Common name:Flannel Bush, Fremontia cv.
Botanical name:Fremontodendron 'California Glory'
'California Glory' is an open and spreading evergreen shrub 10'-20' in height with many yellow flowers blooming in spring. It needs good drainage and little summer water. It is a native plant to California as the name suggests and it is drought tolerant.
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:California Fan Palm
Botanical name:Washingtonia filifera
California Fan Palm is the only palm native to California. It populates the areas along the San Andreas Fault where desert water has seeped to the surface and formed springs. It grows to 60' tall and 20' wide. It has light green fronds 3'-6' long. One of the most common uses of the palms fronds by Native Californians was in forming housing and thatched Ramadas. Fronds and frond fiber were also used to make sandals, cordage, nets and mats.
Common name:Blue Elderberry
Botanical name:Sambucus mexicana
The Blue Elderberry is a deciduous shrub that grows 4'-10' tall or tree that reaches up to 40' high. The leaves of this plant have 5-9 leaflets with white spring flower clusters developing into blue berries. The Blue Elderberry is a native to California, is drought tolerant and is a beneficial insect plant.
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.
Common name:California Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca californica
The California Fescue is a cool season bunchgrass with blue green blades that reach 2'-5' high and 3' wide. Foliage arches gracefully upwards and outwards. Flower spikes reach 3' above the leaves. Plant in full sun or partial shade. It makes a great companion plant to oak trees and is handsome as a backdrop behind lower growing grasses for a meadow look. The California fescue is native to California and is a beneficial insect plant.
Common name:Blue Blossom Ceanothus
Botanical name:Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Skylark'
The blue blossom ceanothus is a shrub that has dark blue flower clusters that bloom profusely. This smaller growing selection grows to 6' high and 4'-6' wide. This shrub attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects. Its native counterpart can be found from sea level to 1500' elevations in mixed evergreen and redwood forests of the Coast Ranges.
Designer: Armstrong & Walker Land. Arch.
Photographer: GardenSoft