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HAPPY MEDIUMS

Great Plants for Moderate Water

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. Based on our evaluations, these plants should perform well on medium irrigation levels in Central Valley landscapes. 

  • Plants are listed alphabetically by scientific name
  • Plant material was evaluated in full sun or under 50% shade cloth
  • All plants were evaluated in Davis CA (WUCOLS Region 2)
  • The average Overall Appearance rating on Moderate water during the deficit treatment season is listed as Mean O/A Score (based on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is highest)
  • printer friendly pdf verson: UCLPIT Happy Mediums

Before 2017, plants were evaluated at 40% and 60% of ETo. Since 2018,  those treatments have been merged into the 50% of ETo treatment. Where plants performed differently at 40% or 60% of ETo, the recommended ETo percentage is listed with the associated mean OA score.

Scientific Name Common Name Location Exposure

Mean O/A Score          (ETo %)

Trial Year
Aster 'Purple Dome' New England aster Davis sun 4.2 (40%) 2011
Berberis aquifolium 'Compacta' Compact Oregon grape Davis 50% Shade 4 (60%) 2013
Buddleia 'Podaras #8' Flutterby Petite® Blue Heaven butterfly bush Davis Sun 4 (60%) 2011
Dianella caerulea 'DBB03' Cassa Blue flax lily Davis Sun 4 (40%) 2015
Dianella caerulea 'John316' King Alfred flax lily Davis 50% Shade 4 (60%) 2015
Leucophyllum langmaniae 'Lynn's Legacy' Lynn's Legacy Texas ranger Davis Sun 4.8 (40%) 2009
Lomandra confertifolia ssp. palllida 'Pom Pom'  Shorty Lomandra South Coast Sun 4.1 2021
Lomandra longifolia 'LM300' Breeze™ lomandra Davis 50% Shade 4.2 (50%) 2018
Miscanthus sinensus 'Little Zebra' Eulalia Davis Sun 4.2 (40%) 2014
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Purpureus' Fragrant olive Davis 50% Shade 4.4 (40%) 2011
Rhus ovata Sugar bush Davis Sun 4.2 (40%) 2015
Rosa 'Korbin' Iceberg rose Davis Sun 4.2 (60%) 2011
Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' Hot Lips sage Davis Sun 4 (40%) 2013
Teucrium chamaedrys 'Prostrata' Dwarf germander Davis Sun 4.2 (60%) 2013