Common name:Crimson Pygmy Japanese Barberry
Botanical name:Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'

Pygmy purple leaf barberry is a deciduous shrub with arching branches which reaches 2 ft high and 3 ft wide. The foliage becomes bronzy red in summer and fall. 'Crimson Pygmy' prefers full sun and regular watering, more in hot summer months. This plant has thorns. It makes a great hedge. Prune in winter to re-shape.

Common name:Royal Purple Smoke Tree
Botanical name:Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Royal Purple Smokebrush is a large shrub or small tree with handsome, oval purple leaves all summer which turn scarlet color in the fall. Silvery-purple clouds of seed heads appear in fall. This striking shrub prefers full sun and low amount of watering once it's established. Prune in winter to shape. This shrub reaches 15' tall and 10' wide.

Common name:Curly Top or Leather Leaf Sedge
Botanical name:Carex buchananii

This orange-bronze ornamental grass/reed is 2-3' tall and 1-2' wide and does best in full sun to part shade. It needs moist soil so plant near a water feature or pond.

Common name:Berkeley Sedge
Botanical name:Carex divulsa

A fast growing vibrant green clumping sedge to 2' tall and wide. Widely adaptable, can be planted in wet soil or arid soil, tolerates sun to partial shade and can be drought tolerant. Tan to brown flowers show in spring.

Common name:Purple or Gray Sage
Botanical name:Salvia leucophylla

The Purple Sage is an evergreen shrub that grows 2'-3' tall by 5'-6' wide. It has white tomentose stems and leaves and light purple flowers blooming in late spring. This shrub tolerates heat and drought. The purple sage is a CA native, preferring full sun. Do not overwater. This Sage is great for covering difficult slopes. Foliage is aromatic.

Common name:California Wild Grape
Botanical name:Vitis californica

The California Wild Grape is a woody deciduous vine with round large leaves. Small fragrant blooms appear in spring and berry clusters appear in the summer. This vine has sprawling , climbing growth habit. The California Wild grape is native to CA. It prefers full sun and well draining soil with regular watering.

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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