Euonymus microphyllus

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.

Buxus, or boxwood, is the classic hedging plant.  It responds well to pruning  and clipping and is also great for topiaries.  It is a slow grower and is very cold hardy.  Some varieties and species turn orange to bronze in winter.  For green foliage all year, plant ‘Green Beauty’ or ‘Winter Gem’.  Buxus will also…

Callistemon, or bottlebrush, is a well-known shrub.  It is loved by hummingbirds and bees.  The most commonly grown species is C. citrinus, a fast grower to ten to fifteen feet tall and wide.  An excellent dwarf variety is C. viminalis ‘Little John’ which grows about three by three feet and sports intense red flowers.  All Callistemon like…

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

Salvia microphylla is a wonderful plant that requires little water once established and is not liked by deer, but is a hummingbird magnet!  Flower colors are off-white, yellow, coral, pink, red and purple.  One very popular variety is called ‘Hot Lips’, with red and white flowers.  An interesting aspect of this one is the changing flower color. The flowers are…

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….