Water Smart Plant Picker

This fast-growing shrub is native to the Channel and Guadalupe islands of California and Mexico. It can grow to 3-4 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide and will bloom nearly yearround in good conditions. It prefers full sun and will produce more flowers if it is placed there, but will also thrive in part shade. ‘Firecracker’ is a compact selection. ‘Bocarosa’ has bright green leaves and masses of red flowers. Will grow well in a container. Cut back in late winter to renew. May be offered as Galvezia.

This unique shrub is native to dry coastal areas from Southern Oregon through California. Its catkins of gray-green flowers bloom in January or February. It can grow 12 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide, but may also be cut back to grow against a wall. It takes partial shade to cool sun and does well in most well-drained soils.

Group of flowering, evergreen shrubs, groundcovers and trees from Australia with many variations in growth habit and leaf shape. Red is the most common flower color, although some species flower in other colors.

Examples: G. ‘Canberra Gem’ (8-10’ x 10-12’) with needle-like leaves, G. ‘Noellii’ (3-4’ x 4-5’) also with needle-like leaves, woolly grevillea (G. lanigera, 3-6’ x 6-10’), the more prostrate C.I. ‘Coastal Gem’ (18” x 4-5’) and G. l. ‘Jade Mound’ (2’ x 4-5’), lavender grevillea (G. lavandulacea (2-5’ x 6-8’), and rosemary grevillea (G. rosmarinifolia, 6’ x 6’).

Group of herbaceous perennials in the sunflower family that are native to the Americas. Grindelia stricta is native to the west coast of America, including California, with yellow daisy-like flowers in the dry summer months. Spreading gum plant (G. s. var. platyphylla) is a low-growing groundcover form that can reach 6-10’ across.

Low-growing, evergreen, flowering shrub with soft green or gray-green leaves that spreads to about 3’. Flowers in spring to early summer. Many named cultivars provide flower colors that include red, orange, yellow, white, pink, and peach.

Mediterranean, cool-season bunchgrass that grows 2-3’ with blue-gray leaves and graceful wheat-colored stems of flower clusters in the spring. Pull out dead leaves rather than shearing. Best near the coast and in cooler summer climates. May be short lived.

Shade-loving perennials with attractive foliage that flower in winter and spring and may self-sow.

Examples: Corsican hellebore (H. argutifolius, 2-3’ x 2-3’), bear’s-foot hellebore (H. foetidus, 30” x 30”), H. lividus (18” x 3’), Lenten rose (H. orientalis, variable size), and hybrids.

California native, evergreen shrub or small tree often seen growing in Sonoma and Marin county wildlands. Lacy, white flower clusters in spring attract pollinators; red berries in winter provide a splash of color and an important food source for birds. The name “Hollywood” was born from the abundance of toyon in the hills of southern California and its resemblance to European holly. The cultivar ‘Davis Gold’ has yellow berries and may be more disease-resistant than the species.

Island Alum Root is a beautiful groundcover attractive to hummingbirds and other birds. It grows to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide with its large, bright green, heart-shaped leaves airy clusters of tiny, bell-shaped, pinkish white, early spring flowers. It is native to the Channel islands and enjoys coastal gardens. It likes cool sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Plants occasionally may need lifting and resettling as they tend to push themselves up and out of the soil.

Also known as “Cream Bush,” “Arrowwood,” or “Ironwood,” this California native is known for its beautiful clusters of fragrant white flowers. Its wood is strong enough that it was historically used by indigenous peoples to fashion arrows, nails, and other tools. It grows up to 3-10 feet tall and wide at a quick pace. The plant is hardy, doing well in shade to part shade and most soils. It is a coastal plant that enjoys a bit of damp cold, but can also do well in dry climates.

Iris are a large and diverse group of perennials that grow from either bulbs or rhizomes. The California native Douglas iris and cultivars known as Pacific Coast Hybrids are an excellent choice for summer-dry gardens and understory plantings. Fall rain brings new growth in the form of thin, upright leaves, followed in late winter to early spring by the first blossoms. Douglas iris commonly ranges in color from lavender to purple, but cultivars are available in a range of colors including white and yellow. Established plantings can be lifted and divided after the first significant fall rain and either replanted or put into containers to share with others.

California gray rush is a go-to species for the summer-dry rain garden. It will thrive in moist conditions and its roots will help stabilize soil and filter stormwater runoff. It is also tolerant of extended periods of drought. Clumps of stiff, upright foliage provide an interesting contrast among other perennials. ‘Elk Blue’ is a widely available selection from Mendocino County. Its bluish gray foliage is shorter than the typical gray rush.