Water-wise plant list



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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

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