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mixMed&CalifNat

Mixed Mediterranean and California Native Garden

This garden is a mix of Mediterranean (non-CA Native) plants and California Native plants with an emphasis on Mediterranean plants not native to California. The garden illustrates the similarities and differences of plants from various Mediterranean areas, and how they can be combined in a low water garden.

Botanical Name Common Name Description
Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'   A perennial herb, which grows in low mats of fern-like foliage, with tiny red and yellow flowers in flat heads up to 18 inches high. The flowers age from red to pink, creamy yellow and then brown. The foliage can have a strong somewhat spicy smell. "Paprika" is a variety selection coming originally from Europe.
Albuca altissima Candlelabra Lily
A clump forming lily native to the cape of South Africa, an evergreen plant with white to yellow flowers and a pleasant smell.
Alyogyne huegelii 'Santa Cruz' Blue Hibiscus A hardy and adaptable tall evergreen shrub from southwest Australia, with large scented light blue flowers that are similar to hibiscus.
Anisodontea 'Tara's Pink'   Evergreen shrub, with aromatic, rough-textured, lobed, light green leaves. Species are native to coastal South Africa This garden hybrid of A. x hypomandarum and A. scabrosa, with larger leaves and flowers. , well-drained soils. Best near the coast. Sunset: 14-24
Arthropodium cirratum ‘Renga Lily’   New Zealand native with elegant dense clumps of glossy elongated leaves to 2’x2’. plentiful 2’ long showy, long-lasting graceful sprays of white orchid-like flowers ornamented with fuzzy pink and yellow stamens.
Cistanthe grandiflora (was Calandrinia grandiflora) Rock Purslane, Caladrinia A native of Chile, this is a succulent perennial with mounding rosettes of gray green leaves from which rise long stems of purple, Rockrose like flowers that each last only one day.
Cistus x pulverulentus 'Sunset' Magenta Rockrose A naturually occurring hybrid rockrose from southwestern Europe, this is an evergreen groundcover to 21/2 feet tall with bright magenta flowers from spring into fall.
Cistus x purpureus Orchid Rockrose Hardy Evergreen Perennial
Dymondia margaritae Silver Carpet Flat groundcover native to coastal Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Erysimum 'Winter Gem' or 'Bowles Mauve' Wallflower Creates an attractive rounded form of slender purplish-grey leaves topped with a continuous wave of lightly scented 1” single purple-violet flowers on upright 8” stems.
Grevillea fililoba Spider Net Grevillea Hummingbird Grevillea An upright shrub endemic to southwest Australia, a graceful shrub with fine, soft, gray- green and slightly hairy divided leaves and spidery clusters of pink to bright red flowers. Attractive to hummingbirds.
Grevillea lanigera 'Coastal Gem'    
Helianthemum 'Wisly Pink' Wisly Pink Sunrose  
Helianthemum nummularium 'Belgrava Rose' Sunrose  
Laurus nobilus 'Little Ragu' Sweet Bay Large evergreen shrub, dark green leaves and inconspicuous, greenish yellow flowers in spring. Native to low-elevation and coastal habitats in the Mediterranean region, well-drained soils
Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender  
Lavandula stoechas Spanish or French Lavender  
Lomandra confertifolium ssp. rubinginosa 'Seascape' Seascape Mat Rush  
Luecodendron galpini 'Silver Cone' Silver Cone  
Myoporum parvifolium ‘Pink’ Prostrate or Creeping Myoporum  
Myrtus communis 'Compacta' Dwarf Myrtle  
Olea 'Lil Ollie' Dwarf Olive, Little Olive  
Phlomis fruticosa Jerusalem Sage Easy & fast growing to a compact shrub yellow flowers, stunning golden fuzz covers the linear olive leaves especially from Spring-Fall
Salvia rosmarinus 'Tuscan Blue' Upright Rosemary  
Tecomaria capensis 'DRWE 001' Dwarf Cape Town Red Tecomaria  
Teucrium chamaedrys prostratum Prostrate Wall Germander  
Thymus praecox Creeping Thyme  
Tulbaghia violacea Society Garlic  
Westringia 'Blue Gem' Blue Gem Coast Rosemary  

Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'

Photo courtesy of Dan Lent
Photo courtesy of Dan Lent

A perennial herb, which grows in low mats of fern-like foliage, with tiny red and yellow flowers in flat heads up to 18 inches high. The flowers age from red to pink, creamy yellow and then brown. The foliage can have a strong somewhat spicy smell. "Paprika" is a variety selection coming originally from Europe.

Advantages: xx
Bloom Period: Spring throuh fall
Height: 2'
Width: 
Light Requirements: Sun, light shade
Water Requirements: Drought resistant
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Albuca altissima
Candlelabra Lily

A clump forming lily native to the cape of South Africa, an evergreen plant with white to yellow flowers and a pleasant smell.

Advantages: An evergreen clump forming lily with yellow flowers that is drought tolerant once established.
Bloom Period: Early summer
Height: 2'-3'
Width: 2'
Light Requirements: Full sun, partial shade
Water Requirements: Low water
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Alyogyne huegelii 'Santa Cruz'
Blue Hibiscus

Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals & Perennials
Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals & Perennials

A hardy and adaptable tall evergreen shrub from southwest Australia, with large scented light blue flowers that are similar to hibiscus.

Advantages: Hardy, drought tolerant, frost tolerant, long flowering period
Bloom Period: Summer to fall
Height: 6-10'
Width: 6-10'
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Water Requirements: Low
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Anisodontea 'Tara's Pink'

Evergreen shrub, with aromatic, rough-textured, lobed, light green leaves. Species are native to coastal South Africa This garden hybrid of A. x hypomandarum and A. scabrosa, with larger leaves and flowers. , well-drained soils. Best near the coast. Sunset: 14-24

Advantages: Pink to purplish flowers with darker or lighter veins and centers
Bloom Period: Summer or much of the year in mild climates.
Height: 6-8'
Width: x
Light Requirements: Cool sun to light shade
Water Requirements: Low
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Arthropodium cirratum ‘Renga Lily’

Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals & Perennials
Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals & Perennials

New Zealand native with elegant dense clumps of glossy elongated leaves to 2’x2’. plentiful 2’ long showy, long-lasting graceful sprays of white orchid-like flowers ornamented with fuzzy pink and yellow stamens.

Advantages: Low maintenance evergreen, heat drought and clay tolerant
Bloom Period: Summer
Height: 2'
Width: 2'
Light Requirements: Shade
Water Requirements: Low
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Cistanthe grandiflora (was Calandrinia grandiflora)
Rock Purslane, Caladrinia

Photo courtesy of WUCOLS
Photo courtesy of WUCOLS

A native of Chile, this is a succulent perennial with mounding rosettes of gray green leaves from which rise long stems of purple, Rockrose like flowers that each last only one day.

Advantages: A showy and hardy perennial, with few pests and diseases, heat and drought resistant, and long blooming with large flowers that open sequentially along the stems.
Bloom Period: Spring - Fall
Size: Foliage to 1 foot, stems to 3 feet, 2-3 feet wide
Light Requirements: Sun, part shade
Water Requirements: Low water
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Cistus x pulverulentus 'Sunset'
Magenta Rockrose

A naturually occurring hybrid rockrose from southwestern Europe, this is an evergreen groundcover to 21/2 feet tall with bright magenta flowers from spring into fall.

Advantages: A drought tolerant evergreen groundcover that can tolerate poor soil and dry heat. Adds showy color with lots of pink to magenta blooms. Easy care.
Bloom Period: Spring to fall
Size: 2-3 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
Light Requirements: Full sun
Water Requirements: Low water, drought tolerant
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Cistus x purpureus
Orchid Rockrose

Photo courtesy of Liv Imset
Photo courtesy of Liv Imset

Hardy Evergreen Perennial

Advantages: Drought tolerant; Tolerates seaside conditions; Showy flowers
Bloom Period: Spring into Summer
Height: 4’
Width: 4-6’
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Water Requirements: Low
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Dymondia margaritae
Silver Carpet

Photo courtesy of WUCOLS
Photo courtesy of WUCOLS

Flat groundcover native to coastal Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Advantages: Forms dense tight mat with long, narrow, dark gray-green leaves, silvery white beneath. Well-drained soils. Best near the coast. Yellow daisy flowers
Bloom Period: Summer
Height: 1-3"
Width: 2-3'
Light Requirements: Sun on Coast, light shade inland
Water Requirements: Low
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Erysimum 'Winter Gem' or 'Bowles Mauve'
Wallflower

Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals & Perennials
Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Creates an attractive rounded form of slender purplish-grey leaves topped with a continuous wave of lightly scented 1” single purple-violet flowers on upright 8” stems.

Advantages: Great for long-lasting color in cottage or dryish gardens. Clay tolerant, deer resistant, attracts butterflys and bees
Bloom Period: early spring to fall
Height: 2'
Width: 2'
Light Requirements: 
Water Requirements: 
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Grevillea fililoba
Spider Net Grevillea Hummingbird Grevillea

Photo courtesy of Liv Imset
Photo courtesy of Liv Imset

An upright shrub endemic to southwest Australia, a graceful shrub with fine, soft, gray- green and slightly hairy divided leaves and spidery clusters of pink to bright red flowers. Attractive to hummingbirds.

Advantages: 
Bloom Period: July - September
Size: 5' high x 10' wide
Light Requirements: Full sun
Water Requirements: Low
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Laurus nobilus 'Little Ragu'
Sweet Bay

Photo courtesy of Dan Lent
Photo courtesy of Dan Lent

Large evergreen shrub, dark green leaves and inconspicuous, greenish yellow flowers in spring. Native to low-elevation and coastal habitats in the Mediterranean region, well-drained soils

Advantages: 
Bloom Period: Spring
Size: Dwarf
Light Requirements: Cool sun to light shade
Water Requirements: Low
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Phlomis fruticosa
Jerusalem Sage

Photo courtesy of Liv Imset
Photo courtesy of Liv Imset

Easy & fast growing to a compact shrub yellow flowers, stunning golden fuzz covers the linear olive leaves especially from Spring-Fall

Advantages: Easy & fast growing to a compact shrub
Bloom Period: 
Height: 3'
Width: 3.5'
Light Requirements: Sun
Water Requirements: Low water
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