Teucrium chamaedrys ‘Germander’ Germander is an old world plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae used all over the world as low hedging or easily formed edging for formal herb gardens. Lovely spiked whorls of small pink flowers rise above dark green shiny serrated and aromatic foliage in this creeping evergreen perennial. As I photographed this lovely specimen the hum of bees was loud in my ears, bringing to mind its great ability to attract pollinators. Hardy to drought

Salvia microphylla and Salvia greggii Salvia microphylla- Blackcurrant or Mountain Sage This perennial shrub native to southeast Arizona and Mexico easily hybridizes with Salvia greggii, a native to Southwest Texas and Mexico. These two are often linked together and confused, and it is easy to see why. The main difference between the two species is their leaves. Salvia microphylla has serrated leaf margins (edges) on its narrow elliptical shaped leaves. Salvia greggii has smo

Fuchsia triphylla ‘Gartenmeister’ This handsome Fuchsia is a hybrid of a species that is originally grown in the West Indies. ‘Gartenmeister’ was introduced to the horticultural scene in 1905 and has been gracing gardens ever since. The scarlet-red tubular flowers create a striking contrast to the dark green-bronze-burgundy foliage. It has an upright growth habit and at maturity will reach 2-3 feet tall and wide. The ornate clusters of flowers attract hummingbirds and butterf

Salvia greggii ‘Blue Note’ (Autumn Sage) The largest genus in the Lamiaceae family, drought tolerant Salvia is a great plant for the dry California landscape. This particular Saliva, ‘Blue Note’ has stunning true blue flowers that seem to be lit from within. It blooms June through November, and its compact size makes it an excellent choice for containers or mixed perennial beds. The foliage grows on slender stems and the glossy green leaves are quite aromatic. The lovely bl