Cal Wise Plant Materials
Cal Wise Plants
The water conditions in San Diego County are a key factor when planning any landscape project; commerical or residential. Steve has compiled a list of his favorite varieties of drought resistant, drought tolerant plants chosen for both heartiness and presentation. We’ve included each plant’s botanical and common names, a general description with size potentials, blooming periods, water and light requirements, and other pertinent information to help you make your water wise planting decisions.
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Salvia leucantha
Description: Flowering perennial. Upright plant with velvety purple blooms. 3-4’tall 5-6’ wide
Commom Name: Mexican Bush Sage
Blooming Period: Late summer into spring
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Sun to part sun
Other Comments: Attractive to hummingbirds
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Salvia gregii
Description: Flowering perennial. 3-4’tall
Commom Name: Autumn Sage
Blooming Period: Spring to fall in wetter areas and fall to winter in drier areas
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Sun to part sun
Other Comments: Needs well drained soil
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Tagetes lemmonii
Description: Flowering perennial. 6’tall 4’ wide
Commom Name: Copper Canyon Daisy
Blooming Period: Fall and early spring ,dormant in winter
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: High heat tolerance
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Quercus agrifolia
Description: 20-70' tall. Native evergreen tree
Commom Name: Coast Live Oak
Blooming Period: Attractive foliage all year
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Other Comments: Extensive horizontal root branches
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Gaura lindheimeri
Description: Native flowering perennial 4' tall 3' wide
Commom Name: Whirling Butterfly
Blooming Period: Buds spring-fall
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: White, pink & crimson varieties
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Erigeron karvinskianus
Description: Evergreen groundcover 1-2' tall 3-5' wide
Commom Name: Santa Barbara Daisy, Fleabane
Blooming Period: Daisy flowers year round
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Sun/light shade
Other Comments: Sun/light shade
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Rosmarinus prostratus
Description: Low spreading evergreen shrub 3' tall 4-8' wide
Commom Name: Prostrate rosemary, creeping rosemary
Blooming Period: Year round
Water Requirement: Medium to low
Lighting Requirements: Sun to part shade
Other Comments: Distinctive herb with culinary uses
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Muhlenbergia ‘El Toro’
Description: Evergreen clumping grass with blue green foliage. 2-3' tall/wide
Commom Name: Bull grass
Blooming Period: Purple flowers in fall
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Very drought tolerant
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Callistemon ‘Little John’
Description: Evergreen shrub 3' tall 3' wide
Commom Name: Dwarf Callistemon
Blooming Period: Bright red bristle stamens year round, peaks early summer-fall
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun to light shade
Other Comments: Native to Australia
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Aloe striata
Description: Succulent, 2-3' tall 1-2' wide
Commom Name: Coral Aloe
Blooming Period: Winter/spring, red flowers
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Leaf color varies, reddish in sun and bluish-green in cool spots
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Anigozanthos flavidus
Description: Evergreen perennial. 2-3' tall foliage. Flower wands 4-5' tall
Commom Name: Kangaroo Paw
Blooming Period: Yellow-green flowers, spring
Water Requirement: Low - needs well drained soil
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Native to Australia. Attracts hummingbirds.
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Arctostaphylos ‘Point Reyes’
Description: Native groundcover
Commom Name: Point Reyes Manzanita. Also sandberry, kinnikinnick and bearberry
Blooming Period: Pale pink, mid-spring to early summer
Water Requirement: Low to moderate
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Requires excellent drainage
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Bougainvillea
Description: Evergreen climbing vine
Commom Name: Bougainvillea
Blooming Period: Summer/fall
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Many varieties, wide range of colors. Nearly pest-free
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Geranium incanum
Description: Evergreen perennial. >1' high width 'spreading'
Commom Name: Carpet geranium
Blooming Period: Pale mauve flowers, spring/fall
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Sun or shade
Other Comments: Great groundcover, native to South Africa
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Santolina virens
Description: Evergreen 2' tall 3' wide
Commom Name: Green Santolina
Blooming Period: Solitary yellow flowers, summer
Water Requirement: low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Fragrant. Dark green foliage
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Cercidium ‘Desert Museum’
Description: Native, semi-deciduous tree 20-30' tall 20-40' wide
Commom Name: Hybrid Palo Verde
Blooming Period: Yellow flowers, spring
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Fast growing. Attractive to bees
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Cercis occidentalis
Description: Leguminous shrub 7-20' tall. Native
Commom Name: Western redbud
Blooming Period: Blooming Period Magenta flowers for 2 week periods, Feb.-April
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Full sun
Other Comments: Attractive to hummingbirds
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Scirpus cernuus
Description: Grass-like rush, >1' tall 2-3' wide
Commom Name: Low bulrush
Blooming Period: Brown, summer
Water Requirement: Aquatic
Lighting Requirements: Light shade, part sun
Other Comments: Great grass for mixed containers
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Echeveria elegans
Description: Succulent evergreen. Groundcover, 8" tall 12" spread
Commom Name: Hens and Chicks
Blooming Period: Pink blooms, spring/summer
Water Requirement: Low
Lighting Requirements: Sun or shade
Other Comments: Leaves are grey green rosettes