Common name: Japanese Maple
Botanical name: Acer palmatum

This magnificient plant can used as a small tree or shrub. It is deciduous with graceful leaves which have a scarlet color in spring as it leafs out. Leaves later turn orange or yellow in fall. It is slow growing to 20', and requires shelter from the hot sun. The leaves of this tree are small, light green in color, and deeply lobed. It should also be noted that this tree remains spectacular throughout all seasons.

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: Common Verbena
Botanical name: Verbena peruviana cv.

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

Common name: Jade Plant
Botanical name: Crassula ovata

Crassula ovata is an evergreen shrub that grows to 6' with time and with gray green, oval, glossy, leathery leaves with red margins (more red appears with more sun). During the winter and spring, small pale pink, fragrant flowers cover the plant. It likes afternoon shade, low watering, and will live in any type of well drained soil. It can be grown as a houseplant but will not bloom. Trunk and branches are thick and gnarled. Flowers attract bees, wasps, butterflies, flies and beetles. Looks great in containers.