wicked green

Dasylirion wheeleri aka Desert Spoon This is technically a shrub but it definitely has a grassy feel to it though the thin leaves are on the stiff side. It has a great silhouette and a nice, soft green color.  It’s larger size makes i it a great focal plant. Best Feature:  round shape, thin green [...]

Here’s a picture I took at the Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden. It’s a demonstration garden for low water use plants at Cuyamaca Community College in Rancho San Diego. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in that area. The Euphorbia ‘Sticks on Fire’ and Twin Flowered Agave (detailed info in previous posts) work really well together [...]

Nassella tenuissima aka Mexican Feather Grass (sometimes sold as Stipa) I am a big fan of grasses. They have so much movement and this one has a really soft look and texture. It’s a nice contrast to stiffer plants, like this image, or succulents, like this image in an older post. Best Feature:  soft texture, [...]

Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Fire Sticks’  aka Euphorbia Fire Sticks, Sticks on Fire, Fire Sticks Pencil Cactus I think this is a sort of love it or hate it type of plant. It is a succulent and so distinct in it’s color and silhouette. This plant adds an interesting element to a garden area. And it is [...]

I walked by this very cute garden the other day here in San Diego. It’s a good example of a low water, low maintenance garden. No grass here. The larger succulent to the left is Aeonium ‘Kiwi’, the ground cover in the foreground is Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Finger), the grass in the front is Nassella [...]

Hesperaloe parviflora aka Red Yucca The gray/green foliage and the tall red/coral (though there are some with yellow) flowers are a really nice contrast. Best Feature:  tall, arching thin stalks of flowers in late summer to early fall, low maintenance, low water From :  Texas and Mexico Preferable Places : Sunset Zones 2b, 3, 7-16, [...]

Grevillea ‘Cranberra Gem’ (also listed as just Grevillea ‘Cranberra’  or Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Cranberra Gem’) This is an evergreen shrub with really interesting red flowers. Best Feature:  bright red flowers in winter and spring, low maintenance, drought tolerant From :  Australia Preferable Places : Sunset Zones 8,9,12-24;  USDA Zones 8-10 Looks :  6-8 feet tall and [...]

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ aka Stonecrop (I’ve also seen this called Sedum telephium ‘Autumn Joy’) These perennial succulents provide great, bright color from late summer through the fall and interesting texture. There are a few variations in color from pink to red to orange. They need little maintenance and water. Best Feature:  bright flowers in late [...]

Aloe barbadensis…….aka Aloe vera These ornamental succulents look great in small masses, especially when flowering. They need little maintenance or water and even have medicinal uses. They are fairly common, making them easy to find. Best Feature:  bright yellow flowers in spring and summer, low maintenance, drought tolerant From :  South Africa Preferable Places : [...]

Agave Geminiflora….aka Twin-Flowered Agave This is a great for a small garden focal point, alone or a small cluster of them. They are (usually) symmetrical spheres and add texture and interest.  A living sculpture. Best Feature:  green and some red/purple (when young) evergreen foliage, nice round shape, low maintenance, drought tolerant From :  Mexico Preferable [...]