Low Maintenance Plants

Description

The idea of a low maintenance garden or landscape is filled with many definitions and opinions. Plants are in a constant state of living and changing; there are seasons of growth and inactivity that include cycles of flowering, leaf dropping and seed production. And, plants need water and grooming to varying amounts for successful garden performance.

The plants included on this list are among the many choices that can grow will relatively little assistance or care after they are established. Such plants benefit from monthly inspections to remove competing weeds, accumulation of thatch, old flower stalks and general clean up of excessive leaf litter and growth. This monthly grooming should be supplemented with quarterly deep cleaning, trimming and refreshing the surface mulch. This type of maintenance regimen still involves commitment and work, and hopefully an appreciation and sense of satisfaction for helping plants succeed.

Plant List

Trees and Palms

Blue hesper palm

Botanical Name: Brahea armata
Plant Type: Palm
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 30 ft. - 40 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Candelabra tree

Botanical Name: Euphorbia ingens
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 15 ft.

Dragon tree

Botanical Name: Dracaena draco
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 25 ft. Width: 25 ft.

Mediterranean fan palm

Botanical Name: Chamaerops humilis
Plant Type: Palm
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 20 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 20 ft.

Ponytail palm

Botanical Name: Beaucarnia recurvata
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 15 ft.

Shrubs

Apache plume

Botanical Name: Fallugia paradoxa
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Ashyleaf buckwheat

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

Cliff buckwheat

Botanical Name: Eriogonum parvifolium
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 3 ft.

Coyote brush

Botanical Name: Baccharis pilularis
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.

Hayes iva, Poverty weed

Botanical Name: Iva hayesiana
Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Moonlight grevillea

Botanical Name: Grevillea 'Moonlight'
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 5 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 7 ft.

Santa Cruz Island buckwheat

Botanical Name: Eriogonum arborescens
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Western mountain mahogany

Botanical Name: Cercocarpus betuloides
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 15 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 15 ft.

Perennials and Grasses

Berkeley sedge

Botanical Name: Carex tumulicola
Plant Type: Grass, Sedge
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 1.5 ft. Width: 1.5 ft. - 3 ft.

Blanket flower

Botanical Name: Gaillardia x grandiflora
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 in. - 24 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

California gray rush

Botanical Name: Juncus patens
Plant Type: Grass, Rush, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

California meadow sedge

Botanical Name: Carex pansa
Plant Type: Ground cover, Grass, Sedge, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 8 in. - 10 in. Width: 12 in. - 24 in.

Common yarrow + cvs

Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium
Plant 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

Desert Marigold

Botanical Name: Baileya multiradiata
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 24 in. - 30 in.

Dwarf flax lily

Botanical Name: Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Jack Sprat dwarf flax

Botanical Name: Phormium 'Jack Sprat'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 18 in. Width: 18 in.

Leather leaf sedge

Botanical Name: Carex buchananii
Plant Type: Grass, Sedge
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

New Zealand flax

Botanical Name: Phormium 'Guardsman'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 5 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Orange sedge

Botanical Name: Carex testacea
Plant Type: Grass, Sedge
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 18 in. Width: 18 in.

Saffron buckwheat

Botanical Name: Eriogonum crocatum
Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Small cape rush

Botanical Name: Chondropetalum tectorum
Plant Type: Perennial, Rush
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Variegated flax lily

Botanical Name: Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 2 ft.

Western meadow sedge

Botanical Name: Carex praegracilis
Plant Type: Ground cover, Grass, Sedge, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 15 in. Width: 12 in. - 15 in.

Cacti and Succulents

Afterglow echeveria

Botanical Name: Echeveria 'Afterglow'
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun
Height: 6 in. - 8 in. Width: 10 in. - 12 in.

Aloe vera

Botanical Name: Aloe vera
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 3' then offsets to form a larger clump - 24 in.

Apple cactus

Botanical Name: Cereus peruvianus
Plant Type: Cacti
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.

Artichoke agave + var

Botanical Name: Agave parryi
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Black rose aeonium

Botanical Name: Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Blue chalksticks

Botanical Name: Senecio serpens
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 6 in. - 8 in. Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

Blue Elf aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe 'Blue Elf'
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 15 in. - 18 in. Width: 24 in.

Blue finger

Botanical Name: Senecio talinoides ssp. mandraliscae
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft., can slowly spread further

Blue Flame agave

Botanical Name: Agave 'Blue Flame'
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Blue fox tail agave

Botanical Name: Agave attenuata 'Boutin Blue'
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Blue Glow agave

Botanical Name: Agave 'Blue Glow'
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 18 in. - 20 in. Width: 18 in. - 20 in.

Blue rose echeveria

Botanical Name: Echeveria imbricata
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun
Height: 6 in. - 12 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Coppertone stonecrop

Botanical Name: Sedum nussbaumerianum
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 15 in. Width: 18 in.

Coral aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe striata
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 12 in. - 24 in. Width: 12 in. - 24 in.

Desert spoon

Botanical Name: Dasylirion wheeleri
Plant Type: Yucca
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 7 ft.

Dudleya species

Botanical Name: Dudleya
Plant Type: Succulent, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 in. - 18 in. Width: 12 in. - 18 in.

Elephant food

Botanical Name: Portulacaria afra
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Fan aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe plicatilis
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 5 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Felt plant

Botanical Name: Kalanchoe beharensis
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 5 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 7 ft.

Flapjack plant

Botanical Name: Kalanchoe luciae
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 12 in. - 18 in.

Fox tail agave

Botanical Name: Agave attenuata
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Ghost plant

Botanical Name: Graptopetalum paraguayense
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 15 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Golden barrel cactus

Botanical Name: Echinocactus grusonii
Plant Type: Cacti
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 24 in. Width: 18 in. - 30 in.

Golden toothed aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe x nobilis
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 24 in. - 30 in. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Haworth aeonium

Botanical Name: Aeonium haworthii
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Jade plant + cvs

Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 9 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 9 ft.

Kiwi aeonium

Botanical Name: Aeonium 'Kiwi'
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

Lady’s slipper

Botanical Name: Pedilanthus macrocarpus
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Mexican grass tree

Botanical Name: Dasylirion quadrangulatum
Plant Type: Yucca
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.

Octopus agave

Botanical Name: Agave vilmoriniana
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 5 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Orange ice plant

Botanical Name: Lampranthus aurantiacus
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 in. - 18 in. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Our Lord’s candle

Botanical Name: Hesperoyucca whipplei
Plant Type: Yucca, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 6 ft.

Pink ice plant

Botanical Name: Lampranthus deltoides
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 in. - 12 in. Width: 24 in. - 30 in.

Pork and beans

Botanical Name: Sedum x rubrotinctum
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 6 in. - 8 in. Width: 12 in. - 15 in.

Prickly pear

Botanical Name: Opuntia ficus-indica
Plant Type: Cacti
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 18 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 18 ft.

Prickly pear, Nopal

Botanical Name: Opuntia robusta
Plant Type: Cacti
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 ft. - 15 ft. Width: 12 ft. - 15 ft.

Propeller plant

Botanical Name: Crassula perfoliata var. falcata
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Purple ice plant

Botanical Name: Lampranthus productus
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 in. - 18 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Purple prickly pear

Botanical Name: Opuntia violacea var. santa rita
Plant Type: Cacti
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Queen Victoria agave

Botanical Name: Agave victoriae-reginae
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

Rock purslane

Botanical Name: Cistanthe grandiflora
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 12 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Rosea ice plant

Botanical Name: Drosanthemum floribundum
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 in. - 6 in. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Silver dollar plant

Botanical Name: Crassula arborescens
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Spider agave

Botanical Name: Agave bracteosa
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 12 in. - 15 in.

Sticks on Fire

Botanical Name: Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 4 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Sunburst aeonium

Botanical Name: Aeonium 'Sunburst'
Plant Type: Succulent
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Torch aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe arborescens
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 6 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 12 ft.

Tree aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe barberae
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 20 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

White trailing ice plant

Botanical Name: Delosperma 'Alba'
Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 in. - 12 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

White-striped century plant

Botanical Name: Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba'
Plant Type: Agave
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Trees and Palms

Shrubs

Perennials and Grasses

Cacti and Succulents

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