Low-Water Perennials & Shrubs
With the importance of conserving water always in the forefront, the need for beneficial plants that can thrive with less water becomes a must in the garden. Thankfully, we have many beautiful perennials and shrubs available that will not only thrive with less water they are stunners in our California landscapes.
* Please Note - Selection may vary by location.
20 Low-Water Perennials & Shrubs
Low-Water Perennials
California Fuchsia
- Epilobium Zauschneria canum
- Full sun
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms summer & fall
Seaside Daisy
- Erigeron ‘Wayne Roderick’
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms spring to fall
Senecio candicans Angel Wings
- Gorgeous foliage but does flower
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms in summer
Geraniums
- Low and mounding perennial
- Sun to light shade
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms spring and summer
Blanket Flower
- Gaillardia
- Full sun
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms spring and summer
Douglas Iris
- Iris douglasiana
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms in spring
White Sage or ‘Bee’s Bliss’
- Salvia apiana or Salvia Bee’s Bliss
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers well drained soils
- Blooms in spring
Yarrow
- Achillea
- Full sun
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms spring to fall
Low-Water Shrubs
Butterfly bush
- Buddleia
- Sun to light shade
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms summer & fall
Manzanita
- Arctostaphylos
- Full sun
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms winter and spring
Yellow Bells
- Tecoma stans
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms summer & fall
Wild Lilac
- Ceanothus
- Full sun
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms in spring
Monkeyflower
- Mimulus
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms spring and summer
Coffeeberry Shrub
- Rhamnus ‘Eve Case’
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms in summer
Lantana
- Very hardy shrub/perennial
- Sun or light shade
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms year round
Wintergreen
- Gaultheria procumbens
- Light shade
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms spring and summer
Mock Orange
- Philadelphus lewisii ‘Goose’ Creek’
- Sun to light shade
- Prefers most soils
- Blooms spring and summer
California Buckwheat
- Eriogonum
- Full sun
- Prefers well drained soil
- Blooms summer and fall
Western Sword & Tassel Fern
- Polystichum
- Light shade
- Prefers well drained soil
- Evergreen fern
Water-Wise Essentials for Perennials & Shrubs
SummerWinds Planting Mix
100% Natural and Organic all-purpose planting mix for flowers, trees, vegetables and ornamentals. Formulated for the Bay Area, this exceptional planting mix has received the CDFA seal of approval. Blended with aged redwood, rice hulls, chicken manure and feather meal.
- 2 cu ft. Bag
E.B. Stone Organics Sure Start
Sure Start is a blend of natural organic ingredients formulated for use when planting or transplanting plants. It's a gentle organic formula that will not burn. Contains mycorrhizae, beneficial bacteria and humic acid. Mycorrhizae: are naturally occurring fungus that attaches to plant roots to form a symbiotic relation with the plant. It’s like putting an extended root system on the plant!
- 4 lb. Package
- Feeds at a natural rate
- Provides a health ecosystem
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Mulching – or covering a garden surface with a layer of mulch material – provides many advantages to your summer landscape but the biggest and the most important advantage is retaining water and water conservation. When planting trees, shrubs and perennials, it's a wonderful time to lay down some material. Don’t worry, we’re here to help make sense of mulch!
Don't forget to protect with - Bonide Insecticidal Soap
Safe for indoor use and out, Bonide Insecticidal Soap will prevent and protect your plants from insects, even killing exising insects in minutes. A multi-purpose insect control for organic gardening is great to use to on vegetables, ornamentals, shrubs, flowers, and more.
