By Cindy Weiner, Butte County Master Gardener, August 28, 2015

If you've let your lawn die during the drought, you may be wondering how to proceed to establish a drought-tolerant garden in its place.  Well, now is the perfect time to plan and design your California native garden in preparation for planting in the fall. 

Native plants have clear advantages over most non-natives. They are already adapted to our climate, soils, and insect pests. You'll save money by reducing your use of water, fertilizers and pesticides. Most natives need little pruning or other maintenance once they're established, so you'll be able to spend more time enjoying your garden, and less time working in it. Natives support local ecology by providing habitat for birds and other native pollinators. From an aesthetic viewpoint, a native garden has a strong sense of place and connects you to the natural landscape.

Not every native plant species is a good candidate for your own yard. You'll need to do some research to find the right plant for the right place. First, analyze the planting site. How cold does it get in winter? How sunny is it? What kind of soil do you have? Is there good drainage? How big is the space? What size should the plant be at maturity? What kind of irrigation is available? Think about the site and the ideal characteristics the plant should have.

The next step is to find natives that match your site. There are more than 5000 plants native to California, about 2000 of which are used in landscaping.  Here are some ideas to reduce choices to a manageable quantity. First, start local. Some of your neighbors may grow natives; ask about their successes. Visit some public native gardens, like the Butte County Master Gardeners demonstration garden at Patrick Ranch; the gardens at the Gateway Science Museum on the Esplanade; and the Chico Creek Nature Center in Bidwell Park.

Floral Native Nursery in Chico and Native Springs Nursery in Durham are two local nurseries that carry natives exclusively. Magnolia Gift and Garden is a general nursery that has a special section of natives. The staffs at all of these nurseries are knowledgeable and can suggest plants that will flourish in your yard.

There are many useful garden books with information about California natives. One is the Sunset Western Garden Book. Use the Plant Finder section to find a list of commonly available California natives organized by plant form (such as tree or shrub). The book includes a photo of each plant and a description of its cultural requirements.

An online search will yield numerous informative websites. One especially useful site is the California Native Plant Society's brand-new Native Plant Database.  This database includes pictures, cultural requirements and other landscape information for over 2000 plants. Here you can even search for plants native to a particular location; this can be an area as large as Butte County, or as small as your street address. This is an excellent way to find plants that are likely to thrive in your own yard.

Growing California natives is a sustainable landscape practice that also results in a beautiful garden.