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Tour: California Habitat Garden

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Boulder Setting Driveway View
Brittlebush, Desert Encelia
Creeping Black Sage
Cleveland Blue Sage
Howard McMinn Manzanita
Octopus Agave
Brittlebush, Desert Encelia

Common name:Brittlebush, Desert Encelia
Botanical name:Encelia farinosa

This deciduous mounding shrub typically has gray leaves that can reach 3' tall and wide. However, the leaves will turn white in drought conditions. Bright yellow 1" wide daisies appear in spring and summer. There is rapid growth following rain but this shrub is short-lived. Individual plants will reseed to repopulate. It does well in hot areas but cannot tolerate clay soils due to root rot. It will become overgrown and fragile if overwatered. It will suffer frost damage at 25 degrees F.

Creeping Black Sage

Common name:Creeping Black Sage
Botanical name:Salvia mellifera 'Terra Seca'

This evergreen shrub has shiny, dark green leaves with bluish white flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.

Cleveland Blue Sage

Common name:Cleveland Blue Sage
Botanical name:Salvia clevelandii

The Cleveland Sage is a perennial shrub that grows 4' tall and wide. It has fragrant gray foliage and blue flowers that bloom between May and August. This shrub needs full sun and prefers well drained soil. The Cleveland Sage is native to California and is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms

Howard McMinn Manzanita

Common name:Howard McMinn Manzanita
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn

This shrub is highly appreciated for its decorative characteristics, which include a dense show of small, pale pink urn-shaped flowers. Above all, it is the mahogany-red to brown bark (which peels beautifully) that is the major attraction. Its fruit resembles the tike apple, and the flowers contrast perfectly to the light green leaf (which can get rather tough). It blooms from late winter to spring.

Octopus Agave

Common name:Octopus Agave
Botanical name:Agave vilmoriniana

Octopus Agave has arching twisted, narrow green leaves that are 4' tall and wide. There are no thorns or spines but the leaf margins have tiny serrations. This Agave prefers full sun but will need afternoon shade in desert areas. It does bloom but you may have to wait 7 years! This Agave will die after blooming. It needs well draining soil. It is drought and cold tolerant.

Designer: Bob Perry and Asso.

Boulder Setting Driveway View
Image: 3 of 17

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.