Common name:Julia Phelps California Lilac
Botanical name:Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps'

Fast-growing and densely branched with small dark green leaves, this is a great bloomer showing a marvelous display of delicate, dark indigo blue flowers found in round clusters of 1". It is extremely drought tolerant, and must not be overwatered. It does best in well-drained soil with little to no summer water. It attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects.

Common name:Deer Grass
Botanical name:Muhlenbergia rigens

The Deer Grass is a warm season perennial that forms dense clumps from the base. The spike-like flower stalks grow 3' tall and this grass has striking foundation form. The Deer Grass is native to California and needs watering once or twice a month after it has been established. The more water it has, the greener it is.

Maintenance Tips

Muhlenbergia rigens is a dense grass with a dome-shaped structure arching in all directions. It is commonly referred to as Deergrass. The foliage can reach 3' tall and 5' wide with flower blooms that emerge in the spring and summer 18" above the foliage. This grass requires almost no maintenance if it is planted in its ideal conditions. A sunny location, well-drained soil, and the space to reach its mature size will ensure that it thrives without having to prune for size or shape. It is common to cut back perennial grasses very hard in the winter to prune off the old spent flowers. If you are planning on winter pruning, it is best to wait until you see some new foliage emerge so the newly emerging leaves can cover the cuts quickly.

Common name:Toyon
Botanical name:Heteromeles arbutifolia

Toyon is a California native evergreen shrub that grows 6'-15' high and spreading 2'-3'. It has leathery toothed leaves, white summer flowers and clusters of red winter berries. It tolerates full sun or partial shade, heat, smog, wind and heavy or light soils. It is drought tolerant, attracts beneficial insects and hummingbirds.

Maintenance Tips

Heteromeles arbutifolia is an evergreen shrub that typically grows 6-8' tall and wide. It is a very versatile plant that can also be shaped into a small tree reaching 12-15' tall if it is cultivated properly. It has a very dense branching structure and will form into a large mound of green foliage and bright red berries if left unattended. The location, space, and desired shape of this plant in your garden will determine how it should be maintained. In a naturalized garden, where it is given plenty of space to reach maturity, there so almost no maintenance involved. However, if it is located in areas with a moist climate, some thinning would be necessary for good airflow to avoid fungal diseases. If is being used as a small tree, the cross branching and lower branches should be removed as they form to encourage the desired shape of the tree. It prefers full sun, is very drought tolerant, and is unparticular about its soil conditions, so it can be grown just about anywhere.

Common name:Deodar Cedar
Botanical name:Cedrus deodara

Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) is a large, upright, evergreen tree that can mature to 60' tall and 30' wide. When this plant is small in the nursery, it has a nearly perfect Christmas tree shape with weeping branches, making it appear to be a perfect specimen for a small garden. It will quickly outgrow small garden spaces, so it is best to select this specimen tree only when you have a larger garden. This tree is often used in parks and large open spaces due to its size and natural upright habit. If this tree is planted in a location where it can reach its mature size, it will require almost no pruning or fertilizer. However, if it is planted in a location that is too small, a licensed arborist should be hired to maintain it. This tree should be planted at least 10 feet away from any hardscape areas, 20 feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about five feet away from this tree. It should be irrigated for about 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.

Common name:Centennial Coyote Brush
Botanical name:Baccharis 'Centennial'

This plant is a hybrid that combines a prostrate habit with tolerance for desert conditions. It grows 3' tall and 6' wide. It tolerates heat, sun and frost, maintaining its green appearance.

Common name:Cedros Island Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'

Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina' is a selection introduced by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. It follows the same wonderful characteristics described under the general species V. lilacina.

Maintenance Tips

Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ is a popular hybrid of the low-growing, herbaceous perennial that is native to a small island off the coast of Baja California. This variety grows 2-6' tall and 3-4' wide with dark purple flowers and a slight fragrance. This is a low-water, low-maintenance plant that rarely requires attention, pruning, or fertilizer. The best way to keep it looking and performing its best is to plant it in a sunny location with well-drained soil and to not overwater in the warmer months. During the fall and winter, the plant usually stops blooming and can sometimes look a little rangy. This is a good time to prune the plant to allow it some dormancy before the growth season begins again in the spring. You can cut back the foliage by one-third of the current size and remove any additional branches that have died back.

Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica

This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.