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 [...]

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 [...]

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 : [...]

Santolina virens A great flowering ground cover that is also drought tolerant. Santolina chamaecyparissus or Lavender Cotton, is also a great option with gray foliage and lighter yellow flowers. Best Feature:  dark green, evergreen foliage and masses of small button-like bright yellow flowers, low maintenance, drought tolerant From :  Mediterranean Preferable Places : Sunset Zones [...]

Senecio vitalis aka  Narrow Leaf Chalk Fingers (sometimes called Senecio cylindricus) This is a succulent perennial plant but I think that the delicate texture of the foliage make it more appealing and approachable than other succulents. It can cover an area as a high ground cover or can even be used as a houseplant. Best [...]

Tips to use less water for irrigating your garden