low-maintenance plants


Joe,  I agree whole-heartedly with your sentiment.  Off the top of my head, fitting your description my top 7 (9) would be:
  1. Ceanothus
  2. Nerium oleander   
  3. Salvia greggii and leucantha
  4. Vitex agnus-castus
  5. Artemisia "Powis Castle"
  6. Arbutus unedo
  7. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and "Emerald Carpet"
It's hard to spite the salvias and the Vitex their once a year dead-heading.   I'll add to this with time to ruminate.  I don't currently have the Vitex, but in my last garden it was a favorite, and in my opinion, sadly neglected. ( I haven't even seen it for sale in a while.)  Meanwhile every strip mall and medical plaza is smothered in the mundane raphiolepis with its uninteresting foliage and pale, wimpy pink flowers.  Give me a lipstick pink oleander anyday in our bright summer sun.  I'm happy to say that here in Folsom, the new commercial landscape trend is toward the more interesting water-wise plants.  Yaaaay.
Opinionated Karrie Reid
Folsom Foothill Gardener


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