Common name:Blue Grama
Botanical name:Bouteloua gracilis

This warm-season grass is a plains native, and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Particularly useful as either a mowed or unmowed lawn. Unmowed, it grows up to 20 inches, including the flower. Attached to the stem at a right angle, the flowers resemble tiny combs. Flowers are attractive in arrangements. It can be mowed to a height of 2 inches for a more formal look, though you'll loose out on the attractive flower. Tolerant of drought and poor soils. Also attractive as single plants, especially tucked into rock gardens.

Common name:Alpine Fir
Botanical name:Abies lasiocarpa

Alpine fir is a very slow growing evergreen, eventually reaching 50 or more feet tall, with a 10 to 15 foot spread. Bluish green needles that are about 1 to 11/2 inches long. It has thick, corky creamy white bark. Not very heat tolerant, it is probably best suited to the east bench area and in the canyons.

Common name:Austrian Pine
Botanical name:Pinus nigra

Austrian pine is a handsome evergreen tree with densely branched and pyramidal when young; becoming more umbrella shaped as it ages. Needles are long and dark green. Pine cones are shiny yellow-brown, and about 3 inches long. Bark is grey-brown, thick, irregular, with deep furrows. Excellent for windbreaks are as specimens. Fast growing to 40 to 50 feet tall, and about 15 to 25 feet wide. This is a big pine, so provide ample space. This tree has many varieties selected for specific traits, such as size and columnar habit.

Common name:Iseli Columnar Colorado Spruce
Botanical name:Picea pungens 'Iseli Fastigiate'

A strongly fastigiate habit and excellent blue foliage make this narrow selection of Colorado spruce a stricking blue accent or focal point where space is a consideration. Grows 12 to 25 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide; well suited to smaller landscapes.