Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray green, undulating mounds that are 1.5' high when blooming. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring and early summer.

Common name:Royal Purple Smokebush
Botanical name:Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Royal Purple Smokebrush is a large shrub with handsome, oval purple leaves all summer and silvery-purple clouds of seed heads in fall. It is subject to winter dieback. It is best in a protected location. It needs full sunlight.

Common name:
Botanical name:Euphorbia lambii

This perennial will reach about 4' tall and has blue green leaves with bright green flowers that bloom from late winter to early spring.

Common name:Rosemary
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is hardy in full sun areas where winter temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees F. They can be grown in a clay pot with well-drained, porous soil in bright indoor light, and will also flourish on the backporch in spring, summer and fall. Its beautiful, slowly trailing stems and shiny slender leaves are perfect for showing off the small, light blue flowers that blossom in the summer.

Common name:California Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca californica

The California Fescue is a cool season bunchgrass with blue green blades that reach 2'-5' high and 3' wide. Foliage arches gracefully upwards and outwards. Flower spikes reach 3' above the leaves. Plant in full sun or partial shade. It makes a great companion plant to oak trees and is handsome as a backdrop behind lower growing grasses for a meadow look. The California fescue is native to California and is a beneficial insect plant.

Common name:Blackstem Pittosporum, Tawhiwhi
Botanical name:Pittosporum tenuifolium

This medium sized evergreen shrub has medium green leaves with black stems. Its pleasing texture and narrow, upright growth make this a fine hedge or screen. It is easy to grow in soils with good drainage. Many new cultivars are being introduced with smaller, variegated and/or multi-colored foliage.

Sustainable Landscape Renovation

We can identify at least 11 steps of sustainable landscape renovation for consideration. They include critical design, installation and maintenance practices that conform to good principles of appropriate horticulture.

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