Desert Trumpet Vine Podranea ricasoliana This vine has glossy foliage and abundance of attractive pink flowers is a very showy plant, well known to many South African gardeners. It is a vigorous, woody, rambling, evergreen climber without tendrils. The leaves are compound and a deep glossy green. It sends up many tall strong stems, 3 to 5 ft up to 10+ ft high if left unchecked, that have long spreading branches with a graceful arching habit. Large bunches of fragrant lilac-pink, trumpet-shaped, foxglove-like flowers are produced all summer long (November to March). The flowers terminate a branch, and after flowering new side branches develop behind the spent flowers. The flowers are often visited by carpenter bees. Giant Dutchman’s Pipe Artistolochia gigantea Plant in full to partial sun. USDA Hardiness Zones - In-ground in zones 8 to 10. In zones cooler than 8 (1 to 7) move in and treat as a house plant over winter, or move to a protected area (somewhere that doesn’t freeze) before the first frost. Mature Height/Spread - 10 feet tall in-ground; can be kept smaller with pruning. 1 to 3 feet tall in a container. Bloom Time - Summer to frost. Water weekly about 1”. Elephant Ears Colocasia The arrow-shaped, sometimes rounded, leaves are large and mostly green, sometimes with prominent veins. Cultivated plants rarely bloom. All plant parts may cause stomach upset if eaten raw, and the sap may irritate skin. Likes wet soil. Large foliage plant. In the garden, it needs fertile, organically rich, moist or wet, slightly acidic soil in partial shade. Indoors, grow in bright filtered light and high humidity. Keep tubers dry and frost-free when dormant. Esperanza Orange Tecoma x ‘ORANGE‘ A bright rich red flowering shrub. Blooms nearly continuously until hit by a hard frost. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Grows 6 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Hardy to 10 to 20 (F). Plant in full sun. Euphorbia Diamond Frost Euphorbia graminea “Diamond Frost” This perennial can be planted in the garden or grown as a house plant. If planted in garden will grow 2x3 ft. Grows in clumps. Plant in partial shade only. Medium water. Heat, drought and deer tolerant. Evergreen with white showy flowers. Best planted in beds for borders, container, ground cover. Blooms from early Spring to first frost. Euphorbia ‘Hamata’ Euphorbia hamata This spineless succulent shrub that branches at is base can grow up to 24” in height. There are prominent recurved tubercules on the branches. Solitary flowers appear at the end of the branches. Yellow Firecracker Plant russelia equisetiformis "Aureus” This shrubs grows to be 4ft tall and is best in Zone 9-11. It has a “weeping” form with pale yellow tubular blooms. The plant roots where it touches the soil. It grows best in full to part sun. The blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant will be a great addition to “Water-wise” or Butterfly Garden. Fireman’s Cap Erythirna crista-galli A deciduous small tree that grows to 15 to 20+ feet tall and equal width with a somewhat crooked trunk having dark furrowed bark. The leaves are composed of 3 dark green leaflets, 3 to 6 inches long by 1 1/2 inch wide, that have curved thorns on the veins on the backside and petioles. The 2 inch long by 1 inch wide flowers, scarlet- red, are borne singly or in groups of 2-3 in loose terminal racemes to 2 feet long from spring to summer. These inflorescences emerge from the current years growth and several flushes of flowers can appear, particularly if old flower stalks are pruned off. Plant in full sun and irrigate only occasionally. This is one of the hardiest of the coral trees and is noted that once established it will tolerate temperatures to 20° F without significant dieback and is root hard down to 14° F. Firespike – Purple Odontenenma strictum “Purple” Firespike is a showy evergreen shrub with sparse, stiff branches that grow mostly straight up to about 6 ft tall. It has shiny dark green leaves with wavy margins and long pointed tips. The leaves are oblong, arranged opposite each other on the stem, and 4-6 in long. From late summer through winter firespike produces abundant 9-12 in upright panicles of brilliant purple flowers. Firespike – Pink Odontonema strictum ‘Rosea’ Firespike is a showy evergreen shrub with sparse, stiff branches that grow mostly straight up to about 6 ft tall. It has shiny dark green leaves with wavy margins and long pointed tips. The leaves are oblong, arranged opposite each other on the stem, and 4-6 in long. From late summer through winter firespike produces abundant 9-12 in upright panicles of brilliant pink flowers. Firespike – Red Odontonema strictum Firespike is a showy evergreen shrub with sparse, stiff branches that grow mostly straight up to about 6 ft tall. It has shiny dark green leaves with wavy margins and long pointed tips. The leaves are oblong, arranged opposite each other on the stem, and 4-6 in long. From late summer through winter firespike produces abundant 9-12 in upright panicles of brilliant red tubular flowers. The individual flowers are about an inch long and two-lipped. Flax Lily Variegated Blue Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’ Handsome strappy green leaves with contrasting yellow stripes will brighten up the garden year-round. Stalks of shiny turquoise blue berries lasting from fall into winter create a colorful accent in the garden. Neat clumping habit is ideal for mass planting near pools, in garden beds and borders. Fringe Tree Chionanthus virgincus Fringetree is a deciduous, shrub or small tree with a spreading, rounded habit that typically grows 12-20' tall and most often occurs in rich, moist woods and hillsides, moist stream banks. Common name refers to the slightly fragrant, spring- blooming flowers which feature airy, terminal, drooping clusters (4-6" long) of fringe-like, creamy white petals. Dioecious has male and female flower. Male flowers are showier than female flowers. Fertilized perfect or female flowers give way to clusters of olive-like fruits which ripen to a dark, bluish black in late summer and are a food source for birds and wildlife. Wide, spear-shaped leaves (to 8" long) turn yellow in autumn. Intolerant of prolonged dry conditions. Guara Whirling White Butterfly Gaura lindheimeri It prefers good, rich soil, that’s well-drained, but isn’t too fussy so it will cope with thinner soil, and it’s happy in sun or part-shade. It does well in my garden on light, sandy soil, but it’s always best to add lots of compost to the planting hole. Looks good planted in great swathes, but if you have a small garden, a group of three or five will look good too. Each plant grows to about 3’ x 3’. Giant Coneflower Rudbeckia maxima A coarse-textured perennial with unusual basal blue-gray paddle- shaped leaves that are 12 to 24 inches long, 8 to 10 inches across, and appear sessile. It flowers profusely with blooms slightly more than three inches wide with drooping yellow ray flowers attached to a tall black cone, but flowers are dwarfed by the foliage. Plant Type: perennial Shell Ginger Alpinia zerumbet ‘Shell Ginger’ Best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Soils must not be allowed to dry out. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9- 11. As a houseplant, it must have bright light and humid conditions. Prune as needed to control plant size. It also may be grown outdoors either as an annual or in the ground with rhizomes dug and overwintered in a cool, dry medium. Plants will not flower until the second year (they bloom on old growth), so if grown outdoors they can be enjoyed only for their attractive foliage. White Butterfly Ginger Hedychium coronarium ‘White Butterfly’ The Butterfly Ginger is a vigorous grower and needs to be divided yearly at least. Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer The white flowers are extremely fragrant and are good as cut flowers. They come in dense spikes, 6 to 12 inches long (15-30 cm). Remove the old stems after flowers are spent to promote new growth Golden Wonder Senna Cassia Splendida A rare selection, displaying a profusion of large, golden-yellow blooms. Provides dazzling fall color with flowers rather than foliage! An evergreen tree well suited to fitting in limited spaces. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Pruning time: spring. Goji Berry The Goji Berry is a sprawling shrub with long, flexible canes and clusters of small grey-green leaves. Flowers are a brilliant purple and appear in late Spring/early Summer along the length of the canes. Flowers turn into bright red fruits that resemble small peppers. Berries grow sweeter as they mature on the plant. The Goji Berry thrives in full sun. Plants can reach 10’ tall and 5’ wide. Fertilize in early Spring just as new growth appears with either rose fertilizer or plant food for flowering shrubs. Grass, Fireworks Fountain Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’ Colorful, upright growing grass with variegated stripes of white, green, burgundy and hot pink running the length of the blade. Purple tassles appear in summer. Plant as a specimen or in mass for a stunning display of color. A great addition to containers and beds near your patio or deck.