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Italian Villa Garden Look
Strawberry Madrone
Lily of the Nile
Sago-Palm
Brisbane Box
Strawberry Madrone

Common name:Strawberry Madrone
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'

The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as Pacific Madrone. Its flowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage.

Lily of the Nile

Common name:Lily of the Nile
Botanical name:Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis

This evergreen ground cover/shrub will grow about 3' tall and has large green leaves with blue flowers ( there is also a white variety) that bloom in spring and summer. It will grow in all soils but prefers loam soil.

Sago-Palm

Common name:Sago-Palm
Botanical name:Cycas revoluta

Sago Palm resembles small palms; it is evergreen. It can slowly grow to 10'. It is used for a tropical effect and also looks great in planters. In the low desert, light shade and additional moisture are best. Side sprouts can form multi-trunked individuals. Apply fertilizer at leaf expansion. This plant has few pests.

Brisbane Box

Common name:Brisbane Box
Botanical name:Lophostemon confertus

This evergreen tree will grow 30'-45' tall and 25' wide. It has leathery, glossy dark green leaves and inconspicuous white flowers in summer. The reddish brown, flaky bark resembles Eucalytpus, while the foliage resembles Ficus.

Designer: Stephanie Blanc

Italian Villa Garden Look

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.