Feijoa, or pineapple guava, grows to eighteen to twenty-five feet, usually as a multi-trunked shrub. It can, however, take considerable pruning, making it ideal for hedges, espaliering or training as a small tree. The leaves are grey-green on top and…
Loropetalum, or Chinese fringe flower, is a very attractive shrub that thrives in shade. It is fairly slow growing to six to ten feet high and wide. Most of the varieties available have purple leaves and pink, fireworks-like flowers, but…
Trichostema lanatum (woolly blue curls) grows to three to five feet high and four to eight feet wide. The dark green leaves are pungent when bruised. The purple flowers are fuzzy and appear in spring. The plant will continue to…
Fremontodendron is also known as flannel bush because the back of the leaves are fuzzy and soft. Showy yellow flowers appear in spring. This shrub takes full sun and is drought tolerant once established, requiring no irrigation at all. Its…
Usually grown as a shrub or small tree, Vitex (chaste tree) reaches about twelve feet tall and wide. The very attractive leaves are divided into five to seven leaflets and are a grey green. The flower spikes appear in summer…
Photinia x fraseri makes a great tall hedge or screen with fast growth to ten to fifteen feet tall and wide. The new growth is bronzy red and adds some nice color to the garden.
Heteromeles arbutifolia, or toyon, is an evergreen native shrub with thick, leathery leaves. The flat heads of white flowers in spring attract bees and the bright red berries that follow are favored by birds. Toyon usually grows as a dense…
Many native California plants are deer resistant. Among them are the manzanitas, Salvias, Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), Zauschneria (California fuchsia), Romneya (Matilija poppy), Myrica and Prunus ilicifolia and Prunus lyonii.
There are many types of lavender, including Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender) with varieties including Otto Quasti, Kew Red and Avondale, Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) and the many hybrids such as Provence, Munstead, Hidcote and Grosso. Dutch lavender is another, a type…
Pungent herbs are generally unappetizing to the deer population, including Salvia (various types of sage), Nepeta (cat mint) and Origanum (oregano) species. For the shade, ferns are good bets, as are Helleborous, Choisya ternata, Hosta, Liriope, Sarcoccoca, Taxus and Trachelospermum (star jasmine). There are…
