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Adventure in the Backyard
Sweet Orange cultivars
Magenta-Eyed Geranium
Shrimp Pink Aloe
Sticky Monkey Flower
Autumn or Texas Sage
Striped Society Garlic
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Silver Cloud Violet Silverleaf
Australian-Dracaena
Spice Bush
Hybrid Daylily (various)
Scarlet Bugler
Sweet Orange cultivars

Common name:Sweet Orange cultivars
Botanical name:Citrus sinensis

This tree will grow 20'-30' high and 10'-15' wide; it produces sweet, tasty oranges. It has shiny green, leathery foliage and produces clusters of fragrant white flowers that bloom in the spring.

Magenta-Eyed Geranium

Common name:Magenta-Eyed Geranium
Botanical name:Geranium maderense

This is one of the most dramatic, shade loving perennials of the garden. It has large lobed leaves on tall, arching red stems. During the summer, pink flowers with darker pink centers cover the plant. It grows up to 3' tall and wide.

Shrimp Pink Aloe

Common name:Shrimp Pink Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe saponaria

This succulent plant will grow about 2' high and has large, greenish/white leaves with orange, pink, and red flowers that bloom in spring and fall.

Sticky Monkey Flower

Common name:Sticky Monkey Flower
Botanical name:Mimulus aurantiacus

Sticky Monkey Flower is a drought tolerant evergreen shrub 4' tall with numerous, orangish yellow flowers in spring and summer. It is a California native that attracts hummingbirds. This shrub can be found on the dry hills and canyon slopes in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the central Coast Ranges. -Cornflower Farms

Autumn or Texas Sage

Common name:Autumn or Texas Sage
Botanical name:Salvia greggii

The Autumn Sage is a hybrid evergreen shrub that grows 3'-4' high It has fragrant green leaves and colorful flowers in shades of red that bloom in spring and summer. This lovely perennial can tolerate sun or partial shade and is hardy to 15 degrees. The Autumn Sage is drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds. The flower colors that can be grown are: Coral, Pink, Purple, Red, and White. It can be grown near the coast and in inland warm valleys. -Cornflower Farms

Striped Society Garlic

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' tall. The flowers are lavender clusters on a 1'-2' stem that bloom in the spring and summer. This perennial is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms

Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo

Common name:Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical name:Nandina domestica

Nandina domestica is a graceful upright shrub that grows from 3'-6' in height. It gets its name from its bamboo-like growth habit. When thinned from the center it bears a remarkable resemblance to bamboo. It is best used in groups. It can be used in a shaded patio or out in a shrub border with full sun. An interesting feature of Heavenly Bamboo is the bronze color in the new growth when planted in full sun. It also bears clusters of white flowers in the spring.

Silver Cloud Violet Silverleaf

Common name:Silver Cloud Violet Silverleaf
Botanical name:Leucophyllum candidum 'Silver Cloud'

Leucophyllum candidum 'Silver Cloud' is an evergreen shrub. It grows to 5' high and wide, with small white leaves and deep, purple flowers. You will see more blooms after rainfall. This shrub has an irregular shape but looks good in mass plantings if you want contrasting foliage and blooms. It is susceptible to Texas root rot so plant in well drained soil.

Australian-Dracaena

Common name:Australian-Dracaena
Botanical name:Cordyline australis

Cordyline australis is an evergreen shrub that grows 12' to 30' tall and 10' to 15' wide with sword-like leaves. It likes full sun, and is very tolerant of heat and drought. It will live in any type of soil that is well drained. Cut back to develop multiple trunks.

Spice Bush

Common name:Spice Bush
Botanical name:Calycanthus occidentalis

A large, fast deciduous shrub growing to 12' tall and 15' wide, the Spice Bush bears large green leaves and small, dull red magnolia-like flowers with narrow petals. Its leaves are fragrant when crushed. The plant should be grown in partial sun or shade, with average to little summer watering and good drainage. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Hybrid Daylily (various)

Common name:Hybrid Daylily (various)
Botanical name:Hemerocallis hybrids

These summer-blooming perennials form clumps with large, grass-like leaves. Its showy flowers, resembling lilies, are borne in clusters on stems held well above the foliage. They prefer full sun to light shade, well draining soil that is slightly acidic and rich. They do better with deep watering once a week. Daylilies make excellent cut flowers. Apply a layer of compost every fall.

Scarlet Bugler

Common name:Scarlet Bugler
Botanical name:Penstemon centranthifolius

This herbaceous perennial has gray green leaves with showy scarlet flowers that bloom in spring. It requires excellent drainage.

Designer: Shelly Jennings

Adventure in the Backyard

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.

Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

Integrated Pest Management:

Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.