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Plant guide

California low-water plant guide

Every plant in the Lawn-Conversion Planner — 48 drought-tolerant, water-wise picks for a resilient California yard. Clear illustrations plus honest facts: water use, mature size, sun, and whether it's a true CA native.

Groundcovers

Illustration of Salvia

Bee's Bliss sage

Salvia

Recommended variety: ‘Bee's Bliss’

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 6×1.5 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorgenus illustration

Blooms mid to late spring

Illustration of Epilobium canum

California fuchsia

Epilobium canum

  • Very low water
  • Full sun
  • 3.5×1.5 ft
CA nativePollinator

Blooms late summer to fall

Illustration of Achillea millefolium

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2×1.5 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinator

Blooms late spring to summer

Illustration of Teucrium cossonii majoricum

Creeping germander

Teucrium cossonii majoricum

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2.5×0.67 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late spring to summer

Illustration of Myoporum parvifolium

Creeping myoporum

Myoporum parvifolium

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 8×0.5 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late spring to summer

Illustration of Arctostaphylos

Emerald Carpet manzanita

Arctostaphylos

Recommended variety: ‘Emerald Carpet’

  • Moderate water
  • Full–part sun
  • 6×1 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorgenus illustration

Blooms winter to early spring

Illustration of Convolvulus sabatius

Ground morning glory

Convolvulus sabatius

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 3×1 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late spring through fall

Illustration of Erigeron karvinskianus

Santa Barbara daisy

Erigeron karvinskianus

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 3×1 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms spring through fall (nearly year-round in mild spells)

Illustration of Dymondia margaretae

Silver carpet

Dymondia margaretae

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2×0.15 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms summer (grown mainly for foliage)

Illustration of Lantana montevidensis

Trailing lantana

Lantana montevidensis

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 6×1.5 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms spring through fall (year-round in mild winters)

Perennials

Illustration of Salvia greggii

Autumn Sage

Salvia greggii

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2.5×2.5 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms spring through fall

Illustration of Verbena lilacina

De La Mina Verbena

Verbena lilacina

Recommended variety: ‘De La Mina’

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 4×2.5 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinatorspecies illustration

Blooms nearly year-round, peak spring

Illustration of Penstemon heterophyllus

Foothill Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'

Penstemon heterophyllus

Recommended variety: ‘Margarita BOP’

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2×1.5 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorspecies illustration

Blooms spring to early summer

Illustration of Salvia spathacea

Hummingbird Sage

Salvia spathacea

  • Low water
  • Part sun
  • 3×2 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinator

Blooms spring (mar-may)

Illustration of Oenothera lindheimeri (syn. Gaura lindheimeri)

Lindheimer's Beeblossom (Gaura)

Oenothera lindheimeri (syn. Gaura lindheimeri)

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2.5×3 ft
Pollinator

Blooms late spring to fall

Illustration of Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

Red-flowered Buckwheat

Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 2.5×1.5 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinator

Blooms summer to fall

Illustration of Nepeta x faassenii

Walker's Low Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii

Recommended variety: ‘Walker's Low’

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 3×2 ft
Pollinatorspecies illustration

Blooms late spring to summer (rebloom if sheared)

Illustration of Erigeron

Wayne Roderick Seaside Daisy

Erigeron

Recommended variety: ‘Wayne Roderick’

  • Moderate water
  • Full–part sun
  • 2×1 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorgenus illustration

Blooms spring through fall

Grasses & sedges

Illustration of Sesleria autumnalis

Autumn moor grass

Sesleria autumnalis

  • Moderate water
  • Full–part sun
  • 1.5×1.5 ft
  • Evergreen
Illustration of Festuca glauca

Blue fescue 'Elijah Blue'

Festuca glauca

Recommended variety: ‘Elijah Blue’

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 1.25×1 ft
  • Evergreen
species illustration
Illustration of Bouteloua gracilis

Blue grama

Bouteloua gracilis

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 1.5×1.5 ft
CA native
Illustration of Festuca californica

California fescue

Festuca californica

  • Low water
  • Part sun
  • 2.5×3.5 ft
  • Evergreen
CA native
Illustration of Juncus patens

California gray rush

Juncus patens

  • Moderate water
  • Full–part sun
  • 2×2 ft
  • Evergreen
CA native
Illustration of Leymus condensatus

Canyon Prince giant wild rye

Leymus condensatus

Recommended variety: ‘Canyon Prince’

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 6×3 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativespecies illustration
Illustration of Carex praegracilis

Clustered field sedge

Carex praegracilis

  • Moderate water
  • Full–part sun
  • 2×1 ft
  • Evergreen
CA native
Illustration of Muhlenbergia rigens

Deer grass

Muhlenbergia rigens

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 4×3.5 ft
  • Evergreen
CA native
Illustration of Muhlenbergia capillaris

Pink muhly grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 3×3 ft
Illustration of Stipa pulchra

Purple needlegrass

Stipa pulchra

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 2×3 ft
CA native

Shrubs

Illustration of Teucrium fruticans

Bush Germander

Teucrium fruticans

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 6×5 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms spring–summer (pale blue)

Illustration of Westringia fruticosa

Coast Rosemary

Westringia fruticosa

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 5×5 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms nearly year-round (peak spring), white

Illustration of Frangula californica

Coffeeberry 'Eve Case'

Frangula californica

Recommended variety: ‘Eve Case’

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 7×6 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorspecies illustration

Blooms spring (inconspicuous); berries summer–fall

Illustration of Ceanothus

Concha Wild Lilac

Ceanothus

Recommended variety: ‘Concha’

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 8×7 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorgenus illustration

Blooms spring (deep blue)

Illustration of Elaeagnus x ebbingei

Ebbing's Silverberry

Elaeagnus x ebbingei

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 8×10 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms fall (small, intensely fragrant)

Illustration of Arctostaphylos densiflora

Howard McMinn Manzanita

Arctostaphylos densiflora

Recommended variety: ‘Howard McMinn’

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 6×6 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinatorspecies illustration

Blooms winter–early spring (pale pink)

Illustration of Rhaphiolepis indica

Indian Hawthorn

Rhaphiolepis indica

  • Moderate water
  • Full–part sun
  • 4×4 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late winter–spring (pink/white)

Illustration of Acca sellowiana

Pineapple Guava

Acca sellowiana

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 8×10 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late spring–early summer; edible fruit fall

Illustration of Leucophyllum frutescens

Texas Ranger / Silverleaf

Leucophyllum frutescens

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 6×6 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms summer–fall (magenta/purple flushes)

Illustration of Heteromeles arbutifolia

Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 8×10 ft
  • Evergreen
CA nativePollinator

Blooms early summer (white); red berries fall–winter

Succulents & accents

Illustration of Agave parryi var. truncata

Artichoke Agave

Agave parryi var. truncata

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 3.5×2 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms summer (once, at maturity)

Illustration of Yucca rostrata

Beaked Yucca

Yucca rostrata

  • Very low water
  • Full sun
  • 4.5×8 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms late spring to early summer (cream, on trunked plants)

Illustration of Senecio mandraliscae (syn. Curio mandraliscae)

Blue Chalksticks

Senecio mandraliscae (syn. Curio mandraliscae)

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 2.5×1 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms summer (small white, insignificant)

Illustration of Agave americana

Century Plant

Agave americana

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 8×6 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms summer (once, at end of life)

Illustration of Hesperoyucca whipplei (syn. Yucca whipplei)

Chaparral Yucca (Our Lord's Candle)

Hesperoyucca whipplei (syn. Yucca whipplei)

  • Very low water
  • Full sun
  • 4×3 ft
  • Evergreen
CA native

Blooms spring to early summer (10-15ft cream spike, once)

Illustration of Aloe striata

Coral Aloe

Aloe striata

  • Low water
  • Full–part sun
  • 2×2 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late winter to early spring (coral-orange)

Illustration of Dasylirion wheeleri

Desert Spoon (Sotol)

Dasylirion wheeleri

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 5×4 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms summer (tall spike on mature plants)

Illustration of Hesperaloe parviflora

Red Yucca

Hesperaloe parviflora

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 4×3 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms late spring through fall (coral)

Illustration of Opuntia santa-rita (syn. Opuntia gosseliniana var. santa-rita)

Santa Rita Prickly Pear

Opuntia santa-rita (syn. Opuntia gosseliniana var. santa-rita)

  • Very low water
  • Full sun
  • 5×4 ft
  • Evergreen
Pollinator

Blooms spring (yellow)

Illustration of Agave ovatifolia

Whale's Tongue Agave

Agave ovatifolia

  • Low water
  • Full sun
  • 5×4 ft
  • Evergreen

Blooms summer (once, at maturity)

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Cultivars show a representative species or genus illustration, not the exact variety. Plant facts from WUCOLS, UC ANR, and Calscape.

California Low-Water Plant Guide | GoGarden