Water Smart Plant Picker

The bush anenome is a pleasantly fragranced shrub that can grow to 6-8 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. It has glossy green leaves and white flowers with large yellow centers which attract bees and butterflies. It is native to the Sierra Nevada foothills, and can tolerate sun to part shade depending on location. It will adapt to many soils as long as they are well-draining. In nurseries, its ‘Elizabeth’ cultivar is often sold.

Ceanothus is a group of fast-growing, evergreen shrubs that vary from groundcovers to small trees, many of which are native to California. They provide a spectacular display of flowers in spring that will attract a multitude of pollinators. Flowers are followed by seeds that provide food for birds. The clusters of tiny flowers range from white to deep violet. Plants perform best with good drainage and minimal irrigation once established. Some do best in cooler coastal climates, but many thrive in hotter inland climates. Pay close attention to the mature size when selecting ceanothus to ensure that it has sufficient space for its natural form.

Groundcovers: C. ‘Centennial’ (1’ x 8’), C. gloriosus var. gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’ (2’ x 8’), C. griseus var. horizontalis ‘Diamond Heights’ (variegated, 1’ x 4’), C. griseus var. horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ (3’ x 12’), C. maritimus (2’ x 6’).

Shrubs: C. ‘Blue Jeans’ (6’ x 6’), C. Concha (6’ x 6’), C. ‘Dark Star’ (6’ x 8’), C. ‘Joyce Coulter’ (4’ x 12’), C. ‘Julia Phelps’ (8’ x 10’), C. cuneatus (8’ x 8’), C. thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ (4’ x 6’).

Large shrubs: C. ‘Frosty Blue’ (10’ x 12’), C. thyrsiflorus (20’ x 20’), C. t. ‘Snow Flurry’ (white flower, 20’ x 20’).

Trees: C. ‘Ray Hartman’ (15′ x 15′)

This small group of herbaceous, flowering perennials is valued for clusters of intense blue flowers in summer and fall. Two widely available low-water species are shrubby Burmese plumbago (C. griffithii, 2-4’ x 2-6’) and the popular groundcover, dwarf plumbago (C. plumbaginoides, 6-12”, spreading to 3-4’).

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.