Small trees generally stay thirty feet or less. There are a very large number of trees that fit in that category, so we are presenting just a few that do well in our area. Evergreen selections are Arbutus ‘Marina’, Laurus nobilis, Feijoa sellowiana (pineapple guava) and Rhus lancea (African sumac), although it can get damaged in very…
Coniferous trees can serve many uses in the garden. They can range in size from a few feet to sixty feet in height. Some, such as Cupressus arizonica (Arizona cypress) and Cedrus deodara (Deodar cedar), are very drought tolerant once established while others, like Sequoia (coast redwood) will need water forever. We usually have many different types…
Teucrium ( germander) is a genus with some very different looking species. Teucrium cossonii majoricum is a low growing groundcover with grey foliage and whorls of mauvey purple flowers that smell like honey. T. x lucidrys (formerly T. chamaedrys) has dark green, toothed leaves with pink flowers. It grows to about one by two feet. T….
Myrtus communis, or myrtle, is a dense shrub that does well in full sun or partial shade. Leaves are small, bright green and aromatic. White, fragrant flowers appear in summer. It generally grows to about six feet (or more with age), but ‘Compacta’ stays about three by three feet. Good drainage is essential.
Rhaphiolepis indica, or Indian hawthorn, is a very useful, fairly low-growing shrub to about five feet. Flowers are white or pink. R. umbellata has very dark green leaves and white flowers
Laurus nobilis, or sweet bay, is the bay leaf used in cooking. It is a handsome evergreen shrub that grows anywhere from twelve to forty feet, but in our climate, usually stays in the twelve to fifteen foot range. Yellow flowers appear in spring. It can take full sun or partial shade and needs moderate…
Euonymus j. microphyllus, or box-leaf euonymus, is a slow growing evergreen shrub that grows to only one to two feet tall and about half as wide. It is frequently used as a hedging plant. It prefers full sun and moderate to regular water.
The Cotoneasters listed here are all evergreen and require little to moderate water. They have small white flowers in spring and red berries in autumn and winter. The most common groundcover types are ‘Coral Beauty’, ‘Lowfast’ and ‘Streib’s Findling’, all of which will get about ten feet wide and do well in sun or partial shade. …