Front yard
Botanical name: Eriogonum cinereum Common names: Ashyleaf buckwheat, coastal buckwheat Origin: Native to California coastal areas from Los Angeles County to Santa Barbara County, and Santa Rosa Island Where it will grow: May tolerate temperatures down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 9 and higher; find your zone) Typical plant communities: Coastal scrub Water requirement: Regular water during first year to establish, then drought-tolerant with minimal supplemental water required Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates a variety of soil types; supports numerous pollinators; looks lush with minimal water after first year Seasonal interest: Blooms late fall into early summer When to plant: Cool season (late October to February) in Southern California and areas of similar climate, to utilize winter rains and cooler temperatures during plant’s establishment period
Botanical name: Tagetes lemmonii Common names: Lemmon’s marigold, Mt. Lemmon marigold, copper canyon daisy, mountain marigold Origin: Native to Arizona and Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Low once established Light requirement: Full sun; must have filtered shade in low-desert zones Mature size: 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; deer-resistant Seasonal interest: Aromatic foliage, dark yellow flowers in spring and fall with sporadic blooms in summer When to plant: Spring or fall
‘Blonde Ambition’ Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’) The faintest breeze will cause the horizontal seed heads of ‘Blonde Ambition’ to quiver on the ends of stiff 3-foot-tall stems. This warm-season grass is a good choice for low-maintenance gardens, as it requires little care, is drought-tolerant once established and hangs on to its seed heads well into winter, providing many months of garden interest. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Water requirement: Moderate; low once established Light requirement: Full sun to part shade
‘Blonde Ambition’ Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’) The faintest breeze will cause the horizontal seed heads of ‘Blonde Ambition’ to quiver on the ends of stiff 3-foot-tall stems. This warm-season grass is a good choice for low-maintenance gardens, as it requires little care, is drought-tolerant once established and hangs on to its seed heads well into winter, providing many months of garden interest. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Water requirement: Moderate; low once established Light requirement: Full sun to part shade
Desert Museum Palo Verde (Parkinsonia ‘Desert Museum’) Garden hybrid from trees native to the Southwest With its long flowering season, dark green bark and fast growth rate, it’s easy to see why this palo verde hybrid is rapidly becoming popular with homeowners throughout the Southwest. Although not a true native, ‘Desert Museum’ palo verde is a hybrid of three native palo verde trees, showcasing the best traits of each of its parents. Three characteristics make it especially desirable compared to other palo verde species: It is thornless, has a longer bloom season and grows quickly during its first few years in the ground. The foliage of ‘Desert Museum’ is made of tiny leaves, which create a light, filtered shade that is perfect for plants that appreciate a little protection from the sun. Like most palo verdes, this hybrid does best when trained as a multitrunk tree. Avoid the temptation to prune the canopy too high up, which can lead to weak limbs that are susceptible to wind damage. Instead, allow the lower branches to remain for a few years, which will help the lower trunks increase in size and strength. Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degre...
Palo Blanco (Mariosousa willardiana) Native to Arizona and Mexico Nicknamed “white stick” in Spanish, palo blanco trees are prized for their white decorative bark. Grown as both single and multitrunk trees, this Arizona native stands out with bright green wispy foliage and a pendulous growth habit reminiscent of willow trees. The leaves of this tree are called phyllodes, which are elongated petioles (leafstalks) that have small leaflets at the ends. Palo blanco trees are small and semideciduous, with a narrow spread, making them a great choice for areas that have little room for outward growth, such as side yards. Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (Zone 9) Water requirement: Low once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Feather Bush (Lysiloma watsonii) Native to Arizona Wherever feather bush is planted, its lovely fern-like foliage adds a soft, feathery texture. Semideciduous and thornless, this desert native is a lovely light shade of green and can be grown as a medium-size tree or large shrub. Its compound leaves are made up of small leaflets that create the appearance of a fern and provide great texture contrast when planted near the spiky shapes of agave and cactus. Cream-colored puffball flowers appear in spring, followed by long brown seedpods. Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.6 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 9) Water requirement: Low once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 20 feet tall and wide
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) Native to arid regions of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and into Mexico Desert willow decorates summer landscapes with the pink blossoms hanging from its branches. Bright green willow-like foliage is lightly aromatic and adds a visually cooling element to the garden. This deciduous tree is best used in areas where it will be enjoyed throughout its long bloom season, from spring into early fall. There are several varieties with flower colors ranging from white to dark magenta. Narrow seedpods are produced after flowering and don’t fall off when the leaves do. However, some of the newer varieties, such as Art’s Seedless, don’t produce seedpods. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 degrees Celsius (Zone 6) Water requirement: Low once established Light requirement: Full sun to filtered shade Mature size: 25 feet tall and wide
For front screen/trellis Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) Native to Texas and the southeastern U.S. The arrival of spring is heralded by the presence of crossvine’s orange blossoms, which brighten the landscape. Hummingbirds flock to the 2-inch-long tubular flowers with yellow centers. While the heaviest bloom occurs in spring, sporadic flowering can occur in summer and fall. The foliage is evergreen in areas with mild winters, providing a lovely green backdrop. Flowers appear on old wood, so any pruning should be done right after blooming has finished. Crossvine clings to surfaces with small, clawed tendrils, so a trellis isn’t needed. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 6) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun to filtered shade Mature size: 30 to 40 feet
Botanical name: Salvia chamaedryoides Common names: Germander sage, Mexican blue sage Origin: Native to the Chihuahuan Desert region of eastern Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Needs water every one to two weeks from late spring to early fall and every three to four weeks in winter Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade; filtered shade in low-desert gardens Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; attracts butterflies and hummingbirds; deer-resistant Seasonal interest: Vibrant blue flowers spring through fall When to plant: Spring or fall
10. Desert Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) Native to the Sonoran Desert and Baja, Mexico At first glance, desert ruellia hardly looks able to handle the high heat and dry conditions of the Southwest, yet it does so with little effort. Bright green foliage and purple flowers add beauty to the landscape for most of the year, pausing only for a couple of months in winter. This medium-size shrub has an attractive growth habit. It’s a great choice for courtyards, patios and poolside planting areas, where it will produce little litter, unlike many other flowering plants. Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun to filtered shade Mature size: 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide
3. Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens) Native to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and into northern Mexico In fall, just as many shrubs slow down their flower production, black dalea is just getting started. Vibrant purple flowers create unexpected interest in autumn, making this a great choice for those who want year-round color in the garden. The lacy foliage of this shrub adds an airy texture, which is shown to its greatest effect next to boulders or succulents, such as Parry’s agave (Agave parryi) or Santa Rita prickly pear (Opuntia santa-rita). Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full, reflected sun Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide
Botanical name: Calylophus hartwegii Common names: Hartweg’s sundrops, sundrops Origin: Native to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 29 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 5; find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 12 to 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; attracts pollinators, such as hawk moths Seasonal interest: Yellow cup-shaped flowers appear from late spring to early fall When to plant: Spring or fall
Germander Sage (Salvia chamaedryoides) Native to the Chihuahuan Desert region The vibrant blue flowers of germander sage capture the attention of passersby and hummingbirds. The color blue is often not well-represented in the garden, due to a lack of blue-flowering plants, which makes this flowering ground cover well worth adding for its colorful blossoms alone. Its gray-green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the small yet vivid blue flowers, which appear primarily in spring and fall. Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade (filtered shade is best in low-desert zones) Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) Native to the Central Plains, southwestern United States and northern Mexico The sight of white daisies brightens anyone’s day, and those on this native ground cover certainly don’t disappoint. Dark green foliage is dotted with 1-inch-wide daisies, whose white petals and golden yellow centers add welcoming color to the Southwest’s garden palette. Don’t let the delicate appearance of the flowers fool you — intense heat and cold winters don’t bother blackfoot daisy. Flowers appear in spring and fall in low-desert zones; it waits until summer to bloom in higher elevations. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 28.9 degrees Celsius (Zone 5) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full, reflected sun (filtered shade in low-desert zones) Mature size: 12 inches tall and18 inches wide
Trailing Indigo Bush (Dalea greggii) Native to Texas and Mexico Lacy gray-green foliage provides great color and textural contrast throughout the year. Trailing indigo bush has a softly mounded growth habit and is covered with light purple flowers in spring, creating a subtle brush of color in the landscape. This Texas native thrives in full sun and can handle areas near sidewalks or streets that receive reflected heat. Its stems root wherever they touch soil, helping it to spread up to 6 feet wide. Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 18 degrees Celsius (Zone 7) Water requirement: Low to moderate Light requirement: Full, reflected sun Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 to 6 feet wide
Lyreleaf Greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) Native to the Central Plains and southwestern United States The mouthwatering scent of chocolate is present wherever this yellow-flowering perennial is planted. In addition to its delicious aroma, it produces attractive yellow flowers with maroon centers from spring through fall. Because its fragrance is most intense in the morning, plant lyreleaf greeneyes, also called chocolate flower, wherever you spend time in the morning and where you can enjoy both the fragrance and the butterflies that come to visit. Prune back in late winter to rejuvenate. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Water requirement: Low; some supplemental water is required in low-desert regions Light requirement: Full sun (filtered shade in low-desert zones) Mature size: 12 to 14 inches tall and 12 to 16 inches wide
Botanical name: Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (syn. Anisacanthus wrightii) Common names: Flame acanthus, hummingbird bush, Wright’s desert honeysuckle, Texas firecracker Origin: Native to southwestern Texas and northern Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 7; find your zone) Water requirement: Drought-tolerant; needs water every one to two weeks from late spring to early fall and every three to four weeks in winter Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds; moderately deer-resistant Seasonal interest: Tubular orange flowers from late spring to early fall When to plant: Spring or fall
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Native to every state in the U.S. except California, Oregon and Arizona Grasses flower too, and mixing grasses with perennial flowers provides good habitat for wildlife and creates healthier gardens that require less maintenance. Little bluestem starts sporting its glittery seeds in August, which can last through most of the winter. It’s drought-tolerant and reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. californica) Native to southwest Oregon and almost all of California With somewhat fuzzy gray leaves and stems, California goldenrod grows best in full sun in soils from moist to dry. It reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and has individual stalks holding up clusters of blooms. It does spread by rhizomes but is reported to be easy to uproot where unwanted. This species of goldenrod may be best for larger areas. If planted now, California goldenrod will need more water to survive the summer heat.
Pacific Aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) Native to California, Oregon and Washington For gardeners in the West, this aster blooms from midsummer to early fall, starting out lavender-blue and turning white. It can take many shapes — slightly sprawling to gangly to shrubby, depending on conditions — and reaches 1 to 3 feet in height. Pacific, or California, aster is adaptable, growing on coastal bluffs, in salt marshes, on slopes and in clearings in dry to moist soil. It spreads by rhizomes, so give it room to meander among grasses or other perennials in larger beds. If planted now, Pacific aster will need more water to survive the summer heat.
The purple flowers of Cedros Island verbena (Verbena lilacina) mix with vibrant yellow and orange monkey flowers (Diplacus sp.) and vibrant pink Clarkia wildflowers in this California native cottage garden. An Australian native bottlebrush tree provides a vibrant red nectar source for hummingbirds nearly year-round.
6. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Native to the desert regions of Arizona and California as well as Baja and Sonora, Mexico This evergreen shrub is prized for its attractive evergreen foliage, rather than its flowers. Each leaf is covered in a waxy coating that helps it withstand hot temperatures and reflected heat. In addition, its leaves are arranged vertically, which helps them to avoid direct sun. Jojoba can be allowed to grow into its natural shape, but it can also handle being formally pruned. Extracts from the fruit of this shrub are used for a variety of cosmetics. Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun to light shade Mature size: 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide
Botanical name: Agastache rupestris Common names: Threadleaf giant hyssop, sunset hyssop, hummingbird mint Origin: Native to the mountains of the southern Southwest and northern Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 26 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 5 to 10; find your zone) Water requirement: Drought-tolerant once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 2 feet tall and 15 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: Extremely drought-tolerant once established; heat-tolerant; prefers well-drained, poor soils; irresistible to hummingbirds; deer browse the sweet buds and flower spikes but generally eschew the fragrant foliage Seasonal interest: Silver-green foliage with a slight sparkle; sunset-colored flower spikes from summer to the first hard frost; papery seed husks provide interest until the plant dies back to its roots in winter When to plant: Spring to early summer
Autumn sage (Salvia greggii, zone 7) wows gardeners, hummingbirds and butterflies with its vibrant blooms and prolific blooms. Native from New Mexico, Mexico and Texas, desert gardeners will find that autumn sage thrives best in dappled shade or under a tree canopy, while Southern gardeners can plant the flowering shrub in full sun. Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant, but prefers deep, weekly watering; attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
Botanical name: Oenothera caespitosa Common names: Tufted evening primrose, fragrant evening primrose, white evening primrose, gumbo lily Origin: Native to the higher-elevation regions (4,500 to 7,500 feet) of the western United States and Canada Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 28.9 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 5; find your zone) Water requirement: Low to moderate; needs deep watering every 10 days in summer (weekly in low-desert zones), every two weeks in spring and fall, and monthly in winter Light requirement: Full sun (light shade in low-desert gardens) Mature size: 1 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; attractive to nocturnal pollinators, including moths; deer-resistant Seasonal interest: Flowers from spring to late summer When to plant: Spring in all zones and fall for zones 8 and above
Scientific name: Gaillardia aristata Common names: Blanketflower, common gaillardia, Indian blanket, great blanketflower, brown-eyed Susan Origin: Native on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, south to eastern Oregon, Utah, Colorado and Kansas; in Canada, native from British Columbia to Saskatchewan Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 2 to 7; find your zone) Water requirement: Only in prolonged dry spells once established Light requirement: Full sun Soil requirement: Well-drained, unamended soil; susceptible to root rot in clay soils Mature size: Up to 2½ feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; flowers and seeds that attract wildlife; deer-resistant; may be useful in fire-resistant landscaping; useful in restoring degraded lands Seasonal interest: New bright green basal (ground-hugging) leaves in late spring; sunny yellow and maroon flowers from midsummer to frost; ornamental ball-shaped seed heads in fall (until birds eat the seeds) When to plant: Seeds in spring; potted plants in fall or late spring
Slatted walls for front by guest bedroom
Botanical name: Tecoma x ‘Orange Jubilee’ Common names: ‘Orange Jubilee’, orange bells, orange trumpet flower, orange esperanza Origin: Tecoma stans hybrid, which is native from Arizona to parts of Texas and south through Mexico and Central America Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Low to moderate; water deeply every two weeks in summer (weekly in low-desert zones), every two to three weeks in spring and fall, and monthly in winter Light requirement: Full, reflected sun or filtered shade Mature size: 8 to12 feet tall and 8 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Moderately drought-tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; deer-resistant Seasonal interest: Flowers in spring, summer and fall (year-round in frost-free areas) When to plant: Spring and fall
Botanical name: Mirabilis multiflora Common names: Colorado four o’clock, desert four o’clock, showy four o’clock Origin: Native from Colorado and Utah south to northern Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 28.9 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone) Water requirement: None once established Light requirement: Sun or very light shade Soil requirement: Sandy, gravelly or clay; no amendments Mature size: Up to 3 feet tall and wide Colorado four o’clock stands out in hot, difficult parts of the xeric landscape, from what gardeners call “hellstrip” locations between the street and the sidewalk to south- and west-facing slopes and rock gardens. It’s especially lovely paired with yellow-flowering composite flowers, such as lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) and Rocky Mountain zinnia (Zinnia grandiflora), as well as Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), plains yucca (Yucca campestris), clump-forming cactuses and other plants native to the arid pinyon pine-juniper woodlands where it grows naturally (shown here).
Botanical name: Berlandiera lyrata Common names: Lyreleaf greeneyes, chocolate flower, chocolate daisy Origin: Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma south to central Mexico, including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) Water requirement: No water is needed once established. Too much water or soil that’s too rich will cause root rot. Light requirement: Full sun Soil requirement: The plant prefers dry, gravelly or sandy soils with no amendments. Mature size: 12 to 14 inches tall and 12 to 16 inches wide
Botanical name: Bauhinia lunarioides (syn. Bauhinia congesta) Common names: Texasplume, Anacacho orchid tree, Chihuahuan orchid shrub, white orchid tree Origin: Native to southwestern Texas and northeastern Mexico, where it is found growing in rocky canyons Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (there are some reports of its surviving down to 10 degrees), or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Moderate; water deeply every 10 days in summer, twice a month in spring and fall, and monthly in winter Light requirement: Full sun to filtered shade (avoid western exposure) Mature size: 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Deer-resistant; flowers attract bees and butterflies Seasonal interest: Semievergreen foliage shaped like butterfly wings; flowers appear in spring through summer; some reblooming can occur in fall in response to rain When to plant: Spring or fall
Like the idea of tiered steps with gravel and no water plants
Botanical name: Dalea greggii Common names: Trailing indigo bush, Gregg’s prairie clover, Gregg dalea Origin: Native to Texas and Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 18 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 7; find your zone) Water requirement: Low to moderate; water deeply every two weeks in summer, every three weeks in spring and fall, and monthly in winter Light requirement: Full sun; reflected sun Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 to 6 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant once established; deer-resistant; flowers attract bees Seasonal interest: Flowers appear in spring and bloom into summer; blooming may also occur in early fall When to plant: Plant from transplants in late winter, spring or fall.
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)Native to dry slopes and canyons in coastal scrub, chaparral, desert woodlands and desert scrub below 8,000 feet, Alameda County south to northwestern Baja California and east to southwestern Utah and ArizonaThe large clusters of delicate white summer flowers of California buckwheat call all the pollinators to the party. Plant it where you can watch the show.California buckwheat is adaptable to different kinds and amounts of soil, light (full sun to partial shade) and water (drought tolerant to occasional water). It grows about 3 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Either give it space to show off its beautiful rounded-mound form or plant it in drifts for effect.See how to grow California buckwheat
front porch -- long rectangular planters
or brown metal planters to create a fence around the front porch
use stucco planters to create a low fence on the front porch?
front porch fence
front porch fence
front porch fence
front porch
Front porch
Front porch
Porch fence
Front Porch fencing
Botanical name: Dasylirion quadrangulatum (syn. Dasyilirion longissimum) Common names: Mexican grass tree, toothless desert spoon, toothless sotol Origin: Native to the northeastern region of Mexico, including Coahuila, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun for best appearance, although can tolerate filtered shade Mature size: 5 to 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide; the flowering stalk can reach up to 12 feet tall Benefits and tolerances: Extremely drought-tolerant once established; water once a month in May through September; in low-desert gardens, water twice a month in summer and monthly in winter Seasonal interest: A tall flowering spike can appear in spring or summer several years after planting When to plant: Early spring and fall
This large block of orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) with another large block of deep blue ceanothus will attract native bees better than a few of each plant placed here and there.
Botanical name: Asclepias subulata Common names: Rush milkweed, desert milkweed Origin: Native to the desert Southwest, including Arizona, California, Nevada and northern Mexico Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 7 to minus 4 degrees Celsius (USDA zone 9; find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Extremely drought-tolerant once established; water once a month May through September Seasonal interest: Flowers spring through fall; attracts butterflies (including monarchs), hawk moths and bees When to plant: Fall, winter and spring
Oregon Gum Plant (Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla, syn. G. stricta var. venulosa) Origin: Native to the west coast of North America from California to Alaska Natural habitat: Coastal bluffs, dunes, beaches, marshes and coastal scrub Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenhei, or minus 7 degrees Celsius (zones 9 to 10) Water requirement: Drought-tolerant after establishment; in transitional regions does best with summer irrigation every 10 to 14 days to every three to four weeks Light requirement: Full to partial sun in coastal regions; cool partial shade in transitional regions; not for warm interior regions Mature size: 6 to 36 inches tall and 36 inches wide; typically 12 inches tall or shorter
Botanical name: Eriogonum arborescens Common name: Santa Cruz Island buckwheat, island buckwheat Origin: Native to the Channel Islands, except San Miguel Island, off the coast of Santa Barbara in California Typical plant communities: Coastal bluffs, rocky slopes, grassy hillsides, coastal scrub, chaparral and grasslands below 500 feet Where it will grow: Easily hardy to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but can tolerate down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 7 to 10; find your zone)Water requirement: Drought-tolerant once established; water every three to four weeks or not at all Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade; will have a better shape in full sun Soil: Requires well-drained soil, otherwise adaptable; tolerates clay and alkaline soils Mature size: At least 2 to 4 feet tall and wide
Drought-tolerant sandpaper verbena (Glandularia rigida) adds a particularly vibrant splash of deep purple in spring, summer and fall that will have butterflies flocking. South American native
Botanical name: Sedum spp Common name: Stonecrop USDA zones: 3 to 10, depending on species (find your zone) Water requirement: Little to moderate Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 2 to 24 inches tall, depending on species Benefits and tolerances: Flowers attract birds and butterflies; drought tolerant; deer tolerant where noted
Olive trees
Botanical name: Dudleya spp Common names: Liveforever Origin: Native to California, Arizona, coastal Oregon, Baja California USDA zones: 9 to 11; varies by species (find your zone) Water requirement: Moderate; prefers the wet winters and dry summers of Southern California Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: Varies by species; low ground covers with projected inflorescence Benefits and tolerances: Drought and coastal tolerant Seasonal interest: Flowers in spring When to plant: Plant divisions in fall.
mexican bush sage
Q