We envision a resilient world dependent on the thoughtful cultivation of plants
Favorite Plants of

Pacific Plant People

Jeff Rosendale
Member Profile

Jeff Rosendale

Jeff Rosendale and his wife Lisa own Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens in Watsonville, California. He has been part of the world of horticulture in the Bay Area and Central Coast for the past 40 years as a garden designer and nursery manager/owner specializing in Mediterranean climate and other appropriate plants for water-conserving gardens and landscapes. Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens is in the Pajaro Valley, at the edge of Watsonville, adjacent to the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The winter weather is mild and summer is tempered by frequent fogs from Monterey Bay. The Pajaro Valley is known for its favorable agricultural and horticultural climate and is home to many nurseries and farms. Online at sierraazul.com and on Facebook.
Chrysocephalum_Kuranga

Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Silver and Gold’

kANGAROO iSLAND coRREA

Correa reflexa ‘Kangaroo Island’

grevilleamoonlight

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’

Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Silver and Gold’
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Asteraceae
Species Icon

Genus

Chrysocephalum
Plant Species

Species

Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Silver and Gold’
Chrysocephalum apiculatum 'Silver and Gold' (Silver and Gold Everlasting) - A low spreading perennial or subshrub to 1 foot tall and spreading to 2 to 3 feet wide with rounded lance-shaped leaves that appear silvery because of their dense silver hairs. The terminal clusters of bright 1/4 inch wide yellow flowers that darken to orange appear primarily from late winter to early fall but some flowers can be found nearly year-round. Plant in full sun or partial shade (best out in the open) with well-draining soil and irrigate occasionally. Can tolerate a few degrees below freezing but it is best to protect this plant from frost. Reported to be reisistant to deer predation.

Water Use

Low Water Needs

Conditions When It Thrives

Sun to partial shade in well drained soils.

Ecosystem Services

Native To

Austrailia

Geographic Range

Full sun with hardiness to mid-20’s F. Deer and drought resistant.

Availability

Height & Habit

Evergreen perennial, low-growing 1’ high by 2 -3’ wide

Special Features

Year-round with profuse clusters of tight yellow daisy strawflowers that brighten spots in the garden handsomely along with its silver-gray foliage.
Did You Know Icon
Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden were in the original introduction program with UCSC Arboretum and San Marcos Growers, as well as others.

Why They Love It

Blooming in fall in colder climates, it can be almost always in bloom in the Bay area of California, and then then blooms dry on the plant, adding beauty for weeks afterward. The foliage has a narrow band of silver variegation that brightens up the landscape 365 days a year, making it one of Rosendale’s favorite plants.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Evergreen

Advice

Correa reflexa ‘Kangaroo Island’
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Rutaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Correa
Plant Species

Species

Correa reflexa ‘Kangaroo Island’
A Hummingbird-friendly Flowering Screen. Correa reflexa 'Kangaroo Island' (Kangaroo Island Fuchsia) - An evergreen shrub to 4 feet tall and wide that has small dark glossy olive green elliptic leaves that clasp the stems and narrow tubular lipstick-red flowers from fall through spring. Best in cool coastal sun to partial shade with good drainage. Drought tolerant once established but performs best with summer irrigation. Hardy to the mid to low 20°s F. This long blooming shrub is attractive to hummingbirds and can be pruned to shape or to keep smaller and adds interest to the mixed flower border or woodland garden in mass or as a single specimen and is good for container gardening

Water Use

Drought-tolerant once established.

Conditions When It Thrives

Cool coastal conditions in sun or partial sun. Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ecosystem Services

Favorite of hummingbirds.

Native To

Australia

Geographic Range

Availability

Height & Habit

4 feet tall 3 feet wide.

Special Features

Long blooming, good for in-ground or container gardening.
Did You Know Icon

Why They Love It

This UC Santa Cruz introduction has a more vertical habit than many correas. Lipstick-red tubular flowers bloom for months from fall through spring in mild climates.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Olive green leaves are evergreen.

Advice

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’
Biodiversity Boosters

Plant Family

Proteaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Grevillea
Plant Species

Species

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’
Jeff's Favorite Grevillea of All! Grevillea 'Moonlight' is a large fast-growing upright shrub or small tree up to 12 feet tall by 8 feet wide with fine textured foliage and large ivory-colored spidery toothbrush-like flowers at the branch tips nearly year-round. The green leaves (gray on the underside) are 6 to 8 inches long so large in profile but finely dissected and fern-like. Plant in a well-drained soil in full or part sun and irrigate only occasionally as this plant is tolerant of extended dry periods once established. Although considered a more tropical Grevillea, this plant is frost hardy and likely to tolerate temperatures to at least the mid 20's F.

Water Use

Drought-loving once established.

Conditions When It Thrives

Hardy to the 25 degrees Fahrenheit, if not lower.

Ecosystem Services

Attracts birds and bees.

Native To

Geographic Range

Availability

Height & Habit

Can be grown as an upright shrub or small tree reaching 12 feet by 8 feet. The green leaves have an airy ferny texture and are gray underneath.

Special Features

Did You Know Icon
A cross between Grevillea banksii and G. whiteana.

Why They Love It

Long-blooming and drought-tolerant like other Grevilleas, ‘Moonlight’ can be limbed up and trained to expose the trunk, creating a tree-shape that adds drama and versatility to the xeric garden.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Frilly platinum blonde frilly flowers adorn ‘Moonlight’ most of the year in warmer climates.

Advice

Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Silver and Gold’
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Asteraceae
Species Icon

Genus

Chrysocephalum
Plant Species

Species

Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Silver and Gold’
Chrysocephalum apiculatum 'Silver and Gold' (Silver and Gold Everlasting) - A low spreading perennial or subshrub to 1 foot tall and spreading to 2 to 3 feet wide with rounded lance-shaped leaves that appear silvery because of their dense silver hairs. The terminal clusters of bright 1/4 inch wide yellow flowers that darken to orange appear primarily from late winter to early fall but some flowers can be found nearly year-round. Plant in full sun or partial shade (best out in the open) with well-draining soil and irrigate occasionally. Can tolerate a few degrees below freezing but it is best to protect this plant from frost. Reported to be reisistant to deer predation.

Water Use

Low Water Needs

Conditions When It Thrives

Sun to partial shade in well drained soils.

Ecosystem Services

Native To

Austrailia

Geographic Range

Full sun with hardiness to mid-20’s F. Deer and drought resistant.

Availability

Height & Habit

Evergreen perennial, low-growing 1’ high by 2 -3’ wide

Special Features

Year-round with profuse clusters of tight yellow daisy strawflowers that brighten spots in the garden handsomely along with its silver-gray foliage.
Did You Know Icon
Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden were in the original introduction program with UCSC Arboretum and San Marcos Growers, as well as others.

Why They Love It

Blooming in fall in colder climates, it can be almost always in bloom in the Bay area of California, and then then blooms dry on the plant, adding beauty for weeks afterward. The foliage has a narrow band of silver variegation that brightens up the landscape 365 days a year, making it one of Rosendale’s favorite plants.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Evergreen

Advice

Correa reflexa ‘Kangaroo Island’
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Rutaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Correa
Plant Species

Species

Correa reflexa ‘Kangaroo Island’
A Hummingbird-friendly Flowering Screen. Correa reflexa 'Kangaroo Island' (Kangaroo Island Fuchsia) - An evergreen shrub to 4 feet tall and wide that has small dark glossy olive green elliptic leaves that clasp the stems and narrow tubular lipstick-red flowers from fall through spring. Best in cool coastal sun to partial shade with good drainage. Drought tolerant once established but performs best with summer irrigation. Hardy to the mid to low 20°s F. This long blooming shrub is attractive to hummingbirds and can be pruned to shape or to keep smaller and adds interest to the mixed flower border or woodland garden in mass or as a single specimen and is good for container gardening

Water Use

Drought-tolerant once established.

Conditions When It Thrives

Cool coastal conditions in sun or partial sun. Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ecosystem Services

Favorite of hummingbirds.

Native To

Australia

Geographic Range

Availability

Height & Habit

4 feet tall 3 feet wide.

Special Features

Long blooming, good for in-ground or container gardening.
Did You Know Icon

Why They Love It

This UC Santa Cruz introduction has a more vertical habit than many correas. Lipstick-red tubular flowers bloom for months from fall through spring in mild climates.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Olive green leaves are evergreen.

Advice

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’
Biodiversity Boosters

Plant Family

Proteaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Grevillea
Plant Species

Species

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’
Jeff's Favorite Grevillea of All! Grevillea 'Moonlight' is a large fast-growing upright shrub or small tree up to 12 feet tall by 8 feet wide with fine textured foliage and large ivory-colored spidery toothbrush-like flowers at the branch tips nearly year-round. The green leaves (gray on the underside) are 6 to 8 inches long so large in profile but finely dissected and fern-like. Plant in a well-drained soil in full or part sun and irrigate only occasionally as this plant is tolerant of extended dry periods once established. Although considered a more tropical Grevillea, this plant is frost hardy and likely to tolerate temperatures to at least the mid 20's F.

Water Use

Drought-loving once established.

Conditions When It Thrives

Hardy to the 25 degrees Fahrenheit, if not lower.

Ecosystem Services

Attracts birds and bees.

Native To

Geographic Range

Availability

Height & Habit

Can be grown as an upright shrub or small tree reaching 12 feet by 8 feet. The green leaves have an airy ferny texture and are gray underneath.

Special Features

Did You Know Icon
A cross between Grevillea banksii and G. whiteana.

Why They Love It

Long-blooming and drought-tolerant like other Grevilleas, ‘Moonlight’ can be limbed up and trained to expose the trunk, creating a tree-shape that adds drama and versatility to the xeric garden.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Frilly platinum blonde frilly flowers adorn ‘Moonlight’ most of the year in warmer climates.

Advice

Powered By MemberPress WooCommerce Plus Integration

Your free newsletter starts here!

Don’t want to see this pop-up? Members, log-in here.

Why do we ask for your zip code?

We do our best to make our educational content relevant for where you garden.

Why do we ask for your zip code?

We do our best to make our educational content relevant for where you garden.

The information you provide to Pacific Horticulture is NEVER sold, shared, or rented to others.

Pacific Horticulture generally sends only two newsletters per Month.