Water Wise Plants for Santa Barbara
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WaterWater WiseWise PlantsPlants for Santa Barbara 2 Water Wise Plants for Santa Barbara ould you like to have a beautiful lush landscape but use less water? In our semi-arid climate, the water requirements of a plant are an important consideration. This list is Wdesigned to give the homeowner suggestions for reliable, water wise plants that can be used to create a beautiful landscape. These plants are adapted to our climate, reasonably drought tolerant, locally available, fairly resistant to pests and diseases, grow well in varying conditions and long-lived. We hope this gives you a good starting place for ideas for your landscape. Cercis occidentalis in the background along with Eriogonum giganteum and Artemesia ‘David’s Choice’ in the foreground make for a striking border along the pathway winding throughout this garden. 1 Trees Arbutus ‘Marina’ Dodonaea viscosa (Hopseed Bush) Landscape use: Specimen or background tree, Description: Usually a single-trunked evergreen Description: Multi-trunked evergreen tree-like mass planting. Good patio tree. Non-invasive tree to 40 ft. tall and wide, often smaller. shrub to 15 ft. tall and wide. Foliage is willow- roots make it a good candidate for paved Oblong leathery deep green leaves, handsome like, green (popular cultivar D.v. ‘Purpurea’ areas. reddish-brown shredded bark. Pink flowers in has bronze-colored leaves). Small flowers are Cultural conditions: Full sun. Tolerates consider- fall. Medium growth rate. followed in summer by attractive clusters of able drought or regular watering. No fertilizer Landscape use: Specimen tree, large screening papery winged seeds. Trunks are twisted, needed. Likes well-drained soil; otherwise plant. shaggy-barked and interesting. Fast growing. tolerant of wide range of soils. No pests. Cultural conditions: Landscape use: Specimen tree, mass planting, Plant in full sun. Can take Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda) regular watering or very little once established. tall screening shrub. Can also be pruned as No fertilizer. Tolerates a wide range of soils. a hedge or espalier. Not for high fire hazard Description: Single-trunked deciduous or semi- No pests or diseases. areas. evergreen tree 25-40 ft. tall, 15-30 ft. wide. Cultural conditions: Full sun or part shade. No Foliage is very fine-textured, light green, water or fertilizer needed; will tolerate regular deciduous from February—March through watering. Grows in almost any soil, as well May—June. Canopy is tall, open, casting very as adapting well to wind, heat, seaside condi- light shade. Flowers are lavender, very showy, tions. usually in June, but occurring any time from April to September. Large circular brown seed Eucalyptus ficifolia (Red-Flowering Gum) pods can be a nuisance when they drop. Description: Evergreen, single-trunked tree to Landscape use: Specimen tree, massing. 40 ft. tall, with rounded crown. Leaves are Cultural conditions: Full sun. Water infrequently oblong, leathery, 3-7 in. long, deep green. in summer. No fertilizer needed. Tolerates Flowers in big clusters nearly all year, with many soils, best in a sandy loam. No pest peak of bloom in July and August. Most problems. Resistant to oak root fungus. Best bloom light red, but other colors occur in some away from immediate coast and out of very trees, including salmon, orange, cream, or cold spots. Stake and prune young trees to light pink. One-inch seed pods follow flower- develop good form. ing. Medium fast growth rate. Special remarks: One of our showiest and best Landscape use: Specimen tree, massing, color loved trees. accent. Cultural conditions: Full sun. No watering need- ed once established. Tolerant of a wide range Arbutus ‘Marina’ of soils. May be susceptible to Eucalyptus longhorn borer. Prune to control growth. Brahea armata (Mexican Blue Palm) Remove clusters of seed pods from trees for the first few years to avoid damage from their Description: Single-trunked fan palm to 40 ft. weight. Do not plant in lawns. Best perfor- tall with a crown 6-8 ft. wide. Leaves are large, mance is on coast, less successful inland. pale bluish silver. Flower stalks are pendulous, very showy, creamy white. Slow growing. Eucalyptus torquata (Coral Gum) Landscape use: Specimen palm tree. Plant sev- Description: Evergreen, erect, usually single- eral for a grove effect. Good near swimming trunked tree to 20 ft. tall, with a narrow crown, pools. drooping branches. Leaves are light green, Cultural conditions: Full sun. No water or fertil- either long and narrow or roundish. Flowers izer for established plants. Tolerates most soils, are coral and yellow, very showy, occur on and heat, wind. No significant pests. off all year long. Seed pods are also attractive. Bark is rough, peeling. Medium fast grower. Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) Landscape use: Specimen tree or grove. Good California Native Plant flowering tree for small area. Good cut flowers. Description: Deciduous multi-trunked tree to Cultural conditions: Full sun. No watering Brahea armata 15-18 ft. tall, equally wide. Leaves are blue- needed. Tolerant of a wide range of soils. May green, rounded, to 3 in. in diameter. Flowers be susceptible to Eucalyptus longhorn borer. Leptospermum laevigatum are magenta and occur on bare branches in Prune to control growth. Staking and prun- (Australian Tea Tree) early spring. Brownish seed pods accom- ing of young trees is advised to develop good Description: Single- or multi-trunked ever- pany foliage in spring and summer. Medium form. growth rate. green tree or large shrub to 30 ft. tall, some- times wider in age. Leaves are small, oval, Landscape use: Specimen tree, hillside plant, Geijera parviflora (Australian Willow) olive-green. Canopy is dense, often weeping. native garden plant. Description: Evergreen, usually single-trunked Flowers are white, single, 1/2 in. wide, occur in Cultural conditions: Full sun best. No water or tree 25-30 ft. tall, 20 ft. wide. Leaves are nar- spring. Trunk is picturesquely twisted, with fertilizer once established. Tolerates most soils. row, fine-textured, medium green, pendulous. great character. Bark is shaggy and brown. Resistant to oak root fungus. Best planted in Flowers and fruit are insignificant. Overall Medium-fast growing. fall. Flowers best inland or in low spots where effect is reminiscent of weeping willow, but winter temperatures are cool. without its disadvantages. Medium fast growing. 2 Landscape use: Best as a specimen tree, but can but doesn’t need it. No fertilizer. Takes most also be planted in groups or used as a screen- soils. No significant pests. Best along coast; ing plant. The remarkable form of its trunk tolerates seashore conditions. Stake and prune and branches make it the star of the garden young trees to develop good form. when used as a focal point. Cultural conditions: Full sun. No water or fertil- Olea ‘Swan Hill’ (Fruitless Olive) izer. Likes well-drained soils; is chlorotic in Description: Single- or multi-trunked evergreen alkaline soils. Subject to root rot in poorly- tree to 30 ft. tall and wide. Leaves are like drained soils; otherwise pest-free. Grows well those of any other olive, narrow and leathery, along seashore. but these are a deeper green. Flowers develop little or no pollen, tree bears little or no fruit. Trunks are smooth, gray, gnarled in age. Medium growth rate. Landscape use: Specimen tree, massing. Cultural conditions: Full sun. No water or fertil- izer. Tolerates most any soil. No pests. Thin foliage to show off attractive branch structure. Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem Thorn, Mexican Palo Verde) Description: Usually a single-trunked decidu- Parkinsonia aculeata ous tree to 30 ft. tall and wide. Leaves are tiny and sparsely arrayed along spiny green them, then taper off. No fertilizer. Tolerates a stems; open effect. Flowers are yellow and Leptospermum laevigatum wide range of soils, preferring well-drained abundant in spring and also occur intermit- sandy loam. Subject to usually non-lethal tently throughout the year. Fast growing when infestations of oak leaf caterpillar. Susceptible young, slower in maturing trees. to oak root fungus, especially when watered Melaleuca nesophila (Pink Melaleuca) Landscape use: Specimen tree, especially well- in summer. Description: Single- or multi-trunked evergreen suited to Spanish, Mexican or desert gardens. tree or large shrub to 20 or eventually even to Branches are attractive in flower arrange- Schinus molle (California Pepper) ments. 30 ft. and equally wide. Leaves are roundish, Description: Usually a single-trunked evergreen 1 in. diameter, gray-green. Forms a natural Cultural conditions: Full sun. Do not water tree 25-40 ft. tall and equally wide. Foliage is canopy and twisted, interesting branches. established plants in summer. No fertilizer feathery, bright green, fine-textured, weeping. Flowers are mauve, fading to white, occur required. Tolerant of many soils; prefers an Tiny flowers in summer develop into pendu- nearly year-round. Bark is thick and spongy, alkaline soil. Stake young trees. lous clusters of peppercorn-like fruits (they are fun to poke at. Fast growing. not edible). Trunk becomes massive, gnarled Landscape use: Specimen tree, mass planting, and fascinating in older trees. Bark is rough, screening, sheared hedge. Good near the brown. Fast-growing. ocean. Landscape use: Specimen tree for large areas. Cultural conditions: Full sun. Little or no water- Cultural conditions: Full sun. No water for estab- ing or fertilizing. Tolerates poor soils as well as lished trees. No fertilizer. Tolerates many soils; wind, heat, salt spray. poor drainage is OK. Susceptible to root rot, especially if over-watered. Sometimes subject Melaleuca quinquinervia (Cajeput Tree) to scale infestations. Can be messy, so consider Description: Usually a single-trunked evergreen planting away from paved areas. tree 20-40 ft. tall, upright habit. Leaves are oval, leathery, glossy, light green. Flowers are Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm) usually yellowish, sometimes purple or pink, Description: Single-trunked evergreen fan palm to and occur in summer and fall.