Common name:Rose selected cultivars
Botanical name:Rosa species

These shrubs and vines are the most-loved in the West and are very resilient. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors and are easy to maintain with proper care. Roses can be espaliered or used on a trellis or as shrubs along walkways. Some are fragrant; most have thorns.

Common name:Homestead Purple Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena 'Homestead Purple'

This perennial will reach about 3' tall and has small green leaves with purple flowers that bloom during warm weather. It is frost tender but will come back when the ground warms up. Feed with an all-purpose fertilizer once a month during the growing season. This shrub works as a great groundcover. Pinch ends to promote dense growth.

Common name:Monarch Blanket Flower
Botanical name:Gaillardia X grandiflora 'Monarch'

Gaillardia gra. 'Monarch' is a perennial. Grows to 2'-4' high, 1.5' wide, with roughish grey-green foliage and single or double mixed red and yellow bicolor blooms 3"-4" across. Exceptionally long bloom. Keep dead-heading and they'll bloom til frost.

Common name:Garden Pansy
Botanical name:Viola X wittrockiana

This annual will grow 6"-10" tall and 9"-12" wide. It has shiny green leaves with flowers that come in a wide variety of colors and are in constant bloom from fall to spring.

Common name:Pineapple Guava, Feijoa
Botanical name:Acca sellowiana

Classified as an evergreen shrub or a small tree, this plant can be pruned to almost any size or shape. Its foliage is grey-green and silvery underneath. White flowers with bright red stamens can be seen, followed by 1"-4" long, oval, edible fruit. Full sun in most areas, but it should get afternoon shade in desert areas. It is drought tolerant once it's established but will show signs of stress if fruit is dropping. Plant in well draining soil.

Common name:Star Jasmine, Maile Haole
Botanical name:Trachelospermum jasminoides

Star Jasmine is an evergreen vine that grows 20' tall or a ground cover that reaches 1'-2' tall and 4'-5' wide. It has white fragrant flowers in the summer and can tolerate sun or partial shade. The star jasmine needs regular watering. Leaves are dark green, oval, thick, about 2" long. This is a great plant on a trellis, in containers or in a parking strip.

Sustainable Fertilization

If you mulch heavily as recommended in the compost and mulch fact sheets you should not need traditional fertilization. Sustainable landscapes fertilize themselves as soil organisms break down and recycle the dropped leaves into nutrients.

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