Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii
Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray-green, undulating mounds o 1.5 ft. high in bloom. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring, and early summer.
Common name:Striped Society Garlic
Botanical name:Tulbaghia violacea 'Variegata'
The striped Society Garlic is a garlic scented perennial with green narrow leaves that have white margins to 1 ft. tall. The flowers are lavender clusters on a 1-2 ft. stem that bloom in the spring and summer. This perennial is drought tolerant.
Common name:Peruvian Lily, Alstroemeria
Botanical name:Alstroemeria hybrids
The deciduous rhizomes of this Peruvian lily will often run aggressively if not controlled. They grow best in full to part sun with some summer watering in dry climates. The florist strains can reach 6' tall, while the compact strains range from 12-36" For extra long, florist quality stems, stake or grow through netting for support. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Putting the right plants in the right places in the right groupings is both the challenge and art of good landscape design.
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Common name:Chinese Wisteria
Botanical name:Wisteria sinensis
While the sinensis is similar to the floribunda, it bears more rounded, full clusters of strongly fragrant flowers which open more or less all at once. There are usually 13-15 leaflets per leaf, and they require full sun and average to little watering.
It comes in many colors in the blues, whites and purples.-Monterey Bay Nursery
Designer: Sarah Nichols
Photographer: GardenSoft
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Mulching and adding compost to soil can minimize evaporation and help soil absorb and store water.
Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.