Ongoing research

Rhaphiolepis Oriental Pear in Davis in April, 2020. Photo: J Sisneroz Oriental Pearl is a dense compact form of this species with deep green, ovate leaves typical of this shrub.

Rhagodia 'Aussie Flat Bush' on low water in Davis in July 2020. Photo: K Reid Aussie Flat Bush is a compact, low-growing shrub or tall groundcover with arrow- shaped, bluish grey-green leaves.

Ruschia 'Nana' in Davis in April 2020 before treatments began. Photo: K Reid Ruschia is a genus native to the drier regions of southern Africa. This species and cultivar, commonly called Dwarf Carpet of Stars, is a very low-growing succulent groundcover with a tight growth habit.

Rosa Easy Elegance 'Chi' on moderate water in Davis in July 2020. Photo: K Reid Chi is a vigorous climbing or free-form arching floribunda rose shrub with large clusters of true red rosettes.

Rosa Lemon Fizz in Davis in May 2020. Photo: K Reid Lemon Fizz is a medium-sized shrub rose in the Kolorscape series with deep green foliage that contrasts nicely with the vivid lemon-yellow simple blooms. This was the earliest rose to bloom in our field with its biggest flush in April.

Peach Drift rose on moderate water in Davis in May 2020. Photo: K Reid One of the latest in the Drift rose series, Peach Drift formed tidy, low mounds of small leaves covered with peachy-pink blooms blended to yellow in the center.

Rosa Apricot Drift on low in Davis in May 2020. Photo: K Reid Apricot is another new rose in the Drift series. Apricot Drift forms low, uniformly mounded shrubs with small leaves.

Close-up of Coral Knock Out flowers at sunset in May 2020. Photo J Sisneroz. Coral Knock Out is a medium-sized shrub rose with generally uniform habit.

Pink Supreme Flower Carpet continuing to bloom heavily in late August in Davis. Photo: K Reid Pink Supreme is a groundcover rose in the Flower Carpet series with dark green foliage and vivid deep pink flowers. These blooms are open-faced with accessible pollen and were frequently visited by bees.

Vitex Galactic Pink moderate water in mid-July 2020. Photo: K Reid Galactic Pink is a dwarf chastetree with the typically palmate leaves of Vitex but with pale pink blooms from June through October. These blooms were most showy in June in Davis and July in Irvine.