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Tropical Garden
Pygmy Date Palm, Roebelin Palm
Myer's Asparagus
Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum
Mondo Grass, Lily Grass
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Blue Lily Turf
Creeping Red Fescue, Red Fescuegras
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily
Pygmy Date Palm, Roebelin Palm

Common name:Pygmy Date Palm, Roebelin Palm
Botanical name:Phoenix roebelenii

This tree will grow to about 10' tall and has dark green, spiny petiole foliage. It does well in full sun to heavy shade; it likes moderate to heavy irrigation, but can take periods of dryness.

Myer's Asparagus

Common name:Myer's Asparagus
Botanical name:Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers'

An evergreen groundcover, the 'Myers' also makes an excellent hanging basket plant when larger in size. Its formal looking fronds have an even, spiral arrangement of leaflets. It is damaged by severe frosts, and looks best with at least occasional watering. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum

Common name:Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum
Botanical name:Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf'

This handsome dwarf form of the Pittosporum tobira grows into a low, dense mound that is covered with glossy, evergreen foliage.

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.

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.

Blue Lily Turf

Common name:Blue Lily Turf
Botanical name:Liriope muscari

Grass-like clumps of dark green leaves 1" wide up to 18" long are found on the Liriope muscari. It can reach a height of 12"-15", and dark blue flowers spikes can be seen held above the leaves during the summer. This is an excellent border, accent or ground cover plant that requires part shade exposure.

Creeping Red Fescue, Red Fescuegras

Common name:Creeping Red Fescue, Red Fescuegras
Botanical name:Festuca rubra

Creeping Red Fescue is not red but dark green. It is a great ground cover kept at longer lengths for banks. It is very shade tolerant and lush looking.

Pacific Wax Myrtle

Common name:Pacific Wax Myrtle
Botanical name:Myrica californica

This large shrub/tree can reach 30' tall and has glossy, dark green leaves with purple nutlets that attract birds. It is used very effectively as a screen.

Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily

Common name:Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes iridioides

This clumping evergreen Iris bears tall, narrow leaves to 30" tall and white flowers marked purple in the center on stalks up to 3' tall. This variety has stiffer, darker foliage than the bicolor form. It requires sun to part shade with little or no summer watering when established. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Designer: Nina and Mike Mays

Tropical Garden

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:

Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.

Integrated Pest Management:

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