Common name:Lily of the Nile
Botanical name:Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis

This evergreen shrub will grow about 3' tall and has large green leaves with blue flowers that bloom in spring and summer. It will grow in all soils but prefers loam soil. It can be grown in sun or shade. Lily of the Nile prefers a moderate amount of water; established plants have low water use.

Common name:Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum
Botanical name:Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf'

This handsome dwarf form of the Pittosporum tobira grows into a low, dense mound, 2'-3' tall and 4'-5' wide. This shrub is covered with glossy, evergreen foliage. Small, fragrant, white flowers cover this shrub in spring. It prefers full to part sun and is drought tolerant once its established. Give extra water in summer. Wheeler's Dwarf is dependable and easy to grow. Prune in winter to keep shape.

Common name:Lamb's Ear
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina

This tiny shrub will grow less than 1' tall and has medium-size, greyish-green leaves with blue and lavender flowers that bloom in the spring. This shrub is grown more for its velvety leaves than the flowers. It is drought tolerant once it's established. Be careful not to overwater.

Common name:Dwarf Vinca or Periwinkle
Botanical name:Vinca minor

This groundcover will grow less than 1' tall and has small, glossy, dark green leaves with blue, purple, lavender, or white flowers that bloom in the spring.

Common name:Temari Violet Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena 'Temari Violet'

This perennial will grow 1'-3' tall and has small green leaves with violet flowers that bloom all year.

Common name:Red Fringe Flower cultivar
Botanical name:Loropetalum chinense v. rubrum

Red Fringe Flower is a shrub that grows 6'-12' tall and wide. It has arching branches with light green and reddish leaves. Pink flowers bloom intermittently throughout the year. This attractive shrub prefers afternoon shade and shelter from hot, drying winds. It needs a moderate amount of watering.

Common name:Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical name:Nandina domestica 'Nana Compacta'

The ' Nana Compacta' is a small, rounded shrub that grows from 12"-15" high. Its growth habit is dense, and the leaves become bright red in color in cold, winter areas. It can receive sun to part shade, and is used well as an accent plant.

The Magic of Mulch

In the natural world the endless cycle of birth, growth, decay, death and rebirth flows throughout the seasons. Plants die, leaves fall and new growth springs up in its place. Nothing is lost and the fallen leaves and dead plants decay into the soil, enriching it for the next generation of growth.

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