Designer: Sherri Osaka | Garden Tours: Cool Comfort Garden |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Common name: New Zealand Flax, Purple
Botanical name: Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'
Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves can reach 5' tall. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1"-2" blossoms in dark red.
Common name: Snow In Summer
Botanical name: Cerastium tomentosum
Masses of snow white flowers highlight this plant during the early summer season. This attractive ground cover is a great filler among other plants and rocks. Foliage is silver gray or gray/green and is woolly. This plant tolerates coastal conditions and desert areas. Use in rock settings, in hanging baskets, containers, or as a lawn substitute. Cut back in fall to refresh plant.
Common name: Lavender Lady English Lavender
Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavender Lady'
A well-developed woody base is apparent with this evergreen perennial reaching 1.5' tall and wide. Its leaves have a gray green color above and are aromatic. It needs little water when established, full sun, and well drained soils. During summer, dark purple, fragrant flower spikes appear, attracting butterflies. Dried leaves and flowers can be used for tea or making potpourri. This plant is frost tolerant.
Common name: Blue Bush Sage
Botanical name: Salvia clevelandii 'Allen Chickering'
'Allen Chickering' is a perennial, California native shrub that grows 4' high and wide. Whorls of lavender flowers rise above the foliage in spring and summer on 2' tall stalks. Leaves are gray green and fragrant. This shrub does best in full sun, well draining soil and little watering during the summer. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies love this plant!