Mostly Natives

Epilobium canum (California Fuchsia)
Plants for Hot California Climates

We're talking Central Valley hot here, not Mojave Desert, but these are plants that can thrive in the Davis, Sacramento area and many of them can do it with no additional water in the summer months after the first year. If you would like a more cultivated look a once a month watering will make these plants more lush looking and also more fire resistant. But natives, and many Mediterranean climate plants, have developed their own protections against the 6 to 8 month drought time and don't necessarily appreciate more than the occasional addition of ground water. This ground water, unlike rain, often contain salts which then accumulate in the soil changing the acid/alkaline balance and effecting their health. If you do have water thirsty plants then group them together for more frequent watering.

We are indebted to Warren G Roberts of the Arboretum at the University of California in Davis for much of this list, and a customer that brought it to the nursery and allowed us to copy it.

 * low to no summer water / # needs afternoon shade / N indicates Calif. native

TREES
Aesculus californica (California Buckeye) N*
Lyonothamnus (Fern leaf Ironwood) N*#
Pinus contorta (Shore Pine) N*#
Prunus lyonii (Catalina Cherry) N*#
Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak) N*#
Torreya californica (California Nutmeg) N*#

SHRUBS
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) #
Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) N*#
......Howard McMinn, Louis Edmunds, Sentinel
Baccharis pilularis consanguinea (Coyote Bush) N*#
Buddleja (Butterfly Bush)
Carpenteria (Bush Anemone) N*#
Ceanothus Concha, C. Ray Hartman, C. thyrsiflorus N*
Coleonema (Pink Breath of Heaven ) #
Fremontodendron (Flannel Bush) N*#
Garrya elliptica (Silk tassel Tree) N*#
Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine)
Laurus nobilis (Sweet Bay)
Lavandula (Lavender) #
Lonicera h. Gold Flame (Honeysuckle) #
Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern) N*#
Rhamnus californica (Coffee Berry) N*#
Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry) N*#
Ribes aureum (Golden Currant) N*#
Rosa californica (Rose) N*#
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Salvia apiana, S. Bee's Bliss, S. clevelandii N*
Solanum jasminoides (Potato Vine)
Symphoricarpus rivularis (Snow Berry) N*#

BUNCH GRASSES
Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass) #
Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass) N*
Nassella lepida (Foothill Needle Grass) N*
Nassella pulchra (Purple Needle Grass) N*
Stipa gigantea *
Stipa ramosissima (Pillar of Smoke)

GROUND COVERS
Arctostaphylos uva ursi Point Reyes (Manzanita) N*#
Baccharis pilularis (Prostrate Coyote Bush) N*#
Ceanothus griseus horizontalis (Wild Lilac) N*#
Ceratostigma (Dwarf Plumbago) #
Cistus salviifolius, C. Sunset (Rockrose)
Coleonema Golden Sunset #
Convolvulus cneorum, C. mauritanicus (Morning Glory)
Ribes viburnifolium (Evergreen Currant) N*#
Rosmarinus prostratus (Trailing Rosemary)
Santolina chamaecyparissus (Lavender Cotton)

PERENNIALS
Achillea (Yarrow) #
Aloysia triphylla (Lemon Verbena)
Aquilegia formosa (Columbine) N*#
Artemesia Powis Castle #
Aster x frikartii Monch
Callirhoe digitata magenta (Poppy Mallow)
Chloragalum pomeridianum (Soap root) N*
Dudleya (Live Forever) N*#
Epilobium canum (California Fuchsia) N*
Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican Daisy) #
Eriogonum (Buckwheat) N*#
......arborescens, fasciculatum, giganteum
Eschscholzia (California Poppy) N*#
Euphorbia
Heuchera maxima (Alumroot) N*#
Iris douglasiana N*#
Lobelia laxiflora (Perennial Lobelia) N*
Monarda Blue Stocking
Monardella villosa (Coyote Mint) N*#
Nepeta (Catmint)
Penstemon heterophyllus N*#
Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy) N*#
Salvia leucantha
Scabiosa columbaria
Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue Eyed Grass) N*#
Teucrium cossonii (Germander)
Thymus (Thyme)
Verbena

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