Common name:African Sumac
Botanical name:Rhus lancea

A small, evergreen tree that grows slowly to 25' and exhibits an open, spreading habit. Its leaves are dark green, glossy, and divided into 3 willow-like leaflets 4"-5" long. The bark has a dark red color. Males & Females. Often has a drooping habit. Prone to Texas Root Rot.

Common name:Sunburst Trailing Gazania
Botanical name:Gazania 'Sunburst'

This groundcover is less than 1' tall and has evergreen silver-grey foliage with beautiful orange flowers that bloom January to September.

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:Midnight Penstemon (dark purple)
Botanical name:Penstemon 'Midnight'

This bushy, perennial shrub is 2'-3' high with tall, deep violet or blue flower spikes that bloom in spring through fall. Leaves are dark green, lance-shaped and evergreen. Plant in full sun in coastal areas but give afternoon shade in warm inland areas. This plant is a show stopper but short lived, lasting 3-5 years. Well worth the effort to plant!

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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