Cynoglossum amabile

Botanical Name: Cynoglossum amabile

Common Name: Chinese Forget me not 

Family: Boraginaceae

Type: Broad leaved, evergreen, perennial

Origin/Habitat: East Asia

Leaf Character: Alternate, simple 2-8" basal, oblong, lanceolate

Flower Type: Terminal scorpoid  in cymes 0.25 to 0.5" 

Color: Blue, white, pink

Period: Summer

Exposure: Sun, light to shade 

Water: well drained 

Diseases: Tobacco mosiac virus

Remarks: Propagates by seeds, reaches 18-24" height. Outstanding for its flowers

Vinca minor

Botanical Name:  Vinca minor

Common Name: Periwinkle, myrtle

Family: Apocynaceae 

Type: Broad leaved perennial

Origin/Habitat: Europe 

Leaf Character: Opposite, simple, oblong to ovate, attenuate, margin entire

Flower Type: rotate, 1" 

Color: Lilac, blue, pink, white

Period: Spring 

Fruit: Follicle, 3" cylindrical

Exposure: Shade

Water: 2-3 good soakings per month

Pests: mealy bug, aphids, scale, root rot

Propagates by cuttings, division, seed

Remarks:  Its size is up to 2' tall and has varied spread sizes, grows moderately or fast. Is outstanding for its flowers and foliage. Used as ground cover

Vinca major

Botanical Name: Vinca Major

Common Name: Periwinkle, Blue Buttoms

Family: Apocynaceae

Type: Broad leaved, evergreen, perennial vine

Origin/Habitat: Europe

Leaf Character: Opposite simple, up to 2" ovate, obtuse or acute, truncate, margin is entire

Flower Type: Cyme 2" shape rotate

Color: Blue

Period: Spring

Fruit:  follicles 2"

Exposure: Light or partial shade, will take sun with lots of water

Water: Regular

Pests: Mealy bug, aphid, scale

Diseases: Root rot

Remarks: Propagates by cuttings, division or seed. Reaches 2.5' in height and varies in spread, grows from moderate to fast. Is outstanding for its flowers and foliage. Used as ground cover, for color of filler. 

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Botanical Name: Trachelospermum jasminoides
Common Name: Star Jasmine
Family: Apocynaceae
Type: Broad leaved, evergreen shrub, vine
Origin/Habitat: China
Leaf Character: Opposite, simple up to 4", shape is elliptic to oblong or oblandeolate, margin is entire, long slender peduncles. 
Flower Type: Clusters 4" across, is fragrant, small, bisexual, pinwheel shape, individual flowers are 1" across
Color: White
Period: March to September
Fruit: Follicles, pair slender cylindrical
Exposure: Full Sun in the coast, partial shade inland.
Water: Regular
Pruning: Tip pinch to produce shrub, stake for vine, prune vertical growth for ground cover.
Pests: Scale, aphids, spider mites (if underwater or too hot) 
Remarks: Propagates by cuttings during the spring. Is outstanding for its flowers, foliage and fragrance.  Used as ground cover, espalier, climber.

Nerium Oleander

Botanical Name: Nerium Oleander
Common Name: Oleander
Family: Apocynaceae
Type: Broad leaved, evergreen tree, shrub
Origin/Habitat: Mediterranean, Japan 
Leaf Character:Whorl, simple, up to 10" Lanceolate, margin entire, top is dull, dark, green, glabrous. Bottom is lighter
Flower Type: Terminal cyme, 4"  symmetrical shape, 1" individual flowers
Color:  White, yellow and red
Period: Summer and fall
Fruit: follicle, long and slender, in pairs
Bark: more or less smooth
Exposure: Full Sun
Water: abundant  and none once stablished 
Remarks:  Reaches 8-15' height by same spread grows from moderate to fast. Can get aphids, scale, and many others. Is resistant to drought, propagates by cuttings. Used as hedge, specimen, visual screen, ground cover ( dwarf forms) container.

Amaryllis cultivars & hybrids, syn. Hippeastrum species

Botanical Name: Amaryllis X hybrid
Common Name: Hippeastrum hybrid, Amaryllis
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Type: Broad leaved, deicuoud bulb, tuber, indoor
Origin/Habitat: South Africa
Leaf Character: Alternate, simple, 1" w by 2' L broad, strap shaped, margin entire
Flower Type: Terminal umbel, solitary, polypetalous, 3 petals and 3 petaloid sepals
Color: varies by cultivars: red, white pink, salmon.  Often flowers
Fruit: Indehiscent capsule, globose, 1" green, brown, 
Exposure: Light shade (indoor plant) 
Water: Infrequent but thorough, keep on the dry side
Remarks: Resistant to pests, reaches 2' and spreads 5-6". Is outstanding for its flowers and is used in containers

Clivia miniata

Botanical Name: Clivia miniata
Common Name: Kaffir Lily
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Type: Broad leaved, evergreen perennial, indoor
Origin/Habitat: South Africa
Leaf Character: Alternate simple, 1.5' by 2" Shape is narrow, strap shaped, reticulated veins top is glossy and leathery
Flower Type: Terminal umbel, 3-4" polypetalus, individual flowers are 1"
Color: Orange and red orange
Period: December to April
Fruit: Oval capsule 1" green to red
Exposure: Ample to low but not direct
Water: Infrequent but thorough 
Remarks: Can get snails, propagate by seed or division, reaches 2' by 2" grows slowly is outstanding for its flowers and foliage, used as ground cover, border or container use