Common name:Snow-In-Summer
Botanical name:Cerastium tomentosum

Masses of snow white flowers highlight this plant during the early summer season.

Common name:Yellow Cotton
Botanical name:Santolina pinnata ssp. neapolitana

Yellow Cotton is a low shrub to about 2' and a little bit wider. It has dense, rich green foliage and yellow flowers. It creates a distinct Mediterranean look.

Common name:Hybrid Daylily (various)
Botanical name:Hemerocallis hybrids

These summer-blooming perennials form clumps with large, grass-like leaves. Its showy flowers, resembling lilies, are borne in clusters on stems held well above the foliage

Common name:Purple Carpet Creeping Thyme
Botanical name:Thymus praecox articus 'Purple Carpet'

This perennial will grow about 3" tall and 3' wide. It has small, dark green leaves with clusters of purple lavender flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Leaves are fragrant when crushed and can be used for seasoning.

Common name:Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy
Botanical name:Erigeron karvinskianus

This low mounding perennial, with fine leaves and white to pinkish, daisy-like flowers, is an excellent asset to rock gardens.

Common name:Lamb's Ears
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina

This tiny, herbaceous shrub will grow less than 1' tall and has medium sized, grayish green leaves with blue and lavender flowers that bloom in the spring.

Common name:Japanese Black Pine
Botanical name:Pinus thunbergii

This variety of Pine is both rigid and twisted, with needles of 3"-4". It has an irregular shape, and the short, contorted branches produce a canopy shaped tree. The buds are white, and the cones are egg -shaped and without prickles. Pines are highly combustible plants.

Common name:Rosemary
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is hardy in full sun areas where winter temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees F. They can be grown in a clay pot with well-drained, porous soil in bright indoor light, and will also flourish on the backporch in spring, summer and fall. Its beautiful, slowly trailing stems and shiny slender leaves are perfect for showing off the small, light blue flowers that blossom in the summer.

Common name:Sea Pink, Common Thrift
Botanical name:Armeria maritima

This clumping, grass-like perennial is native to many areas, including coastal CA. Its flowers range from deep rose pink through white.

Common name:Pincushion Flower
Botanical name:Scabiosa caucasica

A perennial, this plant is a cushion-form groundcover or bedding plant. It grows to 1' to 2' tall, 2'-3' wide. White, bluish and lavender colored pompom-like flowers rise above the foliage.

Common name:Sunset Rockrose
Botanical name:Cistus 'Sunset'

This Rockrose stands 2' tall and spreads 6-8 ft. wide. This dependable shrub has a dark magenta-pink flower with yellow centers. Resinous gray/green leaves have wrinkled edges. It prefers full sun and well draining soil, It is great for erosion control and is deer resistant. It tolerates coastal conditions. Once it's established, it is drought tolerant.

Solving Runoff Problems

Importance of Watershed

A watershed is a land area that drains rain and other water into a creek, river, lake, wetland, or groundwater aquifer. Water from your neighborhood also enters the watershed through the storm drain system and flows directly to local creeks without any treatment. It often is contaminated by pollutants that can be toxic to fish, wildlife, and people.

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