Common name:Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy
Botanical name:Erigeron karvinskianus

This low mounding perennial, with fine leaves and white to pinkish, daisy-like flowers, is an excellent asset to rock gardens.

Common name:Red Flowering Currant
Botanical name:Ribes sanguineum

This upright, multibranched deciduous shrub has medium green, maple shaped leaves. The rose-red flowers appear in clusters in mid winter offering winter color for the garden, and food for hummingbirds. This shrub can tolerate some shade on the coast, and needs shade in warm inland areas. It makes a wonderful backdrop in a woodland garden, foundation shrub, or an informal hedge.

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray green, undulating mounds that are 1.5' high when blooming. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring and early summer.

Common name:Canyon Prince Wild Rye
Botanical name:Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'

One of the best known and utilized native grass selections in Southern California, this beautiful, blue gray foliage spreads out 3'-4' or more. It will reach a height of 2'-3'. It rarely flowers. It does spread by rhizomes although not as vigorously as some closely related species. It can be extremely drought tolerant and care must be taken not to over water this species as it can rot from the center. Otherwise, it is carefree and requires virtually no maintenance.

Common name:Deer Grass
Botanical name:Muhlenbergia rigens

The Deer Grass is a warm season perennial that forms dense clumps from the base. The spike-like flower stalks grow 2'-3' tall and this grass has striking foundation form. The Deer Grass is native to California, is drought tolerant, and is a beneficial insect plant.

Common name:Strawberry Madrone
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'

The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as Pacific Madrone. Its flowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage.

Common name:Yellow Bahia
Botanical name:Bahia absinthifolia

Yellow Bahia is a perennial ground cover that will even grow in shallow caliche. It grows in full sun; it is drought tolerant, but with some additional moisture, it will bloom until frost season. It is a fast grower and will reseed. It has 1" yellow daisies and silvery foliage; it is herbaceous. It is constantly in bloom in the low desert from spring until late fall. It can then be cut to the ground for fresh regrowth in spring. It spreads also by underground rhizomes.

Common name:Carmel Creeper
Botanical name:Ceanothus griseus horizontalis

Carmel Creeper is one of the most popular forms of spreading shrubs. Its glossy oval leaves of 2" are bright green. The tiny, light blue flowers are abundant and form 1" clusters. This shrub benefits from pruning. It does best in well-drained soil with little to no summer water.

Common name:Sundrops 'Sierra Sundrop'
Botanical name:Calylophus hartwegii

This low-growing perennial grows 1' x 2' and has rhizome spreading, woody stems with bright green leaves. It produces large, lemon yellow flowers that are up to 4" across and bloom spring through summer. 'Sierra Sundrop' a select strain.

Common name:Swiss Mountain Pine
Botanical name:Pinus mugo

Pinus mugo is an evergreen tree or shrub that grows slowly. Needles are 2" long, dark green, stout, and crowded. Cones are 1"-2" long, oval, and tawny to dark brown. It is generally a bushy, twisted, somewhat open pine. Pines are highly combustible plants.

Managing Your Soil

Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a vibrant landscape. It provides oxygen and nutrients vital to plant growth and sustenance. It provides protection from the sun and stability for root systems.

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