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LA Arboretum 2
Red Yucca
Our Lord's Candle
Old Man Cactus
Violet Pad Opuntia
Century Plant, Maguey
Red Yucca

Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora

This spectacular succulent is wonderful for a desert garden, with rosettes of gray green leaves to about 3'-4' tall and 6' wide. Red flower stalks emerge during spring and remain on the plant until the end of summer. This shrub will spread to form a crowded grass-like clump. This evergreen shrub is drought resistant but will appear better and bloom longer with added moisture. It does well in full sun, reflected heat, poor soils and cold temperatures to at least 0 degrees F.

Our Lord's Candle

Common name:Our Lord's Candle
Botanical name:Hesperoyucca whipplei

Stemless, it produces dense clusters of rigid, gray green leaves 12"-18" long. Its drooping, bell-shaped flowers appear on large, branched spikes 3'-6' long. Plants die after blooming, much like Agaves, but only individual rosettes will die off; others in clump will continue to live and eventually bloom. Overall plant grows 3' tall and 6' wide. This CA native prefers well drained soil and is drought tolerant but will lose lower leaves with extended drought..

Old Man Cactus

Common name:Old Man Cactus
Botanical name:Cephalocereus senilis

This perennial cactus will grow 20-50' and produces rose colored blooms. It does best in full sun and dry soil.

Violet Pad Opuntia

Common name:Violet Pad Opuntia
Botanical name:Opuntia macrocentra 'Tubac'

Opuntia violacea santa-rita is a cacti. Though perfectly hardy in the coldest winters, they need perfect drainage to survive winter freezes and thaws. It does well when grown in raised beds.

Century Plant, Maguey

Common name:Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name:Agave americana

This plant is fast growing to about 6'-10' tall and 8'-13' wide. Wide gray leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. It prefers full sun and well-drained situations. After blooming, which could take several years, it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted.

Designer: Los Angeles Arboretum

LA Arboretum 2

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.