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Tour: "Lawn to Garden" Mediterranean Garden

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Colors come alive in Mulch
Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac
Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily
Yellow Margin Century Plant
Century Plant, Maguey
Catmint
Olive
Evergreen Eulalia
Golden Rain Tree, Varnish Tree
French Lavender, Toothed Lavender
Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy
Hamelin White Plume Fountain Grass
Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac

Common name:Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac
Botanical name:Buddleja davidii

Butterfly bush is a fast growing deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub ranging from 3' up to 10'. It has an open, rangy growth habit. It should be cut back nearly to the ground in fall or spring for size control and appearance. - Cornflower Farms There are various cultivars that come in pinks and purple flowers.

Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily

Common name:Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily
Botanical name:Kniphofia hybrids

This perennial will grow to about 6' tall and has large green leaves and has red, orange, and yellow flowers that bloom in spring, summer, and fall.

Yellow Margin Century Plant

Common name:Yellow Margin Century Plant
Botanical name:Agave americana marginata

Marginata has a creamy yellow margin around the edge of the leaves and will grow 6-10' tall x 13' wide. It is a native to Mexico, and has a very open growth habit with leaves that recurve along their length.

Century Plant, Maguey

Common name:Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name:Agave americana

Fast growing to about 6-10' tall x 8-13' wide. Wide, grey leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. Prefers full sun and well-drained situations. Prone to agave snout weevil which will eat the roots and heart out. After blooming, which could take several years. it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted.

Catmint

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, grey-green, undulating mounds to 1' tall in bloom, spreading 3'-4' wide. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in summer. Catmint can be planted in sun or shade and needs medium amount of water. Prune spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

Olive

Common name:Olive
Botanical name:Olea europaea

This broad tree will grow to 40' tall and has small, gray/green leaves with fleshy black fruit that appears in fall.

Evergreen Eulalia

Common name:Evergreen Eulalia
Botanical name:Miscanthus transmorrisonensis

This grass will reach 2.5'-3.5' tall and has narrow, green leaves. Eulalia will arch and have an 8' wide spread. Golden flower spikes appear in spring, lasting through winter, shooting up 6' tall. Eulalia is drought tolerant once it's established but give occasional water to spruce it up. It prefers full to part sun. Give this grass some width area.

Golden Rain Tree, Varnish Tree

Common name:Golden Rain Tree, Varnish Tree
Botanical name:Koelreuteria paniculata

This is a small to medium-sized tree which produces lacy foliage and upright yellow flower clusters in the summer. It is tolerant of both urban conditions and various soil types.

French Lavender, Toothed Lavender

Common name:French Lavender, Toothed Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula dentata

This lavender has green leaves and will grow 3' tall and 5' wide. It has lavender flowers that are prominent in the spring and summer months.

Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy

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.

Hamelin White Plume Fountain Grass

Common name:Hamelin White Plume Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hamelin'

This beautiful dwarf grass reaches 2'-3' tall and 1'-2' wide. Bright green foliage is grass-like. Creamy white fluffy plume flowers appear in thin arching stalks in summer and fall. Foliage turns gold in fall. This grass prefers full sun and low to moderate watering.

Designer: Mark Lewis

Colors come alive in Mulch
Image: 12 of 18

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.