16 KEY PLANTS
1 Muhlenbergia pubescens
A drought-tolerant, semi-evergreen grass that creates soft mounds of metallic-blue foliage with a weeping habit and pale-mauve flowers in autumn. 90cm. RHS H4, USDA 8b-10b†.
2 Aeonium canariense
A beautiful succulent grown for its green rosettes. The foliage spreads and reaches 30cm high, but taller, creamy yellow flower spikes emerge in spring. 1m. RHS H3, USDA 9b-11.
3 Stipa species from Chile
This ornamental grass, related to Mexican feathergrass, is one of many plants Bernard is trialling in his garden.
4 Aloe greenii
From South Africa, this aloe has spots across its narrow leaves and tall pinkish flower spikes in autumn. 60cm. RHS H3, USDA 10a-12.
5 Cotyledon ‘ Mint Truffles’
A new cotyledon cultivar that spreads laterally as opposed to upwards, with minty-green leaves edged in red. 40cm. RHS H4, USDA 9a-11.
6 Dymondia margaretae
The groundcover commonly known as silver carpet does well without irrigation. It has bronzed-green foliage with pale undersides and bright yellow blooms in summer. 7cm. RHS H3, USDA 9b-11.
7 Pittosporum crassifolium
An evergreen shrub or tree from New Zealand with thick, downy-grey foliage and dark-red flowers. Salt tolerant so good for coastal gardens. 10m. RHS H4, USDA 8b-10b.
8 Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga
This succulent has smooth silver-green pointed leaves that contrast with its coral-red blooms. These blooms appear continuously throughout the season. 1.2m. RHS H3, USDA 9b-11.
9 Aloe ‘Rooikappie’
A hybrid bred in South Africa; its Afrikaans cultivar name translates as Red Riding Hood. The orange-yellow flowers branch up from dense clusters of green rosettes all year. 30cm. RHS H4, USDA 9a-12.
10 Elegia tectorum ‘El Campo’
This compact reed-like restio sends out multiple dark-green stems banded with brown bracts, and ending in dark chocolate-coloured flowerheads. 90cm. RHS H4, USDA 9a-11.
11 Dudleya hassei
A low-growing succulent groundcover with glaucous grey-blue leaves that take on a beautiful pinkish tinge when grown hard without water. 90cm. RHS H3, USDA 9b-11.
12 Westringia villosa Mundi (= ‘Wes05’)
A short cultivar that works well as an evergreen, drought-tolerant groundcover in coastal plantings and needs only occasional pruning. 60cm. RHS H3, USDA 9b-11.
13 Leucophyta brownii
A rounded shrub with wiry, silver-white foliage, originally from Australia. Attractive silver flower buds bloom yellow. Salt and drought tolerant. 1.2m. RHS H4, USDA 9a-11.
14 Echeveria pulvinata
Short sprawling succulent with foliage rosettes covered in velvety smooth fine hairs. Racemes of orange flowers appear in late winter. 15cm. AGM*. RHS H2, USDA 10a-11.
15 Crassula tetragona
Known as the mini pine tree, this evergreen has fleshy narrow foliage growing in opposite pairs on brown stems. 90cm. RHS H3, USDA 10a-11.
16 Aeonium, garden hybrid
Another exclusive to Bernard’s garden, selected from seedlings that spontaneously occurred. He hopes this will become a new cultivar that can be propagated for sale in the future.