
Lilac verbena
Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'
Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'

Desert willow + cvs
Chilopsis linearis
Chilopsis linearis

Golden currant
Ribes aureum
Ribes aureum

Hummingbird sage
Salvia spathacea
Salvia spathacea

Desert mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
Sphaeralcea ambigua

Allen Chickering sage
Salvia 'Allen Chickering'
Salvia 'Allen Chickering'

Sunset manzanita
Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'
Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'

Creeping barberry
Berberis repens
Berberis repens

Santa Cruz Island buckwheat
Eriogonum arborescens
Eriogonum arborescens

Deer grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Muhlenbergia rigens

Coffeeberry
Rhamnus californica 'Eve Case'
Rhamnus californica 'Eve Case'

California bush sunflower + cvs
Encelia californica
Encelia californica
Description
For maximum support to songbirds, be sure to have at least one elevated birdbath, and ideally change the water daily, especially in warm weather, to keep it clean and sanitary for the birds, and to prevent mosquitos. If you have room for more than one, baths of different sizes or depths will attract a wider range of birds. A more affordable way to provide this is to use ceramic saucers (like what would be underneath a potted plant) placed on top of large logs or anything else to elevate them approximately 2 or so above the ground.
A saucer filled with a combination of sand and gravel, and then filled with water will sometimes be used by butterflies for a drink. However, I have also had gardens where the butterflies never seem to use these when they can find a wet spot of mulch or garden soil for a small drink.
This plant palette is available as an option for the Waterwise Community Center's Landscape Design Assistance Program. Visit cbwcd.org/desgin for more details.
Plant List

Desert willow + cvs
Botanical Name: Chilopsis linearisPlant Type: Tree, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 30 ft. (rarely) Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.
Shrubs

Allen Chickering sage
Botanical Name: Salvia 'Allen Chickering'Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 7 ft.

California bush sunflower + cvs
Botanical Name: Encelia californicaPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 6 ft.

Coffeeberry + cvs
Botanical Name: Rhamnus californicaPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 10 ft.

Creeping barberry
Botanical Name: Berberis repensPlant Type: Shrub, Ground cover, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade
Height: 1.5 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft. then slowly spreading

Desert mallow
Botanical Name: Sphaeralcea ambiguaPlant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Golden currant
Botanical Name: Ribes aureumPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 7 ft.

Palmer’s mallow
Botanical Name: Abutilon palmeriPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Santa Cruz Island buckwheat
Botanical Name: Eriogonum arborescensPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Sunset manzanita
Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 5 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 7 ft.
Perennials

Common yarrow + cvs
Botanical Name: Achillea millefoliumPlant Type: Ground cover, Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 18 in. - 30 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in. then slowly spreading

Hummingbird sage
Botanical Name: Salvia spathaceaPlant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, Partial sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in. then slowly spreading

Lilac verbena
Botanical Name: Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 4 ft.

Margarita foothill penstemon
Botanical Name: Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP'Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

Red buckwheat
Botanical Name: Eriogonum grande var. rubescensPlant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 3 ft. (with flowers) Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.
Grass

Deer grass
Botanical Name: Muhlenbergia rigensPlant Type: Grass, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 4' (to 5' with flowers) Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft. (to 6 ft. with flowers)
Horticultural Preferences
The plants in this palette are easy to care for and generally do not require any pruning more than once or twice per year to keep them looking great in the garden, but it is important to do it at the right time of year for each plant. Refer to the “maintenance” entry for each individual plant.
Aesthetic Character
Moisture Needs
Some of the plants in this palette, even after establishment, will usually look better in the garden with a bit of extra water. The easiest way to do this is to apply it with a hose, in between the deep waterings of the entire garden. Plants that will respond well to an extra watering in between main irrigation events are: creeping barberry, golden currant, hummingbird sage, and, if your soil is very rocky, deergrass.
The chart shown below provides a baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth. Several winter months noted by an asterisk (*) indicate when rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. It is important to note that these plants can successfully grow within a range of supplemental moisture each month; the actual irrigation schedule should be adjusted to reflect specific soil, slope and exposure conditions to achieve best plant performance.
Irrigation Schedule and Graph
Low Water Use Plants
Irrigation Schedule 2
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runs per Month | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x |
Inches per Run | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" |
Inches per Month | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" |
Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
|
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.