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Towering Grasses
Mexican Feather Grass, Needlegrass
Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Kiwi Libertia
Our Lord's Candle
Mexican Feather Grass, Needlegrass

Common name:Mexican Feather Grass, Needlegrass
Botanical name:Nassella tenuissima

Soft, flexible foliage move with a breeze. Grows to 2'. Goes somewhat dormant during summer but green spring & fall. Prefers a sunny, well-drained site. This plant can be invasive in some areas, so use caution. Native to N. Mexico, Tx, Mex & Arg 5-8000'. To keep reseeding to a minimum, drip irrigation will be best. Cut back in early spring to remove dormant foliage and dried seed heads. Can also tolerate dry shade. 14" x 10" Finest textured of ornamental grasses. Very dr tolerant. Cool Grower

Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn

Common name:Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Botanical name:Parkinsonia aculeata

Prickly stems. Very fast growing with sparse foliage & very long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers with orange red throats spring for month+. Very messy, thorny, weedy & shortlived. Usually found on limestone soils in areas with moisture but is strongly drought tolerant. Withstands saline conditions. Can be cold or drought deciduous. Half hardy to Dallas. Light airy tree. Green bark.

Kiwi Libertia

Common name:Kiwi Libertia
Botanical name:Libertia peregrinans

Libertia peregrinans is a perennial. Grows to 2 ft. high, and 1 ft. wide. Narrow, stiffly errect olive green leaves have an orange to brownish orange center stripe. Branching clusters of inch-wide flowers on stems shorter than leaves.

Our Lord's Candle

Common name:Our Lord's Candle
Botanical name:Yucca whipplei

Stemless, it produces dense clusters of rigid, gray-green lvs 12-18" long. Its drooping, bell-shaped flowers appear on large, branched spikes 3-6'. Plants die after blooming, much like agaves, but only individual rosettes will die off, others in in clump will continue to live & eventually bloom. Overall plant grows 3' x 6'. Native Calif. into Baja usually in chaparral 1-4000'. Prefers well drained soil. Drought tolerant but will lose lower leaves with extended drought. Great accent. Sharp

Sustainable Landscaping Fundamentals

Sustainable landscaping is a term coined to mean sensible landscape practices that work within the limits of the Eco-system. This means within the limits of your local rainfall, soil conditions and sun patterns.

Click in the green box for more information

Designer: Jill Salmon: Apache Gardens

Towering Grasses

Photographer: GardenSoft

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.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.