Common name:Iceberg Floribunda Rose
Botanical name:Rosa 'Iceberg'

This is a shrub rose (there are climbing varieties) with an abundance of fragrant, medium sized, white blooms. It is one of the most popular roses and very tough.

Common name:Foothill Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon heterophyllus

This perennial will grow 1.5'-2' tall and 2'-3' wide. It has glossy, blue green foliage with flowers that vary in color and bloom from spring through early summer.

Common name:Yellow Stalked Bulbine
Botanical name:Bulbine frutescens

Bulbine frutescens is an evergreen perennial that grows 1.5' tall and wide. The leaves are narrow and long. This low-spreading plant is attractive year round.

Maintenance Tips

Bulbine frutescens is a grass-like succulent that has a very dense form that can grow 18" tall and wide. It can bloom throughout the year and is very attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. To keep this plant low maintenance, plant it in full sun with excellent drainage. Rock gardens are a perfect location. The plant is drought tolerant once established but will require some supplemental soil as it is rooting. This plant can spread from underground roots, so it can be invasive if it is happy in the environment. There is very little maintenance required to keep it looking and performing its best, but it should be divided every couple of years to invigorate it. If the plant looks dull and discolored, there is a good chance it is going into its drought mode, so some supplemental water will kick start it again.

Common name:New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium tenax

New Zealand Flax is a large, bold plant with stiffly vertical, sword-like, green leaves that arise from its base. It should be grown under full sun for best color. Varieties will offer different growth habits and leaf color.

Maintenance Tips

Phormium tenax is a perennial that grows as a clump with strap-like leaves. This is a very popular plant and has many different hybrids that are selected for their different foliage colors, sizes, and textures. When growing this species, there is a lot of genetic variety, so the size of the mature plant can range from 2' up to 8'. To keep the maintenance as low as possible, plant in a location that is full sun, and well-drained and give it the space it needs to reach maturity. These plants are often the victim of poor pruning habits, with gardeners cutting the leaves off in the middle or shearing them because they are too large for the space they have been given. If this is the case, they should be transplanted to a location where they can reach their full size, or other plants around them should be moved out of their way.