Common name:Lamb's Ears
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina

This tiny, herbaceous perennial will grow less than 1' tall and has medium sized, grayish green leaves with blue and lavender flowers that bloom in the spring.

Maintenance Tips

Stachys byzantina is a perennial with extremely soft, thick, fuzzy silver leaves. It has a mounding growth habit and grows about 6” tall with a spread of about 12” wide. It is a very low-maintenance plant. Old leaves near the bottom of the plant will fade and can be removed to give the plant a neater appearance. It will send out flowers on stalks in the spring that will last until summer. Once they have finished blooming, stalks should be cut off at the base where they attach to the foliage. They are susceptible to over-watering and have a lifespan of about 2-4 years in the garden, after which they can be divided into new plants or replaced with new ones.

Common name:Bearded Iris
Botanical name:Iris Bearded Hybrids

This perennial will grow 1'-3' tall and has medium size, blue green leaves with wonderful flowers that come in a variety of colors.

Common name:Compact Karo
Botanical name:Pittosporum crassifolium 'Compactum'

Pittosporum crassifolium 'Nana' is an evergreen shrub or tree. It can reach 25' tall and 20' wide in 8-10 years. Branches are densely clothed in gray green, with 1"-2" long leaves that have rounded ends. It produces maroon flowers in late spring.

Common name:Snow-In-Summer
Botanical name:Cerastium tomentosum

Masses of snow white flowers highlight this plant during the early summer season.

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. Above all, it is the mahogany-red to brown bark (which peels beautifully) that is the major attraction. Its fruit resembles the tike apple, and the flowers contrast perfectly to the light green leaf (which can get rather tough). It blooms from late winter to spring.

Maintenance Tips

Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn’ is one of the most popular hybrids of the California native Manzanita. It matures at 7-10' tall and wide with a dense branching structure. The branches have a smooth, dark red bark that is one of the favored characteristics of this plant. It is slow growing and very low maintenance; however, many gardeners do not allow the space they need to reach their mature size. Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. As it matures, move other plants away if it is getting crowded. Pruning will only be needed to shape the plant or to remove any cross branches. They are susceptible to root rot, which usually occurs in the hottest month when there is a tendency to overwater. Watering deep and infrequently during the cooler months is essential to the health of this plant. Allow the soil to dry out in the summer.