Festuca rubra - A no-mow Lawn subsitute

Red Creeping Fescue

Festuca rubra  ---  This cool season grass grows to form soft, flowing drifts of gray-green foliage 12 to 18 inches tall. A good component for no mow lawn. Most impressive when planted in large masses or under some trees  Best application for a meadow lawn or parkway strips.  Prefers some afternoon shade in the hotter climates and moderate to occasional water when planted inland.  More drought tolerant than many other red Festucas.

Thuja plicata x standishii 'Green Giant'

Green Giant Screen - Photo by Green'e Tree & Garden Blog

Thuja (aka Arborvitae) 'Green Giant' has been gaining popularity as an evergreen screen. A good replacement for the Coastal Redwood that needs more water and the Leyland Cypress that can have die-out. A fast grower when young with proper irrigation. Waterwise when established in the landscape. Has no obvious insect problems. Average height is 35' to 40' in 25 to 30 years.

Will grow from the Bay area to the Valley and Lake Tahoe. Tolerates most soil types.
Link to Missouri Botanical Garden:
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b443

Salvia x Bee's Bliss - Sage

Photo - California Flora Nursery

Bee's Bliss Sage

A native low growing flowering shrub. Average height 18" to 6 ' wide. Bee's Bliss can drape over rocks or walls. Long blooming cycle that attracts Hummingbirds, Butterflies and other beneficial insects. Doesn't like wet feet or over-watering. Full sun preferred, will tolerate some afternoon shade from a tree, like an Oak.

Delosperma dyeri Red - Ice Plant

Delosperma dyeri Red

This exciting low growing ice plant is a good choice for a water-wise ground cover area.

Grows 2" to 4" and about 18" spread. Blooms in Spring with sporadic bloom through Fall. Full sun and hot areas is no problem for this evergreen mat forming perennial. Zone 5 to 9.

Salvia greggii 'Lipstick' - Texas Sage

Photo from Plant Delights Nursery

Salvia 'Lipstick' is a compact flowering perennial that will be 3' by 3'. Has a long blooming range. From about May to late Fall. A Water-Wise shrub. A Hummingbird favorite and Deer-Resistant choice. We also grow fire engine red with white flower -  Salvia greggii (microphylla) Hotlips. 

Photo from San Marco Growers

New at Western Tree in 2015. Heuchera x villosa 'Kassandra'

Scabiosa Butterfly Blue

Blue Pincushion is currently in full bloom

Hemerocallis Orange Flasher

Day Lily Orange Flasher
Currently in bloom.

Hemerocallis Mountain Violet

The day lily Mountain Violet is currently blooming.

Espalier Apple Fuji

#15 can Fuji Apple on a trellis.
Has 3 branches on each side. Fuji is self-fruitful.

Hemerocallis Midnight Beauty

Blooming Day Lily - Midnight Beauty
Dark Purple Flower

Hemerocallis Russian Rhapsody

Blooming Day Lily - Russian Rhapsody

Lavandula Otto Quast

Blooming Spanish Lavender

Oil Producing Olives

Olives for oil and eating from Spanish heritage. Both are dwarf to about 15 feet tall. Average height in container is 6 to 7 feet tall.We have limited supply of both. Call to secure your quantity.

Camellia

Spring is here and its not too late to plant this elegant flower

Loropetalum - Chinese Fringe Flower

Loropetalum

'Chinese Fringe Flower' 

Loropetalum varieties are increasing. The most popular ones are Majestic Purple and Chang Nian Hong [aka Ever Red]. They have really dark purple leaves.  The Chang Nian Hong has a dark red flower. That being said, the green leaf with white flower variety is making a comeback with homeowners.

Loropetalum is a plant everyone can grow and have in their yard. Grows in light shade to full sun. Can be shaped easily to maintain the desired form. Compact varieties (3' to 4' tall) are becoming more available in the plant market.

Pistacia chinensis

Fall Color 

Time to look for that leaf color you have been waiting to plant in your yard. Fall is around the corner and leaf color change will be starting soon. I am seeing it with trees and shrubs that are under stress in existing landscapes.  When plants are changing color at your favorite retail nursery, be ready to purchase when you see the color scheme appear on the plant. This is especially true with Pistacia, Nyssa, Maples and even Crape Myrtles.Most plants in containers tend to change color a few weeks later than when in the landscape.This gives you time to determine which fall color plant you want after seeing it in existing landscape designs.

Fall Leaves

Worm Composting

 Couldn't believe how fast the worms can eat and make worm compost. 
                    Too easy to do. Check out the UC Sonoma site:
http://ucanr.org/sites/scmg/Workshops/

California Poppy