Found! In our photo archives - Peacock Flower

Searching through our extensive photo archives, I came across this striking flower, from one of our residential installations.  It belongs to Caesalpinia pulcherrima, also known as Peacock Flower, Red Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana or Pride of Barbados.  Caesalpinia is a rapid growing mounding deciduous broadleaf shrub to about 8-10 feet tall and wide and likes full sun, heat and is drought tolerant. You'll find it blooming orange-red or yellow in the warm months.  In the spring prune it back hard for a more compact plant.
To see more suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: August 2012

Searching for a worthy plant to use for this month's blog post, I had only to step out onto our loading dock - to capture these bright yellow blooms. Lantana montevidensis is an evergreen vining shrub from the tropics.  The small flowers are arranged in clusters and range from white to yellow, orange to red, pink to rose, and in unlimited combinations. The genus Lantana has over 100 species, is very easy to grow, has low water requirements and is excellent for bank covering and to help control erosion. Use also for raised beds, planter boxes or hanging boxes. Attractive to birds and butterflies.

To see suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com
Author: Leslie C.

Plant of the Month: July 2012

Hydrangea macrophylla in a beautiful shade of pink, snapped by Gigi-Golden Smith.  Variety: unknown

Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous shrub which can grow up to 8-9ft in height and the same in width. Flowers on most hydrangeas are pH-sensitive, with dark purple or blue flowers in acidic soil, white or dull green in neutral earth, and pink in alkaline soil. Flowers are easily air dried and are long lasting.

To see suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com
 Author: Leslie C.

Plant of the Month: June 2012

I spied these flowers on our loading dock recently and they were new to me!  I discovered that this beautiful annual is known both as Godetia and Clarkia amoena,  and also the descriptive name “Farewell to Spring” because it blooms just as spring temperatures begin to rise.  A wildflower native to California and British Columbia, Godetia gets up to 2 feet tall and blooms from May through July.  The white, pink, lavender and magenta blooms are attractive to bees and butterflies.  Drought tolerant once established. Good for containers, beds and borders.   Posted by Leslie Cochran

To see more suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants,
visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Spring color baskets

When Chris came back with these photos, I had to find out more about these brilliantly flowered beauties.

Calibrachoa, commonly known as 'Million Bells', is an herbaceous flower native to South America with small bell-shaped petunia-like flowers. Calibrachoa's range in color from pink, purple and magenta, to deep red. A prolific bloomer, it reaches the peak of flowering in the spring and summer months. An excellent choice for containers and window boxes and a lovely trailing plant for hanging baskets.
To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Posted by: Leslie
Photo Credit: Chris Cutler

Plant of the Month: April 2012

Euryops pectinatus viridis, the Green Leaved Euryops Daisy, or Bush Daisy

A native of South Africa, this evergreen shrub has deeply divided green leaves and cheerful, bright yellow flowers.  Heat and drought tolerant, the Euryops daisy can grow to 5 feet tall and about 4 feet wide and blooms year round. Great used as a filler, low screen or background plant. Photo by Armando Diaz
To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: March 2012

Primula vulgaris,  English primrose is a vibrant bedding and container plant available in every shade of the rainbow.  The name Primula of which there are over 600 species, is derived from the Italian word for spring "primavera". Considered a perennial, a few short lived perennials are treated as annuals.

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: February 2012

Osteospermum are a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae (Daisy) family.  Originally from South Africa, Osteospermum is commonly knows as African Daisy or South African Daisy, Cape Daisy and Blue-eyed Daisy. Can be found in a wide range of colors including white, cream,  and yellow, with pinks and purples (shown)  most commonly available.  The petals close at night, but there are varieties recently developed that stay open all the time. This easy to grow, annual plant thrives in full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil. It prefers cool weather, so in hot-summer areas, it blooms best in spring and fall. Plant height:1-3 feet tall  Plant width:1-2 feet wide  Landscape uses: containers, beds and borders.
To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: January 2012

Calendula officinalis or pot marigold
Pictured is a bright yellow variety but Calendula also comes in shades of orange, apricot, cream and soft yellow.

A popular and versatile plant, that provides color from late fall through spring in mild winter areas, it produces flowers that are 2-1/2- 4-1/2" across.  Effective in borders, parking strips, along drives and in containers.  These photos are of a recent winter color installation at one of our large H.O.A.'s

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: December 2011

Bougainvillea spectabilis (pictured is a Magenta (Pink-Purple)variety, is a vine with dramatic blooms in a variety of colors.  It is native to South America.  Sometimes referred to as the ‘Paper Flower’, as the bracts are thin and papery.

Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Full sun Water Needs: Drought tolerant once established.

Average landscape size: Reaches 10 to 20 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide.

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: November 2011

Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga 'Macrantha' or Cotyledon macrantha is a shrub-like succulent from the family Crassulaceae, with a height and width of approx. 2-3 ft. Round paddle shaped bright green leaves have red margins. Showy red flowers bloom on stalks above the foliage in winter/spring. Light shade to full sun with low water requirements.

 

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: October 2011

Arbutus marina or Strawberry tree is a 25-40 ft. tree or four-season evergreen shrub, with cinnamon-colored bark and dark green and glossy leaves.  White or pink bell-shaped flowers appear October to December.  The edible fruit is a rough surfaced orange-red 3/4" berry.

Arbutus marina tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions. Requires part or full sun and is drought tolerant once established.  Can be trained as a single trunked tree, multi-trunked specimen, or grown as a screen or tall hedge.

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: August 2011

Aeonium arboreum is a succulent in the family Crassulaceae with branched stems to 3 ft. tall and 6-8" rosettes of light green leaves. Yellow flowers are in long clusters.  This variety, atropurpureum,  is all the more striking with deep purple rosettes and is used both planted and in pots for contrast to lighter leaved plants.  Plant in full sun near the ocean and part shade inland.

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: July 2011

Aloe bainesii or Aloe barberae is sometimes referred to as the "Dr. Suess tree".  The largest of the African aloes, A. bainesii can reach a height of 20-60 ft. and a width of 10-20 feet.  A great tree for a succulent garden or large containers.  Heavy forking trunk and branches with 2-3' rosettes. Late winter blooming with rose pink flowers in tubular clusters on stalks.Full sun, drought tolerant.

To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: June 2011

Bulbine frutescens, also known as Bulbinella is a native to South Africa; a flowering perennial with low water requirements. Succulent foliage with star-shaped yellow flowers in the summer, this plant is great for low maintenance borders and is tolerant of poor dry soil. 1-1/2 ft. tall and 2 ft. wide. To see more suggestions for drought tolerant and water wise landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: May 2011

Cistus or Rockrose is an evergreen shrub with showy spring flowers, drought resistant and tolerant of poor dry soil.  Recommended for fire hazard area plantings.  Sun-loving and fast growing. This is C. purpureus, the Orchid Rockrose, approx. 4 ft. tall and wide, with 3" wide reddish purple flowers.

To see more suggestions for water wise and drought tolerant landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: April 2011

The Red Carpet Rose, a member of the genus Rosa is a groundcover variety, with showy flowers attractive to butterflies.

Fast growing to 2 to 3 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide with dark green foliage and red blooms, spring through fall. Easy care, water wise and disease resistant and useful as a border, container, mass planting and erosion control. Likes full sun and moist but not soggy surface soil.

To see more suggestions for water wise and drought tolerant landscape plants, visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: March 2011

Echeveria lilacina or 'Ghost Echeveria' is from the family Crassulaceae which contains 1400 species,  commonly known as succulents that store water in their fleshy leaves.  E. lilacina is an attractive, slow growing species with pale-gray/green or whitish leaves forming rosettes up to 10" across and coral-colored flowers that appear on reddish stems in spring. Drought tolerant and good in rock gardens.

To see more suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants, 

visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: February 2011

Aloe arborescens, 'Tree aloe' or 'Torch aloe' is a drought tolerant densely growing succulent native to South Africa, size is approximately 10 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide. Gray-green spiny edged leaves with bright red or yellow winter flowers in long spiky clusters. A. arborescens shares similar medicinal properties with Aloe vera, for burn treatment etc. Attractive to birds, butterflies and bees.

To see more suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants, 

visit stevensmithlandscape.com

Plant of the Month: January 2011

 Senecio mandraliscae or Kleinia mandraliscae is a succulent species of the Senecio group related to daisies.  A shrubby perennial native to South Africa, S. mandraliscae grows 1 to 1-1/2 ft. high and 2 ft. wide with blue-gray pencil-like fleshy leaves and small white flowers in mid-summer.  Also known as 'Blue Finger' it is used as a drought tolerant groundcover where a blue-gray effect is desired.

To see more suggestions for drought resistant landscape plants, 

visit stevensmithlandscape.com