Drought Tolerant Plants for Mendocino County

Xeriscape

Combines the Greek word xeros “dry”with the word landscaping“dry landscaping”

a landscaping method developed especially for arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-conserving techniques such as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation.

Drought Tolerant Shrubs/Trees

Mugo Pine

Native to Europe and Asia Small to medium evergreen shrubMany different varietiesAdapts to different situationsWill take partial shadeGood for Japanese gardensUsed in containers and bonsai

Pinusmugo

Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergii

Native to Japan and eastern AsiaCompact deciduous shrub. 3-5ft ht x 4 ft wideDense twiggy growth form with thornsGood as ornamental hedge or as shrub borderSmall, oval shaped leaves. Purple leafed varieties like “atropurpurea” popularRed berries persist through winter

Heavenly Bamboo

Nandina domestica

Evergreen shrub—not a bambooFoliage resembles bamboo leavesWhite flowers in spring, red berries in fallGrown for foliage color…burgundy/bronzeTolerates shadeGreat for Japanese gardens

RockroseCistus sp.

Perennial shrub….needs sunDusty green, round shrubWhite, purple or dark pink flowers are tissue paper like.Can get 4ft x 4ftKeeps shape without pruningHas pleasant smellC. purpureus is common

Pineapple guavaFeijoa sellowiana

Native to Brazil and ArgentinaDrought tolerant once establishedEvergreen with oval leaves that are dark green on top and silvery gray underneath. Pale gray bark.Good as hedgerow, or small tree to 15 ft.Exotic pink flowers with tassel of red stamens. Petals are edible, can be used in salads. Fruit is edible, has minty pineapple flavor and matures in the fallFruits 1-3 inches long, elongate pear shape

Grevillea‘Canberra Gem’

Medium size shrub 6x8ft tall with equal spread. Arching branches.Clusters of rose red flowers winter & spring.Deep green needle like leavesNamed for capital of AustraliaAlmost all Grevillea from AustraliaGood barrier plant

Australian Tea TreeLeptospermum scoparium

Evergreen shrubs with small, stiff leavesCan be trained as small treesCan be used as hedge or in bonsaiShowy rose like flowers, pink red,whiteMyrtle family-85 speciesUsed to make tea, prevent scurvy by Captain Cook

Crape MyrtleLagerstroemia indica

Native to China Deciduous small tree or shrubLong flowering period starting in summer

Available in many colorsSmooth peeling barkGood fall colorPrune late winter or early spring without loss of

flower buds as flowers appear on new growth.

AucubaAucuba japonica

Japanese Aucuba, “gold dust” plantEvergreen shrub, 3-8ft tall 3-4 ft wideShade or afternoon shadeGold speckled foliage Variegation differs from plant to plantNeed male and female plants to produce fruit (red berries)Cold hardy but protect from frost, slow growingGood for foundation plantings, specimen plant

Indian HawthornRhaphiolepis indica

Evergreen shrub native to southeast ChinaCompact growth habit 3x5 ft tall by wideDecorative pink flowersWithstands shaping but best left in natural formUse as border,hedge or mass plantingEasy to grow. In bloom now. Raleys

Drought Tolerant Perennials

Russian Sage

PerennialNot a Salvia, and not from Russia.Member of the Mint familyProduces “airy cloud” of smoky purple flowers late in summer.Has aromatic leavesGood for back of a borderPairs well with ornamental grasses, and yellow or white flowered perennials like Rudbeckia and Phlox

Perovskia atriplicifolia

Jupiter’s Beard (Red Valerian)

Centranthus ruberNative to the MediterraneanBlue-green lance shaped leavesFlowers profusely late spring and summerReddish-purple flowers attract lots of insectsWhite flowered cultivar “Albus” also availableGrows wild in some western statesGreat in bordersLooks good with yellow/gold yarrow or dark blue salviasSelf seeds readilyCan be weedy in the garden

Jerusalem SagePhlomis fruticosa

Native to Mediterranean-Turkey,SyriaPerennial shrub. Mint family. 3-4 ft x 3-4 ftFoliage fuzzy, heart shaped at base. Blue/greenBright yellow flowers in whorls with several on one stalk, on top of one another.Blooms May& June. Flowers last throughout summerGood anchor plant, deer resistantGood with Spirea, Abelia, Lavender, blue flowered salviasNeeds full sun

Purple WallflowerErysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’

Evergreen, shrubby short lived perennial2-3 ft tall Gray-green narrow lance-shaped leavesPurple (mauve) colored flowers from spring through summerAdds rich scent to gardenAttracts bees and butterfliesSusceptible to root rot

Red Hot Poker

Torch LilyPerennialFoliage is evergreenDeer ResistantFlower midsummer to fallAttractive to bees and hummingbirdsCan be propagated by collecting seed or dividing rhizomesComes in yellow varieties

Kniphofia uvaria

Lamb’s EarsStachys byzantina

Native to Turkey and IranVelvety silvery gray-green foliageLow growing spreaderGrown for color and texture of foliageCan be invasiveLight purple or pink flowers on 12-18” spikes in late spring / early summerOverhead water can cause leaf rotGreat for borders and rock gardensContrast nicely with white or pink roses and with foliage of Iris

Globe ThistleEchinops sp.

Native to southeastern EuropeEchinops bannaticus “Blue Glow”Bushy, upright perennial 2-4 ft highStems with globe shaped, steel blue Numerous flowersFlowers have spiky appearance in early stages. Plant from seed or rhizome.Deer resistant, attractive to bees, butterflies and birdsGood for cut flowers and dry arrangementsLooks good with daylilies and Yarrow

New Zealand FlaxPhormium tenax

Spiky, sword-leafed evergreen perennialGreat accent plantLeaves 3-6 ft. Deer resistantLong leaf fibers used in New Zealand culture, historyMany colorful dwarf and intermediate varieties availableBackground plantings. Look good with ornamental grasses

Lily of the NileAgapanthus africanus

Native to South AfricaStrap like leaves with blue or white flowersFlowers on tall stemsGreat for borders

SagesSalvia sp.

Genus of plants in the mint familySalvia comes from latin “salvare” to heal or save. Salvia has long history of medicinal usesSalvia officinalis-Common Sage /culinary useTotal of 900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials and annuals18 species native to CAMany native to Mexico, South AmericaCommonly cultivated. Many crosses.

Meadow SageSalvia nemorosa

Native to EuropeAlso called Salvia sylvestris16-20 inch deep violet blue flower spikesBlooms late spring through summer“Cardonna Sage” popular cultivarLooks good with gold/yellow yarrow or Rudbeckia “Black Eyed Susan”White flowered cultivars also available

Mexican Bush SageSalvia leucantha

Downy, bushy lance shaped leaves/flowers One of the most ornamental salvias3-5 ft wide and tallBlooms late mid summer to fallWill die back with hard frost

Attracts lots of hummingbirds and butterflies

Other trees to consider

Large: Tulip Tree (Liriodendron),DeodarCedar, Pines, IronwoodMedium: Raywood Ash, Chinese Pistache, Purple Leaf Plum, OliveSmall: Western Redbud, Crape Myrtle, Holly, Pomegranate

Other shrubs to consider

CotoneasterGenista (check for invasiveness)JunipersOleanderCallistemmonEuryops Shrub DaisyEscallonia

Society GarlicTulbaghia violacea

Clumping herbaceous perennialMember of Lily family but not a true garlicNarrow gray/green strappy leavesVariegated versions availablePink/purple flowers on tall stalks over long

period starting early springGives off garlicky aromaDivide large clumps or sow by seed

Gray Creeping Germander Teucrium aroanium

Gray green honey scented leavesPerennial groundcoverForms a low mound that spreads outCut back to ground in spring to maintain compact form

California Fuschia

Formerly called Zauschneria californicaNative to CaliforniaLow growing perennialProvides late year colorMow down at Christmas to keep looking goodLoved by hummingbirds

Epilobiumcalifornica

Silver Edged Horehound

Marrubium rotundifoliumExcellent Xeric groundcoverNative to TurkeySoft felted leavesGreat contrast when grown around taller perennials

Coyote Mint

CA NativePerennial herbMinty smellAttracts butterfliesUsed by Spanish as a cure for sore throat and stomach acheCan be made into a tea

Monardella villosa

Wormwood- Herbaceous PerennialForms mound 3’x3’Deer resistantGrown for its silvery green feathery foliageFragrant leavesPrune for size and shape in spring

Artemesia “Powis Castle”

Spring flowering bulbs

Daffodil-Narcissus sp.Iris sp.Hyacinth spp.Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)TulipsCrocusIris (rhizome)

Belladonna Lilly

“Naked Ladies”Native to South AfricaGrows in clumps between rocks in its native habitatUnusual because it flowers before producing leaves-”hysteranthy”Flowers in late summer –July/AugustInflorescence tends to face direction that receives the most sun

Amaryllis belladonna

LavenderLavendula sp.

Native to the Mediterranean, Africa, India Three basic varieties: English, French, Spanish

English: Lavendula augustifolia – “True” Lavender”Most popular. Strongest fragrance. Used in crafts, dried flowers, essential oils.

French: Lavendula dentata- Serrated leaves. Least fragrant.

Spanish: Lavendula stoechas- Distinctive for its cone shaped flower. Fragrant. Tends to sprawl over time.

Red YuccaHesperaloe parviflora

Clump forming succulentNative to Arizona and Northern MexicoEvergreen perennial 3x3 ft, flowers to 6 ftSerrated leaves 1 ½-2ft longProduces several “pups” each yearCan be planted from seedBlooms April to NovemberAttracts butterflies, deer resistantGood with Perovskia or Sedum “Autumn Joy”

PenstemonsMost native to North America/CaliforniaMany cultivars and colorsAttract lots of bees & hummingbirds.Some more drought tolerant than others.Penstemon heterophyllus-Foothill penstemonPenstemon centranthifolius- ‘Scarlet Bugler’

Hen and ChicksSempervivum tectorum

Perennial, mat-forming succulent producing clusters of rosettes.Twelve inch flower stalk with pink or red flowersFull sun to part shadeGreat for rock gardens,edgingplants, rock walls, borders, containersHens die after flowering, but chicks take their placeLooks good with Sedums, Dianthus and Thymus sp.

Stonecrop

Perennial succulentEasy to grow, deer resistantFlowers turn from a light pink to red as weather gets colder

Sedum sp.

Butterfly WeedAsclepias tuberosa

Native to eastern North AmericaLance shaped dark green leavesClusters of dark yellow to orange flowers from early summer to fallLong history of medicinal usesProduces lots of nectarCan be grown from seedMass plantings, bordes, rock gardens

Groundcovers

Turkish Speedwell- Veronica liwanensisWoolly thyme- Thymus pseudolanuginosusSweet Woodruff- Galium odoratum

Drought tolerant culinary herbs

Oregano-Origanum sp.* many varieties

Rosemary-Rosmarinus officinalis* upright and prostrate varieties

Garden Sage-Salvia officinalis* many varieties

Thyme-Thymus vulgaris* upright and prostrate

Other Perennials to consider

Agastache- Hummingbird MintCoreopsis- TickseedNepeta- CatmintOenothera- Evening PrimroseHyssopus officinalis- HyssopGuaraPhlox subulataVeronica-SpeedwellDaylilies

Water thirsty plants

HydrangeaGardeniaCameliaAzaleaJapanese MapleFatsiaFuschiaPodocarpusRhododendronRosesStar JasminePassifloraFernsPotted plants

WUCOLSWater Use Classification of Landscape Species

“A Guide to Estimating Water Needs of Landscape Plantings in California”Collaboration of University of California

Cooperative Extension and California Department of Water Resources.Uses Landscape Coefficient Factor that takes into account species, density, microclimateSpecies Evaluation List of water needs

Contains guide to invasive species to avoid