Common name:Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Botanical name:Agave attenuata

This Agave has a dramatic tropical form. Even light frost can damage its succulent leaves. It is great for containers. In the low desert, partial sun will be best. If it becomes top heavy, simply cut and stick in the ground to root. It is not a fast grower and has light green foliage. It will also die after flowering but pups around the mother will survive. Distinctive with its large rosette of leaves perched on a long curving trunk, it is a native from Mexico.

Common name:Purple Hopseed Bush or Hop Bush
Botanical name:Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'

This fast-growing shrub has an upright, branching habit that reaches a height of 12'-15', with willow-like leaves that are 4" in length. Its foliage is bronzy-green in color, which turns a reddish-purple shade in the fall and winter. It has compact growth and requires full sun for the best results.

Common name:Evergreen Watsonia, Bugle Lily
Botanical name:Watsonia pillansii

Watsonia pillansii is a beautiful perennial that grows 2'-3' tall. It does better in full sun. The orange or red-orange flowers are up to 2" across and bloom from spring through fall. These bulb plants have green foliage that are long, sword-shaped and erect. These are low maintenance plants.

Common name:Mediterranean Tree Mallow
Botanical name:Lavatera maritima

This large, shrubby perennial grows up to 6' and has profuse lavender pink flowers with maroon highlights. From the Mallow family, the flowers are produced year round and are especially showy in the fall.

Common name:Red Apple Ice Plant, Aptenia
Botanical name:Aptenia cordifolia

Aptenis is a herbaceous perennial ground cover with fleshy heart shaped leaves on succulent stems. Tiny, solitary red flowers appear among leaves. Foliage is shiny and bright green. It is salt tolerant and great in containers, planters or hanging baskets. It needs full sun or light shade. Be careful not to overwater. It can die back with heavy frost and will not tolerate foot traffic.

Common name:Trailing Ice Plant
Botanical name:Lampranthus spectabilis

This succulent groundcover is a moderately fast grower, spreading 2' wide and mounding and can grow 6"-12" tall. During the spring, it is covered with flowers could be shades of pink, purple or white. Leaves are gray green. This mounding succulent does best in full sun and is drought tolerant. It needs good drainage. It may need to be periodically cut back to rejuvenate the plant.

Common name:Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena peruviana

This perennial forms a flat mat that covers an area rapidly. It has dark green leaves with clusters of bright flowers that bloom all year. Hybrids will have a little more height, different flower colors and spread more slowly. It is drought tolerant.

Common name:Gloriosa Yucca, Spanish Dagger
Botanical name:Yucca gloriosa

This clumping palm relative will reach 10' to15' tall and has large, green, sword-like leaves with white flowers in spring and summer. Its broad, medium green leaves blend with either tropical or desert theme landscapes.

Common name:Bougainvillea selections
Botanical name:Bougainvillea cultivars

This species is hardy and vigorous, with a showy, ornamental display of purple color. It blooms well in areas with cool summers. It is senstive to frost and will die back hard but comes back in a number of weeks. Be carefeul of this in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Common name:Pride Of Madeira
Botanical name:Echium candicans

Mature specimens of this evergreen shrub can grow to a size of 6'-8' tall and 8'-10' wide. In the spring, spikes of rosy-violet to blue-purple flowers appear. It should receive sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. This plant can be severely damaged by frost below 25 degrees F.