Common name:Jupiter's Beard, Red Valerian
Botanical name:Centranthus ruber

This perennial ground cover will grow 1'-3' high and has medium-size blue/green leaves with red, pink, or white flowers that bloom in the summer.

Common name:White Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri

White Gaura is a profusely flowering perennial for all zones; it grows 2'-4' high. It has pink buds that open to showy white flowers in spring and fall. It needs full sun and is drought tolerant.

Common name:Tuscan Blue Upright Rosemary
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue'

The Upright Rosemary is an upright shrub that grows 3'-6' tall. It has dark green leaves and bright, showy, lavender blue flowers throughout the year. This shrub is drought tolerant and attracts butterflies.

Common name:Rosea Tree Mallow
Botanical name:Lavatera thuringiaca 'Rosea'

Lavatera thuringiaca 'Rosea' is an evergreen shrub that grows 6'-8' tall and 4' wide. The leaves are green with a maple-like form. It produces pink blossoms.

Common name:Red Buckwheat
Botanical name:Eriogonum grande rubescens

Red Buckwheat is a low growing, woody perennial 1'-2' high and 3' wide. It has showy, dark pink summer flowers that stand out against small, gray green foliage. It is a CA native that is drought tolerant. It attracts butterflies and benefical insects.

Common name:Bicolor Autumn Sage
Botanical name:Salvia greggii 'Bi-color'

This shrub will grow 1'-4' tall and wide. It has glossy green leaves with red and white bi-colored flowers that bloom from spring through fall. It prefers well draining soil with regular watering although it will take drought conditions. Prune back to prevent from getting leggy.

Common name:Mediterranean Tree Mallow
Botanical name:Lavatera maritima

This large, shrubby perennial grows up to 6' and has profuse lavender pink flowers with maroon highlights. From the Mallow family, the flowers are produced year round and are especially showy in the fall.

Compost for Healthy Soil and Plants

The natural world works in cycles. Everything is changing form and moving from place to place in an endless energy exchange system. The leaves and twigs that fall to the ground, not to mention other life forms that might die, decompose and combine with water, air and minerals of the soil to create a medium for future plants.

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