WATER WISE - Plants

We asked some of our great regional gardeners to share their favorite WATER WISE plants with us. Here is what they provided. We also have a printer-friendly WATER WISE plant list to take with you when you go shopping for plants.

Water Wise Plant Guide (in alphabetical order)

Plant Name	Scientific Name	Description
African Daisy	OSTEOSPERMUM SPECIES	These reliable and long blooming “unthirsty” South African perennials are grown here as annuals, although they survive some of our milder winters. Flower colors include shades of purple, white and yellow.
Beach Strawberries	FRAGARIA CHILOENSIS	Also known as Coast Strawberries, this creeping native perennial loves sandy dry soils,thriving in full or partial sun. This plant can handle moderate foot traffic, and will spread quickly, preventing weeds. It makes a great alternative to turf on steep embankments.
Black-eyed Susan	RUDBECKIA HIRTA	The Black-eyed Susan is probably the most common of all American wildflowers. The characteristic brown, domed center is surrounded by bright yellow ray florets. Thrives in most soils in full sun. A true sunshine worshipper that forgives neglect.
California Poppy	ESCHSCHOLZIA CALIFORNICA	Its flowers will bloom from February all the way to September. At night or during cold, windy or cloudy weather, the petals on the flowers will close for protection. This poppy will grow best in full sun, and likes sandy, well-drained soil.
Cranesbill Geranium	GERANIUM SANGUINEUM	This plant forms a thick mat of attractive, lobed leaves that turn red in fall and winter; it looks great in rock gardens and borders. Its pink to magenta flowers are wonderful mixed with Lavatera.
Hens and Chicks	SEMPERVIVUM	A very popular choice for rock gardens or container planting that requires little water, and can handle long periods of drought. It prefers full sun, but will grow in light shade, and thrives best when given good drainage.
Jupiter's Beard	CENTRANTHUS RUBER	Long blooming and drought tolerant, Jupiter’s Beard thrills hummingbirds. This plant spreads rapidly by seed and can fill a patch of poor soil with airy masses of rosy, pink or white flowers.
Ocean Spray	HOLODISCUS DISCOLOR	Beautiful, distinctive leaves and creamy white flower clusters – like a wave cresting -are the hallmark of this shrub. The seed heads persist all winter to brighten yards and feed the birds. It does best in well-drained sites.
Oregon White Oak	QUERCUS GARRYANA	This is the only oak tree native to the state of Washington. It will grow over 80 feet tall and more than 50 feet wide. It is very slow growing, so when you plant this tree, it is for the next generations to enjoy. It is very tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, but won’t tolerate shade.
Pacific Coast Native Iris	IRIS DOUGLASIANA HYD.	A native iris, this plant doesn’t need much water or maintenance. It has blue, purple, white or yellow flowers and dark evergreen leaves. It spreads readily to make a clumping groundcover.
Purple Coneflower	ECHINACEA PURPUREA	This perennial is native to North America, and can grow up to 30 inches tall and 30 inches wide. It can thrive in full sun or in part shade, with the latter encouraging taller growth. The coneflower is insect and disease-resistant.
Red-flowering Currant	RIBES SANGUINEUM	Magnificent rosy blossoms attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and berries provide food for birds and small mammals. Plant in the fall and, once established, you’ll hardly ever need to water again. Beware of over-watering, this shrub won’t tolerate saturated soils.
Russian Sage	PEROVSKIA ATRIPLICFOLIA	This deciduous perennial is extremely drought tolerant, with a grayish white stem, silvery-green leaves and violet blue flowers. It is tolerant of cold temperatures and chalky soils, requires full sun, and can grow over three feet tall!
Shrubby Cinquefoil	POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA	Cheery flowers adorn this undemanding shrub throughout the summer. It comes in a variety of flower colors, including yellow, red, orange, white, pink and peach.
Snowberry	SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS	This is a miracle plant. It grows in full sun to full shade and in any type of soil, even clay. It feeds hummingbirds and butterflies, and its white berries are beautiful in winter.
Sourwood	OXYDENDRON ARBOREUM	Typically a small tree, Sourwood matures at a height of about 30 feet with a width of less than 20 feet. It has brilliant red/yellow/orange fall colors and copious masses of white flowers that dangle from the branches from late June to August.
Spanish Lavendar	LAVANDULA STOECHAS	One of the most fragrant drought tolerant plants that you can plant in your garden. Grow a few extra plants to make bath salts, potpourri or to fill sachets. Just harvest the flower heads before they open, then hang them upside down in a shady, well-ventilated area until dry.
Sunrose	HELIANTHEMUM NUMMULARIUM	Low growing and evergreen, this plant is great for the front of the border and in rock walls. It comes in a variety of colors: flame red, apricot, orange, yellow, pink, rose, peach, salmon, and white.
Thyme	THYMUS VULGARIS	There are over 150 different varieties. Some types will fill in small gaps between stones nicely, while others will cover larger areas making a complete groundcover solution. Thyme emits a wonderful aroma when you walk on it.
Tree Mallow	LAVATERA THURINGIACA ‘BARNSLEY’	This shrub displays a succession of flowers all summer. It is a must-have for the perennial garden and thrives in dry or exposed sites.
Wild Ginger	ASARUM CAUDATUM	This evergreen is the perfect groundcover for shady conditions. When the leaves are crushed, a wonderful refreshing ginger scent is released into the air. This drought tolerant plant will survive dry summers.
Wild Lilac	CEANOTHUS SPECIES	This beautiful sun-loving shrub does not like to get too wet; if possible, plant it beyond the reach of sprinklers or drip emitters. It also likes poor soil; too much fertility makes it rangy and short-lived. Reliable varieties for our region include ‘Julia Phelps,’ ‘Dark Star,’ and ‘Victoria.’
Yarrow	ACHILLEA SPECIES	The long lasting flowers appear in clusters of red or rose, pink or lavender, white, or many shades of yellow. Some species are excellent candidates for filling sunny, dry places. New selections like ‘Terracotta’ and ‘Summer Pastels’ are great for borders.