The Glorious Orchid Rockrose
Here’s a magnificent plant. Orchid rockrose (Cistus x purpureus). A Mediterranean plant. Water thrifty. Foliage fragrant when crushed. Needs no water other than winter rain. Ideally suite...
Category Archives: Hedges
7 Plant Wonders of Los Angeles
Below is a list of what are, in my humble opinion, the seven wonders of the Los Angeles plant world, as well as some honorable mentions. 1. I initially thought of making such a list many years ago w...
Privet is for Privacy
Privet. The word is virtually synonymous with hedges and, although it has no definitive etymology, some linguists maintain that privet is a variation of private. Indeed, privets are typically utilize...
Butterfly Bush Replaces Scorched Oleanders
Suddenly, there it was. A fitting replacement for the leaf-scorched oleanders among us. For the uninformed, oleanders have been dying throughout Southern California due to a bacterial infection that ...
Options for a Tall Hedge
Q: I have about 45 feet of east-west fencing that is next to an alley, full sun for the most part, and a two-story apartment building on the other side of the alley that looks into my backyard. Our e...
Low Flowering Hedges
Q. Can you recommend a low hedge to plant along the side of my house, below some windows? I’m not sure if I prefer a flowering hedge like lantana or a non-flowering one like boxwood. I want som...
Butterfly Rose
Multicolored roses and tree problems are the subjects of this month’s letters. Q: “A few weeks ago you mentioned a rose bush that had multiple colors. Could you please tell me the name of...
California Native Hedges
Question: Can you discuss options for hedges on a ranch? I have over a thousand feet of property line and need something that will not use too much water. Answer: When discussing options for hedges, ...
Formal Gardens Surprisingly Low Maintenance
Weekend gardeners and green thumbs with small plots found great ideas at the 1996 Los Angeles Garden Show. Those ideas are still pertinent today. The theme of this year’s garden show is ̶...
