In recent times, California Governor Brown has issued water restrictions for our state.   San Bernardino County Master Gardeners are mindful of drought-tolerant plant selection that aligns with these state efforts.  Here you can find a great selection of water-wise landscape plants.  

Catalpa erubescens 'Pulverulenta'

Vines  

Solandra maxima

Bougainvillea spp. Bougainvillea

Clematis lasiantha, Chaparral Clematis

Jasminum humile, Italian Jasmine

Laurentia fluviatilis, Blue Star Creeper

Solandra maxima Cup-of-Gold vine

Vitis californica California Wild Grape

Groundcovers

Yarrow

Achilleaspp. Yarrow

Baccharis spp. Coyote Bush

Festuca ovina glauca Blue Fescue

Fragaria californica Strawberry

Lampranthus spp. Ice Plant

Trees

 Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree

Gleditsia triacanthos sunburst

Arbutus unedo Corsica

Chitalpa tashkentensis Chitalpa

Gleditsia triacanthos Honey Locust

Laurus nobilis Sweet Bay

Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill' Swan Hill Olive

Pinus brutia var. eldarica Afghan Pine

Platanus racemosa California Sycamore

Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak

Rhuslancea African Sumac

Shrubs, Perennials & Ornamental Grasses

Penstemon strictus

Agave spp. Agave

Arctostaphylos spp. Manzanita

Cistus Spp, Rockrose

Artemisia spp. Artemisia

Ceanothus spp. California Lilac

Cistus spp. Rockrose

Cotoneaster spp. Cotoneaster

Dudleya spp. Live Forever

Echeveria Hen-and-Chickens

Encelia californica California Encelia

Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy, Beach Fleabane

Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana)

Galvezia speciosa Island Bush Snapdragon

Grevillea spp. Grevillea

Helictotrichon sempervirens Blue Oat Grass

Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon

Heuchera

Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris

Lavandula spp. Lavender

Lavatera bicolor Sea Mallow

Lavatera bicolor Sea Mallow

Leucophyllum spp. Texas Ranger

Mahonia nevinii Nevin's Barberry

Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass

Nemophila menziesii Baby Blue-Eyes

Penstemon spp barbatus Pinacolata

Rhus spp. Rhus

Rosmarinus offi cinalis Rosemary

Nemophila menziesii

Salvia spp. Sage

Santolina spp. Lavender Cotton

Sisyrinchium californicum Yellow Eyed Grass

Stachys byzantina Lamb's Ear

Viburnum suspensum Sandankwa Virburnu

Governor Brown has called upon all Californians to reduce their water consumption by 20%. As Master Gardeners it is our responsibility to educate the public, not only about science based horticultural practices, but most importantly, in light of California's current legislative water restriction, we must always take every opportunity to encourage and educate efficient water use in the landscape. In March of 2015, the State Water Use Control Board adopted expanded and extended water use restrictions for all Californian.  The restrictions presented here are a excerpt of the first draft proposals.  The California State Water Board has received countless critiques of this proposal from water suppliers, interest groups and members of the public and will need to continue to revise restrictions to best serve the consumer, industry and agricultural communities of California.  Please see www.swrcb.ca.gov  for the latest developments in the regulations.  The following regulations have been proposed to apply to water agencies and their customers. Master Gardeners should be acutely aware of these restrictions and incorporate them whenever working with the public.

 Homeowners restrictions

Following measurable precipitation, watering of turf or ornamental landscapes is prohibited for 48 hours.

Washing down sidewalks and driveways is prohibited

Watering landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoff is prohibited

Limit car wash to use of recycled water facilities 

Operating a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water feature is equipped with a recirculation system is prohibited.

Prohibit new homes and developments from irrigating with potable water unless water-efficient drip irrigation systems are used

Ban watering of ornamental grass on public street medians.

Business Restrictions

Restaurant and other food service business owners can only serve water upon request

Hotels and motels owners must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily and prominently display notice of this option.

 Water Agency Requirements 

Water companies must notify customers by publication via newspaper or other methods of general circulation such as social media, email, text message, or bill inserts.

Urban water supplies must limit the number of days their customers can irrigate outdoors. These limits must be contained in their drought contingency plan and if no plan is in place, a limit of no more than 2 days per week is imposed.

Notify customers of leaks that are within the customer control

Water agencies will be expected to increase their monitoring and enforcement measures.

For smaller water suppliers the expanded regulation states that if they choose to impose alternate measure, an ultimate 20% water reduction must be achieved.

Local agencies can fine customers of up to $500.00's a day for non-compliance.

The State Water Board can issue cease and desist orders against water agencies that do not impost mandatory conservation measures on their customers. Water agencies that do not comply with cease and desist orders can be subject to civil liability fines of up to $10,000. a day.

The State Water Board has request action plans by local water authorities due by June 15th, 2015.   

To read Gov. Brown's water restriction announcement see:  http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18913  

To read the official resolution see:   http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M150/K866/150866550.pdf

For further information check out these resources:  saveourh2o.org   saveourwater.com  http://www.californiadrought.org  http://ca.gov/Drought/topstory/top-story-6.html  and your local water district.  

Bagrada hilaris,

Arriving in Los Angeles in the early part of 2008, Bagrada hilaris (the bagrada bug) has traveled rapidly throughout California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and has been seen in fields as far as west Texas, devastating the production of mostly the Brassica Family of plants. A native of India, B. hilaris can produce many generations of offspring in one year. As of this date, little or no horticultural or chemical controls have been able to combat this invader. Bagrada hilaris has become a problem to not only a large scale agricultural production, but often frequents the urban landscapes and organic farm. Its potential to destroy an entire field of newly sprouted plants has scientists on the search for new methods of control. Highest populations are seen during September and October, and then again in May and June, mostly due to the presence of host plants and temperature above 75 degrees. 

Left to right Lady Beetle, bagrada bug, stink bug, harlequin bug

The Bagrada bug is often confused with the lady beetle and stink bug; note the photographs provided to assist in identification. The Bagrada hilaris is a sucking insect that obtains its food through the secretion of enzymes enabling plant juice digestion. Young seedlings or cotyledon are most at risk to pest damage, as they are often destroyed even before getting their true leaves. B. hilaris is often undetected as it seeks hiding places in cracks of soil and debris beneath plants, hiding on stems and leaf surfaces.  The bug also has the ability to fly.  The Bagrada bug targets a large host plant population of vegetables like broccoli, turnip, cabbage mustard and other cruciferous crops as well as Bermuda grass, sorghum, sudan grass, potato, canola, cotton, corn, sunflowers, papaya, capers, cantaloupe, pearl millet, sugar cane, and wheat, and some of the legume family like snap peas, green beans, and mung beans. Vegetable and landscape plants are not the only victim to its ravenous appetite. Weedy plants such as shortpod mustard, London rocket, shepherd's purse, sweet alyssum, vetch, lambsquarter, Indian mustard, pill-pod spurge, wild jujube, corn-sow thistle, nut sedge, and field bindweed have been known to host the Bagrada bug. Crops at highest risk are those that have had previous Bagrada bug outbreaks or are flanked by fields of mustard or other host plants.

Detecting B. hilaris is best done during the hot part of the day when the insects are most active. Inspect newly purchased plants by watering, which will release the bug from hiding in the soil and on the sides of containers. Hitting the plant onto a white sheet of paper may also assist in detecting their presence. Damage to the apical meristem, young cotyledon, and leaf surfaces are symptoms of pest presence. Visual indications include: white/beige patches or star-burst shaped lesions, leaf malformation, wilting and scorching on feeding areas and desiccation and death of leaves. If the plant should survive the cotyledon phase of its development, heads may not develop on broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage due to heavy feeding on the meristem.  Loss of apical growth can also produce adventitious buds that result in either small heads or multiple head growth. On other cole crops, heavy feeding on young leaves, reproductive structures and growth tips are also evidence.

Cultural controls include: close monitoring, removal of infected plants, good sanitation practices such as weed removal, and removing old crop residue. Use of greenhouse grown seedlings as opposed to direct seeding has been shown to increase survival rates. Crop rotation and enhancement of soil quality diversify the field and increase plant health. Inter-cropping with strong smelling plants such as garlic, onion and parsley have been shown to deter infestation. Use of pyramid traps baited with crushed Sweet Alyssum can assist in attracting Bagrada bug away from desired Brassicas or other desired hosts. Planting non-Brassica family, wildflower strips, and beneficial insect attracting hedgerows will

Bagrada hilaris damage

increase predator populations, although there are no known native natural enemies of the Bagrada bug in the United States (Reed and Perring 2012). Physically removing pests and using barriers such as screen tunnels, floating row covers, and fine mesh screening material can be used to cover and protect field plantings. Burying the edges of the protective covers will also help to prevent bugs from reaching desired plants. Frequent shallow cultivation around plant bases will destroy eggs. The Bagrada bug is highly attracted to sweet Allyssum. If members of the Brassica family or other host crops are desired for organic or home garden production; removal of sweet allyssum is suggested. Research in Namibia has shown spraying infected plants with a mixture of chilli, garlic and paraffin and also the use of crushed dead carcass' of the Bagrada bug, have shown a reduction in population. (Keizer and Zuurbier)  Spraying plants with a soapy solution has also shown some control on small scale gardens as it helps to wash off young bugs (Dobson et al, 2002; Elwell and Maas, 1995). In the organic farm and home garden, UC IPM suggests the use of pyrethrum which may suppress adults, and azadriactin (neem oil) or insecticidal soaps to control nymph populations.

Insect Bagrada Bug infestation

Report Any Sightings:

First detected in Los Angeles in 2008 and the Imperial Valley in 2009, Bagrada bug invaded New Mexico and Nevada in 2010. This invasive pest is now found in Kern, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties in California.  It is also found in Yuma, La Paz, Maricopa, and Pinal counties in Arizona and is expected to spread widely. If you find a stink bug you suspect is Bagrada bug in a county where it hasn't been reported, place it in a container, carefully note where and when you collected it, and take the sealed container to your county agricultural commissioner or UC Cooperative Extension office.

Reference Cited:

Bealeamr, Stacey, Warren, Peter, Young, Kelly, “Bagrada Bug: A New Pest in Arizona's Gardens,” College of Agriculture and Life Science Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona, December 2012 http://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1588.pdf

LeVeen, Eric, Hodges, Amanda C., Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida “Bagrada hilaris” University of Florida, June 2014. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/VEG/Bagrada_bug.htm#man

“Bagrada Bug” InfoNet BioVision, visited 4/26/15, http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/103/pests

D. A. Reed and T. M. Perring, "Barada Bug" Dept. of Entomology UC Riverside; J. P. Newman, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties; J. A. Bethke, UC Cooperative Extension San Diego and Riverside Counties; J. N. Kabashima, UC Cooperative Extension, Orange and Los Angeles Counties. January 2014. www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74166.html

Reed, Dary A, Palumbo, John C., Perring, Thomas M., May, Crystal, “Barada hillaris (hemiptera: Penatatomidae), An Invasive Stink Bug Attacking Cole Crops In the Southwestern United States” Oxford University Press September 1, 2013 http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/EXOTIC/bagradabuginag.html

Huang TI, Reed DA, Perring TM, Palumbo JC. 2014a. Feeding damage byBagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and impact on growth and chlorophyll content of Brassicaceous plant species. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 1-12.Huang TI,

Reed DA, Perring TM, Palumbo JC. 2014b. Host selection behavior of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on commercial cruciferous host plants. Crop Protection 59: 7-13.

Reed DA, Perring TM. 2012. Bagrada bug: Biology, host range and effects on cole crops. Center for Invasive Species Research. University of California, Riverside. (5 February, 2014)

Keizer, M. and Zuurbier, J. Namibian Crop pests # 22. Bagrada bug.