Plants for a Thirsty State

Public interest in plants with relatively low water requirements has come and gone several times over the past few decades. Each new dry cycle seems to bring a new awakening, a new missionary movement, and the “learning” of new approaches to gardening. All of these seem to be quickly forgotten soon after the wet years return. In the long run, however, it is clear that with a growing population and (at least in our lifetimes) declining rainfall averages over much of the state, Californians will be gardening with less water, like it or not, even in the best of years. Fortunately, there is already a large body of information on which to draw, some of it–like new developments in drip and spitter irrigation–being compiled continuously in the interest of more economical garden maintenance. Some of the best information on particular plants comes simply from observing neglected or abandoned gardens, regardless of current weather patterns.

Partly by design, partly by pursuing other fancies with plant groups from California, the Southwest, Mexico, temperate South America, Australia and South Africa, we at Suncrest have gradually accumulated a collection of several hundred plants with a record of at least moderate tolerance of summer drought. This means simply that they can be maintained in good condition with substantially less summer irrigation than the average popular garden plant (and vastly less than the lawns that still fill major portions of many California landscapes). The fact that many of these plants are also beautiful, fill nearly every possible garden niche, and collectively provide year-round seasonal interest, would make them desirable garden candidates even if water were not an issue.

You can use the alphabetical listings below (with page divisions for the larger groups) to easily access informational displays on these plants. More detailed descriptions and information on how to use them are now available in our new publication, Plants for a Thirsty State, in PDF format. Click here to download the complete publication, with color covers, in PDF format. A separate, smaller file with just the main body text is available here.

Select A Letter Below
Plant Name Capsule Description
Babiana 'Blue Gem' Baboon flower; dark blue-purple flowers in spring.
Babiana 'Bright Eyes' Baboon flower; pleated leaves; 1 foot stems; purple flowers.
Babiana 'Dark Mood' Baboon flower; deep rose flowers have maroon markings.
Babiana 'Deep Dreams' Deep blue flowers with muted white markings.
Babiana 'Deep Magic' Baboon flower; flowers reddish purple with dark tips.
Babiana 'Electric Rose' 12-18 inches. Baboon flower; dense clumps; flowers vivid rose.
Babiana 'Flash' Baboon flower. Flowers vivid red violet and purple.
Babiana 'Midnight Blues' Baboon flower. Dark blue flowers on spikes in spring.
Babiana 'Midnight Madness' 12 inches high. Deep blue flowers in spring.
Babiana 'Midnight Strain' 6-12 inches. Seed strain, dark blue to purple flowers, spring.
Babiana 'Night Vision' Baboon flower. Deep purple and red flowers on 1 foot stems, spring.
Babiana odorata Cream flowers with light purple centers, scented.
Babiana rubrocyanea Baboon flower; flowers purple with maroon centers.
Babiana 'Scintillation' Heavy-blooming selection; flowers lavender and white.
Babiana vanzyliae Baboon flower; 1 inch creamy yellow flowers spring.
Babiana villosa Baboon flower; 1 inch deep red flowers spring.
Babiana hybrids--mixed Blue purple and red violet flowers in spring.
Baccharis magellanica 4 inches high, 4 feet wide. Small shiny green leaves, roots as it spreads.
Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Point' 1-2 feet high by 6 feet wide. Dwarf coyote brush. Rounded bright green leaves.
Baccharis pilularis 'Twin Peaks #2' 2 feet high by 6 feet wide. Mounding habit. Grey-green leaves.

© 2000-2017 Suncrest Nurseries, Inc