Layered Border Design: Eight-Year-Old Southern California Garden with Butterfly Bushes, Salvias, and Kangaroo Paws

Layered Border Design: Eight-Year-Old Southern California Garden with Butterfly Bushes, Salvias, and Kangaroo Paws

Nursery owner Mia McCarville planted this border eight years ago in Norm and Lynn Ginsburg's garden. It covers a gently sloping 25-ft-deep plot beyond their lawn. Goal: low-water plants blooming much of the year, complementing yellow daylilies and white Jupiter's beard, attracting birds/butterflies.

Three Height Layers

• Highest: Spreading treelike butterfly bushes (Buddleja 'Lochinch') and mallows (Lavatera 'Barnsley').
• Middle: Salvia 'Indigo Spires', lion's tail (Leonotis leonurus), 'Apple Blossom' penstemon, yarrow (Achillea 'Moonshine'), Salvia leucantha, Loropetalum chinense 'Monraz', kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos 'Pink Joey').
• Low: Convolvulus 'Compact Blue', 'Dark Thorn' morning glory, Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'.

McCarville praises the Ginsburgs for planting sparsely and waiting—important to space plants for room to grow. Border filled in by third spring; now provides pretty view and wildlife habitat.

DESIGN: Mia McCarville, Cedros Gardens (9-5 Mon-Sat, 10-4 Sun until Apr 1, then 9-5 daily; 330 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, CA; 858/792-8640)