- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Perennial Berries and Vines
- Blackberries and Raspberries - Don't let the vines get away from you. Thornless varieties are available. I have a blackberry bush that does not get much water so it stays small. It is like heaven when you eat blackberries from your own vines.
- Blueberries – Full sun, choose southern highbush varieties. Varieties from Maine will not work here. Needs soil to stay moist, so mulch heavily. Use acidic fertilizer. Great shrub!
- Grapes – Beautiful on an arbor or pergola. We had grapes growing on an arbor when I was a kid.
- Strawberries – A lot of types to choose from. They can be grown as an annual or perennial. They have many diseases and pests.
Fruit Trees
If you are going to plant a tree, why not a fruit tree? Fruit trees are easy to keep small if that is what you want. If you have excess fruit, share with a neighbor. I know I would prefer to get figs instead of zucchini!
- Apples – Many varieties to choose from. Codling moth (the worm in the apple) can be a problem.
- Apricots – Many varieties to choose from.
- Avocados – These can be a hit or miss in our area. Your neighbor can have a very fruitful tree and you get nothing. If you are going to plant an avocado, you will need an A and a B plant.
- Cherries – Need lots of chill hours. They need a pollinizer. Birds love cherries, so you may not get many.
- Citrus – grows well in the valley. Oranges are so cheery in the middle of winter.
- Figs – bears 2 crops a year. These trees can be huge but they are easy to keep small. I have 2 fig trees in my yard.
- Kiwis – great on an arbor, pergola or trellis. Be careful what variety you purchase. Some are self-fruitful and some are not.
- Olives – loves our hot dry summers. They are a beautiful landscape tree.They do have a problem with olive fruit fly.
- Peaches and Nectarines – one of the easiest trees to grow here. Lots of varieties! Need to spray for peach leaf curl. I have 2 nectarine trees. One ripens in July and the other in August.
- Pears and Asian Pears– need winter chill. They need a pollinizer trees. Pears have a problem with fireblight.
- Persimmons – Make sure you get the kind of persimmon you want (eating or baking). Beautiful fall foliage.
- Plums – Lots of varieties, sizes and colors.
- Plum Hybrids – Many to choose from and many different flavors. My favorite is the green pluot that comes from a prune variety.
- Pomegranate – Can be a shrub or tree. Beautiful flowers and leaves.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Perennial vegetables and herbs for your garden
Personally, I am not a big vegetable gardener. I actually have a hard time growing zucchini. Now, don't laugh at me! If you are like me and love perennial plants then here is a list of great plants for you. All of these can be “inserted” into your landscape and look beautiful.
Perennial Vegetables
- Artichokes - Light afternoon shade in our hot valley. When I was growing up artichokes lined our driveway. I have artichokes in my garden now. Gophers can be a problem.
- Asparagus - The plants are tall, feathery and graceful. You will not get a lot of asparagus but the plant is beautiful!
- Cardoon - Similar to artichokes but grown for the edible stalks. This is also great in the landscape.
- Rhubarb - Needs partial shade in the valley. Great showy foliage for the garden.
Perennial Herbs
- Chives - Snip the leaves to use in the kitchen. Beautiful leaves and flowers. Great border plant.
- Lavender - Beautiful and very fragrant. Attracts bees to the garden. I have lavender in my garden and love it.
- Lemongrass - It will grow to about 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall. It looks like a tall clump of grass. Cut off the stem just above the crown and use in recipes. Yes, I have this in my yard and it is beautiful.
- Marjoram - 1-2 feet tall, great filler plant or ground cover for your landscape. Snip off a few leaves for cooking.
- Mint - Plants easily spread. Once you have mint you have mint forever. It is very fragrant.
- Oregano - Low growing ground cover plant. I have this one in a container and it produces a carpet of beautiful flowers.
- Rosemary - Who doesn't have rosemary in their garden? Great foundation plant, beautiful flowers and easy touse in recipes. Yes, I have a beautiful rosemary plant in my yard.
- Sage - Needs afternoon shade. Great gray color for the garden. I have sage and it can get a little scraggly, just keep it trimmed back.
- Sweet Bay - Can be a tree or shrub. Grows to 12 – 20 feet tall. Beautiful flowers. We had a bay tree growing up. Snip a leaf and throw in a soup.
- Tarragon - Needs light shade. French tarragon has rhizomes. It is best in a container.
- Thyme - Small plant with heavily scented leaves. Great in a rock garden.
Our next post will be about berries, vines and fruit trees.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Abutilon
FLOWERING MAPLE
Malvaceae
EVERGREEN AND DECIDIOUS SHRUBS
I was visiting one of my favorite nursery a few days ago and I had to stop and admire all the Abutilons that were blooming in many colors, from dark red to light yellow. I have grown one hybrid in my zone 9 yard for over 5 years now and it's always a bright spot in the winter garden. I have it where it gets some protection from the hottest afternoon sun.
They can get large 8 to 10' and can get a little rangy if you don't keep them pruned back each year. But growth habits vary widely by variety, so do your home work and you will be happy with this shrub for many years to come.
Features:
Attractive evergreen foliage.
Blooms come in many colors and look like bells or lanterns.
They like moderate to regular water.
Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies.
Prune back hard in the spring for bushier plants.
Plant in Partial shade in hot areas.
Sherry Maltby