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Gallery: Mediterranean Gardens

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Southwest Garden
Italian Stone Pine
Red Hot Poker
Torch Lily
Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Medio Picta Century Plant
Century Plant, Maguey
Tree Aloe
Stalked Aeonium
Italian Stone Pine

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.

Red Hot Poker

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.

Torch Lily

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.

Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave

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.

Medio Picta Century Plant

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.

Century Plant, Maguey

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.

Tree Aloe

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.

Stalked Aeonium

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.

Designer:

Southwest Garden
Image: 5 of 24

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.