Common name:Sedge, Orange
Botanical name:Carex testacea

The testacea variety is an evergreen perennial that reaches 2' tall bearing very narrow, coppery brown leaves splitting to hair-like threads at their tips, and continuing to grow to 4-8' in length. This plant should be grown in sun with little or no summer watering. During winter, foliage turns orange. If this grass is planted in shade, foliage stays green. Flowers are insignificant. Orange Sedge looks great in containers or spilling over near walkways or into water features.

Common name:Japanese Barberry, Crimson Pygmy
Botanical name:Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'

Pygmy purple leaf barberry is a deciduous shrub with arching branches which reaches 2 ft high and 3 ft wide. The foliage becomes bronzy red in summer and fall. 'Crimson Pygmy' prefers full sun and regular watering, more in hot summer months. This plant has thorns. It makes a great hedge. Prune in winter to re-shape.

Common name:Reed Grass, Karl Foerster Feather
Botanical name:Calamagrostis X acutiflora 'Karl Foerste

This ornamental perennial grass grows 4-6' tall x 1-1.5' wide and has semi-evergreen foliage that is green in spring and summer and turns green/brown in fall. The flowers bloom in mid June and emerge a light green but quickly turn to pink/purple.

Common name:Oregon Grape, Creeping Mahonia
Botanical name:Mahonia repens

The creeping Mahonia is a small evergreen shrub that grows 1'-3' high. It has spiny, red to green foliage and yellow flowers in the spring. This plant spreads by underground stems and is resistant to oak root fungus. It is native to California and is drought tolerant.

Common name:Cypress, Arizona 'Blue Ice'
Botanical name:Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice'

A Arizona native Conifer tree that grows at a moderate rate to '30-20' tall and around 20' wide'. Foliage has a distinct silvery blue cast. Accepts full sun. Is drought tolerant and resistant to wind. Needs good drainage. This plant is fire-prone! Please use caution when planting near your home.

Dealing With Drought

More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.

Click in the green box for more information