Common name:Eastern Redbud
Botanical name:Cercis canadensis

This small, deciduous tree with a rounded head is covered with small flowers of a rose pink color in the spring before the appearance of heart-shaped leaves. It can grow to 25' tall with an equal spread. It has a low branching habit with a rounded form. During fall, foliage turns yellow. Eastern Redbud lives about 20 years. This is a great patio tree or for a small front yard.

Common name:Tobira
Botanical name:Pittosporum tobira

This large, dense, evergreen shrub or small tree has shiny dark green leaves. In the spring, clusters of small, cream-colored flowers appear with the fragrance of orange blossoms. Mock Orange can be grown in full sun or partial shade. It is considered one of the most durable shrubs in California landscapes.

Common name:Sweet Alyssum
Botanical name:Lobularia maritima

Lobularia maritima is an annual. It is a low branching, trailing plant to 1' tall, with narrow or lance-shaped leaves .5"-2" long. There are tiny, four-petaled, white flowers crowded in clusters.

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:Calla Lily or Calla
Botanical name:Zantedeschia aethiopica

This perennial will grow 2'-4' tall and has large, glossy green leaves with beautiful cream or white flowers with a central yellow "finger" that bloom in spring and sometimes even summer. Calla Lily prefers full sun or afternoon shade in warm, inland areas. It prefers rich, moist soil and does well near water features or boggy conditions. Cally Lily is beautiful for cut flowers.

Common name:Coast Redwood, Redwood
Botanical name:Sequoia sempervirens

This fast-growing, aromatic tree has soft, dark green foliage with long needles appearing in flat sprays and brown, barrel-shaped cones that appear after 1 year. Its soft, red-brown bark is fiberous and furrowed. Particularly after mechanical damage, this tree will stump sprout to form new, young trees around the stump. Avoid planting in areas of high foot traffic.

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: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.

Managing Your Soil

Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a vibrant landscape. It provides oxygen and nutrients vital to plant growth and sustenance. It provides protection from the sun and stability for root systems.

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