Alternative Front Yard

Cool fresh green is served up in these large saucers of mint-colored rosettes. The low-growing densely-set succulent leaves are quite eye-catching and add a bright splash of color at ground level. More like dinner plates, these glossy rosettes grow to 18" wide and mound up to form a dense colony. Green Aeonium is versatile enough to tolerate shade and performs especially well in coastal gardens.

Hot, hot, hot. This striking succulent form of Euphorbia might have you reaching for your fire hose, but is reliably drought tolerant. The multitude of branches are a sizzling red-gold and thin as pencils. Plant in full sun for best color. Winter brings out the brightest color. Take care with the stems that break easily, as the milky sap can cause skin irritation. Slow growing to 4-8 feet wide.

Take a look, and then another. Drifts of sky blue flowers go on and on with this reblooming Lily of the Nile. A long, heavy summer bloom cycle and extra bloom cycles during spring, fall and winter make this an ideal source of blue throughout the year. The lush green foliage of this Agapanthus is ideal for edging along walkways and for massing under taller plants. Lush growth to 2 ft. in diameter. Sky blue 4"-7" umbels top slender 2 ft. stems.

Exotic and easy to grow, this bushy succulent spreads to form a unique blue groundcover. Commonly called blue finger, the fleshy pencil-like leaves grow upward to as long as 6 inches. Grown for the unusual shape and color of its foliage, blue Senecio forms a dense mat that does well on slopes and lawns. Trim the summertime flower stalks to maintain a tidy appearance. Spreads to 18 inches tall and 2 ft. wide.

Everything is aces when you see the rich red ovate leaves of this tropical deciduous shrub. There is never a dull moment with Caribbean Copper Plant, whose vivid foliage ranges from burgundy on older leaves to copper to translucent red on new foliage. Better yet, the color does not fade in the heat. Makes a terrific accent plant or can be trained as a small tree. 8-10 foot shrub to small tree.

Similar to the popular Society Garlic, the grass-like foliage of 'Silver Lace' is bluish-green variegated with white margins that give it a more delicate silvery appearance. Clusters of showy lavender flowers rise on 2 foot stems above the foliage from mid-spring though autumn. Remove old flowers to prolong bloom. Fast growing into trim clumps 1-2 ft. around.

All the grace of the classical olive tree, but in shrub form and without the messy fruit. Fruitless Dwarf Olive has a graceful multi-branching habit of deep green leaves with lighter silvery-green undersides. Use as a classic Mediterranean specimen shrub or trim to a more formal clipped hedge. This non-fruiting variety can also be trained as an outstanding patio tree. Moderate growing to 4-6 ft. tall and wide.

This handsome smaller Agave will have you agog with all the color opportunities it offers. The smooth blue-green leaves with red margins are perfect for mixing and contrasting with other plants. This well-behaved dwarf Agave looks great alone as a living sculpture and tucks nicely into a variety of garden settings, especially when backlit to highlight the colorful leaf margins. Slow growing to 2 feet tall and 3 feet across.