Many people have asked us "What water-wise plants can I plant in my landscape?" We are going to highlight 3 plants every Wednesday.

Yarrow, Achillea

Yarrows are a carefree plant. They generously bloom in summer and into early fall. Leaves are gray or green. Flower heads are usually flat clusters. Yarrows need only routine care. They are water-wise once established. This is a full sun plant. Yellow is a common color for yarrow but it can also be pink or white.

Blue Grama Grass, Bouteloua

This grass is about 1 1/2 to 2 ft tall and 1 ft wide. One or two in a border is striking but massed together they create a beautiful meadow. After established it needs virtually no water. The flower (inflorescences) is oddly attractive because it flowers on one side of the stem only.You can mow or cut it back once a year to a couple of inches high.Full sun.

Hens and Chicks, Echeveria

Hens and chicks take me back to my childhood. This is a succulent. It is a water-wise plant that needs a little bit of shade. Sculptural foliage rosettes look like blue-green succulent "flowers;" spreads by producing plantlets that slowly from a groundcover.

Plant descriptions and pictures are from:

Sunset Western Garden Book

UC Davis Arboretum, All-Stars