Download Landscape Overview and Outline at Estancia La Jolla Hotel Spa

Landscape Overview of Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is proud of its many gardens which feature plants from all over the world.
As guests stroll the meandering paths located throughout the property, they see plants which are native
to California (such as Toyon), South America (the Bougainvilleas), South Africa (the Senecio plants) and
Australia (Eucalyptus trees).
California Pepper Trees and Agaves greet you as you enter the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. Guests
immediately recognize the signature design modeled after an early California rancho estate. There are
however, many more plants than just those native to the southwest--a variety of garden themes can be
seen nestled throughout the property. The hotel boasts two rose gardens, a Mediterranean-style garden
known as the Olive Lawn, and of course Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa’s most prominent garden, the
Garden Courtyard. The Garden Courtyard has a little of everything--it is truly an oasis. Another popular
and well-loved spot is the area between the pool and the northwest block of guest rooms where one
can find the succulent garden filled with Aloes, Agaves and Euphorbias.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa Landscape Facts





Park West Landscape Management has overseen the landscaping design and care since Estancia
La Jolla Hotel & Spa opened in 2004.
Estancia plays a big part in water conservation by using reclaimed water.
Park West tries to maintain about 95% of the landscape with a natural appearance, though
there are a few Ficus hedges and Ligustrum hedges (around the pool and near the lobby) that
are formally trimmed.
There are three fountains onsite which have been on property since the original construction.
One of the unique features is the living wall that runs around the property. The border along the
east side along Torrey Pines Road and the north side near the Salk Institute uses only plants as a
barrier to the outside world. On the south and east sides there are walls and fences that were
installed by the neighboring private residential communities before the hotel opened, but those
are now covered with living walls as well.
2011
Plants of Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa- Sorted by General Location
1. Hacienda Courtyard Rose Garden and Spa Rose Garden
a. Iceberg Rose Rosa floribunda- The white iceberg rose blooms almost year round. It
prefers full sun and only requires medium watering.
b. “Fire Meidiland” Rose - Low growing and disease resistant.
c. Rosa “Carefree Sunshine” - Yellow blossom.
d. Rosa “Knock Out” – Prefers shade, and has a fuchsia to reddish bloom.
e. Rosa “Carefree Wonder Melpital” – Candy pink flower with a white reverse of the
petals.
f. Rosa “Ice Meidiland” – White flower with a butter cream yellow center.
g. Rosa “Fushia Meidiland” - Actual leafs turn burgundy-violet in the fall.
h. Rosa “Pearl Meidiland Meiplatin” – Great for groundcover.
i. Rosa “White Maidiland” – Great for groundcover, a bit whiter than the Rosa “Pearl
Meidiland Meiplatin”.
j. Rosa “Showbiz” – Bright red flower clusters.
k. Rosa “Peace” – Large blossoms that are bright yellow with flushed pink edges.
l. Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae - Native to South Africa and common in tropical
settings.
m. Giant Bird of Paradise Strelitzia nicolia- South African Native, the plant can grow 30 feet.
Sometimes called a “wild” banana yet it bears no fruit.
2. Caretaker’s Lawn and surrounding area
a. Ficus carica “White Genoa Fig” – Perfect for coastal California. This tree bears fruit twice
a year, with the second crop being the tastiest.
b. Agave vilmoriniana “Octopus Agave” – Shoots up an amazing flower stalk once a year.
c. Agave attenuata - Native to Mexico, a clumping plant which may develop a stalk up to 5
feet.
d. Aloe arborescens - South African native with a spiky orange bloom in winter.
e. Coral Aloe Aloe striata- South African native with a coral pink to orange bloom.
f. Aloe bainesii - South African native. Slow growing, but can grow up to 30 feet tall with
flowers that are a rosy pink.
g. Rockrose Cistus ‘Sunset’ - Mediterranean native and drought tolerant once established.
h. Salvia Leucantha “Mexican Bush Sage” - This plant is a quick grower and drought
tolerant. The soft purple flowers should be cut back when they start to fade.
i. “Senecio” Senicio mandraliscae- South African native which is drought tolerant and
often times confused for iceplant.
j. Euphorbias - Although some of these plants look alike, many are different and all are
related to the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) which is commonly seen at Christmas
time. Five of the seven Euphorbias at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa can be found by the
Caretaker’s Lawn. They are:
i. Euprobia characias “Wulfenii”
2011
ii. Euphorbia rigida
iii. Euphorbia x martini
iv. Euphorbia ingens “Candelabra Tree” - Looks very much like a cactus and is also
poisonous.
v. Euphorbia milii “Crown of thorns” - Derives its name from the thorny crown
placed on Jesus by the Roman soldiers.
3. Near the Lobby, west side
a. Wild Lilac Ceanothus “Joyce Coulter” - Native to California with medium blue flowers
which bloom in the spring time. The delicate root system makes this plant somewhat
temperamental at planting.
b. Kangaroo Paw Anigozanthos flavidus - Native to Australia which blooms from late spring
to fall. The grounds at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa feature both the yellow and red
flowering varieties.
c. Coast Rosemary Westringia fruticosa - Native to Australia. Flowers bloom winter to
spring, the leaf looks like common Rosemary.
d. Rosemary “Tuscan Blue” Rosmarnius officinalis - Originates in Tuscany, Italy. The leaves
are extremely fragrant and commonly used as a cooking herb with poultry, seafood and
potatoes.
e. Bougainvillea “Torch glow” - South American native, this plant has a unique upright
growth habit and is the only thorn-less variety of the Bougainvilleas.
f. Blue Hibiscus Alyogyne huegelii “Santa Cruz” - Australian native. The plant is very
drought tolerant and has a bloom that looks similar to the common Hibiscus.
g. Plumeria “Alba” – Unique, fragrant, white flowering shrub from the tropics. In Hawaii
the flowers are commonly used in leis.
h. Iris Breakers – This is one of the tall bearded irises, with a light purple bloom.
4. Garden Courtyard
a. Yellow Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia “Charles Grimaldi” - Native to South Africa. Blooms
from spring to late fall as a large, yellow trumpet shaped flower.
b. Camellia “Swan Lake” Camellia japonica - Native to Southeast Asia, there are over 3,000
varieties. This plant has a white bloom.
c. Camellia “White Doves” Camellia Sasanqua - Also known as ‘Mine-No-Yuki’. This plant
has a large, white, peony-like flower.
d. Camellia “Kanjiro” Camellia Sasanqua - Tolerates sun and drought and has a large rosepink bloom.
e. Papyrus Cyperus papyrus - African Native once used by Egyptians to make paper, these
are the tall grassy looking plants behind the signature fountain.
f. Sago Palm Cycas revolute – Not in the Palm family (although often confused as such),
this evergreen is native to Japan and does not like to be overwatered.
g. Winter Blooming Bergenia Bergenia crassifolia - Native to Himalayas and China, it
blooms late winter to spring.
2011
h. Yesterday-Today-And-Tomorrow Brunfelsia pauciflora - Tropical, American native with
showy clusters of flowers that are white, purple and lavender.
i. Clivia Clivi miniata - Native to South Africa. Has a very striking orange bloom and does
best in full shade.
j. Star Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides - Native to China, it has very fragrant
blooms and is commonly used in Southern California landscapes.
k. Princess Flower Tibouchina urvilleana - Brazilian native with royal purple, three inch
flowers. The leaves are very soft and have a reddish outline.
l. Blood Red Trumpet Vine Distictis buccinatoria and Distictis “Rivers”- Royal trumpet vine
which can be seen on the arbors over the pathways. These Mexican natives bloom
throughout the year.
m. Pygmy Date Palm Phoenix roebelenii - Native to Laos, this plant is a slow grower with
sharp thorns near the base of the fronds.
n. Salvia Clevelandii – This member of the sage family is extremely fragrant and has unique
looking purple blooms that grow out of the ends of the stems.
5. Between the pool and the north block of guest rooms
a. Dragon Tree Dracaena draco - Native to Canary Islands, this is an extremely slow grower
which can get up to 20 feet tall.
b. Hen and Chicks Echeveria elegans - Mexican natives with tight, grayish white rosettes,
comes in many varieties.
c. Century Plant Agave Americana - Mexican native which dies after flowering once in 10
years. This is not to be confused with the one that is used for making tequila.
d. Lace Aloe Aloe aristata - South African Native. This is a great plant for pots because it is
very tight and compact.
e. Felt Plant Kalanchoe beharensis - Native to “Old World Tropics,” the leaves have a feltlike coating. Other varieties can be seen in pots as houseplants.
f. Jade Plant Crassula argentea - Native to South Africa, this plant produces a profuse
amount of star shaped blooms and very fleshy leaves.
g. Aeonium Aeonium arboreum (green) - Native to the Canary Islands, this plant has yellow
blooms which appear in spring and summer
h. Aeonium “Autropurpureum” Aeonium arboreumn (dark purple) - Native to the Canary
Islands, the plant produces yellow blooms in spring and summer. It is easy to propagate
from cuttings.
i. Aeonium “Dinner plate” Aeonium urbicum - Native to the Canary Islands, it grows low to
the ground and flowers once matured.
j. Red Hot Poker Kniphofia uvaria - Native to South Africa, its flowers attract
hummingbirds and look like glowing fire place pokers.
k. Yucca Yucca aloifolia - Native to the Southern United States and Mexico, it is known as
the Spanish bayonet.
l. Beaucarnea Guatemalensis “Elephant Foot Yucca”- The base of this Yucca looks like that
of an elephant.
2011
Trees and their locations throughout the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
a. Dombeya wallichii - Native to Madagascar, this beautiful evergreen (leaves only fall if
temperature gets too low) tree has balls of pink flowers which bloom in autumn and
winter. When the flowers fade they remain hanging from the tree for a long period of
time. They can be found outside of Bodega Wine Bar.
b. California Pepper Tree “Shinus molle” -These trees are seen lining the front entry of the
property and along the West Lawn and pathway. Once these trees are established they
require very little water.
c. Eucalyptus trees – Located around the Learning Center and Caretaker’s Lawn. These
were brought from Australia during the 1800’s in hopes to be used by the railroads, but
the wood proved to be too soft for railroad ties. There are many varieties of these
trees.
d. Citrus Limon “Improved Myer Lemon” - This can be seen along the West Lawn and
pathway as well as near the entrance to The Spa at Estancia. Meyer lemons are the only
type of lemons which are able to grow in California.
e. Italian Cypress Cupressus sempervirens – Grown in the Garden Courtyard, these trees
are from the Mediterranean.
f. Magnolia Grandiflora – These magnificent trees can be seen in the Garden Courtyard
growing in the turf. They are evergreen trees which have very fragrant large, white
flowers.
g. Olea europaea Olive tree – Seen on the Olive Lawn, these are Mediterranean natives.
The first year’s growth is rapid, but then trees slow to maturity.
h. Mediterranean Fan Palm Chamaerops humuilis – These can be seen around the Spa and
the Garden Courtyard (where there are 90 planted). The trees are commonly used in
landscaping in a wide range of conditions.
i. Phoenix Canariensis Canary Island Date Palm - These massive palms are trimmed so that
there appears to be a pineapple in the trunk below the fronds. There can be over 50
healthy fronds on a palm at any one time.
2011