Favorite Plants of
Pacific Plant People
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.
Correa reflexa ‘Kangaroo Island’
Grevillea ‘Moonlight’
Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Silver and Gold’
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Chrysocephalum
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.
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
Genus
Correa
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.
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
Genus
Grevillea
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
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
Genus
Chrysocephalum
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.
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
Genus
Correa
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.
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
Genus
Grevillea
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
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.