Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa 'Russian River') A spreading subshrub distinguished by its fragrant mint-scented foliage and delicate flowers. During the summer blooming season, 1-inch wide lavender puff balls provide nectar for our birds, and attract bees and butterflies. Light pruning in the dormant season helps to maintain a neat appearance.
(Photo by Tom Karwin) Black Rose Aeonium (Arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) Native to Canary Islands, this striking succulent forms clumps of 3-4 inches tall gray-brown stems that branch near their base. The stems hold large terminal rosettes of dark purple (seemingly black) leaves. Yellow, star-shaped flowers form in long conical clusters from the center of the rosettes of mature older plants in the summer.
After bearing the flowers, the stems die to the ground. (Photo by Tom Karwin) Water Poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides) This deciduous and stoloniferous aquatic perennial is native to Central and South America and is a widespread favorite for water gardeners. Dark green 2-4 inch leaves typically float on the water surface and 2-inch yellow flowers (2-inch diameter) with reddish-brown centers rise up above the water surface in summer.
Flowers typically last only one day but plants bloom in succession over a long period. (Photo by Vengiolis via Wikimedia Commons.) Red Water Lily (Nymphaea Xiafei) Bred in China, this highly attractive, free-flowering water lily has small red blooms and green foliage edged with scarlet.
It flowers from June to Septem.