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Tour 3 Corner
Ocotillo, Coachman's Whip
Bougainvillea cultivars
Purple Fountain Grass
Designer:

Garden Tours: Wrap Around Desert Garden Indian Wells

Photographer: GardenSoft
Ocotillo, Coachman's Whip

Common name: Ocotillo, Coachman's Whip
Botanical name: Fouquieria splendens

Deciduous succulent grows at a moderate rate to 12' x 10'. Slender spined branches ascend from a common base. Medium green leaves appear when there is ample moisture. Drought deciduous. In spring, spiky clusters of red orange flowers appear. Too much water can kill this plant. Good drainage is important. Accepts full fun. Striking silhouette. Attracts hummingbirds. Native to Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts.

Bougainvillea cultivars

Common name: Bougainvillea cultivars
Botanical name: Bougainvillea cvs.

The large amount of flamboyant color on this species creates a wonderful accent in a garden. Varieties can be in bush or vine form; colors vary. Once established, they tend to be carefree. All varieties are susceptible to frost damage. The 'Barbara Karst' variety blooms bright red in full sun; more crimson if in shade. It blooms early and long.

Purple Fountain Grass

Common name: Purple Fountain Grass
Botanical name: Pennisetum 'Rubrum'

This grass will reach 6' high and has deciduous, purplish/red leaves with clusters of purple flowers that appear in summer and fall. Rubrum is a warm-season grass. Where temperatures get colder than 20 degrees F, the plants should be treated as annuals. Once the grass turns brown it can either be removed immediately or removed in the spring. It should not be expected to live through the winter and begin growing again in the spring. In areas where winter temperatures remain above 20 degrees it should be considered a perennial and the following information should be useful. Warm-season grasses won't start growing until mid to late spring or even early summer. Their major growth and flowering happens when the weather is hot. They will usually turn shades of brown for the winter.