Sunnylands Gardens Guide 2014

Sunnylands invites you to discover and experience

the Annenberg legacy.

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CENTER & GARDENS SUNNYL ANDS

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 Post-Impressionist 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.

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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.

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.

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Great Lawn

Garden Walk

Garden Walk

Labyrinth

Reflecting Pool

Specimen Garden

Estate Tour Shuttle Station

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Performance Circle

Garden Walk

Sunnylands Center

Reflecting Pool

Specimen Garden

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Wildflower Field

Garden Walk

Main Entrance

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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:

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.

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Sweet Acacia Acacia farnesiana

15-25 feet high yellow-orange winter, spring bees, birds, small mammals aromatic, perfume, ornamental, shade

! thorns, some toxic compounds

Desert Museum Palo Verde Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’

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

! N/A

Palo Brea Parkinsonia praecox

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

! N/A

Texas Ebony Ebenopsis ebano

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

! thorns

Mesquite Prosopis multi-species and hybrids

20-40 feet high fuzzy spike summer bees, birds, butterflies, small mammals ornamental, thorn-less, shade, food

! N/A

Variegated Caribbean Agave Agave angustifolia var. variegata

6.5 feet high × 8 wide green to yellow infrequent birds, bats, insects fiber, food

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Cow’s Horn Agave Agave bovicornuta

2-3 feet high x 3-5 wide yellow-green infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Blue Flame Agave Agave x ‘Blue Flame’

2 feet high x spreading colonies yellow-green infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Century Plant Agave americana

10 feet high × 13 wide cream infrequent birds, bats ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

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Black-Spined Agave Agave macroacantha

16 inches high and wide green tinged purple infrequent bats, insects, mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Murphey’s Agave Agave murpheyi

3-4 feet high and 4-5 wide yellow infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Twin-Flowered Agave Agave geminiflora

2-3 feet high and wide greenish yellow tinged red infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Agave guiengola

2-3 feet high x 3-5 wide yellow-green infrequent birds, bats, insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Smooth Agave Agave desmettiana

35 inches high pale yellow infrequent birds, insects, small mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Thorn-Crested Agave Agave lopantha ‘Quadricolor’

1 foot high × 2 wide pale yellow infrequent bees, butterfies, mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Parry’s Agave Agave parryi

20 inches high × 29 wideyellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental, food

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Artichoke Agave Agave parryi var. truncata

20 inches high × 29 wide golden yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Desert Agave Agave deserti

19 inches high × 24 wide bright yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental, food

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

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Blue Agave Agave tequilana

6 feet high × 6 wide green infrequent birds, insects food source, ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Agave titanota

30 inches wide yellow tinged lavender infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Medicinal Aloe Aloe vera

2 feet high × 2 wide yellow and orange winter, spring birds ornamental, medicinal

! N/A

Coral Aloe Aloe striata

2 feet high × 2 wide red-orange winter, spring birds, insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds

Blue Elf Aloe Aloe x ‘Blue Elf’

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

! some toxic compounds

Sharkskin Agave Agave ‘Sharkskin’

2-3 feet high × 3-4 wide green infrequent bats, insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Green Giant Agave Agave salmiana

6 feet high × 13 wide yellow infrequent birds, insects, mammals ornamental, food

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

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Giant Hesperaloe Hesperaloe funifera

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

! sharp foliage

Bitter Aloe Aloe ferox

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

! some toxic compounds

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Red Hesperaloe Hesperaloe parviflora

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

2 feet high bright red spring, summer, fall hummingbirds ornamental

! sharp foliage

Pale-leaf Yucca Yucca pallida

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

! sharp foliage

Desert Milkweed Asclepias subulata

4 feet high × 2 wide creamy-yellow spring, summer, fall pollinator insect species ornamental, attracts pollinators

! some toxic compounds, skin irritant

Beaked Yucca Yucca rostrata

4–7 feet high white summer moths, bats ornamental

! sharp foliage

Our Lord’s Candle Yucca whipplei

3 feet high × 4 wide white infrequent moths, bats ornamental

! sharp foliage

Madagascar Ocotillo Alluaudia procera

30 feet high orange, gold, pale yellow late spring, summer insects, birds, mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

Damianita Chrysactinia mexicana

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

! N/A

Funifera Hybrid Hesperaloe Hesperaloe funifera x H

6 feet high × 6 wide pink summer, fall birds ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp foliage

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Trailing Smokebush Dalea greggii

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

! N/A

Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens

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

! thorny trunk

Angelita Daisy Tetraneuris acaulis

12 inches high x 18 wide yellow spring, summer, fall bees ornamental

! N/A

Night-blooming Cereus Cereus hildemannianus ‘Mostrosa’

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

! sharp foliage

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Silver Torch Cleistocactus strausii

10 feet high dark red winter, spring birds ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp spines

San Pedro Echinopsis pachanoi

20 feet high white, night-blooming mid summer bats, moths ornamental

! some toxic compounds

Golden Barrel Echinocactus grusonii

51 inches high × 31 diameter yellow spring, summer bees ornamental

! some toxic compounds, sharp spines

Blue Barrel Ferocactus glaucescens

18 inches high × 20 wide yellow spring bees, butterflies ornamental

! some toxic compounds, spines

Wooly Torch Espostoa melanostele

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

! some toxic compounds

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Bunny Ears Prickly Pear Opuntia microdasys

3.3 feet high yellow-reddish tint spring, summer birds, insects, small mammals ornamental, food

! sharp, glochid-type spines

Mexican Fence Post Pachycereus marginatus

16 feet high × 7.9 inches wide red spring, summer birds, insects boundary fence, ornamental

! some toxic compounds, spines

Cardón Pachycereus pringlei

36 feet high white late spring, summer birds, insects ornamental, medicinal, containers

! some toxic compounds, spines

Organ Pipe Cactus Stenocereus thurberi

26 feet high × 9 inches wide white, night-blooming summer bats, moths ornamental, food, medicine

! some toxic compounds, spines

Candelilla Euphorbia antisyphillitica

3 feet high × 4 wide pinkish to cream late winter birds, insects ornamental, wax

! some toxic compounds

Blue Columnar Cactus Pilosocereus pachycladus

13 feet high white summer bats, birds, insects ornamental

! sharp foliage

Golden Ball Cactus Notocactus leninghausii

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

! sharp foliage

Medusa Head Euphorbia caput-medusae

39.3 inches high yellow spring, summer, fall insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds

Red Barrel Ferocactus pilosus

12 inches high × 20 wide yellow to red spring insects, small mammals ornamental

! some toxic compounds, spines

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Lady’s Slipper Pedilanthus macrocarpus

3-5 feet high × 3-5 wide red-orange fall, spring birds ornamental

! some toxic compounds

Gopher Plant Euphorbia rigida

2 feet high × 3 wide yellow late winter, spring insects ornamental

! some toxic compounds

Lindheimer’s Beargrass Nolina lindheimeriana

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

! sharp foliage

Mexican Grass Tree Dasylirion quadrangulatum

10 feet high cream late spring, summer birds, butterflies ornamental

! sharp foliage

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Blue Nolina Nolina nelsoni

3-12 feet high cream summer birds, insects ornamental

! N/A

Texas Ranger ‘Green Cloud’ Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’

8 feet high × 8 wide rose-purple summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental

! N/A

Texas Ranger ‘Heavenly Cloud’ Leucophyllum x ‘Heavenly Cloud’

8 feet high × 6 wide lavender-purple summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental

! N/A

Chihuahuan Sage Leucophyllum laevigatum

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

! N/A

Moroccan Mound Euphorbia resinifera

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

! some toxic compounds

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Texas Ranger Leucophyllum langmaniae

5 feet high × 3 wide lavender to purple summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental

! N/A

Fragrant Sage ‘Sierra Bouquet’™ 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

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

! N/A

Indian Ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides

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

! N/A

Purple Threeawn Aristida purpurea

12-20 inches high and wide purple spring, summer, fall birds, butterflies ornamental, erosion control, root matrix

! N/A

Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis

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

! N/A

Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata

18 inches high x 24 wide bright yellow spring, summer, fall insects ornamental, long blooming

! N/A

Brittlebush Encelia farinosa

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

! N/A

Texas Ranger ‘Lynn’s Legacy’ Leucophyllum langmaniae

5 feet high × 5 wide lavender summer, fall, moisture triggered butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals ornamental

! N/A

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California Poppy Eschscholzia californica

2 feet high orange, yellow late winter, spring, summer, fall bees, butterflies ornamental

! some toxic compounds

Goldfields Lasthenia californica

6 inches high yellow spring, early summer bees, butterflies ornamental

! N/A

Desert Primrose Oenothera deltoidea

10 inches high × 24 long white to pinkish early spring bats, moths ornamental

! N/A

Desert Canterbury Bell Phacelia campanularia

20 inches high × 6 wide blue spring, summer insect, birds ornamental

! skin irritant

Chia Salvia columbariae

20 inches high blue spring, summer butterflies, bees ornamental, food

! N/A

Creosote Bush Larrea tridentata

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

! N/A

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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.

37-977 Bob Hope Drive

(Mail to PO Box 1770)

Rancho Mirage CA 92270

760 202 2222

[email protected]

Thursday through Sunday

September through June

9 am – 4 pm

July & August: closed

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CENTER & GARDENS SUNNYL ANDS