Many plants grow well in the summer-dry climate of Sonoma County. On the following pages, our UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County share their experiences and tips for picking some of the most successful plants for home gardens in our region. Notice that many of these plants are either California natives or come from similar summer-dry climates across the world such as the Mediterranean, South Africa, Western Australia etc.
For a healthy and easy to maintain garden, aim to place the 'right plant in the right place'.
When selecting garden plants, know that you can minimize maintenance needs and future plant problems when you place the right plant in the right place.
As you research plant alternatives for a particular site in your garden, take into consideration site sun and shade exposure, soil quality and drainage, growth habit and size limitations, root growth limitations and other environmental exposures that a plant will experience. Placing the right plant in the right place will increase your gardening success. In the plant articles here, find a summary of plant characteristics and needs for some of our favorite Sonoma County garden plants.
Achillea — Yarrow
Agastache — Hummingbird Mint / Hyssop
Amaryllis belladonna — Naked Lady Lilly
Anemone x hybrida — Japanese Anemone
Arctostaphylos — Manzanita Groundcovers
Arctostaphylos — Manzanita Shrubs
Aromatic herbs discourage deer
Artemisia — Wormwood, Mugwort, Sagebrush
Baccharis pilularis — Coyote Brush
Berberis — Barberry
Bulbs for Sonoma County
Calamagrostis x acutiflora — Feather Reed Grass
California Natives
Carpenteria californica — Bush Anemone
Ceanothus — Wild Lilac
Ceratostigma — Plumbago or Leadwort
Cercis occidentalis — Western Redbud
Cotinus coggygria — Smoke Tree
Daphne odora — Winter Daphne
Drought-Tolerant Dwarf Conifers
Eriogonum — Buckwheat
Euphorbia — Spurges
Festuca — Fescues
Garrya elliptica — Silktassel
Helianthemum — Sunrose
Helianthus — Sunflowers
Helleborus — Hellebore
Heteromeles arbutifolia — Toyon
Heuchera Hybrids — Coral Bells
Hydrangea quercifolia — Oakleaf Hydrangea
Lagerstroemia — Crape Myrtle
Laurus nobilis 'Saratoga'
Lavandula — Lavender
Lobelia laxiflora — Mexican Lobelia
Lonicera — Honeysuckle
Mahonia — Oregon Grape
Muhlenbergia rigens — Deer Grass
Myrica californica — Pacific Wax Myrtle
Nepeta — Catmint
Olea europaea — ‘Little Ollie’
Origanum — Ornamental Oregano
Pennisetum orientale — Fountain Grass
Perovskia atriplicifolia — Russian Sage
Phlomis — Jerusalem Sage
Phormium — New Zealand Flax
Physocarpus opulifolius - Ninebark
Pistacia chinensis — Chinese Pistache
Rhamnus — Buckthorn and Coffeeberry
Ribes spp.—Currants and Gooseberries
Rosmarinus — Rosemary
Salvia — Native Sages
Salvia—Non-Native Ornamentals
Salvia — Ornamental Natives
Santolina — Lavender Cotton
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Succulents
Teucrium — Germander
Viburnum
Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’— An Ornamental Grape
Wildflowers
Want more individualized help with plant selection for your home garden?
Consider a Garden Sense Consultation if you live in Sonoma County. Our trained Master Gardener consultants, in partnership with Sonoma Water, offer home consultations on landscape water conservation including lawn removal, irrigation conversation and low water use plant suggestions. Create a beautiful and water-wise with Garden Sense.
Click here to learn more about Garden Sense