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 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.
Baccharis salicifolia Narrow green leaves, loose erect shrub. Great for wildlife.
Baeckea virgata Wispy Leptospermum ally to 8 feet+; fragrant white flowers.
Baileya multiradiata Low furry white leaves; vivid golden round daisies on 1 foot stems.
Ballota pseudodictamnus 18 inches high and wide. Dense mound. White flowers, furry grey-green leaves.
Banksia speciosa Long narrow serrate leaves. Huge cones of light yellow flowers.
Baptisia sphaerocarpa To 3 feet. Erect clump with green leaves, spikes of vivid yellow flowers in spring.
Berberis darwinii 6 feet+. Evergreen, holly-like, dark green leaves, golden orange flowers.
Berberis darwinii 'Sunglow' Floriferous. Dark golden orange flowers, shiny deep green leaves.
Berberis x stenophylla 'Irwinii' To 3 feet. Prickly small leaves, gold flowers, blue fruit.
Berberis x stenophylla 'Nana' 2-3 feet dense mounds, arching branches, bright golden flowers.
Berberis thunbergii 'Fireball' PP#21100 1-2'h. Vibrant fiery red leaves, compact habit.
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Rocket' PP#18411 4'h. Coral-orange new lvs, green mature lvs; autumn color is ruby-red
Beschorneria albiflora Trunk to 6 feet. Shiny green leaves; tall flower stems are pink, pendant cream flowers.
Beschorneria ['Ding Dong'] Sturdy rosettes of rough green leaves to 3 feet. 6-8 foot rose pink flower stem.
Beschorneria wrightii Sturdy green rosette. Red flower stems, green flowers.
Beschorneria yuccoides Yucca-like perennial; pink stems, red and green flowers.
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