Common name: Woolly Blue Curls
Botanical name: Trichostema lanatum

Woolly Blue Curls is an evergreen shrub that reaches 3'-5' high. It has an open branching habit and has long stalks of brilliant purple woolly flowers in the spring and summer. This California native, is drought tolerant, and attracts hummingbirds. It puts on a dramatic display of purple stealing the show when in bloom. This is a highly prized compact, medium sized shrub that produces breath-taking deep purple to blue flowers. This shrub prefers minimal watering after establishment, well drained soil and plenty of sun. It naturally occurs below 2000' ft. Woolly Blue Curls grows fast, reaching about 4 ft in height and the same in width. The leaves are needle like, thick skinned points that are a light to dark green. The spring and summer flowers are loved by bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and a favorite of Native gardeners. This very hardy, drought tolerant native was extremely important to indigenous Americans, who used almost all parts of the plant for medicinal uses, especially for stomach ailments. Indeed, it became so important that it was used as a currency at times. Tea made from sprigs of Woolly Blue Curls is also extremely tasty, with a soothing, calming effect.

Common name: Yankee Point Ceanothus
Botanical name: Ceanothus griseus hor. 'Yankee Point'

Yankee Point is one of the most popular forms of spreading shrubs. Its glossy oval leaves of 2" in diameter are bright green and tasty for deer. The tiny, light blue flowers are abundant and form 1" clusters in spring. This shrub benefits from pruning when the plant is not blooming. It does best in well-drained, sandy or rocky soil with little to no summer water. This shrub is used as a ground cover since it reaches 2.5' tall and may slowly spread to 15'.

Common name: Winnifred Gilman Dark Blue Sage
Botanical name: Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman'

The 'Winifred Gillman' Sage is a dense, compact shrub that grows to 4'-5' tall and wide, and has a round form. It has blue purple flowers in spikes above the foliage in summer. This sage has gray aromatic foliage. Plant in full sun with well draining soil. It is drought tolerant once it's established but will look better with occasional deep watering.

Common name: Laurel Sumac
Botanical name: Malosma laurina

Laurel Sumac Malosma laurina one of the predominant evergreen shrubs populating the hillsides of coastal Southern California. It grows quickly and strong, forming a rounded shape, but may die back from a cold frost. Leaves on this plant are up to 6 inches long, leathery, folded and curved back which starting out red then turning to a bright green. Frequently the red color remains in the mature leaf's edges. Stems also start out red, then turn reddish-brown then sometimes gray as the plant matures. Flowering occurs in early summer primarily, with the terminal clusters of small cream-colored flowers quickly giving way to red berries with white seeds. The flower clusters persist on the plant well after the flowers and berries are spent.

Common name: Lemon Scented Gum
Botanical name: Corymbia citriodora

This tall, narrow, open tree can eventually reach 75' tall and half as wide. It has a trunk that is smooth, white and "muscular". This attractive tree has evergreen, light green, long leaves with a heavy lemon scent when crushed. Small inconspicuous flowers appear in winter. Below a temperature of 25 degrees F, the tree will be damaged by frost. Eucalyptus varieties are highly combustible. It tolerates full to part sun, preferring acidic or alkaline soil. It can become drought tolerant when established. Not frost tolerant. Psyllids may attack tree. Leaves can be used for perfume and essential oils. Wood is can be used for tools. Additional Names: Corymbia citriodora

Common name: Flannel Bush, Fremontia cv.
Botanical name: Fremontodendron 'California Glory'

'California Glory' is an open and spreading evergreen shrub 20' in height and width. This shrub is covered in yellow flowers in spring. It needs good drainage and little summer water in full sun. It is a native plant to California as the name suggests and it is drought tolerant. Leaves are grayish green and fuzzy; fuzzy stuff may be irritating to skin so make sure you wear gloves when pruning. This shrub does best in sandy soil. This plant needs very little watering after it's established.