sunnylands gardens guide
DESCRIPTION
Enjoy details about the award-winning Gardens at Sunnylands Center and the more than 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants. The nine-acre garden was designed by the Office of James Burnett.TRANSCRIPT
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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Labyrinth
Reflecting Pool
Specimen Garden
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Sunnylands Center
Reflecting Pool
Specimen Garden
Parking
Wildflower Field
Garden Walk
Main Entrance
Solar Field
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Bloom season
Wildlife benefit
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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
37-977 Bob Hope Drive
(Mail to PO Box 1770)
Rancho Mirage CA 92270
760 202 2222
Thursday through Sunday
September through June
9 am – 4 pm
July & August: closed
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CENTER & GARDENS SUNNYL ANDS
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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.