Water Smart Plant Picker

Woody evergreen shrub or small tree (20-30’ x 15-20’) with narrowly oval, leathery, evergreen leaves. Small fragrant white flowers in the winter, that attracts bees, and blue-black fruit in early spring. Native to southeastern North America and west to eastern Texas. Best near the coast and in well-drained acidic soils.

• P. caroliniana ‘Compacta’ (10-15’ x 6-8’) is a popular smaller form.

Evergreen shrub, or small tree, with leathery, glossy, dark green leaves. Creamy white flower spikes in spring to early summer. In fall, there are reddish to purple fruits that attract many species of birds. California Native from central California to Baja California coastal mountains and foothills. Can be used as a hedge or screen, as well as for erosion control.

• Catalina cherry (P. ilicifolia spp. Lyonii, 30-45’ x 20-30’) is native to the Channel Islands.

Large group of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees that includes many ornamental species as well as others that produce edible fruit.

Examples:

• Apricot, nectarine, peach, and plum trees are all classified as having low-water use in Sonoma and Marin counties. Consult local nurseries for available types and specific growing requirements.

Deciduous shrub or small tree with striking trumpet-shaped, red or orange flowers followed by edible fruit. Low-fruiting cultivars are available to grow pomegranates for ornamental reasons, but fruiting varieties provide a delicious addition to the garden bounty. Consult local nurseries for available cultivars.

Woody perennial, evergreen tree. Large, dense and broadly rounded with green, spiny margin leaves. Native along coast and coastal mountains from Northern California. One of the best local natives for large properties. Susceptible to Sudden Oak Death.

Woody perennial, deciduous tree. Slow growing local native with blue tinted foliage. Native to dry, rocky slopes in foothills. Not susceptible to Sudden Oak Death.

Woody perennial, deciduous tree. Large slow growing native with beautiful spring foliage. Large, glossy, green leaves with bristly tipped lobes. Large acorns within tree. Susceptible to Sudden Oak Death.

Woody perennial, deciduous tree. Fast growing and one of the best local natives for large properties. Dark green leaves and dark brown to pale gray, ridged bark. Not susceptible to Sudden Oak Death.

Quercus suber is an evergreen tree with unique bark characteristics. The bark contains high amounts of suberin, which is a waxy substance that is waterproof. With that, the bark has been used to produce corks for wine bottles for years. The trees’ average growth is around 40-70 feet tall and wide. They can grow bigger, but it’s not very common.

Evergreen shrub that has insignificant flowers followed by black berries. Flowers are attractive to pollinators, especially bees, and berries provide a food source for birds. Cultivars commonly sold in nurseries have differing growth habits and are often smaller than the species which grows 5-18’ x 10-18’.

Examples: F. c. ‘Eve Case’ (6-8’ x 6-8’), R. c. ‘Leatherleaf’ (5-6’ x 5-6’), R. c. ‘Mound San Bruno’ (6-8’ x 6-8’) with a dense, mounding growth habit.

Note: California coffeeberry was formerly classified as Rhamnus californica and is now classified as Frangula californica.

Group of shrubs typically grown for their foliage as background plantings, hedges, or screens. Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus)—a large, evergreen shrub that grows 12-15’ tall and wide from the Mediterranean region—is the most widely available of the buckthorns. Italian buckthorn is adapted to coastal and inland environments and tolerates clipping and pruning well. R. a. ‘Variegata’ has leaves with cream edges.

Two species of Rhaphiolepis and many cultivars are widely available in California. These evergreen, flowering shrubs and small trees provide attractive foliage and clusters of pink or white flowers from spring into fall followed by dark blue fruits.

• Indian hawthorn (R. indica, 4-5’ x 5-6’) has a mounding growth habit and is available in many cultivars at local nurseries offering a range of size and flower variations.
• i. ‘Majestic Beauty’ (R. montic 10-18’ x 8-10’) deserves special mention as it is larger than other available cultivars and can be trained as a small, single- or multi-trunked tree.
• Yeddo hawthorn (R. umbellata, 4-8’ x 4-8’) has white flowers and more leathery leaves than Indian hawthorn.