LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
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14 Landscape Architect and Specifier News p l a n t w o r l d (Continued on page 98) Left The Euphorbia tirucalli 'Firestick' has striking colorings of pink, red, purple, yellow and green. It is drought tolerant and easy to grow. A general warning about the Firestick is the sap within its stems can irritate the skin, and certainly you wouldn't want to get it in your eyes. The succulent is native to Madagascar, tropical and subtropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India. PhoTo STEPhEn KElly Right Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is a good drought-tolerant shrub for shady areas. It has soft leaves and no spines, with golden yellow candle-like blooms from mid-fall through winter. Similar to Nandina, it grows from the bottom, making it full at the base. It was chosen "2013 Plant of the year" at the Royal horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in london. Succeeding During Drought Forecasters predict 2014 will be the third consecutive drought year in California and the Southwest. In response, authorities have called upon landscape contractors, landscape architects and designers to use more drought-tolerant plantings for their projects. Some clients associate drought-tolerant plantings with xeriscaping, a stark appearance more reminiscent of parched desert than the lush landscape some clients may envision. With this mind set, it's no wonder those clients would tend to resist water-wise plantings. A Whole New Palette Over the past quarter-century, top plant breeders— Monrovia Growers, Anthony Tesselaar, PlantHaven and Plant Development Services—have introduced proprietary and patented drought-tolerant plantings that also have other desirable qualities: longer blooming season, disease and pest resistance, vibrant and interesting foliage, bright colors, hardiness and reduced maintenance. As a result, landscape architects and contractors can create new and dramatic landscapes that set them apart from the competition, and pleasing clients, whether they be residential customers or city authorities. In the past decade alone, there has been the introduction of more grasses, natives and succulents. "Cool" newcomers include Anigozanthos (Australian plants in the Bloodwort family); Calandrinia (purslane species); Carex (sedges); Echeveria (attractive, flowering succulents); Grevillea (evergreen flowering plants in the protea family); and Leucadendron (South African plants in the Proteaceae family). Top-performing new varieties of drought-tolerant plants include: Agave attenuata 'Blue Flame' Aloe striata 'Blue Elf' Cistus' Little Miss Sunshine' Cistus Ceanothus 'Diamond Heights' 'Blush Pink', 'Obsession' and 'Flirt' Nandina Hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca) Senecio mandraliscae Dasylirion longissimum (Mexican Grass Tree) Drought-Tolerant Shade Plants Landscape architects and designers often look for interesting alternatives for the shade. Two excellent choices are 'Soft Caress' Mahonia and 'Silver Shadow' Astelia. Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is a 3' x 3' shrub with an interesting texture and golden yellow candle-like blooms from mid-fall through winter. Similar to Nandina, it grows from the bottom, ensuring it will always stay full at the base. It was chosen "2013 Plant of the Year" at the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in London. Astelia 'Silver Shadow' is a clumping perennial with bold, strappy silver leaves that adds height to any garden and loves the shade. It's so drought-tolerant it's like an air plant, an excellent contrast when paired with darker leafed Phormium, Loropetalum or other succulents. By Suzie Wiest, Marketing Rep., Village nurseries Wholesale llC, orange, Calif. 14-15.indd 14 3/25/14 3:33 PM