Santa Clara Valley Water District WaterEmergencyNewsFor teachersBusiness & permitsAbout usContact us
Logo
Search

RISHRP

High efficiency toilet rebates

House call request

Washer rebates

Demonstration gardens

Looking for low-water using plants

Water-wise plant list

 

Water-wise plant list

Our thanks to many local nurseries for providing the following list of water-wise plants. The list is not complete -- many other beautiful water-wise plants flourish in the Bay Area.

Remember that these plants do not need much water, so be careful not to over-water them.

Select a category below or just browse through the list.

Flowering shrubs
Leafy Shrubs
Groundcover
Bulbs
Perennials

Annuals/ Semi-annuals
Trees
Vines
Clumping Grasses

Key
 
* Native to California
** Native to Santa Clara County
*** Some California native varieties
are available

Flowering Shrubs
Botanical name Common name
Abelia species Pink Abelia, White Abelia
Agapanthus species Lily-of-the-Nile
Alyogyne Blue Hibiscus
Anisodontea Cape Mallow
Arbutus species Arbutus
Banksia species Banksia
Buddleia Butterfly Bush
Callistemon Bottlebrush
Carpenteria species *** Bush Anemone
Caryopteris species Bluebeard
Chamelaucium species Flowering Quince
Chilopsis species *** Desert Willow
Choisia ternata Mexican Mock Orange
Cistus species Rockrose
Coleonema species Breath of Heaven
Convolvulus cneorum Bush Morning Glory
Correa Australian Fuchsia
Continus species Smoke Tree
Dasylrion species Desert Spoon
Dendromecon species Bush Poppy
Dietes vegeta Fortnight Lily
Echium species Echium
Eriobotria species Loquat/Nispero
Escallonia fradesii Pink Escallonia
Euryops Euryops Daisy
Euryops species Euryops
Feijoa sellowianna Pineapple Guava
Garrya species Silk Tassel
Helianthemum scoparium* Sun Rose
Heteromeles arbutifolia** Toyon
Hibiscus syriacus Hardy Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon
Isomeris arborea globosa Isomeris arborea globosa
Holodiscus species** Holodiscus
Lanata species Lanata
Lavatera bicolor Tree Mallow
Lavendula Lavender
Lepechinia*** Pitcher Sage
Leptospermum Tea Tree
Leucophyllum Texas Ranger
Malacothomnus*** Bush Mallow
Melaleuca Melaleuca
Moraea bicolor African Lily
Nerium Oleander
Osmanthus fragrans Sweet Olive
Philadelphus Wild Mock Orange
Photinia fraserii Frasers Photinia
Pittosporum species Mock Orange
Plumbago Cape Plumbago
Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus laurocerasus Laurel Cherry
Raphiolepis Indian Hawthorn
Rhamnus*** Rhamnus
Rhus*** Sumac
Ribes*** Currants/Gooseberries
Romneya Matilijah Poppy
Rosa*** Rose
Salvia clevelandii* Cleveland Sage
Salvia leucantha Mexican Sage
Salvia leucophylla* Purple Sage
Salvia sonomensis* Creeping Sage
Santolina Santolina
Sarcococca Sweet Box
Senna Cassia
Solanum*** Nightshade
Sollya heterophylla Australian Bluebell
Styrax*** Snowdrop Bush
Symphoricarpos*** Wax Berry/Snow Berry
Syringa Fragrant Lilac
Tecomaria capensis Cape Honeysuckle
Teucrium*** Germander
Tibouchina Princess Flower
Trichostema* Wooly Blue Curls
Vitex agnus-castus Chaste Tree
Westringia fruticosa Australian Rosemary
Yucca* Yucca

Leafy Shrubs
Botanical name Common name
Berberis Barberry
Dodonaea species Hop Bush
Elaeagnus species Elaeagnus
Laurus Sweet Bay
Leucodendron Leucodendron
Luma Chilean Myrtle
Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium* Oregon Grape
Melianthus Honey Bush
Myrica Wax Myrtle
Myrsine African Boxwood
Myrtus Myrtle
Nandina Heavenly Bamboo
Sambucus mexicana* Blue Elderberry
Xylosma congestum Xylosma

Groundcover
Botanical name Common name
Arctostaphylos*** Manzanita
Artemisia species*** Artemisia
Baccharis piliularis** Coyote Bush
Ceanothus*** California Lilac
Cerastium Snow-in-Summer
Convolvolus mauritanicus Ground Morning Glory
Corprosma species Corprosma
Euonymus species Euonymus
Grevellia species Grevellia
Juniperus species*** Juniper
Lantana montevidensis Trailing Lantana
Osteospermum African Daisy
Rosmarinus Rosemary
Sedum Stonecrop
Sphaeralcea Globe Mallow
Stachys*** Hedge Nettle
Thymus Thyme
Verbena Verbena

Bulbs
Botanical name Common name
Allium***

Wild Onion

Amaryllis

Belladonna Lily
Anemone Windflower

Babiana

Baboon Flower

Brodaia***

Brodaia

Bulbinella

Bulbinella
Calochortus*** Calochortus

Colchicum

Autumn Crocus

Crocosmia

Crocosmia
Crocus Crocus

Cyclamen

Cyclamen

Iris douglasii

Douglas Iris

Iris macrosiphon

Bowl tube Iris

Leucojum

Snowflake

Muscari

Grape Hyacinth

Narcisus

Daffodil

Nerrine

Nerine

Scilla

Scilla

Sparaxis

Harlequin Flower

Tritileia***

Tritileia

Tulipia

Tulipia
Watsonia Watsonia


Perennials
Botanical name Common name
Acanthus Bear's Breech
Achillea Yarrow
Aeonium Aeonium
Aethionema Stone Cress
Agapanthus Lily-of-the-Nile
Agastache Agastache
Agavae*** Agave
Aloe Aloe

Alstromeria

Peruvian Lily
Anchusa Bugloss
Anigozanthos Kangaroo Paw
Arctotis African Daisy
Armeria*** Thrift
Artemisia species*** Several varieties
Asclepias species*** Milkweed
Aster*** Aster
Asteriscus Gold Coin

Ballota psedodictamnus

False Dittany
Bergenia Bergenia

Beshorneria

Mexican Lily
Brachyscome Cut Leaf Daisy
Calaminta Calamint
Callirhoe Poppy Mallow
Calylophus Sundrops

Ceratostigma

Hardy Plumbago
Clivia Clivia
Coreopsis Coreopsis
Crassula Crassula
Cynoglossum species** Hound's Tongue

Delphinium californicum***

California Larkspur
Dianthus Pink
Dimorphotheca African Daisy
Dodecathen* Shooting Star

Epilobium canum**
(Zauschneria californica)

California Fuschsia

Eryngium

Sea Holly
Erysimum franciscanum** San Francisco Wallflower
Erysimum concinnum Pt. Reyes Wallflower
Eriogonum species*** Buckwheat

Heuchera elegans

Alumroot
Heuchera hirsutissima Idyllwild Rock Flower
Gaura lindheimeri Whirling Butterfly
Gaillardia grandiflora Gaillardia grandiflora

Kniphofia

Red-Hot Poker
Lessengia species*** California Aster
Liatris Blazing Star
Limonium perezii Sea Lavender

Linum species***

Flax
Lupinus albifrons** Bush Lupine
Lychnis Rose Champion
Matricaria Chamomile
Mimulus aurantiacus Monkey Flower

Monardella species*

Coyote Mint
Nepeta Catmint
Oenethera Evening Primrose

Omphalodes

Omphalodes
Origanum Oregano
Papaveraceae*** Poppy
Penstemon species*** Bearded Tongue
Perovskia Russian Sage
Phlomis Jerusalem Sage

Phormium

New Zealand Flax
Ratibida Coneflower
Rudbeckia*** Rudbeckia
Ruta Rue
Salvia species*** Sage

Sempervivum

Houseleek
Senicio Dusty Miller
Sidalcea*** Checkerbloom
Sisyrinchium bellum** Blue-eyed Grass

Tagetes

Bush Marigold
Tanacetum Tansey
Teucrium Germander
Tulbaghia Tulbaghia
Verbascum Mullein

Annuals/ Semi-Annuals

Botanical name Common name
Alyssum maritimum Sweet Alyssum

Ammi majus

Bishop's Flower

Anagallis

Blue Pimpernel

Anchusa

Bugloss

Calendula officinalis

Marigolds

Catharanthus roseus

Madagascar Periwinkle

Clarkia species***

Clarkia

Cleome hasslerana

Spider Flower

Collinsia species***

Chinese Houses
Cosmos Cosmos

Cynoglossum species***

Hound's Tongue

Dyssodia tenuiloba

Golden Fleece

Layia***

Tidy Tips
Linanthus*** Linanthus
Linum*** Flax
Nemophila*** Nemophila

Nigella***

Love-in-a-Mist
Phacelia*** Phacelia

Portulaca

Moss Rose
Rudbeckia*** Rudbeckia

Trees
Botanical name Common name

Acacia

Acacia
Aesculus californica** California Buckeye
Arbutus Strawberry Tree
Calocedrus* Incense-cedar
Cedrus Cedar
Celtis* Hackberry
Cercis occidentalis* Western Redbud

Chilopsis*

Desert Willow
Chitalpa Chitalpa
Cotinus obovatus American Smoke Tree

Crataegus

Hawthorn
Cupressus abramsiana Santa Cruz Cypress

Drimys lanceolata

Pepper Tree
Eriobotrya Loquat/Nispero
Feijoa sellowiana Pineapple Guava
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo

Grevillea

Grevillea
Jacaranda mimosifolia Jacaranda
Koelreutieria Golden Rain Tree
Lagerstroemia Crape Myrtle Tree
Laurus nobilis Bay Tree
Leptospermum Tea Tree

Leucodendron

Leucodendron
Lophostemon confertus Brisbane box
Luma apiculata Chilean Myrtle

Lyonothamnus floribundus*

Catalina ironwood
Melaleuca Melaleuca

Metrosideros

New Zealand Christmas Tree
Myrica cerifera Wax Myrtle
Pistacia Pistache
Platanus rasemosa** Western Sycamore
Punica granatum Pomegranate
Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak
Quercus lobata Valley Oak
Quercus douglasii Blue Oak
Rhus lancea African Sumac
Robinia 'Purple Robe' Purple Robe Tree

Sophora japonica

Japanese Pagoda Tree
Tristania laurina Elegant Tristania    
Umbellularia californica Bay Laurel

Vines
Botanical name Common name

Antigonon leptopus

Coral Vine

Aristolochia californica

Pipe Vine
Bouganvillea Bouganvillea

Calystegia sepium limnophilia

Hedge false bindweed
Campsis radicans Trumpet Creeper

Clytostoma

Violet Trumpet Vine
Distictus buccinatoria Blood Red Trumpet Vine

Eccremocarpus scaber

Chilean Glory Flower
Euonymus Euonymus

Hardenbergia

Lilac Vine

Jasminium polyanthum

Jasmine
Lonicera 'halliana' Hall's Honeysuckle

Macfadyena

Cat's Claw

Pandorea jasminoides

Bower Vine
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper

Rosa banksiae

Yellow Lady Banks Rose
Solanum jasminoides White Potato Vine
Vitis Grape
Wisteria Wisteria

Clumping plants: grasses and grass-like plants
Botanical name Common name

Agropyron magellanicum

Blue Wheat Grass

Aristida pupurea*

Purple Three-awn
Bouteloua gracilis* Blue Gramma

Calamagrostis species***

Reed Grass
Carex tumulicola* Berkeley Sedge
Deschampsia cespetosa* Tufted Hairgrass

Elymus glaucus**

Blue Wild Rye
Eriogonum Wild Buckwheat
Festuca californica** California Fescue

Festuca idahoensis**

Idaho Fescue
Festuca rubra*** Red Fescue
Koeleria macrantha** June Grass

Melica imperfecta**

Coast Range Melic
Miscanthus sinensis Maiden Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens* Deer Grass

Nassella (Stipa) tenuissima

Mexican Feather Grass
Nolina microcarpa Bear Grass
Sporobolus species*** Sacaton
Xerophyllum tenax Indian Basket Grass

Key

* Native to California
** Native to Santa Clara County
*** Some California native varieties available

WEL award
Promoting an ethic of water efficiency.

 

Related Information

Nurseries that carry water efficient plants

Water-Wise House Call request

Other water saving services

District wins prestigious 2007 EPA Water Efficiency Leader Award

Providing stream stewardship, wholesale water supply and flood protection for Santa Clara County.