Ventura County Cooperative Extension’s Monique Myers has written a Green Sheet titled “Drought Tolerant Plants”.

In addition to the benefits of drought tolerant plants, Dr. Myers explains general drought information; history on the use of drought tolerant plants; as well as the characteristics, selections and maintenance of these plants.

Benefits of drought tolerant plants include:

• Lower water bills
• Reduced water use
• Attractive plants with less maintenance
• More wildlife habitat
• Less plant disease and more pest resistance
• Deeper roots help to stabilize slopes
• More groundwater recharge
• Less polluted runoff flowing to the ocean

Other Green Sheets on a variety of green subjects can be found here.

Drought tolerant plants such as this Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) lend a colorful tone to this Southern California garden.