Common name:Yellow Wave N.Z. Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Yellow Wave'

This evergreen perennial is 3' high with clumping yellow-green variegation and weeping leaves.

Common name:Ajuga, Bugle Flower, Carpet Bugle
Botanical name:Ajuga reptans

This colorful groundcover will grow in shade or sun with slightly moist soil. It is an evergreen with purplish rosettes that spread quickly on upright, slightly hairy stems. Blue bloom spikes cover these plants in April and May, and are 6-8" when blooming. This versatile groundcover can also be used in shady wildflower beds. -Holland Wildflower Farm

Common name:Variegated Japanese Sedge
Botanical name:Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

This low-growing, clumping grass consists of green leaves that each have a broad yellow stripe down the center.

Common name:Red Japanese Maple
Botanical name:Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'

This Japanese Maple grows as a small, deciduous tree complete with palmate leaves that turn red and endure for the entire season.

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.

Dealing With Drought

More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.

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