Common name: Eastern Redbud
Botanical name: Cercis canadensis

This small, deciduous tree with a rounded head is covered with small flowers of a rose pink color in the spring before the appearance of heart-shaped leaves. It can grow to 25' tall with an equal spread. It has a low branching habit with a rounded form. During fall, foliage turns yellow. Eastern Redbud lives about 20 years. This is a great patio tree or for a small front yard.

Common name: Blue Fescue, Blue Fescue Grass
Botanical name: Festuca glauca

This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue-green, evergreen leaves that are very thin and hair-like. Flowers appear in the summer but are insignificant. This dependable but short-lived ground cover prefers full sun in coastal areas and afternoon shade in warm inland areas. It needs well draining soil and is drought tolerant once it's established. Leaves may burn during the summer but trim in winter to keep it looking refreshed. Does not tolerate wet soil.

Common name: Santa Ana Cardinal Coral Bells
Botanical name: Heuchera 'Santa Ana Cardinal'

This Heuchera is believed to be a hybrid between the native Heuchera maxima and the non-native Heuchera sanguinea. The name is a little misleading as the flower is more pinkish red than it is red or cardinal. It is best used in dry shady conditions with well drained soil. Once established, it requires little care. It is susceptible to mealy bugs and root rot if it receives too much water. It grows to 18"-24" tall and wide. It looks great in mass plantings.

Common name: Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical name: Nandina domestica

Nandina domestica is a graceful upright shrub that grows from 3'-6' in height. It gets its name from its bamboo-like growth habit. When thinned from the center it bears a remarkable resemblance to bamboo. It is best used in groups. It can be used in a shaded patio or out in a shrub border with full sun. An interesting feature of Heavenly Bamboo is the bronze color in the new growth when planted in full sun. It also bears clusters of white flowers in the spring.

Common name: Blue-Eyed Grass
Botanical name: Sisyrinchium bellum

Following winter rains, this grassy perennial brings a soft texture back into the garden. It produces an abundance of small blue-purple flowers which have a long bloom cycle. The foliage is similar to Irises. This California native prefers full sun and is drought tolerant once it's established. It's great in small spaces and among rocks. This plant reaches about 1' tall.

Common name: Westringia Wynyabbie Gem
Botanical name: Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem'

This evergreen shrub will grow 3'-6' high and 6'-8' wide and has lavender flowers that bloom from winter through spring. It is drought tolerant and does well in full sun or partial shade.

Common name: Italian Stone Pine
Botanical name: Pinus pinea

Italian Stone Pine has a moderate growth rate to 40'-80' in height, spreading 20'-40' wide. 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. Bark is fissured, reddish brown with orange. Cones appear in spring, starting off green colored and changing to brown. They are shaped like small footballs. Some folks use the juvenile pine as Christmas trees.

Common name: Howard McMinn Manzanita
Botanical name: Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn'

This shrub is highly appreciated for its decorative characteristics, which include a dense show of small, pale pink urn-shaped flowers in winter and spring. One of its main often overlooked attractions of this plant is the mahogany-red to brown bark (which peels beautifully) that can be revealed with some internal pruning once the plant is mature . It's small, red fruit resembles the tike apple, appearing at the end of winter just as Spring is coming on. Evergreen, shiny leaves are very neat and tidy. It can reach 8' tall and 10 wide. It can be pruned to desired size. This shrub attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It does best in full sun in coastal areas and afternoon shade in warm, inland areas with well draining soil. Established plants need little or no water in coastal areas and occasional watering in warmer areas.