Common name:Blue Aster
Botanical name:Aster X frikartii

Blue Aster is a very popular, sky blue flower for herbaceous beds.

Common name:Hopseed Bush
Botanical name:Dodonaea viscosa

This small evergreen tree or shrub can grow up to 12'-15' high and 12' wide. Leaf color can vary from green to purple. It is a relatively short-lived tree, compared to most other trees. It is drought tolerant. It prefers full sun although it will tolerate part shade. It is susceptible to Texas root rot.

Common name:Island Snapdragon
Botanical name:Galvezia speciosa

Island Snapdragon is an evergreen shrub or vine that grows from 2'-3' high and 3'-5' across with red spring and summer flowers. This plants needs partial shade in hot inland areas. It is a California native that is drought tolerant. It attracts hummingbirds.

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:Dwarf Coyote Bush
Botanical name:Baccharis pilularis

The pilularis is a low maintenance, reliable evergreen ground cover. It benefits from pruning in the spring. However, the cottony seeds from the female plant can be messy.