Archive for the Newsletter Category

Plant of the Month Rosas/Roses Roses are considered to be the most popular ‘shrub’ planted in temperate climates. They are actually quite tough as long as you chose varieties suited to your climate (and keep them from deer). In hot climates like ours they do best in

Plant of the Month Physocarpus- Ninebark There is a western mountain native of this genus of deciduous shrubs, Physocarpus capitatus, but this will focus on Common Ninebark, P. opulifolius because the hybrids are very worthy of consideration. Typically a large growing shrub with lobed leaves and clusters

Plant of the Month Russian Sage-Perovskia Russian Sage is a perennial winner. It takes very little water once established, grows in full sun and is very reliably deer resistant. The foliage is silver and toothed on stems that can reach to 5 ft on the full sized

Plant of the Month Scaevola aemula Scaevola aemula is an Austalian native that thrives in our hot summers. It is considered a perennial to Sunset Zone 8 but I feel it is more of an annual for us. The flowers are fan shaped, giving it the common

Plant of the Month Lamium We carry two types of Lamium, Lamium maculatum and Lamium (Lamiastrum) galeobdolon. Both make nice ground cover for a shady area with their silver-white foliage. They like regular water and are deer resistant. Lamium maculatum flowers in shades of pink purple or

Plant of the Month Nemesia fruticans Nemesia fruticans is native to South Africa where you find close to 70 different species. It is in the Scrophulariaceae family, aka the snapdragon family. They typically grow in sandy or disturbed soil in their native habitat. The flowers are two lipped, like some sun

Plant of the Month Gazania hybrids Gazanias are native to South Africa, making them climate appropriate, blooming over a long period of time. They come in two types- clumping or trailing. The flowers open on sunny days but stay closed at night and on cloudy days. They

Plant of the Month Zygocactus Zygos are native to Brazil and grow on trees like orchids in their native habitat. Plant them in a mix of peat moss and sand. They actually like regular water but let dry out between waterings. Fertilize every week to ten days

Plant of the Month Berberis thunbergii Japanese Barberry These deciduous, deer resistant shrubs come in a variety of leaf color and size. They are very tolerant of soil and climate types. They do have one drawback-tiny thorns. Most people prefer to plant the gold or red leafed