(Carmel Creeper)

Carmel ceanothus is a vigorous, drought tolerant, evergreen shrub native to California. In late spring to early summer, this reliable bloomer bears prolific pale to dark blue flower clusters against glossy green leaves with gray undersides.

There are several great cultivars available. 'Yankee Point' is a heavy-flowering, more compact selection with a very broad horizontal habit, and 'Santa Ana' has a broad, spreading habit and very dark blue flowers.

Though tolerant of lime, this plant thrives...

(Carmel Ceanothus, Carmel Creeper)

Carmel creeper is a fantastic low-growing evergreen shrub with glossy green elaves and light blue flowers. It is a vigorous grower native to California. Likes sheltered areas in full sun with fertile, well drained soil. In the colder parts of its range it can sustain winter damage. Use as a broad and large groundcover or slope stabilizer. 'Hurricane Point' spreads rapidly to 35 ft/10m in width. 'Yankee Point' spreads only one third that distance.

(Carmel Creeper, Silver Surprise Carmel Creeper)

Silver Surprise carmel creeper, or 'Brass', is a fantastic low-growing evergreen shrub with glossy gray-green leaves with cream edges and light blue flowers. In full sun and in summer, the leaf variegation is more pronounced although the cream blotches are irregularly found on all leaf edges. Conversely, in a shadier location, or during the winter, green becomes the dominant leaf color. In either situation, it is a vigorous grower native to California and blooms in late spring. This was selected...

(Carmel Ceanothus, Carmel Creeper, Yankee Point Ceanothus)

Noted for its extra low-growing habit and high vigor, ‘Yankee Point’ is an older, yet highly popular, cultivar of the California native Carmel Mountain lilac. In fact, it is said to be the most widely planted native groundcover in California. Esteemed horticulturist and former director of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Maunsell Van Rensselaer, first introduced this selection in 1954 after he discovered it at Yankee Point Rock, an insular point off of the Coast of Monterey County.

The broad...

(Trompetillo, Trumpet Tree)

Beautifully exotic, hand-like leaves catches the eye of most plant lovers when seeing the trompetillo. An upright, rarely-branching, fast growing, broadleaf evergreen tree, it's native to central Mexico southward into northern South America. Known as a pioneer tree, it quickly germinates and forests cleared areas and vegetates waste areas alongside roads or abandoned lots.

The leaves of this Cecropia are among the easiest to distinguish, as they are large, rounded and deep green, with...

(Snakewood Tree)

Beautifully exotic, hand-like leaves catches the eye of most plant lovers when seeing the trumpet tree. An upright, rarely-branching, fast growing, broadleaf evergreen tree, it's native to the West Indies and northern South America. Known as a pioneer tree, it quickly germinates and forests cleared areas and vegetates waste areas alongside roads or abandoned lots. Its trunk is upright but readily curves (like a snake) to seek out the most light, holding an open canopy of leaves.

The leaves of...

(Snakewood, Trumpet Tree)

Beautifully exotic, hand-like leaves catches the eye of most plant lovers when seeing the trumpet tree. An upright, rarely-branching, fast growing, broadleaf evergreen tree, it's native across the Caribbean Basin: the West Indies and Mexico southward into northern South America. Known as a pioneer tree, it quickly germinates and forests cleared areas and vegetates waste areas alongside roads or abandoned lots. This species' foliage is the primary food source for tree sloths.

The leaves of this...

(Atlantic Cedar)

Noble, majestic and impressive in form and stature, the Atlas cedar is one of the most heat and drought tolerant true cedar species. An evergreen tree native to the Atlas Mountains of extreme northwestern Africa, the tree in youth is pyramid-like with few branches but becomes a massive, spreading-branched specimen with age.

The needles emerge each spring in tufted whorls atop short nubs on the thin branches, first light green and becoming darker green. The male and female cones appear on the...

(Blue Atlas Cedar, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar)

The weeping blue Atlas cedar is a heat and drought tolerant tree with cascading branches clothed in steel blue to frosty blue-green needles. An evergreen conifer native to the Atlas Mountains of extreme northwestern Africa, each specimen is uniquely shaped:by flopping, twisting, cascading and sprawling branches.

The needles emerge each spring in tufted whorls atop short nubs on the thin branches, first steel blue and becoming powdery blue green. The male and female cones appear on the same tree,...

(Deodar Cedar)

Deodar cedar is among the world’s most elegant and stately of evergreen conifers. This western Himalayan native tree has fast growth and develops a broad, pyramidal habit. Its dense branches are covered in green to blue-green needles. The branch tips often dangle softly downward, giving the entire tree a soft and luxurious feel. With time, the trunks and branches become very picturesque, especially when viewed from under the canopy. The female cones are held upright on the upper tree branches and...