Common name:Pygmy Date Palm, Roebelin Palm
Botanical name:Phoenix roebelenii
This tree will grow to about 10' tall and has dark green, spiny petiole foliage. It does well in full sun to heavy shade; it likes moderate to heavy irrigation, but can take periods of dryness.
Common name:Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Botanical name:Agave attenuata
This Agave has a dramatic tropical form. Even light frost can damage its succulent leaves. It is great for containers. In the low desert, partial sun will be best. If it becomes top heavy, simply cut and stick in the ground to root. It is not a fast grower and has light green foliage. It will also die after flowering but pups around the mother will survive. Distinctive with its large rosette of leaves perched on a long curving trunk, it is a native from Mexico.
Common name:Rock Purslane
Botanical name:Cistanthe grandiflora 'Jazz Time'
This perennial will grow 12"-36" and produces large blue-green rosettes that last for a long season. It produces large, silky, lavender pink flowers that have lime-green, purple spotted calyces.
Common name:Kangaroo Paws, Red
Botanical name:Anigozanthos hybrids
This tender perennial is a clump-forming evergreen that produces fuzzy, yellow green flowers that bloom in spring and last for over 2 months. Many sizes and varieties are available including yellow and pink flowers.
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. Tall grasses are highly combustible.
Common name:Pindo or Jelly Palm, Yatay
Botanical name:Butia capitata
This slow-growing tree has leaves that vary from bluish gray to green and has round, yellow to orange fruit that is edible and delicious. Arching leaves spread 10'-15' wide; palm can reach 20' tall.
Common name:Smooth-edged Agave
Botanical name:Agave weberi
This is a striking medium-sized Agave that can grow to 5' tall by 6'-10' wide. This agave has very fine marginal teeth and is sometimes spineless. Supplemental summer watering can prevent yellowing from heat stress in the summer. These plants are also moderately cold hardy and tolerant of temperatures down to 12 degrees F. It is more refined looking than americana. It is native in central Eastern Mexico. It is one of the largest of the Agaves.
Designer: Laura Dalton
Photographer: GardenSoft
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.