Common name: Rosemary
Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is hardy in full sun areas where winter temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees F. Rosemary is evergreen and makes a great aromatic hedge, 4'-6' tall and 2' wide. Foliage is used in cooking. Blue flowers appear in summer. This plant is drought tolerant once it's established. Bees love Rosemary!

Common name: Yellow Bird of Paradise
Botanical name: Caesalpinia gilliesii

Yellow Bird of Paradise is an upright, fast growing small tree or large shrub, 10' tall by 8' wide. Clusters of yellow flowers have long red stamens and appear in spring and early summer. After flowering period, green pods appear, turning brown as they mature. As pods mature, they spit spewing seeds. Ripe seeds are poisonous. Foliage is evergreen, fern-looking, and light green changing to grayish when mature. It may be somewhat invasive but it is easy to control. This plant is drought tolerant but will appreciate extra summer water. Natural growth habit is irregular and open, but can be pruned to encourage dense growth. It is quite hardy and can be frost tolerant. It does best in full sun with well draining, sandy or rocky soil.

Common name: Winnifred Gilman Dark Blue Sage
Botanical name: Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman'

The 'Winifred Gillman' Sage is a dense, compact shrub that grows to 4'-5' tall and wide, and has a round form. It has blue purple flowers in spikes above the foliage in summer. This sage has gray aromatic foliage. Plant in full sun with well draining soil. It is drought tolerant once it's established but will look better with occasional deep watering.

Common name: Improved Meyer Lemon
Botanical name: Citrus x 'Improved Meyer'

Improved Meyer Lemon is an evergreen tree that grows 10' tall and 10-12' wide; it has year-around leaves that are glossy green. This tree likes well drained, loam soil with full sun. Lemon trees do best with lots of mulch around it. Water with drip irrigation or moving a hose around the base. When it's established, water this way, 2 times a month. It has white flowers and yellow edible fruit. Needs protection from the winter cold. Consider using as a potted tree which can brought inside in the winter. Pick up fruit on ground immediately to prevent fungus disease infecting fruit. Fertilize 4 times a year.

Common name: Mexican Marigold
Botanical name: Tagetes lemmonii

This larger perennial will grow to 6' tall and has small, light green leaves with yellow mustard colored flowers that bloom in winter and spring. Cut back to within 6" of the ground to refresh and reduce the size of the plant.

Common name: California Sycamore
Botanical name: Platanus racemosa

The California Sycamore is a fast growing, deciduous tree that reaches up to 40'-50' high. It tolerates heat, smog, and moist conditions; it is native to riparian areas. It has an interesting mottled bark when the tree is bare in winter. It needs a moderate amount of watering unless the water table is high. Leaves turn yellow in fall before dropping. Hummingbirds and butterflies love the Sycamore.