Parking strip planting: what is this?

Can you folks tell me what these plants are? (Photo included here with close-ups to follow.) They appear to be California natives and if not, tolerate our clay soils and desert-like sun and heat. Moreover, the parking strip in my yard, will certainly not be under the same level of pollution stress that these boulevard plantings suffer. Water requirements?

The one I favor is the pink, grassy one. But it looks like it can get rather large, out of control or messy looking. Note the bamboo-like appearance of the grassy strands. I really want a low-growing, about 1-2 feet high in my parking strip. I will be placing a path through the middle of it, moving toward the front door, so moving through is not a problem. But I live on a corner lot and do not want anything which restricts a clear view around the corner. And I really don't want a "cottagey" (huh?) look. And this appears to develop into a rather informal looking plant.

The other, on the other hand, is a light purple, and stays a bit more "contained," in that what it throws out is well-defined and formal. The "leaves," if you will, are less grassy looking and define the plant as if in a pot. I like the more formal look, but wanted the pink. Although the lavender is probably light enough to not be a distraction from the remainder of the lot.

I'd appreciate some information about using these in my parking strip.

Thanks, you're all the greatest!

Linda

Here's a closer photo of the two plants "particulars."

And finally . . . .

The plants look like guara,"whirling butterflies" I have several that are yellow and pink. I have never seen the purple ones. Mine are still blooming in zone seven.


This message was edited Oct 11, 2008 7:51 PM

Yes, pink is Gaura. The purple one is society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea. Neither is a CA native.

I should add that there are some cultivars of Gaura that are supposed to stay smaller and more compact--sorry can't remember which ones off the top of my head but maybe someone else will know.

There are several society garlics, and all do well in your area (and mine). There's one with a variegated leaf that I like a lot, too---it stays smaller than the one you've pictured.

ooooh, are you just starting your parking strip or updating? Would love to see, I'm going to rip the grass out of mine next year (thank goodness it's not too long) it was the best thing I did at our last house, although my knees have just recovered! :)

Twin, you might look at lavender and rosemary to combine with other plants, too. I seem to recall some really nice city planting strips of them coming off 99 into the development my son used to live in----not far from Riverside Nursery (can't think of the road's name). Once they're established, they handle the temps well and don't require a lot of water, which is also the case with the society garlic and (I've read---don't have any myself) the gaura.

I have Gaura (and I love it!) but it requires more water than I thought it would. Totally worth it though, and i does not get out of control.

Hi, guys! OK, lots of good suggestions. Now then, take a look at the photo here. This is the corner and parking strip of which I speak.

I know I mentioned keeping the height down due to corner vehicle traffic. But another consideration is the landscaping currently under design. I am willing to take responsibility for making the decision which plant gets to join us in this design (yeah, well, duh, Linda). But of particular concern is the size (yes, again) and how it fits in the "layering."

The attached photo shows you that beyond the parking strip is a 3-foot fence midway into the yard. This little fence will be covered in vines, much of it Star Jasmine, a dark green canvas upon which to paint the parking strip plants. Note also that there are 6 or 7 deep holes for the lucky guys and girls in which to live. There will be a clay tile path, probably 6-or-so feet wide approaching the walk toward the front door, welcoming visitors. The plantings will provide the surrounding softscape leading visitors toward that path.

Now then, it's tempting to consider imapigeon's variegated society garlic against that dark green canvas as ideal, given the color differential.

Hmmm, but then consider ecrane's smaller, more compact guara, on which the bright little fllowers will seem to simply bounce like, hmmmm, pink or purple butterflies against that dark background (waxing poetic?), with the mother plant nearly disappearing.

So, there! Does this information further guide alternatives you've started to gather-up for me?

What a delightful group you are. Just awesome! You're the greatest!

My best,
Linda

Are you leaning towards a more formal look, or more "cottage"?

oh fantastic - what a great challenge. I did see imapigeon's var. society garlic on 50%discount yesterday at Walmart... each store is different, but just wanted to mention it.

Hey guys! I saw these beautiful grasses yesterday on a parking lot, so I would suggest them too! The picture is terrible b/c I took it with my cell phone....does anyone know what it is?

It's similar to what I know as bunny tail grass, which I love---the "flowers" are as soft as (you guessed it) bunny tails. Don't know the botanical name, and your photo may not be the same variety, but if you like the look it's easy to grow from seed and very pretty.

Yes, I thought it was very pretty! The grass blades are red and green, with a few tan blades. I also thought of bunny tails at first, but aren't bunny tails a little more "fat"? . They look super drought tolerant too...very nice.

Yeah, bunny tails are fatter and not held so high above the plant. Hmmm....red, in the leaves, eh? Sounds nice!

imapigeon, the look is to be formal. Actually, I started a thread a month or so ago looking at an "urban" British pocket garden-like look . . . not be be confused with cottage garden. WeelNel's history of British gardening in that thread describes a time during WWII which included edibles in most gardens, which some of us inexperienced US landscapers might confuse as cottage.

That said, I'm looking for, perhaps, a more formal, symmetrical-style garden. I may simply be splitting hairs here. WeelNel has provided wonderful detail and plant suggestions for this effort / effect and I must still sink into the information and digest it. She's been a wonderful resource. Nevertheless, I am thinking that this parking strip running East/West and in full summer sun much of the afternoon, can be handled with our "local" hot/dry planting without distracting from the planned overall effect closer to the house, if I keep it simple and low. I also hope to distract from the absence of a completed yard by displaying the ongoing steps toward completion of the landscape work. Have I thoroughly confused you?

The attached pic of my grandfather's home in The Cotswolds probably illustrates the desired look best, although I am really trying to duplicate the experience, rather than the entire look. Keep in mind as you look at this photo, that the stone fence you see is right on the sidewalk, which is right on the street/curb. There is no "parking strip," as it were. Do I continue to confuse? If so, it is probably because this is still fresh to me.

oh fantastic house - I'm dying to know what the inside is like.

Wow---that is spectacular!

Its beautiful but I love the gate most!

You know, Aguane? Your statement makes my head go straight to "wouldn't it be absolutely cool to take that 'knot' in the gate and replicate it in a knot garden in the space just beyond it? And then wait to see how many 'see' it?"

Hmmm, I wonder if I missed it? [chuckling] Nah, there wasn't one there . . . was there? hmmmmm . . . .

Linda

I'm wondering if the gaura would fit into your scheme.....Pretty as it is, from what I've seen, it tends to be quite "free-form".

I'm also wondering if you might be able to get more the look you want with lavender ('Hidcote" is small) and smaller varieties of upright rosemary and maybe some low-growing thyme for your "bones". They'd all be cold-hardy in your area and will take the heat once they're established. And they can be trained into more formal shapes if that's what you want. Against the "wall" of your fence with the jasmine, I think they'd look great.

I think the idea of the knot garden using the gate pattern is fantastic!

Maybe use a pretty gravel with the heat-tolerant herbs? Then maybe you could add some spots of color (annual or perennial) in low round containers as the 4 circle shapes?

I think that combination would still give you a functional parking strip, and be fairly low-maintenance.....just an idea!

Yes, Imapigeon, the informality of guara was my concern with using it, although I love the colors. The design of the space, it seems to me, lends itself to the more formal plants. So you're thinking along the same lines that I am. I'll keep working on this.

As for using the gate design for a knot garden, that was a thought I had if the gate was mine (chuckling) and one would walk through/past it, then past a knot garden of the same design as that little gate knot. What would have been fun would be to see if your visitors noticed the gate knot replicated in the garden knot. In my entrance you'd have to use a square out of the fence fabric and that wouldn't be very interesting.

But it might be fun to make that Cotswold gate knot into my own little knot garden here, able to tell those who ask that it came from my grandfather's house in England, eh? Hmmm, I'll have to think about that idea.

Thanks for the idea, team-gardeners. You are awesome!

You can get the same feel without giving up some of the plants that are used in cottage gardens. You just use your structural elements such as low hedges of whatever type of plant, shaped evergreen architectural elements or borders with 'flowery' plants contained within. More controlled and contained than random cottage type. Perhaps the continuity of all of your structural elements being green in nature, with solid blocks of color contained within. You're already forming one such element with your wire fence having all Star Jasmine. To get the structured look you want, I would keep the entire wire fence covered in one type of vine, such as the jasmine......continuity....

Yes, wcgypsy, you're thinking is along the same lines as WeeNel and others have articulated. And the layout with the vine fence was a purposeful attempt to provide the continuity you suggest, the architectural elements within which the color is contained. But, you're very correct in reminding me. And, you also described the structural elements as being green in nature, the solid background against which this question of what to plant in the foreground rests.

As an aside, I was at Riverside Nursery (imapigeon!) this afternoon and spoke to one of the designers there. She suggested that I also look at Day Lilies, although that they disappear in the winter is a deterrent to me. And I saw euemonus ?!?!? which she referred to as a boxwood. There were several leaf color varieties, which were very pretty.

So much to learn. So much to do. Isn't it fun???

Linda

There are evergreen daylilies, which is what you want here. I just read online that in the Central Valley the foliage will be lower growing, but they will flower just as prolifically.

I DO miss Riverside!!!! They always had such great plants! We got lovely trees and grapes there for my son's house when he was living in the area. And I managed to bring a few back home, too....LOL!