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Spirals in the Garden
Sago-Palm
Australian Grass Tree
Variegated Century Plant
Big Bend Yucca
Huachuca Agave
California Fan Palm
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.

Australian Grass Tree

Common name:Australian Grass Tree
Botanical name:Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata

This grassy perennial will eventually grow to 15' high. It is a tree-like plant. Foliage is fiber optic looking with linear green leaves that are 2'-4' long and shimmer in the wind. The long flowering stalk resembles a jousting lance and is a stunning accent plant. Tall grasses are highly combustible.

Variegated Century Plant

Common name:Variegated Century Plant
Botanical name:Agave americana 'Variegata'

This Agave has a creamy yellow margins around the edge of the leaves. It will grow 6'-10' tall by up to 13' wide. It is native to Mexico. It has a very open growth habit, with leaves that recurve along their length.

Big Bend Yucca

Common name:Big Bend Yucca
Botanical name:Yucca rostrata

This Yucca has blue leaves, a tall narrow trunk, and a spectacular summer display of cream white flowers. It is one of the most attractive tree Yuccas. It slowly forms a trunk to 10' tall. The young are usually unbranched; the older have a few branches. Narrow blue leaves can grow up to 2' long and .5" wide with a sharp term spine. This Yucca prefers full sun or very light shade and rocky, well drained soil. It is susceptible to grubs.Old leaves persist.

Huachuca Agave

Common name:Huachuca Agave
Botanical name:Agave parryi v. huachucensis

This Agave grows slowly to 2' by 2'. It is lump forming with dense rosettes. It has short gray leaves with dark thorns on the margins. This is the largest of the subspecies of parryi with leaves 2' long. It is native to parts of AZ and is more robust, with larger leaves and broader panicles and larger flowers than the species. It is primarily found in oak and pine woodlands.

California Fan Palm

Common name:California Fan Palm
Botanical name:Washingtonia filifera

California Fan Palm is the only palm native to California. It populates the areas along the San Andreas Fault where desert water has seeped to the surface and formed springs. It grows to 60' tall and 20' wide. It has light green fronds 3'-6' long. One of the most common uses of the palms fronds by Native Californians was in forming housing and thatched Ramadas. Fronds and frond fiber were also used to make sandals, cordage, nets and mats.

Designer: Lynn Woodbury

Spirals in the Garden
Image: 2 of 6

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.