Water Smart Plant Picker

This native of Turkey, Armenia, and Iran has been grown in California gardens for many years due to its soft gray leaves. The low-growing form provides a great groundcover at the front of a border or along a pathway. Flower stalks in late spring and early summer provide additional interest with small, purple flowers. S. b. ‘Helen von Stein’ is notable for its larger leaves.

Purple needlegrass was named California’s state grass in 2004. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Its deep roots make it very drought-tolerant and effective at preventing erosion. The grass got its name from its purple seeds, which can be spiky. At the end of summer, it turns brown and may be cut back. It may also be offered under the name nassella pulchra at nurseries.

The snowberry bush is an adaptable California native that enjoys moist or dry shade and most well-drained soils. It will also do well in cool sun. It can grow 3-6 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Its spring and summer blooms of bell-shaped pinkish-white flowers attract pollinators, while its fall and winter white snowberries will feed the birds. The berries are mildly toxic to humans, cats, and dogs but safe for most other animals.

Syringa vulgaris is the best known and most drought-tolerant of the lilac species. This deciduous shrub from eastern Europe produces a spectacular display of pinkish or bluish flowers in clusters 10” or longer. Prune suckers as they develop. Lilacs generally bloom best with chilly winters.

Mediterranean, flowering, shrubby perennials with aromatic foliage.

• Wall germander (T. chamaedrys [x lucidrys], 1’ x 2’) is a popular groundcover with upright stems, dark green leaves, and red-purple or white flowers in summer.
• Majorcan germander (T. cossonii [majoricum], 6” x 2’) is a creeping perennial that produces a profusion of rosy purple flowers in mid-to-late spring.
• Bush germander (T. fruticans, 4-8’ x 4-8’) has silvery foliage and bears lavender-blue flower spikes from winter to spring and sporadically throughout the year.

Creeping thyme grows 2-3 inches tall and spreads 1-3 feet wide and can withstand foot traffic, making it an excellent choice for a walkable groundcover or turf alternative. It has fragrant pinkish-purplish tubular flowers which bloom in the summer. It requires well-drained, preferably sandy or rocky soil.

These aromatic Mediterranean perennials and sub-shrubs include many types used for culinary purposes, as well as others used as ornamental groundcovers.

Examples: The following examples are all available in many named varieties.

• Lemon thyme (T. x citriodorus, 1’ x 2’) has a lemony fragrance.
• Creeping thyme (T. praecox, 2-6” x 2-3’) provides an excellent groundcover between stepping stones.
• Woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus [lanuginosus], 2-4” x 3’) has wooly gray leaves.
• Elfin thyme (T. serpyllum ‘Elfin’, 1-2” x 6-12”) is one of the smallest thymes with tiny leaves and a very compact growth habit.
• Common thyme (T. vulgaris, 1’ x 2’) and named varieties are most commonly used for culinary purposes.

Woolly Bluecurls are a California native member of the mint family with a fresh minty aroma. They can grow quickly to 3-4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, but only live about 4-5 years. This shrub requires regular water until it is established, at which point too much water (even just occasional water in the summer) can kill it. It requires perfect drainage. Pollinators find it very attractive.

Society garlic is the most commonly available from this group of South African perennials.  Clumps of narrow, evergreen, strappy leaves are topped with tall flower stalks that display clusters of lavender flowers from spring through summer. Society garlic has a strong garlic-like odor!

Chinese evergreen elm has proven to be one of the most resistant species to Dutch elm disease and is a good choice for California gardens where a large tree is needed. This tree from China, Korea, and Japan has a broad, rounded canopy and is semi-evergreen in milder climate zones. Exfoliating bark provides additional interest. Several cultivars are available offering different leaf characteristics.

Fast-growing perennials that thrive in hot locations and produce clusters of small, showy flowers in summer.

Examples:

• Cedros Island verbena (V. lilacina ‘De La Mina’, 1-2’ x 2-3’) from the Cedros Island off the coast of Baja California is a popular native for its deep purple flower color and uniform growth habit.
• V. bonariensis (3-6’ x 2-3’) is an upright perennial from South America with long, airy flower stalks. Reseeds readily and should not be planted near riparian areas where it can be invasive.
• Garden verbena (V. x hybrida, 6-12” x 2-3’) is a popular and showy groundcover available in many colors.

Attractive deciduous shrub or small tree from the Mediterranean region to central Asia that produces spikes of fragrant lavender-blue flowers in summer into fall. Several varieties provide white or pink flowers.