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Rancho Santa Ana Shrub Border
Woolly Blue Curls
California Lilac
California Fuchsia, Zauschneria
John Dourley Manzanita
Pine Hill Flannel Bush
Coast  Live Oak
California Wild Grape
Woolly Blue Curls

Common name:Woolly Blue Curls
Botanical name:Trichostema lanatum

The Woolly Blue Curls is an evergreen shrub that reaches 3'-5' high. It has an open branching habit and has long stalks of brilliant purple woolly flowers in the spring and summer. This shrub is native to California, is drought tolerant, and attracts hummingbirds. -Cornflower Farms

California Lilac

Common name:California Lilac
Botanical name:Ceanothus 'Dark Star'

The 'Dark Star' grows to 4'-6' tall and 6'-8' wide, producing small, rounded clusters of dark blue flowers from light burgundy buds that appear in spring. Its habit is compact, with small, warty leaves growing to only 1/2" long. -Monterey Bay Nursery

California Fuchsia, Zauschneria

Common name:California Fuchsia, Zauschneria
Botanical name:Epilobium canum

The California fuchsia is a perennial with dense, narrow, green gray foliage and red orange summer flowers. The growth habit of this plant is sprawling and low. The California fuchsia is native to California, is drought tolerant, and attracts hummingbirds. -Cornflower Farms

John Dourley Manzanita

Common name:John Dourley Manzanita
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'

This small, low growing shrub has grayish green leaves with pink and white flowers that bloom in winter and early spring.

Pine Hill Flannel Bush

Common name:Pine Hill Flannel Bush
Botanical name:Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumb

Pine Hill Flannel Bush is a mounding evergreen shrub that grows 3' tall and 6' wide. It has soft, dark green leaves and produce spring blooms ranging from red to yellow. It is drought tolerant but needs well draining soil. It prefers full sun. This shrub is a California native that is endangered and therefore rare.

Coast  Live Oak

Common name:Coast Live Oak
Botanical name:Quercus agrifolia

The Coast Live Oak is an evergreen round headed tree. It can reach 15'-40' high and 20' wide; it grows very well from the coastal areas to the interior valleys. It is native to California, is drought tolerant, and attracts butterflies. -Cornflower Farms

California Wild Grape

Common name:California Wild Grape
Botanical name:Vitis californica

The California Wild Grape is a woody deciduous vine that with round large leaves. The flowers are in small fragrant blooms and berry clusters appear in the summer. This vine has a sprawling, climbing growth habit. The California wild Grape is native to California and is drought tolerant. It will cover up fences nicely. Grapes are ornamental.

Dealing With Drought

More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.

Click in the green box for more information

Designer: Rancho Santa Ana Bot. Garden

Rancho Santa Ana Shrub Border

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.