- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
More water-wise plants. Next week we will highlight a 10 x 10 landscape plan.
Purple Dome Daisy (Aster 'Purple Dome')
This dwarf aster has deep violet flowers in late summer. It attracts butterflies and other beneficial insects. This aster can be in full sun or part shade.
Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis, dwarf varieties)
The leaves on this large grass may turn red, orange and yellow in the fall. There are many varieties available with different leaf patterns and a range of sizes. It can be grown in full sun or part shade and thrives in clay soil.
Christmas cheer poker plant (Kniphofia 'Christmas Cheer')
This dramatic plant brightens up the winter garden. At the top of its tall flowering stems, brilliant orange buds open to deep-gold tubular flowers. The long, narrow leaves form an attractive, medium-large clump over time. This plant is grown in full sun.
To see more water-wise plants go to the http://www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
It's water-wise plant Wednesday!
Pigsqueak (Bergenia crassifolia)
Bergenia has a dense cluster of pink flowers that bloom in winter and spring. This classic California garden plant is for a dry or moist shady border. The broad and shiny leaves provide textural contrast. The flowers attract beneficial insects.
California fescue or Blue fescue (Festuca californica)
Blue fescue is a California native plant that tolerates our summer drought and various soil types. It has graceful, gray-green leaves and airy flowers that mature to a golden yellow color. The flowers attract butterflies.
Ivy leaf cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium)
The scented rose-pink or white flowers bloom in late summer and early fall before the leaves emerge. This needs to be planted in dry shade. The ivy leaf cyclamen tolerates a wide variety of soil types and can also grow well in containers.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
More water-wise plants for your garden and landscape.
Roses (Rosa sp.)
Roses are a great water-wise plant. Give them a deep watering once a week and they will reward you with beautiful flowers. You may have read that roses are hard to grow. This is not true in during our dry summer. The Mid-west and Eastern regions of the country have a hard time because of summer rain and warm days.
Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
A grass with upright, dark green foliage; fluffy blooms in spring turn into attractive buff spikes that last all summer and fall; a vertical plant that does well in narrow places.
Cape Balsam (Bulbine frutescens)
This small evergreen plant is a wonderful addition to your dry perennial border with it's long blooming spikes of delicate, star-shaped yellow flowers; fleshy bright green foliage adds a sculptural element to your garden.
You can learn more about these plants at
Check to make sure your plant is not invasive.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
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
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Grow California or Mediterranean natives
Check out the UC Arboretum All-Stars
- Plants thrive with little irrigation
- Planting in the fall allows the roots to grow without competition
- Irrigate until established
- Minimize high water use ornamentals
Benefit: Reduce watering, trimming, fertilizing and spraying
This picture is of a California Iris in my garden.
Click here for the All-Stars list.