Suggested Water-Efficient Plants Suggested Water-Efficient
A list of common plants that don’t require frequent watering, saving you time and lowering your water usage.
part of the City of Hayward’s Environmentally Friendly Landscape Guidelines for Single-Family Development
Water-efficient landscaping can help save money, water, and promote a healthier yard and environment.
For more information on water-efficient landscapeing, visit the City’s Sustainable Hayward information at www.hayward-ca.gov
The images on the cover are of Hayward gardens using native or water-efficient plants. Photos of the Senturia-Cooper Residence Photos of the Wright-Mendola Residence by Antonio Mendola City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
TREES California Buckeye multi- or single-trunk; large, pear-
cream color in spring 30 30
Aesculus californica shape fruit
Arbutus multi- or single-trunk; cinnamon-
rosy-pink color in fall 30 35
Arbutus 'Marina' red bark
Atlas Cedar Wide-spreading, large tree; blue-
60-80 30-40
Cedrus atlantica green foliage
Deodar Cedar Medium to light green foliage with
80 40
Cedrus deodara a pendulous top
Common Hackberry
yellow fall color 50 50
Celtis occidentalis
Chinese Hackberry
yellow fall color 40 40
Celtis sinensis
Western Redbud single-trunk; yellow to red fall
magenta color in spring 15-18 15-18
Cercis occidentalis color; seedpods in winter
Bronze Loquat
new leaves bright copper color creamy white in spring 10-15 15-20
Eriobotrya deflexa
multi-trunk shrub or tree; glossy Pineapple Guava white with red stamens in
leaves with silvery-gray 10-25 10-25
Feijoa sellowiana spring underneath; edible fruit
Maidenhair Tree messy, ill-smelling fruit on female
35-50 25-50
Ginkgo biloba trees; brilliant, yellow fall color
Jacaranda multi- or single-trunk; flat, lavender blue or white from
25-40 15-30
Jacaranda roundish seed capsules late spring to summer
Glodenrain tree large, yellow clusters in
yellow-orange fall color 20-40 20-35
Koelreuteria paniculata summer
Crape Myrtle multi- or single-trunk; red fall
lavender 25 12
Lagerstroemia indica 'Muskogee' color
Crape Myrtle New Zealand Tea Tree Fruitless Olive Tree
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
TREES Crape Myrtle multi- or single-trunk; orange-red
white 25 12
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez' fall color
Crape Myrtle multi- or single-trunk; orange-red
pinkish red 22 12
Lagerstroemia indica 'Tuscarora' fall color
New Zealand Tea Tree
white, pink or red in spring 10-30 10-30
Leptospermum
Paperbark creamy-yellow to pinkish
creamy, white peeling bark 20-40 15-25
Melaleuca quinquenervia flowers in summer and fall
Fruitless Olive Tree
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' or multi- or single-trunk 25-30 25-30
'Wilsoni'
Pistacia Tree bright, yellow-orange to red fall
30-60 30-60
Pistacia chinensis color
London Plane Tree yellow-brown fall color; creamy
40-80 30-40
Platanus acerifolia 'Columbia' new bark
Flowering Plum Tree
Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea' or copper-red fall color white to pink in spring 30 30
'Krauter Vesuvius'
Coastal Live Oak
majestic as it matures; acorns 25-80 20-70
Quercus agrifolia
California Pepper gnarled, twisted trunk as it
25-40 25-40
Schinus molle matures; lacey, weeping branches
fast-growing, pyramidal tree; Redwood
thick, reddish, fibrous bark with 60-100 25-30
Sequoia semperviron green to bluish-green foliage
Pistacia Tree Flowering Plum Tree Coastal Live Oak
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
SHRUBS Glossy Abelia glossy, green leaves with graceful, white to pink in summer and
4-6 4-6
Abelia grandiflora arching branches fall
Creamy-white to greenish- Agave rosettes of green to grayish-green yellow flowers on a massive varies
Agave stalk succulent shrub; pointy, green-to- Aloe gray-green, fleshy leaves and yellow-to-red flowers varies
Aloe spp. spikes white or lilac blue to deep Blue Hibiscus Dark-green leaves; tropical
purple intermittently year- 5-8 5-8
Alyogyne huegelii looking round
Dwarf or Compact Strawberry Tree Dwarf or Compact; cinnamon-red
rosy-pink color in fall 5-10 5-10
Arbutus unedo bark
Manzanita white to pink in late winter and
red fruits in late summer for fall varies
Arctostaphylos spp. early spring
Wormwood or Artemisia
silver-gray, green foliage light white to yellow varies
Artemisia spp.
Barberry orange or red berries in fall and bright yellow to orange in
varies
Berberis spp. winter spring and summer
Bush Anemone Refined multi-stemmed shrub lightly-fragrant, white with
4 6
Carpenteria californica with glossy green leathery leaves yellow center in late spring
Wild Lilac
white to blue in spring 3-15 3-15
Ceanothus spp.
Western Redbud multi-trunk; yellow to red fall
magenta color in spring 12-20 12-20
Cercis occidentalis color; seedpods in winter
Flowering Quince white or peach-pink to coral thorny branches 3-8 3-6
Chaenomeles red in late winter
Mexican Orange white in late winter or early
Bright, green leaves 6-8 6-8
Choisya ternata spring, fragrant
Agave Aloe (photo by Stan Shebs) Breath of Heaven
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
SHRUBS Rockrose Informal, mounding shrub; good white, pink or crimson spot in
3-5 2-5
Cistus spp. drainage required spring and early summer
Breath of Heaven tiny white or star-shaped pink
fragrant , needle-like foliage 3-5 3-5
Coleonema spp. in winter and spring
Australian Fuschsia graceful, branching with grayish- small tubular white, rose to
4-5 2-3
Correa pulchella green to glossy, dark-green leaves crimson in winter
tiny, greenish-white to pink- Smoke Tree multi-stem tree-like; yellow to red
purple clusters in spring and 10-15 10-15
Cotinus coggygria fall color summer
Contoneaster orange or red berries in fall or
white to pink in spring varies
Cotoneaster spp. winter
Hop Bush bronze- or wine-colored leaves;
insignificant flowers 10-15 10-15
Dodonaea viscosa papery seedpods
Pride of Madeira dependable shrub with glossy, spike-like, violet blue in spring 6-10 4-6
Echium fastuosum dark green leaves
Escallonia neat, dense, fast-growing with
white, pink and red 3-15 2-15
Escallonia spp. glossy leaves
Evergreen Euonymus dependable shrub with glossy, 2-8 2-10
Euonymus japonicus dark green leaves
multi-trunk shrub or tree; glossy Pineapple Guava white with red stamens in
leaves with silvery-gray 10-25 10-25
Feijoa sellowiana spring underneath; edible fruits
Toyon masses of bright, red-orange
white in early summer 10-15 10-20
Heteromeles arbutifolia berries in fall and winter
Lantana white, yellow, orange, or lilac in
mounding or trailing shape 3-5 2
Lantana summer
Lavender many varieties; fragrant; gray- white or lavender to purple in
2-6 1-4
Lavandula green to green color summer
Pineapple Guava Lantana Lavender
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
SHRUBS Tree Mallow
gray-green to green color light to deep rose in summer 3-12 3-12
Lavatera
tough, spiny, glossy, dark green to Mahonia yellow to yellow-orange in
grayish green holly-like leaves 4-6 4-6
Mahonia spring with orange, red or blue berries red to bronze color in winter with Heavenly Bamboo
bright orange to red berries for 2-6 2-6
Nandina months
Osmanthus tiny, fragrant, and white in
shiny, dark green color 6-20 6-20
Osmanthus spring
Mock Orange large, fragrant, and white
soft-green color 6-12 4-10
Philadelphus clusters in late spring
Photinia copper-red new leaves; dark green
white in early spring 10-15 10-15
Photinia fraseri older leaves
Pittosporum
green to variegated leaf color creamy white in spring 4-15 2-25
Pittosporum spp.
Indian Hawthorn dark green color with bronze
white to pink 3-6 3-6
Rhaphiolepis indica stems
Currant clusters of yellow to red in
pendant flowers; dark green color 3-12 3-12
Ribes spring
Rose fragrant climber to shrub shape;
masses 3-6 3-20
Rosa shiny green color
Sage white or pink to deep violet
fragrant leaves; silvery gray color 1-5 1-5
Salvia spp. purple
Santolina yellow-green to gray-green, bright yellow, botton shape in
2-3 2-3
Santolina spp. rosemary-like leaves summer
Coast Rosemary wide-spreading; green to grayish white or lavender in mid-winter
5-10 3-6
Westringia fruticosa green color to spring
Mohonia Pittosporum Santolina
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
PERENNIALS long-lasting spikes of white or Bear's Breech dramatic plant with large, deeply-
rose to purplish in late spring 3-4 2-4 Acanthus Mollis lobed, shiny, dark-green leaves or summer ground-hugging to upright, Yarrow creamy-white, yellow or deep
silvery-gray to green, feathery, varies Achillea spp. pink in summer and early fall aromatic leaves low, mounding with gray-green to Stonecress pink in spring and early
bluish-green leaves short-lived, 8-12 6-10 Aethionema summer excellent drainage required
Lily-of-the-Nile succulent that is a reliable
white or blue in summer 1-5 1-4 Agapanthus spp. perennial for repeat performance
succulent with dense compact, Agave
symmetrical clumps with strap- varies Agave like, glossy-green leaves round, compact or spreading Ornamental Allium grass-like leaves; above-ground clusters of white , pink, or
varies Allium plant, withers after flowering violet blue in spring and summer
Windflower summer-dormant plant with
early spring to fall 3 1-2 Anemone spp. finely-divided, green leaves
compact, mounding, bushy herbs Calamint dainty white to blue in late
with aromatic, mint-like leaves, 1.5 1.5 Calamintha nepeta summer good drainage
Clivia
broad, green, strap-like leaves orange in spring 2 2 Clivia miniata
white, pink, orange, yellow, or Cosmos somewhat floppy habit but
crimson color, daisy-like, in 2 3-6 Cosmos bipinnatus attractive and moundy late summer and fall
Fortnight Lily white or yellow in spring and
iris-like flowers and leaves 2-3 2-3 Dietes summer
Purple Coneflower slowly-spreading clumps of dark
rosy-pink, daisy-like in summer 2 2-3 Echinacea purpurea green leaves
Euphorbia
bright yellow-green bright yellow-green 2-4 2-4 Euphorbia
Bear’s Breech (photo Wetman) Lily of the Nile Fortnight Lily
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
PERENNIALS Iris summer-dormant, new leaves and
multiple colors Iris flowers late winter or early spring
Rose Campion
whitish-gray color, short-lived magenta in summer 1-1.5 1.5-2 Lychnis coronaria
Grape Hyacinth thin, floppy clumps of grass-like, small, fragrant, with blue or
8”-1’ Muscari fleshy leaves white flowers in early spring
Catmint short-lived; self-sowing; whitish
blue in late spring to summer 1-3 1 Nepeta gray color
Mexican Evening Primrose fragrant, white to pink in late
spreads by rhizomes 3 1 Oenothera speciosa spring to fall
California Poppy showy, ephemeral plant with gray- orange to brick red in spring or
6”-1’ Papaver californicum green to bluish-green leaves early summer
Oriental Poppy showy, ephemeral plant with gray- mostly orange and red in early
1-2 1-4 Papaver orientale green to bluish-green leaves summer
New Zealand Flax blade-like leaves; color and size reddish-tubular spikes in late
1-12 1-12 Phormium varies spring and summer
Black-eyed Susan yellow-orange with black,
short-lived 1-2 3-4 Rudbeckia hirta central cones in summer
Stonecrop
afternoon shade yellow to pink in summer 4"-3' 4-8 Sedum
Dusty Miller
whitish-gray, lobed leaves small, creamy white or yellow 2-3 2-3 Senecio cineraria
Lamb's Ears spreading; soft, woolly, silvery- small, pink to purplish spikes
3 6-12 Stachys byzantina gray leaves in summer
Society Garlic clusters of pale lavender in
narrow, bluish-gray leaves 1-2 1-2 Tulbaghia violacea spring and summer
Yucca creamy-white clusters on tall
rosettes of sword-shape leaves 2-5 2-12 Yucca stalks in early spring
Euphorbia New Zealand Flax Society Garlic
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
cool-season bunchgrasses; Reed Grass narrow plumes of pale pink rise
upright, graceful with leaves 2 2-4 Calamagrostis well above leaves tinged red in fall and winter
Sedge clumping, grass-like plant, best in
1-2 1-2 Carex moist situations
small, dense hummocks of Fescue
narrow, green to blue to gray 1-3 1-2 Festuca leaves; divides occasionally clumping, cool-season grass with Oat Grass straw-colored, upright plums in
spiky mound of narrow blue-gray 2-3 2-3 Helictotrichon sempervirens late spring or early summer leaves
Miscanthus clumping, gracefully arching
2-4 2-6 Miscanthus leaves that turn yellowish in fall
fine-textured, fall grass; green in Mexican Feather Grass
winter, summer dormant needs greenish-silvery flowers 2-4 2-6 Nassella tenuissima well-drained soil dramatic, clumping, cool-season Feather Grass shimmering, golden, flower
grass; narrow, arching grayish- 2-3 2-4 Stipa heads rising high above leaves green leaves
Fescue Oat Grass Mexican Feather Grass
Promote Healthy Soil by… Composting food waste and garden debris for a nutrient rich soil additive… Laying recycled cardboard or sheet mulching before placing mulch to control weeds… Using leaves, chipped plants, branches and garden clippings as mulch.
Protect the Bay by… Eliminating or limiting use of synthetic fertilizers or herbicides, and preventing them from running off into the Bay… Minimizing impervious paving such as concrete patios and driveways that doesn’t allow water to recharge ground water… Terracing steep slopes to prevent erosion and reduce run-off.
Create a Wildlife-Friendly Yard by… Providing variety of plants with flowers and fruits for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife… Providing bird bath, water dish or a small pond… Leaving some areas untidy: let flowers go to seed to provide food for birds and dead leaves or stalks to shelter for insects.
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
GROUNDCOVERS
Monterey Manzanita broad carpets or dense mounds of
Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Monterey dark green leave; good erosion pinkish white 1’-4’ 4’
Carpet' control; large area only fine-textured mats of glossy leaves Bearberry
that turn bronzy-red in fall; good white with tinge of pink 1’-2’ 10’-15’
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi erosion control; large area only compact, slowly-spreading mound small round heads of white to Common Thrift or Sea Pink
of narrow, bluish-green, grassy rose pink in spring and early 8"-8" 6”-1’ Armeria maritima leaves summer
Snow-in-summer
silvery-gray green color white in early summer 6" 3’ Cerastium tomentosum
Silver Carpet narrow leaves with dark green
daisy-like in summer 1"-3" 2” Dymondia margaretae above and cottony white below
Fleabane pink, lavender, or violet daisy-
fast-growing, easy-care 8"-2' 8”-2’ Erigeron like shape in spring to fall
white, yellow, orange, rose- Clumping Gazania dark-green, lobed leaves with pink, or multi-colored in spring 6"-12" 3’
Gazania gray-wooly undersides to fall attracts birds, bees, butterflies; Rosemary light blue fall thru spring and
leaves used for seasoning, marrow 2’ 4’-8’
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' repeats in fall leaves
Woolly Thyme
gray color leaves pink in summer 2"-3" 3’
Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Dwarf Periwinkle trailing, arching, shiny, dark, pinwheel-shaped, deep blue in
2’ 4’-6’
Vinca minor green, oval leaves spring and fall
Sea Pink Fleabane Clumping Gazania
Water Smart with Less Water by… Choosing plants that are California-native or drought-tolerant from local nurseries… Minimizing or eliminating water-consuming lawn areas… Grouping plants with similar watering needs… Installing an efficient irrigation system with a rain or moisture sensor… Reducing rain and irrigation run-off by installing a rainwater collection or a recycled, gray-water system.
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous
City of Hayward’s Suggested Water-Efficient Plants
Characteristics Flowers Height Width Sun Water in feet unless noted
VINES Bougainvillea needs support; stiff, needle-like white to deep magenta spring
15-30
Bougainvillea thorns to fall
Violet Trumpet Vine trumpet-shaped, lavender in
climbing tendrils, needs support 25
Clytostoma callistegioides spring and summer
Lilac Vine deep violet, rosy-pink, or white
needs support 10-12
Hardenbergia violacea in late winter to spring
intensely fragrant, clusters of Pink Jasmine twining stems; needs support;
star-shaped white in late winter 20
Jasminum polyanthum pink buds and spring
Boston Ivy no vine support necessary; orange
25-30
Parthenocissus tricuspidata or red fall color
Potato Vine
needs support to twine as it grows white, all year around 30
Solanum jasminoides
Cape Honeysuckle orange to red-orange in fall to
needs support 15-30
Tecomaria capensis spring
Wisteria pendulous clusters of white or
long seedpods 30
Wisteria sinensis lavender in spring
Bougainvillea Violet Trumpet Vine Wisteria
Save Energy by… Planting deciduous trees on the west side of the house to provide shade… Paving less and planting more: greener not grayer… Using solar-powered or low-voltage lighting, indoors and outdoors.
Reduce Waste and Promote a Healthy Community by… Tolerating pests as much as possible… Growing your own fruits and vegetable organically… Minimizing pruning… Allowing enough room for each plant to grow… Mowing lawn less often and only when it is dry; leaving the clippings on the lawn.
Sunlight Preferences: Full Partial Shade Water needs: Moderate Occasional Infrequent Evergreen Deciduous