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Courtyard with Water Feature
Australian Willow, Wilga
Allepo Pine
Red Yucca
Verbena
Australian Willow, Wilga

Common name:Australian Willow, Wilga
Botanical name:Geijera parviflora

This evergreen tree reaches a height of 25', with 3"-6" long, medium length, green colored leaves that are narrow. Its main branches sweep up and out, while the smaller branches tend to hang down.

Allepo Pine

Common name:Allepo Pine
Botanical name:Pinus halepensis

The Pinus halepensis exhibits moderate growth to 30' or more, with an open, irregular crown. Mature trees have horizontal spreading branches, 20' wide and more. The needles light green in color, with a length of 2.5"- 4". Flowers are insignificant. Cones appear on the tree after a few years, rounded and oval shaped, about 3" long. Allepo Pine prefers full sun and low watering, although it will drop its needles if water stressed.

Red Yucca

Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora

This spectacular succulent is wonderful for a desert garden, with rosettes of gray green leaves to about 3'-4' tall and 6' wide. Red flower stalks emerge during spring and remain on the plant until the end of summer. This shrub will spread to form a crowded grass-like clump. This evergreen shrub is drought resistant but will appear better and bloom longer with added moisture. It does well in full sun, reflected heat, poor soils and cold temperatures to at least 0 degrees F.

Verbena

Common name:Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena peruviana

This perennial forms a flat mat that covers an area rapidly. It has dark green leaves with clusters of bright flowers that bloom all year. Hybrids will have a little more height, different flower colors and spread more slowly. It is drought tolerant.

Designer: Joe Varonin ASLA

Courtyard with Water Feature

Photographer: Nancy Warfel

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

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.