ATER-EFFICIENT PLANTS Wfor the WILLAMETTE VALLEY his Plant Guide has been made available through a A special thanks to all those who contributed the many photos for this publication and T partnership between Clackamas Community College provided editorial content and feedback. Horticulture Department, South Fork Water Board, Regional Water Elizabeth Howley, Clackamas Community College, Providers Consortium, OSU Extension Service, City of Corvallis, Horticulture Department and Eugene Water and Electric Board, with the goal of moving Neil Bell, OSU Extension Service towards a more water-efficient community through water-efficient Pat Breen, OSU Department of Horticulture landscaping. We recognize that there are many more well deserving Louis-M. Landry; Fred Hrusa; John Game; David McClurg; Luigi Rignanese; Tim Sullivan; Jerry Murray; water-efficient plants than we were able to include in this guide. Steve Matson; Scotty Fairchild; Linda McMahan; Bluestem Nursery; Trans-Pacific Nursery; Renee Harber; For more information about the following partners, go to their Chris Miskow websites listed below. Other Credits Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy: Pinus nigra, Daphne cneorum, Crocus vernus ssp. albiflorus, Malva alcea, Geranium sanguineum, Origanum vulgare Brousseau Collection: Abies grandis, Oemleria cerasiformis, Solidago sp., Artemisia suksdorfii, Fragaria chiloensis Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences: Juniperus scopulorum; Ceanothus impressus; Clackamas Community College The City of Corvallis Hypericum calycinum http://depts.clackamas.edu/hort/ www.ci.corvallis.or.us Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences: Pinus ponderosa; Gaillardia aristata Dr. G. Dallas and Margaret Hanna © California Academy of Sciences: Acer circinatum Robert Potts © California Academy of Sciences: Aster subspicatus; Oxalis oregana Christopher Christie © 2003 Dicentra formosa Eugene Water and Electric Board Oregon State University Extension Service Dr. Nick V. Kurzenko ©2004 Phellodendron amurense; http://www.eweb.org/ http://extension.oregonstate.edu Pinus densiflora Timonthy D. Ives © 2002 Abies procera Jeff Abbas © 2001 Ratibida columnifera George Jackson © 2002 Calycanthus occidentalis JoAnn Ordano © California Academy of Sciences: Papaver somniferum Joseph Dougherty/ecology.org © Cercis occidentalis, Liatris spicata Robert Sivinski © 2004 Penstemon barbatus ssp. torreyi Regional Water Providers Consortium South Fork Water Board Virginia Moore © California Academy of Sciences: Briza www.conserveh2o.org www.sfwb.org maxima Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................... 2 7 Basic Steps ................................................. 3-7 Broadleaf Trees ............................................ 8-11 Evergreen Conifer Trees ............................. 10-15 Shrubs ....................................................... 14-27 Bulbs ......................................................... 26-29 Perennials .................................................. 28-37 Ground Covers .......................................... 36-39 Ornamental Grasses .................................. 40-41 Water-efficient Demonstration Gardens ..... 42-43 Index ......................................................... 44-45 Resources .......................................... Back Cover Intro estern Oregon has a manufacturing, fish habitat, and This guide was created by horticulture WMediterranean-type climate, emergencies such as firefighting. In and conservation experts as a tool to which is characterized by mild, wet addition to seasonal peaks, daily water assist the general gardener in making winters and dry, warm summers. Our use patterns can add stress to already decisions about how to use water dry period typically lasts 3 months stressed water distribution systems. more efficiently in their landscapes. (July through September), and Most automatic irrigation timers are set In addition to the water savings you daytime temperatures may exceed to go off in the early mornings (5 a.m.- will see, there are a number of other 90° F. This combination of dry days 7 a.m.) certain days of the week; benefits that come with water-efficient and summer heat will cause stress therefore utilities must often super-size landscaping. They include reduced to many landscape plants if they are their facilities to meet early morning fertilizer and chemical use, less weed not irrigated regularly. As a result, demands that may or may not occur growth, less energy use, less water municipal water use in the Willamette in any given year based on weather runoff, and reduced maintenance. Valley frequently doubles or triples conditions. If customers set irrigation Landscapes add value, beauty and during the summer months due to timers at other times of the morning or livability to our homes, and keeping outdoor watering. See the graph below. night (11 p.m.-5 a.m.), water utilities them water-efficient is a critical part of As the population in our region grows, would be assured of making the most being a good steward. Whether you meeting our summer watering needs is of existing facilities before building new are redoing an existing landscape or becoming more challenging. expensive structures. landscaping a new home or business, When we draw water from our Water conservation measures can consider this guide as a place to begin reservoirs faster than we can keep enable water providers to delay your efforts. them filled, we threaten the supply of building costly new facilities or seeking By following the seven basic steps water needed for drinking, irrigation, new water sources, thus helping keep of water-efficient landscaping, and water rates by using this Water-efficient Plants down. While Typical Residential Water Use vs for the Willamette Valley guide, conservation Rainfall West of Cascades you will discover trees, shrubs, alone will not bulbs, perennials, ground covers, eliminate the 8 and ornamental grasses that were 600 need to increase 7 chosen because they are suited to our 500 Inches of Rainfall our water supply, 6 Mediterranean-type climate and require it can make 400 less water, fertilizer, maintenance 5 a substantial or other special care once they are 300 4 impact and 3 established. These plants will also 200 balance the effect 2 allow you to continue to achieve color, Million Gallons per Month of population 100 diversity, texture, and beauty in your 1 growth. landscape. 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Water Use Precipitation 2 The 7 Basic Steps The 7 Basic Steps ater-efficient landscaping uses simple, common-sense gardening practices. Many of Wthese principles have been used in traditional landscaping for years as separate or partially combined principles. The seven basic steps incorporate all of them into one holistic method resulting in a unique landscaping approach that combines all the necessary elements to achieve a water-conserving landscape. 1: Planning and Design. The planning Your yard is made up of numerous and design of your landscape is one of the microclimates. A microclimate is the most important steps. Whether you are climate of a small area that is different starting from scratch or changing your from the areas around it. It may be wetter existing landscape, begin by creating or drier, warmer or colder, or more or a plan. Your plan can range from a less prone to frost than other areas of You may want to begin by dividing your drawn sketch to a professional survey. A your yard. Microclimates in your yard can yard into four different light exposures thoughtful design can allow you to install be influenced by your house, balconies, - north, south, east, and west. What kind your landscape in phases and avoid costly rooftops, fences, walls, large rocks or trees, of light is available during various parts of mistakes. Be sure to include the location of and paved surfaces. It is important to note the day - bright sunlight, filtered sunlight existing structures, trees, shrubs, paths or these areas in your plan. or shade? Remember, morning sunlight walkways, and important views you want is cooler than afternoon sunlight. You can to keep (or eliminate), as well as the sun then identify specific types of plants you orientation and the direction of the wind. want to incorporate into your landscape. GARDEN For example, a shade tree planted in SHED SUMMER the southeast section of your property WINTER WEST SUNSET RECREATION/ACTIVE AREA SUNSET • OPEN AREA will provide cooling for your home and WINTER • POSSIBLE VEGTABLE GARDEN WINDS BR BR landscape. SUMMER WINDS GENTLE BARRIER SLOPE NEEDED OUTDOOR LIVING AREA BUFFER AREA TRANSITION/ • EATING AREA/SOCIAL AREA NORTH • BAR-BE-QUE/COOKING B NOTE: Before selecting a tree, take the BR time to look over your site for things WORK/ B DR SERVICE such as overhead utility lines as well as SOUTH HOUSE AREA • TRASH underground utility lines. Think about VIEW OF VIEW OF NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORS • STORAGE PROPERTY PROPERTY how the tree will look at maturity and • POTTING G S K LR how that will work within the location you VIEW OF VIEW HOUSE PUBLIC/ENTRANCE AREA are thinking about. Work with your local OF HOUSE WINTER VIEW OF SUMMER SUNRISE HOUSE SUNRISE • ATTRACTIVE ENTRANCE nursery to select the right tree. For more EAST • PARTIAL ENCLOSURE AT ENTRANCE • FOR SEMI-PRIVACY help in planting the right tree in the right • EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS • place visit www.treesaregood.com. • NOTE ON SOIL TYPE • SOIL IS MAINLY CLAY WITH SOME SAND IN IT, FAIR TO POOR DRAINAGE. CHECK WITH • DIAGRAM