Plants for Water Smart Landscapes

These plants have been selected because they are attractive, often available in retail nurseries, non-invasive, easy to maintain, long-term performers, scaled for residential landscapes, and of course, once established — drought tolerant. In some cases, there are so many excellent water smart plants in a particular group, like salvias, that we chose the group, and gave several examples.  Click here to see images.

(N) = Native Plant

Shrubs:

• Manzanita – Arctostaphylos species & hybrids (N)
• California Lilac – Ceanothus species and hybrids (N)
• Western Redbud – Cercis occidentalis (N)
• Geraldton Waxflower – Chamelaucium uncinatum
• Rockrose – Cistus species
• Grevillea – Grevillea species and hybrids
• Toyon – Heteromeles arbutifolia (N)
• Texas Ranger – Leucophyllum species
• Oregon Grape – Mahonia aquifolium (N)
• Common Myrtle – Myrtus communis
• Rosemary – Rosmarinus offi cinalis
• Coast Rosemary – Westringia fruticosa

Perennials:

• Kangaroo Paws – Anigozanthos species and hybrids
• California Sunflower – Encelia californica (N)
• Lavender – Lavandula species and hybrids
• Monkey flower – Mimulus, Native species and hybrids
• Foothill Penstemon – Penstemon heterophyllus (N)
• Parry’s Beardtongue – Penstemon parryi (N)
• Showy Penstemon – Penstemon spectabilis (N)
• Dune Sage – Salvia Africana lutea
• Gernander Sage – Salvia chamaedryoides
• Cleveland Sage – Salvia clevelandii (N)
• Mexican Bush Sage – Salvia leucantha
• Autumn Sage – Salvia greggii
• Peruvian Verbena – Verbena peruviana
• Copper Canyon Daisy – Tagetes lemmonii
• Mexican Tarragon – Tagetes lucida

Succulents:

• Aeonium - Aeonium species
• Agave – Agave species and hybrids
• Aloe – Aloe species and hybrids
• Rock Purslane – Calandrinia grandifl ora
• Live Forever – Dudleya species and hybrids (N)
• Hens-and-Chickens – Echeveria species and hybrids

Vines:

• Bougainvillea – Bougainvillea
• Yellow Orchid Vine – Mascagnia macroptera
• California Wild Grape – Vitis californica (N)

Groundcover:

• Carmel Creeper – Ceanothus griseus horizontalis species and hybrids (N)
• Silver Carpet – Dymondia margaretae
• Ice Plant – Lampranthus species
• Trailing Lantana – Lantana montevidensis
• Huntington Carpet Rosemary – Rosmarinus offi cinalis ‘Huntington Carpet’
• Prostrate Rosemary – Rosmarinus offi cinalis ‘Prostrata’
• Lockwood de Forest – Rosmarinus offi cinalis ‘Lockwood de Forest’
• Stonecrop – Sedum species and hybrids
• Woolly Thyme – Thymus pseudolanuginosus

Grass (includes Ornamental Grasses & Grass-like Plants)

• New Zealand Cabbage – Cordyline australis
• Pink Muhly Grass – Muhlenbergia capillaris
• Red Fountain Grass – Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
• New Zealand Flax – Phormium tenax and some species and hybrids

Trees:

• Strawberry Tree – Arbutus ‘Marina’
• Pindo Palm – Butia capitata
• Chitalpa – Chitalpa tashkentensis (N)
• Australian Willow – Geijera parviflora
• Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia indica
• Sweet Bay – Laurus nobilis
• Fruitless Olive – Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’
• Desert Museum Palo Verde – Parkinsonia (Cercidium) ‘Desert Museum’
• Chinese Pistache – Pistacia chinensis
• Coast Live Oak – Quercus agrifolia (N)

 

Source:  San Diego County Water Authority (www.sdcwa.org)