Common name:California Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica
This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue-green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Common name:Coral Rockrose
Botanical name:Cistus skanbergii
This is a compact shrub 1;-2' high and 3' wide with soft grey-green leaves and small coral pink flowers in spring. It is drought tolerant.
-Cornflower Farms
Common name:Rockrose Sageleaf
Botanical name:Cistus salviifolius
This low-spreading shrub reaches a size of 2' tall by 6-8' wide. It bears white flowers that are 1" wide with yellow centers. This variety makes a good groundcover. The plant requires average to good drainage, and little or no summer watering when established. It should be grown in sun or part shade. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Garden Nasturtium
Botanical name:Tropaeolum majus
This garden annual/groundcover will grow less than 1' tall, but will spread and climb up to 6'. Nasturtium has 2" light green leaves with red, orange, yellow, or white flowers that are in constant bloom throughout the warm season. This plant usually reseeds, with new plants emerging in early spring.
Common name:Santa Barbara Daisy
Botanical name:Erigeron karvinskianus
This low mounding perennial, with fine leaves and white to pinkish daisy-like flowers, is an excellent asset to rock gardens.
Photographer: GardenSoft
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.
