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Courtyard Water Feature
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Mondo Grass, Lily Grass
Japanese Maple
Sansanqua or Sun Camellia
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo

Common name:Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical name:Nandina domestica

Nandina domestica is a graceful upright shrub that grows from 3'-6' in height. It gets its name from its bamboo-like growth habit. When thinned from the center it bears a remarkable resemblance to bamboo. It is best used in groups. It can be used in a shaded patio or out in a shrub border with full sun. An interesting feature of Heavenly Bamboo is the bronze color in the new growth when planted in full sun. It also bears clusters of white flowers in the spring.

Mondo Grass, Lily Grass

Common name:Mondo Grass, Lily Grass
Botanical name:Ophiopogon japonicus

This Ophiopogon japonicus is a grass-like plant growing to about 6"-8" high. Its leaves are 1/8" wide, and about 8"-12" long. It makes a beautiful ground cover or accent plant, and does well in Asian style gardens.

Japanese Maple

Common name:Japanese Maple
Botanical name:Acer palmatum

This magnificient plant can used as a small tree or shrub. It is deciduous with graceful leaves which have a scarlet color in spring as it leafs out. Leaves later turn orange or yellow in fall. It is slow growing to 20', and requires shelter from the hot sun. The leaves of this tree are small, light green in color, and deeply lobed. It should also be noted that this tree remains spectacular throughout all seasons. It can be used as a bonsai plant.

Sansanqua or Sun Camellia

Common name:Sansanqua or Sun Camellia
Botanical name:Camellia sasanqua

In contrast to other Camellias, this broad-leaved evergreen shrub has small foliage and a more open habit. Its long shoots are easily trained on a wall or fence. Flowering occurs in the fall to early winter, and produces single to fully double blossoms. There should be an incorporation of organic material into the planting bed.

Designer: Susan McEowen

Courtyard Water Feature

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

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.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.