Happy Official Start of Spring! With this new season comes the perfect opportunity to begin re-imagining your yard to be water-wise. The biggest misconception that Californians have about their yards is that they need to have lush, green grass to be beautiful, but that could not be further from the truth.
A water-wise yard can be eye-catching, full of colors and textures allowing you to express your unique style and boost your curb appeal. Planting California native and drought-tolerant plants will not only help keep your yard beautiful year-round, but will also encourage biodiversity by attracting birds, bees, and butterflies. The best part? Once established, a water-wise yard can help reduce maintenance dramatically by eliminating the need for mowing, fertilizing, and watering lawns.
Are you ready to have a beautiful California-friendly and water-wise landscape? Here are some native and drought-tolerant plants to consider planting:
Black or Honey Sage: Woody shrub that has fragrant, dark green leaves with blue, white, or lilac flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.
Baby Blue Eyes: Annual groundcover plant that reaches 6 inches to 12 inches high, with bell-shaped flowers to 1 inch across. Flowers are sky blue with whitish centers. Pale green, hairy, fern-like foliage gives plants a delicate appearance.
Baja Fairy Duster: Constant bloomer that grows about 3 feet to 5 feet tall and wide. Plants are evergreen in climates without frost; otherwise, they will freeze to the ground. Blooms are most abundant in spring but continue year-round for constant interest. Full sun will promote flowering. This shrub needs little shearing. It attracts hummingbirds and bees and provides larval food for butterflies.
Banana or Blue Yucca: This tree can grow a small trunk up to 8 feet tall. Clumps will typically have 5 to 20 rosettes, although rare specimens can have as many as 70. The fruit is edible and banana-shaped, 5 inches long and 2 inches wide. Flower spikes are often partially enclosed in the leaves from March to April. The leaves are stiff, bluish-green, 1.5 inches to 2 inches wide, and 2 feet long. It needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Dwarf Orange Bulbine: This bulbine is a compact variation of yellow bulbine. This grass or ground cover grows to about 1 foot tall by 1 foot to 2 feet wide. Orange flowers bloom almost all year. Plants stay evergreen but will freeze to the ground in serious frost. However, frost-damaged plants will regrow in spring. Delicate coppery orange flowers with fluffy yellow centers are on tall spikes that rise above the foliage. This selection is free flowering in spring, summer, and fall.
Anacapa Island Pink Morning Glory: This climbing vine has bright green leaves with dark red flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Carmel Creeper: One of the most popular forms of spreading shrubs. Its glossy oval leaves of 2 inches are bright green. The tiny, light blue flowers are abundant and form 1-inch clusters. This shrub benefits from pruning. It does best in well-drained soil with little to no summer water.
Blue Palo Verde: This desert tree has an upright habit and can reach 30 feet high and wide. Trees bloom profusely in spring with clusters of golden-yellow blossoms.
If you love flowers but want to ensure your water footprint remains low, these California native and drought-tolerant flowers are great alternatives:
Blue Beach Aster, Seaside Daisy: This perennial will grow 1′ tall and 1.5′ wide. It has blue-green foliage and lavender flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Blanket Flower: This perennial has daisy-like flowers in warm colors on sturdy stems. Plants form medium-sized clumps. It likes full sun and well-drained soil but tolerates poor soil and drought. It also makes a great cut flower.
Apple Blossom Penstemon: This perennial is light pink, 2 feet to 4 feet high, and has tubular blossoms on long flower spikes with white throats. It blooms from spring through fall and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Belladonna Lily, Naked Lady: This South African native has bold, strap-like leaves in clumps 2 inches to 3 inches wide from fall into spring. It is dormant in late spring and summer, and in August, clusters of trumpet-shaped, rosy/pink, white flowers blossom on top of bare stalks that are 3 feet high.
Breakers Bearded Iris: Can grow up to 36 feet tall and has blue-violet blooms that are ruffled and profuse. These flowers are fragrant and make great cut flowers. The stalks are well-branched.
If you would like to learn more about transforming your yard, or whether you qualify for a yard transformation rebate, visit https://saveourwater.com/yardrebates/.