Water Smart Plant Picker

Western redbud is an ornamental, multi-trunked and deciduous, large shrub or small tree with year-round interest that provides a California native and very low-water alternative to the moderate-water Cercis canadensis. Magenta to rosy pink blossoms that resemble pea flowers cover bare branches in late winter to early spring. Apple green, heart-shaped leaves emerge to accompany the flowers. Over the summer, the leaves become more leathery and bluish green, and seed pods mature and remain into the winter months.

Early-flowering, deciduous shrubs that grow wider than they do tall. Stiff, spiny branches produce clusters of flowers that are often pale pink, red, or white. Fruit can be made into preserves. Check with local nurseries for cultivars with different forms and flowers, some of which are nearly thornless.

Spreading perennial with soft-textured leaves that can be used as a groundcover, along pathways, or between flagstones. Flowers vary by variety from daisy-like to small, yellow buttons. C. n. ‘Flore Pleno’ has white double flowers and C. n. ‘Treneague’ is a non-flowering variety.

Chilopsis linearis is a small tree. Noted for fragrant, showy flowers in the spring and summer seasons. They are often multitrunked and fast-growing getting up to 15-30 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. Holds foliage with occasional summer irrigation.

Fast-growing, medium-sized, deciduous tree with clusters of showy trumpet-shaped flowers from late spring to fall. Chitalpa is a sterile hybrid between Catalpa bignonioides, common catalpa, and Chilopsis linearis, desert willow. It combines the larger flowers of the former and the drought-tolerance of the latter. Since the flowers are sterile, they do not form seed pods or fruit. There are two popular cultivars, ‘Pink Dawn’ with lavender-pink flowers and ‘Morning Cloud’ with white flowers.

Soap plant has delicate white flowers which only open in the late afternoon through the night. In the morning, the flowers close again. It is a drought-resistant perennial that needs almost no care once established. It grows 1 foot tall and wide with flowers that rise up to 4-6 feet tall. After flowering, it is drought-deciduous. Native to most non-desert areas of California, soap plant enjoys bluffs, grasslands, and woodlands. It grows well in sun to light shade and most soils.

Clumping perennial with stiff, upright, jointed stems that contrast well with other plants. Tan-colored bracts form at the stem joints in summer and fall, providing a striking display. Two species from South Africa grow well in California gardens, especially in rain gardens and swales since they will tolerate both standing water and dry conditions, once established. C. elephantinum (4-5’ x 4-10’) is the larger of the two, C. tectorum (3-4’ x 3-5’) is more suitable for smaller spaces.

Calandrinia spectabilis, native to Chile, is now named Cistanthe spectabilis but is still often offered as Calandrinia. Full sun, fast-draining soils. Gray green succulent foliage forms a clump 1 ft. tall and up to 3 ft. wide with brilliant magenta flowers that rise on stems above the foliage. Very easy to grow, prefers full sun, but can tolerate afternoon shade. Needs good drainage and very little water once established. A closely related species, Calandrinia grandiflora, is somewhat larger and distinguished by its more narrow elliptical leaves. Both are excellent choices for a xeriscape, rock garden or containers.

Mediterranean evergreen flowering shrubs that perform well in California gardens with plenty of sun. Good choice for stabilizing slopes and banks. Flowers appear mid-spring into early summer. Many varieties are low, mounding groundcovers while others are more upright.

Examples: C. ladanifer (crimson spot rockrose, 3-5’ x 3-5’) has white flowers with dark crimson spots. C. x hybridus ‘Mickie’ (white rockrose, 1.5-2’ x 2’) has unique variegated foliage with cherry red stems and white flowers. C. x purpureus (orchid rockrose, 4’ x 4’) flowers are reddish purple with maroon blotches. C. salvifolius (sageleaf rockrose, 2’ x 6’) has white flowers and sage-like leaves. C. x skanbergii (2-4’ x 3-4’) bears pale pink flowers. C. ‘Sunset’ (2’ x 3-5’) flowers in magenta pink and has fuzzy gray-green leaves.

Large group of mostly herbaceous annual wildflowers native to Western North America. Can be sown from seed in fall for late spring to summer blooms. Flowers range from white to pink. California native species include C. amoena (Farewell-to-Spring) 2-3 feet tall and makes a great cut flower, C. speciosa (Red Spotted Clarkia) 2 feet tall, and C. unguiculata (Elegant Clarkia) 2-3 feet tall.

The deciduous pipestem clematis is native to dry foothills of California and Baja California and is one of the few flowering vines that requires little-to-no supplemental water. Pipestem clematis produces an abundance of 1-inch, creamy white flowers in spring that develop into attractive, fluffy seed heads. Allow to grow through shrubs or trees or train on a pergola, archway, or fence.

Jasmine is an easy to care for vining shrub that was an exquisite sweet fragrance. The fragrant white to pale pink flowers blossom from early summer to autumn. Deciduous to semi-evergreen shrubby vine, to 15-20 feet.