Ongoing research

Ruellia Mayan White at peak of bloom in July on 20% ET0. Pale leaves mostly gone. Photo: SK Reid.

Eucomis Leia on 20% ET0 in August 2016. Photo: SK Reid. This flowering bulb showed excellent pest and disease resistance at all irrigation levels (Table 5).

Sambucus Black Tower in May 2016 showing blooms at 80% ET0. Photo: SK Reid. This is a striking, columnar form of elderberry with very dark foliage. Although it bloomed in May, this was not a main feature of the plant in our trials.

Azalea Autumn Embers in December 2015, at the end of its first year in the ground. Photo: SK Reid. Mortality for this azalea on the two lowest irrigation treatments was 33% for 20% of ETo and 17% for 40% ETo.

Azalea Autumn Royalty blooming in April 2016, before irrigation treatments began. Photo: SK Reid. This cultivar of Encore Azalea was slightly hardier than the orange one and grew larger to an average width of 20 (50.9cm) and average height of 16 (40.8cm).

Mahonia Soft Caress in April 2016. Photo: SK Reid. Soft Caress is a long, thin-leaved form of this Mahonia species. Heading it after blooming can help it acquire a dense, lush form, rather than becoming leggy, leaning, and non-uniform as it did in some cases in the trial.

Arctostaphylos densiflora Howard McMinn in March 2013. Photo: SK Reid. This exceptionally adaptable manzanita grew and thrived in every site where it was grown and on every irrigation level.

Dianella revoluta 'DR5000' - Little Rev on 20% of ETo in September 2018. Photo: SK Reid. Little Rev flax lily is a small grass-like plant, possessing an architectural form due to its stiff, upright, blue-green leaves.

Dietes bicolor African Gold on 20% of ETo in July 2018. Photo: SK Reid. Pure Gold is a newer cultivar of the landscape stalwart Dietes bicolor, commonly called fortnight lily.

Distylium 'Vintage Jade' in April before irrigation treatments began. Photo: SK Reid. This genus has been the focus of increased breeding efforts over the past 10-15 years as an alternative to evergreen shrubs such as Euonymus or Rhaphiolepis.