Late September through December is the best time of year to install a permanent, drought-tolerant landscape, and now is the best time to plan it. Many people are aware that the “traditional landscape” of lush green lawn with rosebushes and manicured shrubs was developed in England and regions of France that get more than twice the rainfall we normally do. While a typical lawn in our area requires about 57 inches of water each year, South County only receives about 21 inches on average. So whether your source of water is a well or the Sierra snowpack, this is not a sustainable landscape long- term, even if we do get a wetter winter than last year.
The current drought has forced us to look at low-water landscapes typical in Mediterranean climates. At least 50 percent of our current residential water use is for outdoor landscape watering. We can reduce this dramatically by converting lawn areas and thirsty plantings to those native to California, the Mediterranean region and other dry climates.
Your new water-wise landscape can also be a beautiful and interesting yard that attracts butterflies, birds, bees and beneficial insects. Many plants with varied foliage textures, colors and blossoms grow well in our Mediterranean climate, including drought-tolerant fruit trees and perennial herbs.
If you are not sure that a favorite plant of yours is drought tolerant, go to a new important tool—an updated list of plants called WUCOLS (Water Use Classification of Landscape Species.) The WUCOLS tool rates plants on water use from high to very low. This extensive project was supported by California Department of Water Resources, University of California Extension, and a host of professional organizations and experts in the landscape industry. The website is ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS/.
Joan Cloutier is a Santa Clara County Master Gardener. Call their hotline (408) 282-3105 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The WUCOLS list recommends these drought-tolerant plants for creating beautiful landscapes.
Groundcovers
Catmint (Nepeta): Full sun, attracts bees and butterflies, lavender flowers, evergreen, deer resistant
Germander (Teucrium): Several species, full sun, attracts bees, purple flowers, evergreen, deer resistant
Stonecrop (Sedums): Many species, sun to shade, many colors and textures, evergreen
Thyme (Thyme): Several species, full sun, fragrant foliage, white to lavender small flowers, attracts bees, deer resistant
Shrubs
Australian fuchsia (Correa): Many species and cultivars, tubular flowers in many colors, a favorite of hummingbirds, shade tolerant, works well under trees, evergreen
Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica): Several cultivars, sun to partial shade, attracts beneficial insects, and butterflies, berries attract birds, evergreen, deer resistant
Lavender (Lavendula): Several species, full sun, extremely fragrant grayish foliage, flowers attract bees and butterflies, evergreen, deer resistant
Manzanita (Arctostaphyllos): Full sun, many species, some with sculptural reddish-brown bark, height varies by species, flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects, berries attract birds, evergreen, deer resistant
Myrtle (Myrtus communis): Full sun-partial shade, several cultivars with different foliage color and small flowers, tidy, compact shrub, evergreen, deer resistant
Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana): Full sun, tall shrub or pruned into small tree, tropical looking flowers that attract hummingbirds, edible fruit that ripens in winter, evergreen
Pomegranate (Punica granatum): Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, full sun, bright orange to red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, edible fruit, deciduous
Sage ( Salvia greggi): Many cultivars with various flower colors, full sun, attracts bees and beneficial insects, evergreen, deer resistant
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo): Multi-stemmed shrub or tree, bell shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, bright red fruit attracts other birds, evergreen
Sweet Box (Sarcococca): Several species, full shade to partial sun, glossy dark green leaves with fragrant flowers, evergreen, deer resistant
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia): Full sun, small white flowers in summer attract beneficial insects, red berries in winter a favorite of birds, evergreen, deer resistant.
