Water Wise Plants

PADG notes: This specimen is planted where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade so it needs less water than recommended. During hot, summer periods, the plant is hosed weekly in addition to a once every three-week drip irrigation cycle.

Native Bentgrass is a low impact, thin-bladed evergreen grass. It is a cool season grass and can brown up without enough summer water. A California native grass, it is drought tolerant and spreads by both under- and above-ground rhizomes and stolons. If used as a lawn, it needs consistent mowing to 2–3 in., or it can be left unmowed for a meadow-like look. Deer resistant. Fertilize in February–March and in August–September.

Bolero Plus™ is a proprietary (Delta Bluegrass Co.) blend that is 90% dwarf fescue and 10% bluegrass. It is a cool season grass with a fine bluegrass-like texture that stays dark-green year-round. Bolero Plus™ can take high impact foot traffic. It is drought tolerant and low maintenance as it is slower growing with fewer clippings. Fertilize in February–March and in July–August.

California Buffalograss is a durable grass with soft green leaves. It is a warm season grass, winter dormant, has a deep root system, and spreads by above-ground stolons. A U.S. native grass, it is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and almost pollen-free. Use a slow-release fertilizer in June and August. Mow to 2–3 in. height in summer or mow once a year for a meadow landscape.

PADG notes: Our experience with Erigeron 'Wayne Roderick' has been very good, although we have noticed that the foliage burns in the summer unless given more frequent water.

Blue fescue is a drought tolerant, evergreen bunchgrass with narrow blue-green leaves that form a mound. Flowers appear in summer on thin 1 ft. high spikes with seeds that easily self-sow.

This grass needs occasional water and good drainage. It tends to brown out in the middle and can be raked out in winter or divided and replanted. In a low water garden, these grasses seem to hold their blue green color better in the shade. Native to southern France, deer resistant, no fertilizer needed although compost can be used. Cool season plant.

Heuchera ‘Rosada’ prefers light shade and occasional to moderate water. With beautiful rosettes of low growing foliage and stalks of pink blooms, it is a favorite of woodland gardens. Removing the flower stalks when the plant finishes blooming is all the maintenance needed. Although these plants will grow in full sun, they will need more water to look their best. Plants grown in the shade can tolerate less water.

UC Davis Arboretum selected Heuchera ‘Rosada’ for its Arboretum All-Stars designation, which identifies plants that are easy to grow, reliable, do not need a lot of water, and have few pest or disease problems.

Latitude 36™ is a proprietary (Delta Bluegrass Co.) hybrid Bermuda grass with a soft feel and fine texture. It is a warm season grass that is winter dormant with an early spring green up. Latitude 36™ can take high impact foot traffic. It has outstanding drought tolerance, quick divot recovery, and little to no seedheads so does not spread. Use a slow-release fertilizer in June and August. Mow to 2 in.

PADG notes: This plant is watered every three weeks, but this is at the edge of their tolerance in the garden. They require little extra maintenance.

PADG notes: The plants are watered every three weeks at the Demonstration Garden, but this is right at the edge of their tolerance in the garden. They require little extra maintenance.

Kurapia is a creeping evergreen succulent with small white flowers which bloom May through October. The flowers attract bees, but mowing can reduce bee activity. There is a similar California native, but Kurapia was engineered in Japan, is sterile and non-invasive. It is low maintenance, can fertilize in spring and fall, likes loose soil, mow to renew. Tolerates deer, drought, and fire.

Cut back Polygala to about 10 inches above the ground in late winter to maintain its compact shape.

Sunset’s Western Garden Book recommends providing regular water for Polygala. Several Master Gardeners have not found Polygala fruticosa to be long-lived in their home gardens.

PADG Notes: This plant is used as an edger in one of our beds. One drawback to the plant is the small yellow flowers that appear in late spring. Some people like them, but we cut them off.

This plant has survived, but not thrived at in the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden. One reason might be that it likes more water than it receives. It is watered deeply every three weeks. We suspect this plant would look lusher in the summer with deep weekly watering.

This plant is not easy to find in nurseries and gardens, but if you like the texture, Tanacetum densum amani is worth seeking out.

Meadow Rue is used in woodland and shade gardens as a perennial background plant. It has beautiful lacy blue-green foliage that unfurls from purplish shoots. The tiny unisexual flowers are produced atop 2 - 4 ft. tall stalks on separate plants. The male flowers are showier with dangling cream-yellow colored stamens; the female flowers are clusters of greenish pistils. It goes dormant in late summer when it is allowed to go dry. This Meadow Rue is easy to grow, in part sun to shade. It grows with occasional to regular irrigation, and can be drought-tolerant once established.