We reserve our Blue RibbonTM for plants that maintain high standards of aesthetic quality over the growing season on our lowest irrigation treatment (20% of ETo). Based on our evaluations these plants should perform well on low water in South Coastal landscapes.
Plants are listed alphabetically by scientific name. Plants were evaluated in full sun or under 50% shade cloth. All plants were evaluated in Davis, CA (WUCOLS Region 2).
Plants are listed alphabetically by scientific name Plants were evaluated in-ground in full sun or under 50% shade cloth. All plants were evaluated in Irvine, CA (WUCOLS Region 3) at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center. All plants were irrigated with reclaimed water.
'Sunshine Daydream' Abelia. Photo: SK Reid. This Abelia was virtually pest and disease free for its entire stay in our field which can be seen in the consistently high ratings in those categories.
Highlights Ceanothus, April 2019. Photo: SK Reid. Highlights Ceanothus was such a vigorous grower that we had to perform emergency pruning in June of the second year, because plants were commingling and encroaching on their neighbors.
This award highlight plants that have performed well on the WUCOLS Medium levels of irrigation. They maintained high health and aesthetic quality ratings over the deficit season on 40%, 50% or 60% of ETo.
Starting in 2018, researchers asked Open House participants to name their favorite plant at the event. Below are the top 3 favorite plants at each Open House event, Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2018 and 2019.
Brick House Pink rose We reserve our Blue RibbonTM for plants that maintain high standards of aesthetic quality over the growing season on our lowest irrigation treatment (20% of ETo). Based on our evaluations these plants should perform well on low water in the landscape.
Each site has three field types: Full Sun, 50% Shade, and the Large Plant Field (also in full sun). In the first two fields plants are spaced 2 meters apart in and between rows, while plants are spaced 3 meters apart in the large plant field.
