Water Smart Plant Picker

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.

Large group of annual and perennial plants that produce a vivid display of yellow-to-orange flowers in full sun to part shade. Many cultivars are available from local nurseries. C. lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed), C. rosea (pink tickseed), and C. verticillata (threadleaf coreopsis) have lower water needs than other species and are likely to be more successful in hot, dry areas.

South Australian evergreen, small-to-medium-sized shrubs with delicate, tubular flowers that vary from white to green and yellow to red. Typical flower time is fall through spring, providing a nectar source when many California native plants are just coming out of dormancy. All require good drainage.

Examples: C. alba (4-8’ x 4-8’) blooms with white, star-shaped flowers. C. ‘Dusky Bells’ (2-3’ x 6-8’) is a mounding shrub with deep red flowers. C. ‘Ivory Bells’ (3-4’ x 4-6’) has white flowers. C. pulchella (2-3’ x 4-8’) is a variable species with several popular cultivars. C. reflexa (1-8’ x 3-9’) ranges from prostrate to upright. C. ‘Wynn’s Wonder’ (2-3’ x 3-5’) has variegated foliage and rosy pink flowers.

Slow growing and long-lived deciduous shrub with green leaves that turn yellow in fall and pendulous, yellow catkins in late winter followed by small, hard-shelled, spherical nuts. Native to moist, rocky slopes and forest edges in coastal mountains from southwestern British Columbia to central California and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. Sun or shade, well-drained soils.

Popular large, accent shrub or small tree with attractive rounded leaves and unique flowers that resemble puffs of smoke. Available in both green and purple-leaved varieties and grown as a natural multi-trunk or as a standard.

Examples: C. c. ‘Golden Spirit’ (15’ x 15’) produces golden-yellow foliage. C. c. ‘Purpureus’ (15-25’ x 15-25’) has purple leaves that gradually become greener. C. c. ‘Royal Purple’ (12-15’ x 12-15’) has dark purple foliage and purple flowers.

South African succulent with fleshy foliage that varies from round and flat to cylindrical, and produces flower stalks above the foliage with bell-shaped flowers. Cotyledon orbiculata has rounded leaves and forms a large clump (2-3’) over time. C. o. var. oblonga has elongated cylindrical foliage. C. tomentosa (1-2′) has fuzzy, bright green or gray-green, rounded leaves.

Variable group of succulents, from a few inches tall and mat-forming to 6 feet tall and shrubby. Clusters of tiny, star-shaped, white or pale pink flowers bloom in late winter or spring. Shrubby plants, commonly known as jade plants (e.g., C. ovata, C. arborescens), have fleshy, rounded or spoon-shaped leaves on branching stems. Most plants in cultivation are native to southern or eastern Africa. Hundreds of species and cultivars in an a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Sun to part shade or afternoon shade, excellent drainage.

Winter daphne (D. odora) is an evergreen shrub with lower water needs than most other Daphne species and is prized for the aroma of its flowers. Winter daphne has a reputation for being unpredictable. Plant in well-drained soil with part shade; water infrequently during the dry season to promote flowering in spring. Notable selections include the white-flowered ‘Alba’, ‘Aureo-Marginata’ with yellow-edged leaves, and ‘Leucanthe’ with white-throated pale pink flowers.

Group of highly drought-tolerant evergreen shrubs with long, narrow leaves and tall flower spikes from southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. Dasylirion wheeleri is perhaps the most commonly available species for planting in Northern California and grows 3-5’ x 4-5’.

The bush poppy is an evergreen shrub with gray green leaves and yellow flowers. Dendromecon harfordii (Island Bush Poppy), is fast growing to 8-15 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide, with flowers in spring and early summer. Native to dry slopes on the Channel Islands in southern California. Best near the coast. Dendromecon rigida (Bush Poppy), grows 4-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide and flowers in spring. Native to dry slopes in the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills from central California to northern Baja California. Both species thrive in sun to part shade with excellent drainage.

Clumping, cool-season grasses that grow over much of North America and Europe. Tufted hair grass (D. cespitosa, 1-2’ x 2’) is widely available and is also native to California. Tufted hair grass has flower spikes in late spring or early summer on slender stems that begin greenish gold and fade to straw-colored.