Water Wise Plants

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Yarrow ‘Moonshine’

Perennial

2 ft.

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Bright yellow

Achillea ‘Moonshine’ is a reliable mid-summer bloomer whose deep yellow flowers will stand out in a garden. Requiring very little maintenance, these plants are a magnet for butterflies and beneficial insects. The flowers have lots of nectar and the flat shape of the flower serves as a perfect landing pad for butterflies. Deadhead spent flowers to keep the plants looking fresh. Vigorous clumps can be divided in the winter.

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Yarrow ‘Taygetea’

Perennial

12 in. to 18 in. wide and tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Creamy yellow

‘Taygetea’ Greek yarrow is a cheerful, reliable summer bloomer. The flowers start out bright yellow in midsummer and fade to a more mellow shade over time. The grey-green foliage blends in well with many plants found in low water gardens. This cultivar of yarrow seems to be more drought tolerant than the popular Achillea millifolium. 

Greek yarrow doesn't need a great deal of maintenance. To encourage reblooming, deadhead it regularly. This plant will spread, so don't plant it too tightly.

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California Buckeye

Tree

Can grow 10 - 25 ft. or more, and spread 30 ft. or wider

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full to half sun, shade

White to pink

The California buckeye is an unusual native because it is summer deciduous. It will naturally drop its leaves with the heat of summer, but with regular watering it may hold leaves longer. Its nectar/pollen is poisonous to European honeybees, but not to native bees. The flower has a candy or perfume-like scent, and blooms in very early spring.

The tree produces a large nut that resembles a buck's eye, thus the name. The nut is poisonous to eat. The nuts easily reseed where they fall, so collect them if new sprouts are not desired.

Without summer leaves, the pale bark of the California buckeye offers interest and structure in the garden and is very easy to prune and shape.

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Agastache

Perennial

3 ft. wide and 2 ft. tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Pink

Agastache are originally from the Southwest and Mexico, a climate that is somewhat different from Santa Clara County’s Mediterranean summer-dry climate. These plants require well-draining soil, but local soils tend to be slow-draining clay soils.

PADG notes: This unnamed cultivar of Agastache has been a mixed success in our gardens.

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Hummingbird mint

Perennial

2'-2.5' high x 1.5' wide

Moderate: water weekly until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Orange and Pink

Agastache ‘Acapulco Salmon and Pink’ is a beautiful accent plant for the late spring to early fall garden. It is more compact than most hummingbird mints and is densely covered by orange and pink flower spikes. The plant’s gray-green foliage is also a nice contrast to the brighter greens of most garden plants. Like many perennials, these plants die back during the winter. Hummingbird mints are only moderately drought tolerant. This plant does not flower well unless it is in full sun for half a day or more.

PADG notes: This specimen is planted where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade so it needs less water than recommended. During hot, summer periods, the plant is hosed weekly in addition to a once every three-week drip irrigation cycle.

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Manzanita ‘Emerald Carpet’

Groundcover

5 ft. wide and 8-14 in. tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Pink flowers

‘Emerald Carpet’ is a slow growing California native manzanita from the coast of Mendocino County. It is a very attractive plant with dark glossy leaves, reddish stems and small flowers in the early spring.

There are many different cultivars of manzanita, ranging from ground covers to small trees. Manzanitas are a good wildlife plant and typically are a hearty plant. They do well in very dry situations. Most manzanitas need superb drainage, or they will struggle and die. Plant on a mound or slope and water weekly for the first summer and less after that. By the third summer, stop watering. Avoid fertilizing the plant.

These plants rarely need pruning. Remove the odd branch that dies back in the late summer and the plant will fill in. Some gardeners will remove the lower branches on some of the larger manzanitas to highlight the interesting branching structure and reddish bark. Some Santa Clara Master Gardeners have had success using the cultivar ‘Carmel Sur’ as a ground cover in low-water landscapes.

PADG notes: ‘Emerald Carpet’ has not thrived at PADG. It may need more water than most manzanitas.

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Manzanita ‘Howard McMinn’

Shrub

5-7 ft tall x 6-10 ft wide

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full to half sun

Whitish pink

California native Arctostaphylos ‘Howard McMinn’ is reputed to be the manzanita most tolerant of typical garden conditions. Manzanitas in general need excellent drainage. In heavy clay soils, be careful not to over water or over fertilize.

If the tips of Arctostaphylos branches are pruned, this large shrub will become very dense and make a good privacy screen. Removing the interior stems and leaves instead exposes the interesting red bark. The latter is a good approach for making the shrub more of a focal point instead of a background plant.

PADG notes: PADG planted three ‘Howard McMinn’ manzanitas at the entrance of the Water Wise Garden. They have struggled there over the years, damaged by foot traffic and the occasional joy rider.

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Douglas' Sagewort

Perennial

4 ft (1.2 m) wide x 8 ft (2.4 m) tall

Moderate: water weekly until the root ball is wet

Half sun to shade

Cream, White, Yellow

Artemisia douglasiana is an aromatic shrub in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family, although plants in this genus don't look like it. It is commonly called California Mugwort or Douglas' Sagewort. Found in virtually every county of California, this plant has been used as a ceremonial plant in many Native American cultures, for use in treating a minor injury or as a dream potentiator. The plant is native to the western United States and into Baja California where it is often found in moist areas such as drainages. It's often riparian in the drier parts of its range. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, often not producing viable seed. It spreads by rhizomes, especially in damp areas. This plant is not often seen in residential gardens but is sometimes grown for medicinal purposes. It is also useful in restoration projects and for erosion control.

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California Aster

Perennial

2 ft. to 3 ft. wide and 18 in. to 3 ft. tall

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full to half sun

Purple, pale blue or white

This California native is a low growing, late summer bloomer that shines when much of the garden is quiet. It works well in the front of a low water perennial bed or native plant border.

California aster looks best if regularly deadheaded. After it is done blooming in the fall, shear it back to the ground to keep a tidy look in the garden. The plant will cheerfully return when winter is over.

PADG notes: California aster spread very rapidly even without supplemental water. It might work better in a situation where a rapidly spreading plant is needed for erosion control rather than in a small, mixed perennial bed.

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Bottlebrush

Shrub

8 ft. to 10 ft. wide and tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Soft pink

Callistemon ‘Canes Hybrid’ is a beautiful shrub that adds height and structure to the perennial garden, with soft pink flowers that bloom repeatedly throughout the summer. The cultivar ‘Canes Hybrid’ is smaller and has softer, greyer foliage than the more common red Callistemon citrinus.

Callistemon are very adaptable plants for Santa Clara Valley gardens and are attractive to hummingbirds. The many cultivars of Callistemon range from tree-size to shrub-size to ground cover height.

PADG notes: The Callistemon is pruned and shaped to a shrub and is has been planted next to Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yaku Jima’ as seen in the photo.

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Sundrops

Perennial

1.5 ft. high and 2 ft. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Calylophus hartwegii is a showy, low growing perennial. The flowers, which appear in mid-summer, are bright yellow. The delicate, lacy foliage is also an attractive addition to the garden. It is native to the southwestern US and northern Mexico.

Sunset’s Western Garden Book suggests shearing before spring growth. The stems on these plants can become woody.

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California Wild Lilac ‘Concha’

Shrub

6-8 ft tall x 6-8 ft wide

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full to half sun

Blue

Ceanothus ‘Concha’ is a California native plant with rose colored buds that open to cobalt blue flowers in late winter or early spring. Leaves are small and a deep dark green.

‘Concha’ is one of the best Ceanothus cultivars for Santa Clara County. It is more adaptable to typical garden environments than many other Ceanothus, tolerating heavy clay soil, drought, or summer watering. Overwatering will shorten the life of any Ceanothus so be sure to allow the soil to dry between waterings.

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Maritime ceanothus

Shrub

1'-3' high x 3'-8' wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Ceanothus maritimus ‘Valley Violet’ is a California native and a UC Davis Arboretum All-Star. This low growing Ceanothus has a wide spread and can be an effective ground cover. It has dark, blue-green foliage that contrasts nicely with its purple flowers, which bloom from winter into spring. Be aware that all Ceanothus develop buckthorns as they age that can be very sharp.

PADG notes: Several varieties of Ceanothus were planted several years ago in the Native Bed at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden. As of 2022, Ceanothus maritimus ‘Valley Violet’ is doing the best in the group. It is very drought tolerant and is living up to its All-Star status with the garden’s dry season irrigation cycle. Established plants are watered once every three weeks with drip lines.

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Wild Lilac ‘Marie Simon’

Shrub

Up to 6 - 8 ft. high and wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Ceanothus x pallidus ‘Marie Simon’ is a cross between a native Ceanothus and another unknown plant, and is a UC Davis Arboretum All-Star. It looks quite different from a native Ceanothus. It is semi-deciduous, with red stems and light green leaves, and its flowers are a delicate pink instead of the blue more typical for Ceanothus.

PADG notes: Online photos show a plant covered with pink flowers but that hasn’t been the case at the Demonstration Garden. The flowers have been pretty but sparse and the plant does not look vigorous. It has been in the garden for several years and is still a non-performer. We can’t recommend this plant for low water gardens in the Palo Alto area.

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Rock Rose

Shrub

2'-3' high x 4'-5' wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Pink and White

Cistus x argenteus ‘Silver Pink’ has small flowers that densely cover the plant in the spring. At the end of the season the flowers drop off cleanly. This beautiful evergreen shrub naturally grows into a neat, compact mound, with dense, gray-green foliage. It should never be pruned heavily. Like many drought tolerant plants, a heavy pruning can kill it or leave it misshapen. Instead, be sure to allow enough space for the mature shrub in your landscape design so that pruning is not necessary.

KOR-ree-uh AL-ba

Australian Fuchsia, White

Shrub

8 ft. high and wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun, shade

Correa alba looks very different from the more commonly grown Correa ‘Dusky Bells’. The flowers are more open and less downward facing than other Correas. The foliage is fuzzy on the back side and the stems are bronzy brown. This shrub can grow to 8 feet by 8 feet without regular pruning.

Like Correa ‘Dusky Bells’, Correa alba thrives in sun, partial sun, or shade; is deer resistant and bird friendly; and has long-lasting flowers. The plant does well with moderate to occasional water, tolerates alkaline soil, and is evergreen. The plant is sensitive to overwatering and overfertilizing.

PADG notes: Some find Correas to be short-lived but at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, this plant is still going strong after several years in the garden. The beds in garden are mulched with wood chips, but not fertilized and watered deeply with drip irrigation once every three weeks.

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Purple cone flower

Perennial

3'-4' high x 2' wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Purple

Echinacea purpurea is a green-leaved perennial that produces large purple, daisy-like blooms in the summer. It can grow to four feet in height and works well in the background of garden borders. It needs minimal drip irrigation, dies down after bloom, and resprouts in the spring with little extra maintenance required.

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Globe Thistle

Perennial

2 - 4 ft. tall and 2 ft. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Bright blue

Echinops has beautiful blue flowers that bloom spring through fall. The coarse leaves may not appeal to everyone, but they add a different texture to the garden. Echinops make a great cut flower. The spiky texture adds interest to flower arrangements.

Even with minimal water and no fertilizer, these plants need staking. Supports put in place in the early spring are quickly covered with foliage and hidden from view. To encourage new blooms and keep the plant looking fresh, remove the entire flowering stalk.

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Seaside Daisy ‘Wayne Roderick’

Perennial

1 ft. high and spreading up to 2 ft. wide

Moderate: water weekly until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Pink to Lavender to Violet

Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’ has a long bloom period if deadheaded regularly, with blooming starting in the spring and continuing into the fall. To keep this plant looking its best, prune back leggy growth to 1 or 2 inches in the late fall. The cultivar ‘Wayne Roderick’ is supposed to be longer lived, have larger blooms, and be more durable and heat tolerant than the species.

PADG notes: Our experience with Erigeron 'Wayne Roderick' has been very good, although we have noticed that the foliage burns in the summer unless given more frequent water.

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Rosy Buckwheat

Shrub

1 ft. to 2 ft. tall and wide

None: avoid summer water

Full sun

Rosy buckwheat, a California native from the Channel Islands, has rosy flowers in summer. It is one of the showiest and most compact of the buckwheats. Because of its size and neat growth habit, it makes a great filler plant in a native garden. Rosy buckwheat shines in late summer when the flowers turn from rosy to a coppery tint. The mellow colors of this plant blends well with other perennials.

At the end of the coppery color phase, the blooms can be deadheaded to avoid a ratty look. Every few years, do a light pruning to new growth below the taller branches. The best time to do this pruning is in the late fall before the winter growth starts. Shape this plant every so often to keep its mounding form.

Buckwheat requires some summer water the first year it is planted. After the first year, avoid summer water. The plants may only live three to five years, though sometimes longer. It freely reseeds so buying new plants may not be necessary.

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Great Valley Gumweed

Perennial

3 ft. wide x 2 - 6.6 ft (0.6 - 2 m) tall

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full sun

Yellow

Grindelia hirsutula is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in a number of habitats including chaparral and woodlands. Its range may extend into Nevada. Its erect, branching stems are lined with many stiff, wavy-edged, serrated leaves 2 to 3 cm long. Atop the stem branches are inflorescences of a single large flower head up to 3 cm wide. The head is a vaguely thistlelike cup of green clawlike phyllaries that bend downward. The centre of the head is filled with yellow disc florets and there are usually many yellow ray florets around the circumference. The flower head fills with a copious white exudate, especially during the early stages of blooming. It is a traditional Native American medicinal plant, used by the indigenous peoples of California and also a major pollinator attractant.

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Spanish Lavender

Shrub

1 ft. to 2 ft. tall and 2 ft. to 3 ft. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Purple

Lavenders are a favorite plant for low-water gardens with their aromatic foliage and showy spikes of scented flowers. Full sun and good drainage are essential for lavenders. Shear the plant after blooming to maintain a neat appearance and discourage the plant from becoming too large and woody. Lavender is a short-lived shrub that may need to be replaced when it becomes leggy or woody after about six years.

Lavandula stoechas is an early bloomer and will repeat bloom if deadheaded and given supplemental water.

PADG notes:  Several different types of lavenders are planted in the Demonstration Garden, including ‘Otto Quast’, a successful cultivar which is also a UC Davis Arboretum All-Star plant.

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Lion’s Tail

Shrub

4 ft. to 6 ft. wide and tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Orange-red

This upright shrub from South Africa has bright eye-catching orange flowers. A single lion’s tail works well as a late summer/early fall garden focal point. The flowers can also be stunning in a flower arrangement. 

Prune these shrubs in the early spring after the danger of frost is past to control size. Some gardeners prune them down to six inches from the ground; others just cut off half of the total height. How much to prune is a matter of deciding the desirable size of the plants in the garden. With no pruning at all, these plants can get very large, very quickly.

Lion’s tail can be frost tender, but they rebound quickly. If this plant does get frost damaged, wait until after the danger of frost is past, then cut off the damaged parts.

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California Dune Aster

Groundcover

3+ ft. wide and 4 in. tall

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full to half sun

Pink to lilac

Lessingia felaginifolia is a drought tolerant California native groundcover and a favorite with butterflies. Lessingia ‘Silver Carpet’ is a selection known for its dense, silvery foliage. The short, ground-hugging foliage is only 4 inches high, spreading 3 or more feet. Water deeply a few times over the summer.

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Purple Toadflax

Perennial

2 - 3 ft. high and 1 ft. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Linaria is an old friend that asks for little and gives much. This plant makes a great filler, especially in a young garden. The flowers are small, but the plant is large with many blooming branches. Sunset recommends planting these plants in mass for maximum impact.

The big drawback to Linaria is that it reseeds. The seedlings are easy to spot and pull out. If you deadhead the flowers and mulch your soil regularly you will cut down on the amount of reseeding.

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Catmint

Groundcover

1 ft. tall and 1 1/2 - 2 ft. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Lavender-blue

Catmint is a reliable and easy edging plant for low water perennial borders. It has lovely soft gray leaves and lavender-blue flowers in the spring. 

After the first set of blooms finishes, catmint should be cut back several inches to keep it from getting leggy and encourage another set of blooms. This is a fun job because the leaves have a wonderful smell. Be aware that some cats also love the smell of the plant and will roll their bodies in the plant and flatten it.

PADG Notes: Catmint was one of the earliest plants in the Demonstration Garden providing much needed color the first summer. It is used extensively to visually tie the beds together.

 

 

 

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Oregano

Perennial

Varies depending on cultivar

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

No flowers

Herbs like oregano are very attractive, can be mixed with ornamental plantings and thrive under tough conditions. Some oreganos are grown for their aromatic qualities, others for their interesting foliage and others for their attractive flowers. 'Hopley's', a variety with purplish pink flowers that is attractive in pots. 'Aureum', the variety shown in this picture, looks better with morning sun. The hot afternoon sun can bleach its leaves.

Herbs are also great for attracting beneficial insects to gardens. And the less they are watered, the more intense the flavor.

Many oreganos benefit from being sheared to the ground in the fall. Harvest oregano any time for cooking, but the most intense flavor is just before the plants bloom.

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Celery Scented Pelargonium

Groundcover

12 - 18 in. high and 15 -24 in. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Half sun to shade

Magenta pink

Pelargonium ionidiflorum blooms throughout the year with bright pink flowers. Attractive when grown in front of border plants, it stays low and compact and seems to do well in partial shade. Unlike other Pelargoniums, this plant does not get leggy. Maintenance is minimal, and occasional deadheading is all that is needed.

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Germander Sage

Perennial

2 ft. wide and 3 ft. to 4 ft. tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Bright blue

Salvia chamaedryoids needs very little water and blooms profusely in the late summer.

This attractive plant has silver leaves and bright blue flowers. Deadheading will encourage the flowers to come back in the fall. Shearing back to the ground in late fall rejuvenates the plant.

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Sage 'Christine Yeo'

Perennial

12-18 in. high and 24 - 36 in. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun, shade

Salvias microphyllas is a shrubby perennial that come in a wide variety of colors and will bloom many months with deadheading. It stays a manageable size in the garden and will not overwhelm neighboring plants.

The flower pictured here is Salvia hybrid 'Cristine Yeo'. It is a cross between Salvia microphylla and Salvia chamaedryoides.

PADG Notes: Salvia microphyllas prefer full sun, but this plant is doing well with morning sun and afternoon shade in our garden. It seems a little floppy, which might be a shade issue or just its natural form. 

With a little work, the  Salvia microphyllas can be kept in top form in your garden. At PADG, all flowers are sheared off in early summer and again during fall clean up. This keeps the plant more compact and encourages repeat blooming. In the spring, one third of is oldest stems are pruned out to keep the plant from getting woody. A nice bonus for pruning work -- the leaves of these Salvias smell wonderful.

SAL-vee-uh My-kro-FIL-uh

Sage 'UCB Pink'

Perennial

3 ft. to 4 ft. wide and tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

This hot pink Salvia blooms in late fall when few other plants are blooming. In general Saliva microphylla plants do well in summer-dry perennial gardens and don't need a great deal of maintenance.

PADG Notes: 'UCB Pink' seems to bloom more consistently than many of the Salvia microphylla types. 

In the fall, the skinny branches of this plant are sheared off to form a neat ball. Avoid cutting into the thicker woody stems because it could affect regrowth. Regular pruning keeps this plant fuller and encourages more flowering the next season. If you want to learn more about Salvias, we suggest reading Betsy Clebsch's book called The New Book of Salvias.

san-toh-LEE-nuh kam-ee-ky-par-ISS-us

Dwarf Lavender Cotton

Perennial

2 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full to half sun

Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Nana' is a compact shrub with silver grey foliage and bright yellow flowers. This cultivar is very slow growing and stays a nice size.

PADG Notes: We originally had a full sized Santolina, but the plant fell apart when it bloomed. It was unattractive, so it was removed it from the garden. Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Nana' is a good choice for an edger or in a knot garden because it doesn't require the pruning that the larger species needs. We've used short silver plants as edging throughout the Demonstration Garden to tie the garden together visually.

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California Bee Plant

Perennial

6 - 12 in (15 - 30cm) wide x 2 - 4 ft (0.6 - 1.2 m) tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Half sun

Red

Scrophularia californica is a flowering plant in the figwort family which is known by the common names California figwort and California bee plant. This perennial herb is native to the western United States and British Columbia. This unassuming plant grows triangular, toothed, blue-green leaves in pairs opposite each other on a spindly, squared stem. The brownish-magenta flowers are rounded, hollow buds about a centimeter long with two long upper lobes. This species is a strong bee attractant.

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California Goldenrod

Groundcover

1.5 - 5 ft (0.46 - 1.5 m) tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Yellow

California Goldenrod is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open grassy places, at elevations from 0-7500 feet. It produces masses of yellow flowers when many other plants are dormant. Birds and pollinating insects love this plant. Grows well in central oak woodlands. It likes to be wet in winter/spring and dry in summer but can take extra water.  It is a spreader from a creeping rootstock and may become invasive, so plant it where it will have plenty of room. Otherwise it is very garden tolerant and easy.

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Snowberry

Shrub

3 - 5 ft. tall and wide

None: avoid summer water

Full to half sun, shade

When fall and winter come, shrubs with berries and fruit add interest to the garden. Snowberry, a California native, has white berries that show up in the fall and last through winter. These berries are attractive to birds too.

One of the best features of snowberry is it does well in dry woodland conditions. It is a rare shrub that will thrive under a thicket of oak trees.

Some people find the branching structure of snowberry to be messy. California Native Plants for the Garden recommends occasional coppicing to improve its appearance. Coppicing means to cut back a plant to about one foot from the ground. This usually works best right before a plant puts out new growth in the spring.

PADG Notes: Our snowberries grow in a shady area that gets no summer irrigation.

 

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California Aster (Pacifc Aster)

Perennial

3 ft (0.9 m) wide x 1.3 - 3.3 ft. (0.4 - 1 m) tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Blue, Lavender, Yellow

Pacific aster or California aster is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in many types of habitat, especially along the coast and in the coastal mountain ranges. In California it is concentrated in the central coast region. It was formerly classified as Aster chilensis and some sources may still refer to it by that name. Despite its Latin name, it does not occur in Chile. This perennial herb grows to heights between 40 centimeters and one meter. The hairy leaves are narrowly oval-shaped, pointed, and sometimes finely serrated along the edges. The flower cluster holds aster flower heads with centers of yellow disc florets and fringes of many narrow light purple ray florets. Great for a butterfly garden.

tah-JEE-deez lem-mon-ee-eye

Mexican Bush Marigold

Perennial

4 ft. to 6 ft. wide and 3 ft. to 6 ft. tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

Tagetes lemmonii is a sprawling shrub-like perennial with yellow flowers and aromatic leaves. The plant is originally from Mexico and the southwestern U.S.

PADG Notes: Mexican Bush Marigold can become large and ungainly, so we recommend shearing this plant several inches from the ground in the spring to keep the plant compact and give it a nice shape. Also, prune out any frost damage once the danger of frost is over.

Tagetes lemmonii is not long-lived in the garden, but if you like yellow flowers and enjoy the smell of its leaves this plant is worth planting. In the demonstration garden we removed Tagetes lemmonii because it repeatedly suffered frost damage and was not attractive.

Tew-kree-um FREW-ti-kanz

Bush Germander

Shrub

4 - 6 ft. tall and wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Violet blue

Teucium fruticans 'Azureum' has attractive blue flowers all winter long. The rest of the year it has a smaller floral display. The deep blue stands out against the grey foliage.

PADG Notes: A drawback to Bush Germander is it can grow to be very large. We pruned ours back to 4 inches to help control its size. The shrub came roaring back with a natural shape and a slightly smaller size. The winter blooms are plentiful. We recently planted a smaller Teucrium cultivar, 'Compactum' that is reputed to stay 3 feet tall and wide and have intense blue flowers.

ver-BEE-na bo-nar-ee-EN-sis

Verbena

Perennial

3-6 ft tall x 1-3 ft wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Purple

Best used as a background plant, Verbena bonariensis does best in hot, dry locations with good air circulation and well-draining soil.

This is a fast-growing plant, which if happy in the garden, will spread by seed. It has a small clump of green leaves that produce tall flowering stems in the hot summer months. The overall look is light and airy. Tall stems should be cut down when flowers have faded.

PADG Notes: This plant is no longer in the garden because it needed some supplemental water to keep it thriving.