Water Smart Plant Picker

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.

Small-to-medium-sized deciduous tree with both ornamental and food-production value and low-water requirements. Leaves turn a vivid yellow-orange in the fall before dropping to reveal orange fruits hanging from branches like ornaments from fall into winter or until harvested either by the homeowner or local wildlife. Many cultivars are available with different fruit characteristics and may be purchased either in a container or bare root during the winter months. Rootstock determines overall tree size and is typically labeled as dwarf, semi-dwarf, or standard.

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 California native succulents with a characteristic rosette shape and chalky appearance that 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”), Coast Dudleya (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 1-3” tall 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 as a drought tolerant lawn alternative. Can withstand light foot traffic. Sun along the coast, light shade inland, well-drained soils.

Echeveria (Hens and Chicks) succulents grow as rosettes of green to gray-green or bluish gray leaves and nodding, bell-shaped flowers on tall stems in spring or early summer. Some species spread to form multiple rosettes, others remain solitary. Native to rocky outcrops in semi-arid parts of Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America, hundreds of cultivars can be found. Plant in cool sun or afternoon shade, with good air circulation and excellent drainage.

California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) is a beautiful native perennial groundcover to sub-shrub of the California foothills and coastal areas. It is a perennial plant, notable for the many bright red flowers in summer and autumn. They tend to go dormant in the winter, which is a good time to prune the old foliage to encourage new growth in spring. Easy to grow, will do best and flower most profusely in full sun. It can spread by seed and by rhizomes. Great for attracting hummingbirds. This plant is on several fire-resistant plant lists, including FireSafe Marin and County of San Diego.

Group of flowering perennials mostly native to North America. Two species are commonly grown in California gardens. Beach aster (E. glaucus, 12” x 2′) 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 found throughout the western United States. Most available in nurseries are native to California and generally prefer drier sites. Flowers colors include yellow, white, and pink 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’.

The Common Wooly Sunflower is native to northern California up to British Columbia and east to Wyoming. Many cultivars are available. Generally, they grow less than 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. They have upright stems with wooly leaves and a singular sunflower atop each stem. It tolerates a wide variety of well-draining soils. Cut back in late winter to renew.

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.