealy Cup Blue Sage
Botanical name:Salvia farinacea
This low growing perennial reach 1-1/2' x 1-1/2'. Bright green leaves are lighter underneath. Spiked blue-purple flowers bloom from late spring to fall. Attracts hummingbirds.
Common name:Sunburst Coreopsis
Botanical name:Coreopsis grandiflora
The 'Double Sunburst' is a wonderful cultivar and a showy, Southern U.S. native. Golden yellow, double flowers on 2' bushy plants bloom from June to September in full sun and average to dry soils. It makes for good cut flowers, and pruning keeps the plants abundant with blooms. -Holland WIldflower Farm
Common name:American or African Marigold
Botanical name:Tagetes erecta
This Marigold will grow to about 3' high and has small, green or dark green leaves with orange, yellow, or white flowers that bloom in spring, summer, and fall.
Designer: DeeAnn Ayers
Photographer: GardenSoft
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.