Christiane Holmquist Landscape Design

  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Projects
  • How I work
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Wow your mother with a plant that lasts – beyond Mother’s day

May 6, 2012 By Christiane Holmquist

Browsing at my neighborhood garden center for a special Mother’s Day plant, I notice the pink and purple/lilac flower clusters of Hydrangeas strategically placed at the entrance. I’m impressed by their gorgeous petal ‘bombs’ and think that this old stand-by would probably wow my host, too.

But then a thought steels itself into my mind: How long will my gift decorate my host’s table?  Will she throw it away when the bloom is over, or will she plant it? This frilly one wants much more water than our rainfall provides, and many of our local micro-climates and soils are anything but easy on it. The farther away from the coast it grows, the sooner it will require shading from the hot afternoon sun, and then it wants coddling with acid-forming fertilizer to keep its color, and regular and pricey water.

Matilija Poppy Romneya coulteri

Matilija Poppy

As landscape designer San Diego that practices xeriscape landscaping and sustainability, I love plants that wow me AND have a good ROI, that are attractive low maintenance plants for the low water landscape. Check out these:

Romheya coulteri Matilija Poppy in the drought resistant landscapeA Matilija Poppy Romneya coulteri  in full bloom makes your jaw drop, and bloom is now starting, right in time for Mother’s Day.  The fist-size flowers are carried atop 6-10 ft stems, for several weeks, exuding a strong fragrance of fresh apricots. This perennial shrub needs no additional water once established; it fits into all zones except mountains and deserts, likes sun or partial shade, and is adaptable to all soils except those that drain poorly.  Establishment can be difficult, but once successful, it will send out underground stems in sandy or rocky soil and more slowly in clay soil and is thus difficult to contain. It is best planted along barely cultivated margins, on slopes as erosion control, in dry areas or along parkways. It should be cut down to a few inches above ground in fall to remove old foliage.

Consider also our native wild lilacs, the Ceanothus family that equally fit well into xeriscape designs. The members of this group can be evergreen groundcovers or small trees; some species have brilliant blue flowers, others range in hues of purple, violet and white. They keep their great form year-round, survive the greatest summer heat as true drought resistant plants; they make valuable contributions to any habitat garden by providing food (butterflies, insects, seeds) and cover.

Ray Hartman Wild Lilac Ceanothus arboreus ‘Ray Hartman’  is striking with glistening green leaves, a height of up to 18 ft, and with rose-colored buds and profuse clusters of sky blue flowers. It grows reliably in both interior and coastal sites.

California natives bring a sense of heritage and a connection to the future; they have an incredible potential in all sorts of garden designs if we understand which plants perform in which conditions. With lots of different foliage, flower colors and textures they’ll make your garden interesting in all seasons, and with careful selection you can get year round color because some plant will be in bloom any time of the year. With little needs to additional water or maintenance they are choice candidates for the residential landscape design that satisfy us for years to come and have a high ROI.

For other exceptional non-native plants for drought resistant landscaping, see my previous posts on My favorite plants for Southern California , on Gardens Exciting and Alive – Year round,  Water-wise roses and more.

Check these links for recommended growing conditions, descriptions and sources:

Moosa Creek Nursery

Las Pilitas Nursery

Tree of Life Nursery

Theodore Payne Foundation

Filed Under: Drought Resistant Landscape, Drought Resistant Plants, Low Water Landscape, Sustainable Landscape Design, Xeriscape designs Tagged With: drought resistant landscaping, landscape designer San Diego, low maintenance plants, low water landscape, residential landscape design, xeriscape, xeriscape landscaping

Xeriscape Design Explained

January 20, 2012 By Christiane Holmquist

As a landscape designer in San Diego County, one of my greatest concerns when approaching a new project is water usage. We live in a desert region and have experienced years of drought. As the population of our state continues to grow, our limited water resources will become more and more strained.

One of the ways we can cut back on water usage is with Xeriscape designs.

Xeriscape is a landscape design method that focuses on reducing water usage. This can be accomplished by planting climate-friendly, water-efficient plants, updating to more efficient irrigation methods,  putting down water-trapping mulch and more.

Xeriscape is a very high priority for me. I believe in planting for the existing environment, not in spite of it. It is painful to see some homeowners and institutions who insist on creating lush, water-gulping gardens that need constant care in order to survive a harsh environment, especially when there are plenty of beautiful, healthy plants that can thrive with much less water.

Fortunately, many homeowners are beginning to make water conservation a priority. For these homeowners, low water landscaping can provide a beautiful result, cut back significantly on water usage and save water costs each month. Along with proper selection and placement of plants, xeriscapes can also significantly reduce maintenance expense.

There is no singular strategy behind creating a xeriscape design. Rather, there are many different tactics that can be applied depending on the homeowner’s goal, design tastes and the specific features of their yard.

Here are some common xeriscape tactics:

  • Drought-Resistant Plants: Use climate-friendly plants  -  California natives or plants from other Mediterranean climates.  There is an incredible array of plants that thrive in Southern California’s dry environment.
  • Soil-Plant Balance: Soil has a lot of do with water capture and retention. In a xeriscape, we use plants that match the characteristics of the soil.  In some cases it’s advisable to improve the soil characteristics.
  • Mulch:  Mulch allows water to percolate into the soil beneath, shades the soil and helps keep plant roots moist and cool; it improves soil structure for better nutrient and water retention. Mulch can be made from wood chips, plant grindings, gravel, rocks and many other substances, making it a versatile material that can complement different landscape designs.
  • Efficient Irrigation: There are a variety of irrigation methods that can improve water utility. Personally, I recommend drip irrigation, a process where water is fed directly to each plant rather than sprayed across a wide area. Other water-saving irrigation methods include adjusting sprinklers each season or installing rain sensors that shut down sprinklers during or after rain. There are also automated irrigation controllers available that tap into state-wide climate data and calculate the necessary amount of irrigation water.
  • Plant-Zone Balance: Every yard includes zones where the sun and shade differ throughout the day. As a designer, I like to map out these different “hydrozones” and recommend plants that prefer those specific environments. For instance, I would recommend sun-loving drought-tolerant plants for areas of the yard that get a lot of sun and heat during the day.

All-in-all, xeriscaping is an important part of what I do as a landscape designer. It feels good to put together gardens and yard designs that honor Southern California’s dry environment and help protect our precious water resources.

Filed Under: Drought Resistant Landscape, Landscape Design Tagged With: drought resistant landscaping, low water landscaping, xeriscape

Drought Resistant Landscaping with Xeriscape Designs in San Diego

October 1, 2011 By Christiane Holmquist

desert landscapeWe all want a beautiful backyard and front yard that is more than functional. We want to be able to relax and play in it without a lot of work and upkeep. The last thing we want is a front yard landscape design or a backyard landscape design that is expensive, doesn’t include low maintenance plants and requires a lot of water.

 

As the owner of a landscaping business in San Diego, I see many backyard gardens that do not show any plantsmanship whatsoever.  Most of them have been created by San Diego landscapers doing residential landscape design that relies on a limited palette and series of plant combinations. Some of these plant palettes were developed in times when water was cheap or for environments that were not so water conscious as Southern California.

 

These manufactured landscapes are nothing more than soulless plant and hardscape envelopes around the house.

 

This isn’t what most homeowners want. I specialize in xeriscape landscape designs. Xeriscape is a special landscaping technique that focuses on reducing water needs while maintaining the overall beauty and lushness of backyard and front yard gardens. Reducing water usage often requires using drought-resistant plants, instituting low volume irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and carefully designing the overall landscape to preserve and utilize as much water as possible.

 

When designed with the right plants and proper layout, a low water landscape can be stress-free and easy to maintain. Gardening in a San Diego xeriscape will create an intimate relationship between the homeowner and their plants and will help them reconnect with nature without breaking their backs or killing the entire weekend.

 

As a passionate drought-resistant landscape designer in San Diego, I have created a DIY list for homeowners looking to improve their front yard and/or backyard landscape design as well as help develop a xeriscape-friendly landscape.

  • Limit your hardscape design (the hard surfaces of patio, decks, walkways, walls, edges etc.) to the minimum without restricting comfortable movement in them.
  • Use quality landscaping block, landscaping brick, colored textured concrete, flagstones, wood etc.
  • Identify sun/shade areas in your garden, its soil quality and especially its soil drainage: It will tell you which type of plants work best in your garden.
  • Smart water irrigation components will help you keep the water needs of your backyard and front yard low. Seek help from your local water agency.
  • Consider landscape lighting ideas with quality low-voltage fixtures so that you can see your garden in the evening – even from inside the house.
  • Get a garden reference book:  The Sunset Western Garden is an indispensable resource for gardeners in Southern California. It includes information on most of the plants locally available, whether tropical, California natives, or desert plant species. It also shows landscape design photos, examples of garden styles, photos of desertscapes as well as guidelines for soil preparation, pruning, fertilizing…
  • Planting design:  Identify different use areas if your front yard and backyard. Consider maintenance, water and space needs for each type of plant in your yard.
  • Are you ready to play now? If you run into a snag, find inspiration at the Water Conservation Garden, El Cajon and the San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas.  See also A Homeowner’s Guide to a Water Smart Landscape by the SD County Water Authority.

Filed Under: Drought Resistant Landscape, Landscape Design Tagged With: backyard design, drought resistant landscaping, Low water plants, xeriscape

Do you love trees? Not sure about them? San Diego’s Center for Sustainable Energy informs about how trees can increase your property value

April 25, 2011 By Christiane Holmquist

Budding arborist or fearless teenager?

Budding arborist or fearless teenager?

I had the pleasure last week to speak with Robin Y Rivet, urban Forester/ISA arborist for CCSE’s, the Center for Sustainable Energy in San Diego ( https://energycenter.org ),  a non-profit organization that is holding free workshops for home owners and business professionals on the many benefits of sustainable landscaping.   

Robin Rivet is CCSE’s urban forester for ATAC (“Advice and Technical Assistance Center”).  She is ISA certified arborist and UCCE master gardener.  The ATAC hosts free workshops for homeowners, professionals and municipalities to “explore the relationship between urban forestry and sustainability”. In addition to featuring a different educational live tree each week, they offer free workshops, outreach events and a community based website. The next workshops will be:

May 16, 5:30-7:30 pm, Make Sustainable Tree Choices to Increase Property Value, with Robin Rivet, urban forester and UCCE master gardener.

Ms. Rivet will offer advice about why trees enhance property value, and how to choose and locate the healthiest trees that appreciate in value over time and enhance the property value of your home, school or business.
June 2, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Sustainable Fruit Trees: Best Practices for Homes and Schools, with Tom Del Hotal, ISA certified arborist, Southwestern College adjunct faculty member and chairman of the California Rare Fruit Growers San Diego Chapter

Tom Del Hotal will provide an overview of what fruit trees do best in our region and some tips on getting the best results from your choices.

There are many other workshops relating to sustainability, fiscal incentives, outdoor water conservation rebate programs (I could only find one for commercial and multi-family), air conditioning, photovoltaics, cooling systems… check out the workshops and register at https://energycenter.org/index.php/outreach-a-education/advice-and-technical-assistance-center/2474-upcoming-workshops

A last note about their resource library: It is an awesome collection of books relating to urban forestry, green roof plants, BM (best management) Practices, study guides for the arborist certification and many other great books, and the borrowing is free. I also picked up several great educational “Tree City USA Bulletins” prepared for the homeowner and landscape professional by the National Arbor Day Foundation. These pamphlets contain easy-to-read information, diagrams and photos on topics such as tree ailments, laws governing trees and tree choice for the right place, to name just a few.  I’m sure that I will refer to these in my work and give copies of them to my clients.

Addresses:
ATAC Advice and Technical Assistance Center
8690 Balboa Ave., S.D. 92123
Robin Y Rivet robin.rivet@…
Robin Rivet at 858.634.4741
https://energycenter.org/index.php/outreach-a-education/advice-and-technical-assistance-center

Filed Under: Landscape Design, Trees Tagged With: Arbor Day Foundation pamphlets, ATAC Advice and Technical Assistance Center in San Diego, best management practices for the tree owner, best management practices in the home orchard, budding arborist, drought tolerant trees, fiscal incentives for homeowners, fruit trees, green roof plants, how to choose healthy trees, how to enhance property value through trees, ISA certified arborist, liability from trees, outdoor water conservation rebate programs, proper tree choice, property enhancement through trees, pruning trees, rare fruit tree grower, rebate programs for landscape water, rebate programs for outdoor water use, sustainability in the landscape in San Diego, sustainability through trees, sustainable fruit trees, sustainable garden design, trees enhance property value, trees enhancing property value, urban forester, urban forestry, xeriscape

The lawn needs to go – but what then? Water Conservation Issues and Garden Re-do addressed at “The Garden”

March 24, 2011 By Christiane Holmquist

boulder scene in late afternoon with succulents and drought tolerant shrubsrelaxing chair under tree amongst grasses and perennials

Prompted by the rising water cost and irrigation restrictions, San Diego homeowners consult the many resources available the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon (at www.thegarden.org ).  Among these resources are landscape design and horticulture experts offering consultations on subjects like “California Friendly Plants”, watering, arboriculture (the science concerned with trees),  construction issues and landscape design. I enjoy being one of those professionals, and I thought you might be curious to learn how such a consultation might work for the people that come there. 

succulents and perennials adorn boulderIn my consultations I generally encounter the same objective:  Feeling the need to reduce their water bill or wanting a landscape that is more practical and ecological,  these homeowners are ready to retire their mostly lawn-centered landscape.  They come to the Water Conservation Garden with the common question,  “What do I plant now?”   Most of them believe that planting the right plants would make their gardens better and solve their problems; isn’t that what the beautiful low-water-use plants at “The Garden” are all about?

I understand this thinking but, as designer and horticulturist, I don’t think that suggesting different, albeit drought resistant, water-wise  or “xeric” plants, would address the underlying problem (although those plants are generally more sustainable).   I feel that planting random groups of plants into the former lawn area would not create attractive, comfortable spaces for outdoor living that “work”.  Since that is my focus, I explain to the visitors that it would serve them best if they considered first how to make enjoyable outdoor living possible, in separate spaces designed for different uses.

What needs to happen in a yard so it can become an “outdoor living room”?  How do you convert it into a play room, or entertainment space, a space to hang out, relax, dream, rejuvenate? 

A garden space needs to be organized spatially and hierarchically, and I start my design process, in which I involve my visitors, by asking them if they can think of an activity that they would like to do but never had room for or that was relegated to a back corner of their garden.  Perhaps there is some almost forgotten vision of a garden scene in the recesses of their memory that they never took seriously?  Take the example of my last visitors at the Garden:

This family, husband, wife and son, arrived well prepared for the consultation, with photos and a sketch of their garden drawn to scale. They had decided to take out most of the lawn, a large expanse right by the patio; they would only keep a small part of it for their son for whom lawn mowing is a therapeutic activity.  Opposite the patio, far across the lawn, was a planter bed, but since it was so far away and confined also by a low wall, the flowers in it were not recognizable from the patio. To my surprise, the lady told me that it held roses!  Her husband mentioned, almost in passing, that he would like to grow succulents.  Some trees were there, but they had been planted around the louter perimeter of the lawn so that they couldn’t throw any shade where it mattered most, which was on their hot south-west facing patio. 

“Hardscaping” elements such as patios, walk ways, fencing, arbors, boulders –  convey permanence and add structure.  Most of them don’t have to be maintained, except for some new coat of paint or occasional sweeping, depending on the material used. And they don’t demand watering, fertilization, pruning… So I suggest to incorporate them as much as possible into a design and let them “furnish” the garden, organize the space into areas of different use, provide separation as well as access, focal points, delineation and definition.

In the case of the before mentioned visitors, we found that a swing for adults, placed under a shade tree, would be lovely to have; I suggested to place it at the far end of the garden from where the family could see house and patio from a new perspective, and I drew its outlines on transparent paper taped over their sketch. And why not pull rose bed and succulents closer to the patio from where they could be seen?  Of course not into one flower bed, but in different areas that are perhaps even mounded up, separated by a walk way:  Gently curved mounds give movement to an otherwise flat plan, and the plants on them can be seen better, like on a painted canvas. And if your soil drains poorly, creating those mounds helps improve the drainage because you can mix the mounded soil to provide the drainage your plants need, such as many Mediterranean plants, California Natives and succulents, and even roses.

roses decorate arbor and frame a view

roses framing view

As for the lawn, we drew a much reduced kidney-shaped area that started at one end of the patio, wrapped around behind the rose bed and the succulent mound, and ended at the other end of the patio. This way it was still visible and easy to get to from the patio without dominating the foreground.  And to make all the different areas accessible, we discussed stepping stones and DG as possible material for the walkways, even coarse landscape mulch was considered.

Lastly we reviewed the possible locations of trees, and I pointed to my most favorite reference books on this subject:  Ornamental Trees for a Mediterranean Climate, the trees of San Diego, by Steve Brigham with book design and photographs by Don Walker, and the Sunset Western Garden Book. Here gardeners can research all their favorite choices before making the final selection; they can actually visit the trees shown in the tree book at their location!

Our time was up, and although we had not talked much about plants in detail, the family was happy (I suggested to look to the Water Conservation Garden’s displays for ideas).  Both husband and wife had information and tools in their hands that will make “playing” with their spaces, on paper first, a fun and exciting activity; selecting goals that are realistic and achievable with their budget and energy will now be a manageable task. And finally, armed with the proper reference books and resources that the Water Conservation Garden and other public gardens in San Diego County offer, they will be on their way to a garden that they can enjoy, and live in.

Filed Under: Drought Resistant Landscape, Landscape Design Tagged With: drought tolerant gardening, drought tolerant plants, drought tolerant trees, dry climate design, garden design, garden renovation, gardening ideas, irrigation restrictions in Southern California, landscape design, landscape design consultations, landscape re-do advice, landscape rehab, landscape-redo, lawn removal, limited water resources, low-water-use, outdoor living room, redesign of landscape after lawn removal, sustainable garden design, Sustainable landscape design, Water Conservation, Water Conservation Garden, Water Conserving plants, water-wise landscape design, xeriscape, xeriscape plants

“Trees in my garden?…. No tree, please!”

August 8, 2010 By Christiane Holmquist

Front yard before re-landscaping

Front yard before re-landscaping

I never thought I would have to come to the defense of trees in the landscape.  One of the most perplexing moments in my profession happens when a client says that they don’t want trees in their garden. Upon my rather baffled question why, their response is usually “too much water use”, “too much maintenance”, “not needed” or “just too much trouble”.

Hearing this makes me cringe, but I imagine what might have caused their feelings: High maintenance (such as pine needles in their pool filter), nuisance (like olive stains on the pavement), or danger (such as a branch dropping out of a Eucalyptus tree). With these images in mind, trees are for them undesirable members of the plant family that they don’t want in their garden, and they don’t share the notion that “trees are deeply rooted into the human psyche; in a hectic and chaotic world, greenery provides you with a safe, nourishing haven”. (Fran Lambert, Consulting Arborist, in “Trees and Turf”, April 2006).

Front yard after introduction of trees and other colorful plants

Front yard after introduction of trees and other colorful plants

I am passionate about good design as well as about plants, so remaining calm in this situation and not becoming “preachy” is a challenge. The role of trees in the landscape seems uncontested, but when you think about them, what comes to your mind besides beauty, shade, stature?

For me as landscape designer, I am foremost interested in the architectural aspects of trees. First of all, their size and mass establish the overall framework of the spatial composition; in this way, they are among the most important landscape design elements, creating floor, walls and ceilings of “outdoor rooms”. A vegetative ceiling can provide a sense of vertical scale in an outdoor space, a feeling of comfort and shade.

Trees give a house scale and place it in proportion with its surrounding; a house without trees therefore feels like a box that isn’t grounded, like a container that hasn’t settled into its site.

Back side view of house with tree

Back side view of house with tree

Back yard without trees

Back yard without trees

Trees can act as windbreaks or screen of an unsightly view, or frame an attractive one like a picture frame. With their color and structure, they can be used as an accent point in your landscape picture.

Besides being indispensable parts of a design, trees play a great role in human as well as the environment’s health: Their canopies contribute to air quality by filtering dust; they also provide some noise reduction (the tall, densely planted trees with fleshy broad leaves do the best job). And, as a tree provides nesting and shelter for birds, they assist in insect control, and listening to the song of birds is usually very pleasant.

Shady pond

Shady pond

As energy consumer I consider also the energy savings through trees, and last but not last SHADE! “It never rains in California”, and the whole world envies us for it, but to have endless sunshine in a garden would be like living on a sunny plaza that has no shelter from the sun. A man-made shade structure can be a great element in a landscape, but it doesn’t quite have the same effect as the dappled, cool and moist shade of a tree! Summer shade from the deciduous trees placed on either south or west sides can lower utility cost by amazing 10-15% (and allow for solar heating in the winter months).

These are measurable benefits that we gain from trees (not to mention the delight that a tree in full bloom can create). And the cost of trees, you may ask? Of course, there is some maintenance: A young tree will benefit from yearly inspections and minor corrective pruning during its infancy to assist it in growing into a well-shaped healthy specimen; this way a costly restorative pruning can be avoided when the tree is much older.

And water needs? Of course you will need to water your trees; even trees indigenous to our dry Southern California need water during their establishment phase which can last a couple to 3 years depending on the amount of rain during the winter months and other factors influencing establishment.

Weighing the investment in trees against their benefits, consider this:  The National Arbor Day Foundation states that “A well placed and properly irrigated tree will have a measurable return on investment”: In deed, the Foundation estimates the value that trees add to properties at 15-20%!

In order to assure the most pleasure out of your trees and the least trouble, here are some suggestions how to avoid problems with your trees:

Select trees that:

– are in the most natural state as possible and have a good trunk taper

– have juvenile branches spaced throughout the trunk (until trees are anchored and established, lower juvenile branches need to remain on the trunk and main stem and therefore looks more like a shrub)

– are appropriately sized for the container

– have branches with wide angles of attachment (larger than 45 degrees)

Avoid trees that

– have been pruned into a lollipop shape

– are supported by a nursery stake (whenever possible)

– have pot-bound or girdled roots

– appear weak, sick, or unhealthy

– show mechanical damage or other wounds

And don’t plant trees too close to power lines, nor closer than 10 ft to permanent structures. (Check also on proper guide lines for tree planting in fire-prone areas).

There are great resources in our County for people that want to learn more about trees: The book “Ornamental Trees for Mediterranean Climates; the trees of San Diego” is a colorful guide and compendium of a host of trees that thrive here, with descriptions, photos, and even addresses where the photos were taken. The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon (more info at www.thegarden.org ) showcases many suitable and lovely trees for our area. And of course there is Balboa Park with its trees, and the San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly Quail Gardens at www.qbgardens.com ).

I don’t think I’ll ever be detached and impartial when it comes to trees, but armed with the above list of arguments and paybacks I hope to be more neutral and professional when explaining how trees will benefit my clients and how fundamental (could you say imperative?) they are for their home landscape. Despite of their initial rejection none of my clients has yet refused to concede interest in trees, and fortunately, I haven’t yet had the commission to design a “tree-free” garden. That would be the saddest thing, and I hope it will never happen.

Filed Under: Gardening tips, Landscape Design, Trees Tagged With: architectural aspects of trees in the landscape, drought tolerant gardening, drought tolerant plants, drought tolerant trees, dry climate design, Energy savings in the landscape through trees, gardening ideas, good landscape design principles, landscape design with trees, landscaping in San Diego County, landscaping with trees, limited water resources, low maintenance plants, return on investment in the residential landscape, role of trees in the landscape, the role of trees in the environment's health, trees adding to air quality, trees as landscape design elements, Trees as windbreaks, trees facilitating insect control, trees in the residential landscape as ROV, trees in the spatial composition of landscapes, trees providing noise reduction, trees providing shelter for song birds, trees supported by the National Arbor Day Foundation, Use of trees in the landscape, useful tools for the water-wise gardener, Water Conservation, Water Conservation Garden, xeriscape

FIRE-UP YOUR PASSION – Red plant accents that warm up your landscape

April 14, 2010 By Christiane Holmquist

Mass-plantings of Crown-of-Thorns Euphorbia milii

Mass-plantings of Crown-of-Thorns Euphorbia milii

I have a special predilection for the color Red: Not only does it become me as a blonde, it also fires up my mood, makes me cheerful and revs up my energy. I am drawn to Red like a hummingbird, and if Red on me invigorates me, I believe seeing red “lights” in the garden would do the same. Even in a garden space where the main hues are cooler and more restraint, and where there are lots of calmer tones in rocks, timber, pathways and other hardscape elements, a few red splashes warm up the planting scheme and make the tones more saturated. Red works particularly well in South-West style gardens, where it makes a lively contrast to lighter colors such as DG, sand or gravel whose tones look washed out in the strong sunlight; used as color on a background wall it adds drama to succulents and cacti.

 

Bloodred Trumpet Vine Distictis buccinatoria

Bloodred Trumpet Vine Distictis buccinatoria

  Red can provide a bright focal point, such as a Bloodred Trumpet Vine Distictis buccinatoria drooping from a wall or from an arbor, or a Crown-of-Thorns Euphorbia milii, mixed with Firecracker Broom Russelia equisitiformis, spilling from an urn. Used as accent plant in the background, such as in groupings of red-flowering Aloe behind shorter, softer perennials or clumping succulents, the Aloe’s red flower spikes will show like exclamation points, and their pointy leaves will create a dynamic contrast in structure and texture.

Firecracker Broom, Crown-of-Thorns and Kalanchoe manganii in container

Firecracker Broom, Crown-of-Thorns and Kalanchoe manganii in container

When planted in the foreground as border accent, or hugging the curves of a path, Red creates a bright ribbon through the garden that your eye can follow; as foreground plant repeated throughout the garden it ties different areas together and adds cohesion.

If used as red winter bloomer, f.e. Cyclamen Cyclamen persicum, it will bring much needed warmth into your planter beds, and in dark and shady places the red flowers will shine like lights.

Delightful summer-blooming Cantua 'Hot Pants'

Delightful summer-blooming Cantua 'Hot Pants'

 I am having fun doing this and have compiled lists of plants with red flowers that I like to use. Of course each landscape prompts a different choice because of its design style, its existing sun/shade conditions, its soil type, the character of the architecture and the hardscape materials chosen. The following compilation of “Reds” contains plants with various growing conditions, but all are long-lived, low in maintenance needs and more or less water-wise and tolerant of xeric conditions. (However, it’s important to note that a plant’s location will determine how tolerant of dry conditions it is: For example, a Crangrape Cuphea C. llavea “Crangrape” is more drought tolerant in coastal locations and soils than in hotter inland valleys.) Nor is the list all-inclusive, and if you have more suggestions, I will be happy to add them.

THE SHORT & MEDIUM STUFF FOR SUN & PARTIAL SHADE

Aloes (many): Aloe ‘rookappie’, Aloe saponaria, Aloe arborescens, Aloe nobilis
Autumn Sage & relative Dwarf Crayon Sage Salvia greggii, S. grahamii
Baja Fairy Duster Calliandra californica & Fairy Duster Calliandra erophylla
Blanket Flower Gaillardia grandiflora
Bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus and C. viminalis
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
Cantua ‘Hot Pants’ Cantua buxifolia
Chuparosa Justicia californica
Coral Bells Heuchera sanguinea, Heuchera micrantha
Croscosmia
Crown-of-Thorns Euphorbia millii
Emu Bush ‘Valentine’   Eremophila species ‘Valentine’
Royal Beard Tongue Penstemon spectabilis
Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii

Grevilleas ‘Poorinda Constance” , Grevillea lanigera
Kalanchoe Kalanchoe blossfeldiana & Kalanchoe manganii
Kangaroo Paw “Bush Blaze” & “Sunset”, Anigozanthus flavidus
Many Daylilies: Red Hot Poker, Cardinal Spokes Hemerocallis hybrids
Nodding Pincushion Leucospermum cordifolium
Propeller Plant Crassula falcata
Red Hot Poker Plant Kniphophia uvaria
Sticks on Fire Euphorbia tirucalli
Watsonia Watsonia intermedia
Zonal Geranium Pelargonium hortorum

(See also my previous article “Exceptional Winter Blooming Plants for Southern California”)

RED-FLOWERING TREES
Here only an incomplete list:
Australian Flame Tree Brachychiton acerifolius
Coral Trees Erythrina x bidwillii, E. caffra, E. coralloides etc.
Crape Myrtle “Watermelon Red” and “Tonto” Lagerstroemia indica & Lagerstroemia x hybrids
Firewheel Tree Stenocarpus sinuatus
Mimosa, Silk Tree Albizia julibrissin

Filed Under: Drought Resistant Landscape, Landscape Design Tagged With: Autumn Sage Salvia greggii, Baja Fairy Duster Calliandra californica, Blanket Flower Gaillardia grandiflora, Bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus, Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa, Cantua 'Hot Pants' Cantua buxifolia, Crown-of-Thorns Euphorbia milii, designing by color, drought tolerant gardening, drought tolerant plants, drought tolerant shrubs, drought tolerant trees, dry climate design, Dwarf Crayon Sage Salvia grahamii, Fairy Duster Calliandra erophylla, Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii, garden design, gardening ideas, Grevillea Poorinda Constance, landscaping for xeric gardens, landscaping in San Diego County, landscaping in xeric conditions, limited water resources, low maintenance plants, Mediterranean-type plants, Nodding Pincushion Leucospermum cordifolium, perennials, red blooms in the garden, red-flowering drought tolerant perennials, red-flowering perennials, red-flowering succulents, red-flowering trees for the xeriscape, trees, Water Conservation, Water Conserving plants, xeriscape, xeriscape for the Southern California Garden, xeriscape plants

He wants the view – but she wants the privacy: How to marry different garden needs for the couple homeowners

January 24, 2010 By Christiane Holmquist

In my first landscape design consultation with Rob and Lisa, I found a familiar scenario:  Unable to agree on what the main focus in their garden design should be and concerned that a design would force them into sacrificing his or her desires, they hoped that I could find a solution that both of them could be happy with.

East facing back garden beforeTheir Mediterranean-style house was built on the edge of a slope; the long and narrow back garden was wide open to a magnificent 180 degree view of the valley and the hills beyond, unspoiled by housing developments. Their wish list for this part of their property was typical: A small patio, situated at one end of the house by the breakfast nook, to enjoy the morning sun; at the other end of the house, a spa pad surrounded by fragrant plants; and between these two areas, by their dining room, the main patio where they would entertain. On these things Rob and Lisa agreed; hoping to achieve them without sacrificing the complete view for the sake of creating more separate and private spaces, especially for the spa area, seemed unrealistic.

There was no doubt in my mind that Rob and Lisa’s back garden that presented itself like a long hallway between house and slope, needed to be divided into separate areas. Also, without any sort of screening the spa would have been visible from the “morning” patio at the other end of the house, and nobody taking a bath there would have felt privacy in such an exposed place.

Planters dividing spacesMy first step was to seek a way in which the break-up into separate spaces could be achieved while preserving as much as possible of the beautiful view. I devised imaginary transparent “walls” to do this but left large “windows” in them: Raised planters flanking the main patio would represent the lower part of the walls, plants in the planters would be the upper part, and looking over and through the plants would be like looking through windows so that the 180 degree view was not diminished. I placed arbors in the planters whose beams would be reaching across a passage through the planters, thus creating an overhead ceiling and framing the “doors” in the walls. Vines on the arbors would soon be adding a leafy décor. An added benefit of the low planters was their height: At 18 inch height their wall caps would provide added seating at the entertainment area

Spa roomWhile the planters were now framing the main patio, they also divided the long back garden into three distinct spaces, and by separating the main patio from the spa area, a good portion of the demands on this space were now met.  It still needed to be less exposed, and this was achieved by creating an 18 inch deep pit into which the spa was lowered. Both Lisa and Rob were now ready for a real compromise: We erected a wooden trellis behind the spa that soon would be supporting a fragrant Jasmine; a seedless “Little Ollie” Olive that can be easily pruned “lacey” and transparent would add protection from the wind as well as an additional screen. Both elements would intensify the sense of privacy for the spa user – and the view into the valley was still almost 180 degrees.

We planted  low-growing drought tolerant (“xeric”) Mediterranean-type plants such as Lavender Cotton, White Rockrose, Blue Fescue, Iris, Blue Queen’s Wreath, Sages, Wormwood, Lavender, and roses…. and signature trees such as Olives, Cypress, London Plane Tree, Pomegranate, Citrus and other fruit trees. For fragrance by the spa we used Hyssop, Catmint, Germander, Thyme, and Angelwing Jasmine on the trellis. The California Natives on the rocky slopes would provide a colorful transition from the local chaparral to the garden-space: Mountain Lilac, Flannel Bush, Toyon, Redbud, Coyote Mint, Evening Primrose etc. would also draw birds and other wildlife closer to the house.

Mediterranean Garden SceneWith mulch and DG for the garden paths, and local field stone used for the raised planters, the sustainable hardscape materials felt like they really belonged in this landscape. When the plants were beginning to grow in, softening the outlines of the structures and draping around statues, urns and fountain, the feeling of this garden was convincingly Mediterranean, and yet so Californian.

Filed Under: Landscape Design Tagged With: drought tolerant gardening, drought tolerant shrubs, garden design, landscape design, landscape design consultations, Mediterranean-type plants, sustainable garden design, sustainable hardscapes, Sustainable landscape design, Water Conserving plants, xeriscape

Search our blog articles

Get your free eBook “15 Things To Do Before You Hire A Landscape Designer”

Blog Contents

  • Backyard Landscape Design
  • Container Gardening
  • Drought Resistant Landscape
  • Drought Resistant Plants
  • Gardening tips
  • Landscape Design
  • Landscape Design Portfolio
  • Landscape Design Projects
  • Low Maintenance Plants
  • Low Water Landscape
  • Outdoor Kitchen
  • Places to visit
  • Rocky Mountain landscaping
  • Shade Structures
  • Special architectal landscape elements
  • Sustainable Landscape Design
  • Trees
  • Uncategorized
  • Water Features for Gardens and Yards
  • Xeriscape designs

Blog Index

backyard landscape design diy landscape design drought resistant landscaping drought tolerant gardening drought tolerant landscape design drought tolerant plants drought tolerant shrubs drought tolerant trees dry climate design front yard landscape design garden design gardening ideas home landscape design irrigation restrictions in Southern California landscape design landscape design consultations landscape designer San Diego landscape design help landscape design ideas landscape ideas landscaping in San Diego County lawn removal limited water resources low-volume water features in the landscape low maintenance plants low water landscape low water landscaping Mediterranean-type plants perennials residential landscape design Shade sails sustainable garden design Sustainable landscape design trees useful tools for the water-wise gardener water-wise landscape design Water Conservation Water Conservation Garden Water Conserving plants xeriscape xeriscape design xeriscape designs xeriscape landscaping xeriscape plants xeriscape San Diego
Christiane, your design is beautiful. Viewers love the design and color. Thank you so much for all your support while the project was being developed. It would have been more stressful for me had you not held my hand regularly.

Rachel Michel

CHRISTIANE HOLMQUIST LANDSCAPE DESIGN


Download my article published in San Diego Home and Garden Lifestyles Magazine!
Contact Me I offer phone and/or onsite consultations and landscape design.

Phone: 406-246-6065

Latest Articles

  • Winter landscaping with Billie Gray : A lifelong love affair of gardening in the Rockies
  • Portfolio: Gardens with Water Features
  • Portfolio: Arbors And Dividers
  • Starting my new life in Montana
  • A Bench and How It Came to Be

Connect with me

  • Facebook

Copyright © 2023 · Agency Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in