Sunnylands Gardens Guide

gardens guide Sunnylands invites you to discover and experience the Annenberg legacy.

S UNNYL ANDS C E NT E R & G A R D E N S

Above Olive Trees (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh was part of the collection donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Right Sunnylands Center set against the San Jacinto mountains. Photograph by Ken Hayden. 2012.

The landscape at Sunnylands Center & Gardens was designed by The Office of James Burnett, with horticultural consultant Mary Irish.

Inspired by the Annenberg collection of Impressionist and PostImpressionist paintings, the Gardens were designed to reflect the importance of these paintings to the Annenbergs. Bequeathed to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1991, the collection is exhibited there today. Digital representations remain in the historic house.

The Gardens are intended as mindful space, where visitors can wander along paths, watch wildlife, relax on benches, sit by reflecting pools, or walk the labyrinth. Plants are arranged in single-specimen beds, which are layered to create visual interest with color, texture, and light. The desert’s seasonal bloom cycle contributes to an ever-changing landscape, assuring new experiences on each visit.

Sustainability was an important consideration in the design of the Center & Gardens. A solar field, low water irrigation, and native wildflower field are some of the features visitors can view. Sunnylands Center & Gardens participated in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED construction process and was awarded a LEED Gold rating based on credits earned in five environmental categories.

www.sunnylands.org

concept

Sunnylands Green Vision Statement Environmental responsibility is a core value of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. Embracing creative and innovative solutions is central to the Sunnylands culture. We strive to be a leader in implementing sustainable practices to meet our current needs without compromising the environment for future generations. Sharing our environmental experiences with the public broadens the impact of our actions.

Above A local jackrabbit enjoys its surroundings. Photograph by Michaeleen Gallagher. 2011. Below A monarch butterfly on desert milkweed. Photograph by Dillon Diers. 2012.

Right Spring caterpillars reward visitors with an emergence of color and beauty. Photograph by Michaeleen Gallagher. 2011.

A variety of migratory and resident species of wildlife can be found at Sunnylands. Shrubs and desert succulents provide an attractive space for desert cottontails and jackrabbits.

Tarantula hawk wasps and monarch butterflies are two of many species found feeding on desert milkweed.

During the day, desert iguanas bask in the sun between agaves and, at night, coyotes use the Gardens as part of their evening travel.

Bird enthusiasts will see a range of species, from hummingbirds to hawks. Vermillion flycatchers are common on the historic estate.

Educational programming includes activities that encourage self-directed learning while guiding visitors in creative ways to explore the Center & Gardens.

Seasonal, themed programs celebrate changes in exhibitions, community partnerships, and educational opportunities at the Center & Gardens.

www.sunnylands.org

wildlife

Front Cover The nine-acre Sunnylands Center features over 53,000 individual plants (over 70 species). Arid landscape plants, inspired by the Annenberg Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, create a unique visual experience.

Photograph by Mark Davidson. 2013.

Back Cover Examples of coral aloe and golden barrel cactus at Sunnylands.

Photograph by Mark Davidson. 2013.

Š 2013 The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. All rights reserved.

Garden Walk

Great Lawn

Labyrinth

Specimen Garden

Reflecting Pool

Estate Tour Shuttle Station

Garden Walk

Solar Field Performance Circle

Specimen Garden Reflecting Pool Sunnylands Center

Parking

Garden Walk

Wildflower Field

Main Entrance

orientation

Garden Walk

Above The specimen garden is a short walk from the solar field. Photograph by Dillon Diers, The Office of James Burnett. 2011.

Over 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean are displayed in the nine-acre Gardens. More information on these plants is available on kiosk five in the Center, and on our website.

In this Sunnylands Plant List the following symbols are used to denote:

Maximum size

Bloom color

Bloom season

Wildlife benefit

Human benefit

!

Awareness

Guests are reminded that they are visiting a desert environment that is home to a variety of plants and wildlife. They must be aware of their surroundings and ensure children explore safely.

www.sunnylands.org

Sweet Acacia

Acacia farnesiana

Ebenopsis ebano

Desert Museum Palo Verde

Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’

Parkinsonia praecox

tree

20-30 feet high bright yellow early spring, summer bees, birds, butterflies, small mammals aromatic, perfume, ornamental, shade ! N/A

Mesquite

tree

15 feet high bright yellow spring, summer bees, birds, butterflies, small mammals aromatic, perfume, ornamental, shade ! N/A

Palo Brea

tree

25-30 feet high white, fuzzy spike summer bees, birds, butterflies, small mammals aromatic, ornamental ! thorns

Prosopis multi-species and hybrids

Century Plant

tree

20-40 feet high fuzzy spike summer bees, birds, butterflies, small mammals ornamental, thorn-less, shade, food ! N/A Agave americana

Variegated Caribbean Agave

Agave angustifolia var. variegata

Agave x ‘Blue Flame’

agave

2 feet high x spreading colonies yellow-green infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Cow’s Horn Agave

agave

6.5 feet high × 8 wide green to yellow infrequent birds, bats, insects fiber, food ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Blue Flame Agave

agave

10 feet high × 13 wide cream infrequent birds, bats ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Agave bovicornuta

agave

2-3 feet high x 3-5 wide yellow-green infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

plant list

Texas Ebony

tree

15-25 feet high yellow-orange winter, spring bees, birds, small mammals aromatic, perfume, ornamental, shade ! thorns, some toxic compounds

gardens guide 37-977 Bob Hope Drive (Mail to PO Box 1770) Rancho Mirage CA 92270 760 202 2222 contact@sunnylands.org Thursday through Sunday September through June 9 am – 4 pm July & August: closed

S UNNYL ANDS C E NT E R & G A R D E N S

Desert Agave

Agave deserti

Smooth Agave

agave

19 inches high × 24 wide bright yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental, food ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage Agave desmettiana

Twin-Flowered Agave

agave

35 inches high pale yellow infrequent birds, insects, small mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage Agave geminiflora

2-3 feet high and wide greenish yellow tinged red infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

agave

2-3 feet high x 3-5 wide yellow-green infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

agave

Agave guiengola

Thorn-Crested Agave

Agave lopantha ‘Quadricolor’

Black-Spined Agave

Agave macroacantha

Agave murpheyi

agave

3-4 feet high and 4-5 wide yellow infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Parry’s Agave

agave

16 inches high and wide green tinged purple infrequent bats, insects, mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Murphey’s Agave

agave

1 foot high × 2 wide pale yellow infrequent bees, butterfies, mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Agave parryi

Artichoke Agave

agave

20 inches high × 29 wide

yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental, food ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage Agave parryi var. truncata

agave

20 inches high × 29 wide golden yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Green Giant Agave

Agave salmiana

Agave ‘Sharkskin’

Blue Agave

agave

2-3 feet high × 3-4 wide green infrequent bats, insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage Agave tequilana

6 feet high × 6 wide green infrequent birds, insects food source, ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

agave

30 inches wide yellow tinged lavender infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

agave

Agave titanota

Blue Elf Aloe

Aloe x ‘Blue Elf’

Bitter Aloe

Aloe ferox

aloe

8 feet high × 3 wide orange-red summer, fall, winter birds ornamental, medicinal ! some toxic compounds

Coral Aloe

aloe

3 feet high x 2 wide orange-red winter, spring birds, insects, small mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds

Aloe striata

Medicinal Aloe

aloe

2 feet high × 2 wide red-orange winter, spring birds, insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds Aloe vera

Giant Hesperaloe

aloe

2 feet high × 2 wide yellow and orange winter, spring birds ornamental, medicinal ! N/A Hesperaloe funifera

hesperaloe

4 feet high × 4 wide creamy-white with pink-green blush spring, summer, fall birds ornamental, fiber ! sharp foliage

plant list

Sharkskin Agave

agave

6 feet high × 13 wide yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental, food ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Funifera Hybrid Hesperaloe

Hesperaloe funifera x H

Red Hesperaloe

hesperaloe

6 feet high × 6 wide pink summer, fall birds ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage Hesperaloe parviflora

hesperaloe

3 feet high × 4 wide red to pink spring, summer birds ornamental, paper fibers ! sharp foliage

Red Hesperaloe ‘Brakelights’® Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Brakelights’® (‘Perpa’) PP21, 729

Pale-leaf Yucca

Yucca pallida

Yucca rostrata

Our Lord’s Candle

Yucca whipplei

Madagascar Ocotillo

yucca

3 feet high × 4 wide white infrequent moths, bats ornamental ! sharp foliage Alluaudia procera

other

30 feet high orange, gold, pale yellow late spring, summer insects, birds, mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Desert Milkweed

yucca

4–7 feet high white summer moths, bats ornamental ! sharp foliage

Asclepias subulata

other

4 feet high × 2 wide creamy-yellow spring, summer, fall pollinator insect species ornamental, attracts pollinators ! some toxic compounds, skin irritant

Damianita

yucca

1 foot high × 2 wide white summer moths, giant skipper butterfly larval host ornamental ! sharp foliage

Beaked Yucca

hesperaloe

2 feet high bright red spring, summer, fall hummingbirds ornamental ! sharp foliage

Chrysactinia mexicana

other

12 inches high × 24 wide bright yellow spring, summer, fall birds, insects fragrant ornamental, rabbit resistant ! N/A

Trailing Smokebush

Dalea greggii

Fouquieria splendens

Angelita Daisy

Tetraneuris acaulis

Night-blooming Cereus

Cereus hildemannianus ‘Mostrosa’

Cleistocactus strausii

Golden Barrel

cactus

10 feet high dark red winter, spring birds ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp spines Echinocactus grusonii

cactus

51 inches high × 31 diameter yellow spring, summer bees ornamental ! some toxic compounds, sharp spines Echinopsis pachanoi

Wooly Torch

cactus

20 feet high white, night-blooming mid summer bats, moths ornamental ! some toxic compounds Espostoa melanostele

cactus

6.5 feet high brown with a slight blush, hairy scales spring, summer bats, moths ornamental ! some toxic compounds

Blue Barrel

cactus

15 feet high white spring, fall mammals, insects, birds food source, ornamental ! sharp foliage

San Pedro

other

12 inches high x 18 wide yellow spring, summer, fall bees ornamental ! N/A

Silver Torch

other

20 feet high × 15 wide red spring birds, insects, small mammals ornamental ! thorny trunk

Ferocactus glaucescens

cactus

18 inches high × 20 wide yellow spring bees, butterflies ornamental ! some toxic compounds, spines

plant list

Ocotillo

other

1 foot high × 4 wide purple spring, summer bees, larval host of several butterfly species ornamental ! N/A

Red Barrel

Ferocactus pilosus

Golden Ball Cactus

Notocactus leninghausii

Bunny Ears Prickly Pear

Opuntia microdasys

cactus

3.3 feet high yellow-reddish tint spring, summer birds, insects, small mammals ornamental, food ! sharp, glochid-type spines

Mexican Fence Post

cactus

24 inches wide by 4 high yellow spring insects, birds ornamental ! sharp foliage

Pachycereus marginatus

cactus

16 feet high × 7.9 inches wide red spring, summer birds, insects boundary fence, ornamental ! some toxic compounds, spines

Cardón

cactus

12 inches high × 20 wide yellow to red spring insects, small mammals ornamental ! some toxic compounds, spines

Pachycereus pringlei

Blue Columnar Cactus

Pilosocereus pachycladus

Stenocereus thurberi

cactus

26 feet high × 9 inches wide white, night-blooming summer bats, moths ornamental, food, medicine ! some toxic compounds, spines

Candelilla

cactus

13 feet high white summer bats, birds, insects ornamental ! sharp foliage

Organ Pipe Cactus

cactus

36 feet high white late spring, summer birds, insects ornamental, medicinal, containers ! some toxic compounds, spines

Euphorbia antisyphillitica

Medusa Head

euphorbia

3 feet high × 4 wide pinkish to cream late winter birds, insects ornamental, wax ! some toxic compounds Euphorbia caput-medusae

euphorbia

39.3 inches high yellow spring, summer, fall insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds

Moroccan Mound

Euphorbia resinifera

Euphorbia rigida

Lady’s Slipper

Pedilanthus macrocarpus

Mexican Grass Tree

euphorbia

3-5 feet high × 3-5 wide red-orange fall, spring birds ornamental ! some toxic compounds Dasylirion quadrangulatum

Lindheimer’s Beargrass

grass

10 feet high cream late spring, summer birds, butterflies ornamental ! sharp foliage Nolina lindheimeriana

grass

12 feet (with stalk) high × 4-5 wide white spring, summer birds, insects ornamental ! sharp foliage

Blue Nolina

euphorbia

2 feet high × 3 wide yellow late winter, spring insects ornamental ! some toxic compounds

Nolina nelsoni

Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’

8 feet high × 8 wide rose-purple summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental ! N/A Leucophyllum x ‘Heavenly Cloud’

8 feet high × 6 wide lavender-purple summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental ! N/A Leucophyllum laevigatum

5 feet high × 3 wide violet summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental ! N/A

LEUCOPHYLLUM

Chihuahuan Sage

LEUCOPHYLLUM

Texas Ranger ‘Heavenly Cloud’

LEUCOPHYLLUM

Texas Ranger ‘Green Cloud’

grass

3-12 feet high cream summer birds, insects ornamental ! N/A

plant list

Gopher Plant

euphorbia

1-2 feet high × 6 wide yellow spring, summer bees ornamental, cosmetic industry, medicine ! some toxic compounds

Leucophyllum langmaniae

5 feet high × 5 wide lavender summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental ! N/A Leucophyllum langmaniae

5 feet high × 3 wide lavender to purple summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental ! N/A Leucophyllum pruinosum

6 feet high × 6 wide violet-blue summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental ! N/A

Sand Verbena

Abronia villosa

Indian Ricegrass

Achnatherum hymenoides

Purple Threeawn

Aristida purpurea WILDFLOWER

12-20 inches high and wide purple spring, summer, fall birds, butterflies ornamental, erosion control, root matrix ! N/A Baileya multiradiata

WILDFLOWER

18 inches high x 24 wide bright yellow spring, summer, fall insects ornamental, long blooming ! N/A Bouteloua gracilis

WILDFLOWER

14 inches yellow mid summer, fall birds, butterflies, grazing mammals ornamental, accent plant, turf use ! N/A

Brittlebush

WILDFLOWER

1-2 feet high and wide yellow, green summer, early fall birds, butterflies, grazing mammals ornamental, food ! N/A

Desert Marigold

WILDFLOWER

6 inches high × 20 wide lavender-purple spring, summer bees, butterflies fragrant ornamental ! N/A

Blue Grama

LEUCOPHYLLUM

Fragrant Sage ‘Sierra Bouquet’™

LEUCOPHYLLUM

Texas Ranger

LEUCOPHYLLUM

Texas Ranger ‘Lynn’s Legacy’

Encelia farinosa WILDFLOWER

3 feet high × 3 wide yellow spring, early summer birds, bees, butterflies, small mammals ornamental ! N/A

California Poppy

Eschscholzia californica

Larrea tridentata

Goldfields

Lasthenia californica

Desert Primrose

WILDFLOWER

6 inches high yellow spring, early summer bees, butterflies ornamental ! N/A Oenothera deltoidea

Desert Canterbury Bell

WILDFLOWER

10 inches high Ă— 24 long white to pinkish early spring bats, moths ornamental ! N/A Phacelia campanularia

WILDFLOWER

20 inches high Ă— 6 wide blue spring, summer insect, birds ornamental ! skin irritant

Chia

WILDFLOWER

5 feet high x 10 wide yellow spring, summer, fall birds, insects, small mammals medicinal, ornamental, fragrant, deer resistant ! N/A

Salvia columbariae

Tours and programs on subjects including art, history, architecture, and natural history are offered throughout the season.

Details are available at www.sunnylands.org and in our Calendar Guide.

WILDFLOWER

20 inches high blue spring, summer butterflies, bees ornamental, food ! N/A

plant list

Creosote Bush

WILDFLOWER

2 feet high orange, yellow late winter, spring, summer, fall bees, butterflies ornamental ! some toxic compounds