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Gallery: Low Maintenance Gardens

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Desert Story
Mediterranean Fan Palm
Purple-Leaf Acacia
Blue Fescue, Blue Fescue Grass
Clumping Gazania, Treasure Flower
Red Yucca
Grey Desert Spoon, Sotol
California Fescue
Yellow Dietes or Fortnight Lily
Mediterranean Fan Palm

Common name:Mediterranean Fan Palm
Botanical name:Chamaerops humilis

Slow growing but very hardy. Clump forming with rich green foliage. Grows to 20'. Can be used as a good container subject. Full sun or partial shade, Native of Mediterranean, Europe and N. Africa. The only European native palm. Petioles have sharp spines.

Purple-Leaf Acacia

Common name:Purple-Leaf Acacia
Botanical name:Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'

One of the showiest Acacias for Western gardens. It usually grows to 15' in height, with a compact, dense habit, and it is one of the first plants to flower, blooming heavily in late winter. It has soft, textured leaves that are usually purple/green. It is very drought tolerant and comes from Eastern Australia.

Blue Fescue, Blue Fescue Grass

Common name:Blue Fescue, Blue Fescue Grass
Botanical name:Festuca glauca

This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue-green, evergreen leaves that are very thin and hair-like. Flowers appear in the summer but are insignificant. This dependable ground cover prefers full sun in coastal areas and afternoon shade in warm inland areas. It needs well draining soil and is drought tolerant once it's established. Leaves may burn during the summer but trim in winter to keep it looking refreshed.

Clumping Gazania, Treasure Flower

Common name:Clumping Gazania, Treasure Flower
Botanical name:Gazania 'Sun Gold'

A moderately fast, low groundcover, grey fuzzy leaves with bright yellow daisies held above the foliage. Prefers light soil and good drainage and full sun to light shade. Allow plants to be irrigated in mornings so that foliage is dry at dusk. Tolerant and dependable for tough situations needing only some additional irrigation during the hottest seasons.

Red Yucca

Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora

This spectacular succulent grows to 3'-4' tall and wide. Blue green leaves are strap-like, leathery, long, with white fraying fibers on the edges. During the summer, dark pink flowers are seen on red flower arching stalks. Hummingbirds love these flowers. This evergreen plant is drought tolerant once it's established but will appreciate extra water during the summer to promote blooms. Plant in full sun or light shade, with well draining soil. Deer like the foliage. This plant looks great in pots.

Grey Desert Spoon, Sotol

Common name:Grey Desert Spoon, Sotol
Botanical name:Dasylirion wheeleri

Grey desert spoon requires little maintenance and is popular in desert themed gardens. Plants tolerate drought, reflected heat and poor soils. It slowly develops a short, thick trunk while reaching 6' tall and wide. Leaves look like swords, are 3' long gray-green with thorns on the margins. During late spring to summer, an erect stem of white creamy flowers emerge from the center, up to 10' high. This long lived plant needs well draining soil. Do not plant near walkways.

California Fescue

Common name:California Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca californica

The California Fescue is a cool season bunchgrass with blue-green blades that reach 2' high. The violet colored flower stalks are 5' tall, appearing in spring and summer, creating fountain-like clumps. This grass is drought tolerant for sun and shade although it looks better with additional summer water. The California fescue is native to CA and is a beneficial insect plant. Plant on dry sunny slopes or on the edge of a dry creek bed.

Yellow Dietes or Fortnight Lily

Common name:Yellow Dietes or Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes bicolor

This clumping perennial iris relative stands 3'-4' high. It has light- yellow, iris-like flowers with maroon blotches that are about 2" wide. It performs best in full sun and in soil with good drainage.

Catch basin for runoff.

Designer:

Desert Story
Image: 3 of 15

Photographer: GardenSoft

Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.