
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Cercis occidentalis

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

Margarita foothill penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP'
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP'

Sunset manzanita
Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'
Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'

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

Canyon Prince Wild rye
Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'
Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'

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

Hummingbird sage
Salvia spathacea
Salvia spathacea

Deer grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Muhlenbergia rigens

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

Red buckwheat
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

Sunset manzanita
Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'
Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'
Description
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.

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.

Toyon
Botanical Name: Heteromeles arbutifoliaPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 12 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 12 ft. - 18 ft.

Western Redbud
Botanical Name: Cercis occidentalisPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 10 ft. - 15 ft. Width: 10 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.

Ashyleaf buckwheat
Botanical Name: Eriogonum cinereumPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 6 ft.

Baja fairy duster
Botanical Name: Calliandra californicaPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 6 ft.

Bladderpod
Botanical Name: Isomeris arboreaPlant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 6 ft.

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.

Montara sagebrush
Botanical Name: Artemisia californica 'Montara'Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 24 in. Width: 3 ft. - 5 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

California fuchsia
Botanical Name: Epilobium canumPlant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 0.5 ft. - 4 ft. (in flower) Width: 3 ft. - 3 ft. then slowly spreading

Desert mint
Botanical Name: Monardella odoratissimaPlant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 1 ft. Width: 3 ft.

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

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

Canyon Prince Wild rye
Botanical Name: Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'Plant Type: Grass, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

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 that at the right time of year for each plant. Refer to the “maintenance” entry for each individual plant.
Aesthetic Character
Moisture Needs
Beyond this, bloom season and plant appearance may be improved with a bit of additional summer irrigation provided to some of the plants on this list including hummingbird sage and western redbud. In many cases, these plants can survive perfectly well with the lower level of irrigation, but an occasional hose-watering by hand of only these mentioned plants, in between monthly deeper irrigations to the whole planting may provide for a longer flowering season for the pollinators and a more lush look for the humans enjoying the plants. It is important, however, to not increase the irrigation frequency to the entire garden, after it is established just to provide extra water to these few plants, because this will most likely result in overwatering of the other plants, which require dryer conditions between watering events in the summer.
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 1
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 | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 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" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" |
Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
1" |
1" |
1" |
1" |
1" |
1" |
1" |
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.