Water Smart Plant Picker

Tough and adaptable, fast-growing evergreen shrub with willow-like leaves that is native to warm regions including the American Southwest and Hawaii. While the flowers are inconspicuous, they are followed by attractive, papery seed capsules. Purple-leaved cultivars are the most commonly planted, although green-leaved varieties are also available. D. v. ‘Purpurea’ has both green and purple leaves, D. v. ‘Saratoga’ has deep purple leaves.

Group of succulent perennials with a characteristic rosette shape and chalky appearance that are mostly native to central and southern California where they grow on rocky outcroppings and coastal cliffs. Provide these plants with good drainage and afternoon shade in hotter areas. Larger forms can provide a striking accent plant in summer-dry gardens. Plant dudleyas at a slight angle to help water drain away.

Examples: giant chalk dudleya (D. brittonii, 12-18”), sand lettuce (D. caespitosa, up to 8”), bluff lettuce (D. farinosa, 4”, forms small colonies), chalk liveforever (D. pulverulenta, up to 2’).

Perennial, low-growing, grayish-green groundcover from South Africa that grows to 2-3” and spreads to about 1-3’ over time. Yellow, daisy-like flowers add to the interest of this plant in the summer. Excellent between pavers or planted in mass to cover larger areas. Can withstand light foot traffic. Sensitive to frost damage in colder areas.

Group of flowering annuals and perennials mostly native to North America. Two species are commonly grown in California gardens. Beach aster (E. glaucus, 12” x 18”) is native to coastal California and Oregon and has purple flowers with yellow centers from spring into summer. Santa Barbara daisy (E. karvinskianus, 10-18” x 2-3’) has white and pink flowers with yellow centers. This plant can self-sow aggressively but is easily pulled.

Examples: E. g. ‘Wayne Roderick’ has deep purple flowers. E. g. ‘White Lights’ is a white- flowering form from Sonoma County.

Diverse group of flowering, evergreen shrubs and perennials and annuals found throughout the western United States. Most available in nurseries are native to California and generally prefer drier sites. Flowers colors include yellow, white, pink, and red and are held above foliage in umbels that dry over time and are popular in flower arrangements. Buckwheats provide pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies, larval food for butterflies, seeds for birds, and cover for many creatures.

Examples:

• Santa Cruz Island buckwheat (E. arborescens, 3-4’ x 4-5’) densely mounded with white flowers.
• Saffron buckwheat (E. crocatum, 1-2’ x 2-3’) with chartreuse-yellow flowers and pale leaves.
• California buckwheat (E. fasciculatum, 2-3’ x 3’) and its low-growing cultivars such as E. f. ‘Warriner Lytle.’
• Catherine’s lace (E. giganteum, 4-8’ x 6-10’) with delicate, white flowers and soft pale leaves.
• Red-flowered buckwheat (E. grande var. Rubescens, 1-2’ x 2-3’) low-mounding perennial with rose-pink flowers, coastal bluff buckwheat (E. latifolium, up to 12” x 1-2’.)
• Sulfur buckwheat (E. umbellatum, 6-18” x 1-3’) with intense yellow flowers and cultivars E. u. var. aureum ‘Kannah Creek’ and E. u. Var. ‘Shasta Sulphur’.

Short-lived perennials with differing growth habits with flower spikes of small flowers. Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ is a popular hybrid that grows 3’ x 3-4’ and blooms from winter and into spring. Many hybrids with different flower colors are available.

Tough shrubs planted for foliage and often used as a screen or hedge. Evergreen euonymus (Euonymus japonicus) has lower water requirements than most other available species and grows 4-10’ x 6’. Plant in full sun with good air circulation to help prevent mildew.

Examples: Variegated examples include: E. j. ‘Aureo-Marginata’ and E. j. ‘Aureo-Variegatus’, E. j. ‘Silver King’, and E. j. ‘Silver Queen’. E. j. ‘Microphyllus’ grows 2’ x 2’ and has small boxwood-like leaves.

Large and variable group of several thousand plants that vary in both form and water requirements. Caution: Some euphorbias reseed readily, and all have milky white sap that is irritating to skin and poisonous.

Low-water examples: Mediterranean spurge (E. characias, 3-4’ x 3-4’) and E. c. spp. Wulfenii offer large clusters of flower bracts; creeping spurge (E. myrsinites, 6-12” x 12-18”); Martin euphorbia (E. x martinii & cvs, 2-3’ x 2-3’) offers a more compact shrub form than Mediterranean spurge with brown-centered chartreuse flowers.

Large group of mostly cool-season, perennial, bunching or spreading grasses. Bunch grass varieties can be used as a no-mow lawn replacement, help to stabilize slopes, and have ornamental value. Festuca californica (California fescue, 1-2’ wide x 2’) prefers part shade and works wonderfully massed under the dry shade of native oaks. Festuca glauca (blue fescue, 1’ x 1’) is a small, clumping grass with bluish gray-green leaves. Festuca idahoenis (Idaho fescue, 1-2’ wide x 1’) also has bluish gray-green leaves and is more drought-tolerant and longer lived than blue fescue. Festuca rubra (red fescue) grows from rhizomes and has long, fine-textured leaves that lay over to form a pleasing drift effect as a no-mow lawn.

Fraxinus dipetala is a deciduous tree or large shrub. Clusters of lightly fragrant, white flowers in the spring season. Requires pruning to shape when the tree is still young. They are fast-growing up to 15-25 feet tall and 12-20 feet wide.

Fast-growing evergreen shrub with fuzzy, flannel-like leaves. Large golden yellow to orange blossoms that bloom in the spring. Best suited in full sun with well-drained soils.

Low-growing, flowering perennials and annuals with daisy-like flowers in yellows and reds. Gaillardia x grandiflora is a hybrid that grows 2-4’ x 18-24” and may need less water than other hybrids. Many different varieties provide variations in flower color and size.