Native & Drought Tolerant Plants

Use of California native and drought tolerant plants in residential landscapes is an effective way to conserve water, reduce pesticide use, lower maintenance cost, and save valuable landfill space. Not to mention that the use of native plants help support the local ecology. Here is our top ten list of native and drought tolerant plants and shrubs.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera californica) Herbaceous perennial. Grows flat on the ground. Flowers Spring through Fall with 2-inch pink-white flowers Needs occasional water. Nothing seems to eat it. Flowers are fragrant. Mature Size: 1-2’ h x 1-25’ w Minimum Temp: 20° F
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) Herbaceous perennial. Blooms March to May with dark rose-lilac colored flowers with a fruity scent. Full sun or partial shade. An extremely drought and frost tolerant plant. Easy to grow. Mature size: 2’ h x 2’ w Minimum Temp: 10-15° F
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) Deciduous tree or shrub. Fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers in Spring in a variety of colors that attract hummingbirds. Drops seed pods in winter; trim to keep shapely. Mature size: 15-30’ h x 20 w Minimum Temp: 32° F
Island Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida) Evergreen shrub with yellow flowers in spring, early summer. Prefers full sun, good drainage, tolerates cold temperatures and benefits from pruning after blooms. Mature size: 10’ h x 8’ w Minimum Temp: 32° F
California Wild Rose (Rosa californica) Deciduous shrub. Blooms Spring and Summer and does best with some occasional water. Prune to maintain size. It is also an excellent plant for security, as it’s thorns are hooked. Mature size: 1-25’ h x 1-25’ w Minimum Temp: 20° F
Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla) Evergreen shrub. Blooms late Spring, flowers are light purple. Has fuzzy, white/ green leaves. Prefers direct sun, drought-tolerant and no water after established. Attracts many types of butterflys. Mature size: 5’ h x 6’ w Minimum Temp: 10° F
Big Berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) Large shrub or small tree, generally with several major crooked stems. Shiny deep green leaves with attractive deep red twisted bark. Abundant light pink flowers during winter and spring. Mature size: 25’ h x 25’ w Minimum Temp: 10-15° F
Desert or Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) Very hardy evergreen perennial. Clusters of coral flowers on stems spring to fall, depending on temperatures. Prefers dry winters and benefits from pruning after blooming. Mature size: 3’ h x 3’ w Minimum Temp: 32° F
White Bark California Lilac (Ceanothus leucodermis) Evergreen shrub. White bark and azure blue flowers in the Spring. Native to dry rocky chaparralslopes in the coast ranges and the Sierra Nevada. Its extensive root system is excellent for soil stabilization. Mature size: 8’ h x 8’ w Minimum Temp: 32° F
Evergreen Currant (Ribes viburnifolium) Evergreen shrub. Fragrant dark green leaves; light pink to purplish flowers in winter and spring. Prefers partial shade, does not tolerate full sun. Excellent ground cover under other plants. Mature size: 4’ h x 6’ w Minimum Temp.: 20° F

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