Common name:Italian Stone Pine
Botanical name:Pinus pinea
Italian Stone Pine has a moderate growth rate to 40'-80' in height. It eventually forms a broad umbrella with a shaped, flat crown. The needles cluster in 2's, 5"-8" long, and brown to gray green in color. Pines are highly combustible plants.
Common name:Red Hot Poker
Botanical name:Kniphofia uvaria
This perennial will reach about 3' tall and has large green leaves with orange flowers that bloom in summer and fall.
Common name:Torch Lily
Botanical name:Kniphofia hybrids
This perennial will grow to about 6' tall and has large green leaves with red, orange, and yellow flowers that bloom in spring, summer, and fall.
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:Medio Picta Century Plant
Botanical name:Agave americana medio-picta
This form has arching leaves with a creamy white stripe down the center of the blue-green leaf. The leaves are outstanding with their arching form and are well armed with a stout, terminal spine as well as marginal teeth. It is somewhat smaller than the americana variety, growing to around 4.' It prefers full sun, well drained soil and will perform well in containers. This form also will die after bloom but will survive in the form of new pups around the old plant. Susceptible to Agave Snout Weevil.
Common name:Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name:Agave americana
This plant is fast growing to about 6'-10' tall and 8'-13' wide. Wide gray leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. It prefers full sun and well-drained situations. After blooming, which could take several years, it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted.
Common name:Tree Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe barberae
A succulent with upright thick mottled gray stems. The terminal branches hold rosettes of recurved, dark green leaves. In late winter, the rose-pink flowers in a tight inflorescence rise above the foliage.
Common name:Stalked Aeonium
Botanical name:Aeonium undulatum
Stalked Aeonium is an unbranched shrub, with somewhat metallic-green, 10" long, spoon shaped leaves. The leaves form large rosettes on stems 2'-3' tall. Flowers are dark yellow; plant rarely blooms. Water regularly in summer.
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Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.