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Italian Garden
Pygmy Date Palm, Roebelin Palm
Hollywood Twisted Juniper
Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum
Wide-Leaf Myoporum Putah Creek
Yellow Moraea, Fortnight Lily
Rainbow Warrior New Zealand Flax
Variegated Tobira
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.

Hollywood Twisted Juniper

Common name:Hollywood Twisted Juniper
Botanical name:Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka'

The dark green foliage on the branches of this Juniper start in a narrow cone shape when young but open up gracefully when older. Its twisted looking branches resemble flames. It may grow 15' tall in 15 years. Over time, the branches may lean to one side. Junipers are highly combustible plants.

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.

Wide-Leaf Myoporum Putah Creek

Common name:Wide-Leaf Myoporum Putah Creek
Botanical name:Myoporum parvifolium 'Putah Creek'

This evergreen groundcover grows 1' high and 8' wide. It is drought tolerant once established and blooms with white flowers in the summer. It cannot take foot traffic. Leaves are bright green and held close to the stems. This shrub is great for erosion control. It tolerates ocean spray as well as heat.

Yellow Moraea, Fortnight Lily

Common name:Yellow Moraea, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes bicolor

This clumping perennial Iris relative stands 3'-4' high. It has light yellow, iris-like flowers with maroon blotches that are about 2" wide. It performs best in full sun and in soil with good drainage.

Rainbow Warrior New Zealand Flax

Common name:Rainbow Warrior New Zealand Flax
Botanical name:Phormium 'Rainbow Warrior'

New Zealand Flax is an excellent accent plant for the garden. Evergreen leaves are long, narrow, and grow upright. Clusters of flowers grow on spikes above the foliage in late spring and summer. 'Rainbow Warrier' grows 3'-4' tall, 5'-6' wide. Leaves are darker salmon, turning cream as they age. Foliage turns deep red in winter.

Variegated Tobira

Common name:Variegated Tobira
Botanical name:Pittosporum tobira 'Variegata'

This variegated evergreen shrub or small tree has creamy margins on its gray green leaves. In spring, clusters of small, cream-colored flowers appear with the fragrance of orange blossoms. Variegated Tobira is often used to brighten shaded areas.

Designer: Anon

Italian 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:

Fix leaking sprinklers, valves, and pipes.

One broken spray sprinkler can waste 10 gallons per minute - or 100 gallons in a typical 10 minute watering cycle.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.