Got to agree with Ted on that one.

In my yellow and blue border, the very best sources of all-summer yellow color are from shrubs: Spirea Thunbergii "Ogon" (really needs a bit of afternoon sun in our heat), Duranta "Cuban Gold", and Berberis thunbergii "Aurea" (thorny, but low, gorgeous and unstoppable in our hot sun). These yellow leaved shrubs are some of the bones of the border. I also use Tanacetum Isla Gold (again, golden foliage), especially near the front edge. In early summer I use lots of yellow daylilies. I am very particular about the shades I choose. Cool yellows and warm yellows sometimes clash to my eye. Rudbeckia "Herbstonne" (lovely foliage is a bonus), Helianthus "Lowdown" (tall but never flops), and "Carefree Sunshine" Rose add later blooms than the daylilies. I also have alot of Zephyranthes candida along the front edge, which is a white rainlily that has a prominent yellow eye. I added zephyranthes reginae to the border this year, and the few blooms I got were a lovely cool yellow. It's very hard to beat rainlilies from July to late fall around here. In addition, I use a few yellow blooming annuals in that border: Yellowbird Cosmos and yellow marigolds (again, watch the shade). In combination with several blue salvias, stokesias, Rozanne geranium, etc. it is a very satisfying bed.

I suggest 'Seafoam', it is hardy to 4b, and it is also rated as Earthkind, which means it is a very disease resistant rose where it was tested in Texas. It has re-bloom similar to Florabunda class roses. and its' foliage is dark green and very pretty. In Northern California 'Seafoam' grows to be 3 and 1/2 by 4 and 1/2 to 5 feet wide. I would expect it to be a bit smaller in your climate. helpmefind.com has photos. I do love the flowers, of 'Blanc de Courbet' but not the plant as much as Seafoam, because Blanc has wicked thorns that have ripped the skin off of the top of my hand when I was picking a bloom. Also, the 4-5 plants of B de C, I've seen have each been somewhat gangly. Lux.

Hi Joe California :) Saw your post about the aloe. I'm looking to use this plant in my landscape and was wondering if you could share a little more info. I noticed at the San Marcos Growers site that they have 2 yellow aloe arborescens, one is the 'Lutea' you speak of and the other is Yellow Torch Aloe or 'Yellow Torch'. There seems to be no difference really except that it says 'Lutea' reaches 9 ft. and the other 6-8 ft. and it seems the regular Yellow Torch has less curved foliage... hmmm. Anyway, could you please tell me how tall and wide the ones in your garden grow? Also, how fast is the growth? Do the clumps form close to the ground? I'd greatly appreciate all info you care to share :-) I have a 6'x3' area that I'd like to have the aloe as a main foundation in... I was also recommended an aloe striatula plant which grows to 3-5 ft. here. Anyone have experience with these? Here is a link that might be useful: Aloe Striatula