Worried about water?

Take a new look at drought-tolerant landscaping

July/August 2007

By David Ross

After an extremely dry winter and various demands on the state’s water supply – including a shutdown of pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – conserving water is sure to be top of mind throughout the summer in California. And even if we have a wet winter next year, using water efficiently will remain part of our lives forever.

Conserving water indoors is becoming commonplace, with low-flush toilets, high-efficiency washing machines and so on. What hasn’t received enough attention in the past is being water wise outside.

So often when people think about being water wise in the landscape, visions of cacti and gravel come to mind. But with an ever-growing palette of attractive, drought-tolerant plants, it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are numerous plants that look great, bloom or have other outstanding visual characteristics and won’t be constantly begging for more water. Fall is a great time to plant these as that will allow them a chance to enjoy fall and winter rains and begin to get established before next summer. Remember, most drought-tolerant plants will still need regular water during their first summer or two until they become established.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Amaryllis belladonna

Amaryllis belladonna, or naked lady, is a curious bulb that has lustrous, strap-like leaves during winter and spring. As summer approaches, the leaves turn brown and drop to the ground, leaving the bulb "naked," hence the name, naked lady. Around August, these naked ladies send up 2- to 3-foot-tall stalks topped by fragrant, light pink, large trumpet flowers. They will survive--almost thrive--on what meager rainfall they receive throughout the year. Caution, the bulbs are poisonous!

Grevillea lanigeras

The Grevillea family is a member of the protea family native to Australia. It is a diverse family that includes groundcovers, medium and large shrubs, and large trees. Most of them bloom over an extended period from winter through spring with clusters of small flowers that attract hummingbirds. One of the common names for some grevilleas is hummingbird bush. It’s a great heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant shrub that needs occasional summer water only. While the variety "Boongala Spinebill" has the best name, one of my favorites is the Grevillea lanigeras. They bloom over a long season into summer and range from about 2 feet tall by 4 feet wide as a good bank cover, to varieties 3 to 6 feet tall as nice mounds of flowers. Avoid high-phosphorous fertilizers on this family.

Salvia, or sage, is another diverse family of small shrubs and perennials. While some varieties look best with regular water, many thrive on little or no summer water. Salvia leucantha, or Mexican Bush Sage, is a great-looking shrub that makes about a 3- to 4-foot mound covered by spires of purple blossoms all summer long. There is a compact version called Santa Barbara.

Leonotis leonurus

Leonotis leonurus, or lion’s tail, is a 4- to 6-foot shrub that is covered with whorls of velvety orange blossoms all summer and beyond. This upright spreading clump needs little or no summer water. There is an outstanding planting of Leonotus just outside the "Petting Kraal" at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

David Ross is a horticulturalist and manager for Walter Andersen Nursery in San Diego and Poway.