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Dolphin and Chiminea
Tom Thumb Dwarf Flax
Lindheimer's Muhly
Garden Nasturtium
Mexican Feather Grass
Silver Arrow Miscanthus
Carmel Creeper
Dwarf Blue Lily of the Nile
Tom Thumb Dwarf Flax

Common name:Tom Thumb Dwarf Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Tom Thumb'

Tom Thumb Flax is an excellent accent plant for the garden. Evergreen leaves are long, narrow, and grow upright. Clusters of flowers grow on spikes above the foliage in late spring and summer. 'Tom Thumb' is the greenest variety, with very narrow, red bronze edges on the leaves. Leaves are small, and plant grows to 18" tall.

Lindheimer's Muhly

Common name:Lindheimer's Muhly
Botanical name:Muhlenbergia lindheimer

Native to Mexico and Texas this stunning clump forming grass is winter dormant grass in cold climates, but usually semi-deciduous in mild climates. From the fall into winter emerge the 5 ft tall upright flower inflorescence, that rise well above the blue-gray foliage. The flowers are at first purple then mature to a gray color. Best in full sun with regular watering but will tolerate drought and light shade. -Randy Baldwin San Marcos Growers

Garden Nasturtium

Common name:Garden Nasturtium
Botanical name:Tropaeolum majus

This annual groundcover/vine and will grow less than 1' tall, but will spread and climb up to 6' tall. Nasturtium has 2" light green leaves with edible, red, orange, yellow, or white flowers that are in constant bloom throughout the warm season. This plant usually reseeds, with new plants emerging in early spring.

Mexican Feather Grass

Common name:Mexican Feather Grass
Botanical name:Nassella tenuissima

This ornamental grass grows to 2' tall. It goes partially dormant during the summer but green in spring and fall. It prefers a sunny, well drained site. This plant can be invasive in some areas, so use caution. To keep reseeding to a minimum, drip irrigation will be best. Cut back in early spring to remove dormant foliage and dried seed heads. It can also tolerate dry shade. It grows to 10" wide and is the finest textured of the ornamental grasses.

Silver Arrow Miscanthus

Common name:Silver Arrow Miscanthus
Botanical name:Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'

Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder' grows 5'-6' tall and wide. The bright green foliage has an attractive silver streak throught the middle of each leaf. The flowers shoot up 2'-3' above the foliage. Tall grasses are highly combustible.

Carmel Creeper

Common name:Carmel Creeper
Botanical name:Ceanothus griseus horizontalis

Carmel Creeper is one of the most popular forms of spreading shrubs. Its glossy oval leaves of 2" are bright green. The tiny, light blue flowers are abundant and form 1" clusters. This shrub benefits from pruning. It does best in well-drained soil with little to no summer water.

Dwarf Blue Lily of the Nile

Common name:Dwarf Blue Lily of the Nile
Botanical name:Agapanthus 'Peter Pan'

This variety of Agapanthus has a growth of blue flowers between 12"-18" high. This variety is a dwarf form of the Agapanthus parent plant. It is both smaller in size and has much thinner leaves than the parent.

Designer:

Dolphin and Chiminea

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Integrated Pest Management:

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