Common name:Oriental Fountain Grass
Botanical name:Pennisetum orientale

Oriental Fountain Grass is a clumping, warm-season grass with spectacular pinkish white flowers in summer and sometimes fall. Flower plumes change to light brown. Foliage is a bright green that changes to straw color as winter approaches. This grass is 2.5' tall and wide. It usually does not reseed. This grass is striking if backlit to show off flower plumes.

Common name:Gold Spot Euonymus
Botanical name:Euonymus japonica 'Aureo Variegatus'

Growing to about 8' tall, this evergreen shrub has green foliage with yellow splashes of color. Leaves are glossy and roundish. Flowers are insignificant. It prefers full sun and a location with air circulation to prevent powdery mildew.

Common name:Eulalia Grass, Japanese Silver Gras
Botanical name:Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is popular ornamental grass. Red flowers are held well above foliage clumps, appearing in summer, and may be cut for fresh or dry arrangements. Miscanthus needs full sun and watering at least once a week and more during hot summers. Foliage is variegated, with a thin white band down the center. This grass does great in coastal as well as warm inland valleys.

Common name:California or Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica

This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue-green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Common name:Spike Gayfeather, Blazing Star
Botanical name:Liatris spicata

This plant will be the center of attention from mid to late summer with 3'-5' stalks of bright, rosy lavender blooms. The bloom stalks rise above a thick grass-like clump of foliage. The tight clusters of flowers make it a long-lasting cut flower and perfect for drying. It prefers moist, fertile soil and full sun, but can also be grown in poor, drier soil where the plant appears stockier but nonetheless blooms beautifully. -Holland WIldflower Farm

Common name:Sunburst Honey Locust
Botanical name:Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst'

The golden yellow color of new foliage is characteristic of this variety. Its leaves turn green when they mature, then turning yellow in fall when getting ready to drop. This thornless and seedless tree can reach 40'-50' tall. It prefers full sun and has low watering needs once it's established. Roots can be invasive so do not use as street trees. 'Sunburst' provides filtered shade and is very attractive.

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.

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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