WaterWise Plant Choices

Plants for WaterWise Gardening

Linda R. McMahan, HorticulturistOregon State University Extension

Service

WaterWise• Hundreds of

WaterWise plants are available for landscapes

• They include trees & shrubs, perennials, and many other kinds of garden plants

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/maaq3.htm

Plants for WaterWise Gardening

• Learn your local climate and rainfall patterns and find your USDA or other growing zone

• Match plants that will require little or no additional water in landscape settings

• Create a pleasing mixture of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and groundcovers to complement your existing landscape or to create a new landscape

Examples from Oregon

Notice on the following map that precipitation patterns strongly influence different

kinds of vegetation in different parts of Oregon

WaterWise Trees

• Native and nonnative trees provide choices for WaterWise

• They vary from evergreen to deciduous and include many conifers as well as flowering trees

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), a large WaterWise tree. Photo: Neil Bell

The Value of Trees• Shade• Vertical

structure for visual effect and to support wildlife

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), a small WaterWise Tree choice - Photo: Linda McMahan

Quercus garryana, Oregon white oak Photo: Neil Bell

WaterWiseTrees—A Few Natives

A small native tree, Cascara, Rhamnus purshiana 

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/rhapu1.htm

Cupressus arizonica

Cedrus deodara

WaterWiseTrees

Photos: Neil Bell

Picea pungens Colorado spruce http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/wcl/

WaterWiseTrees

Cercis chinensis, Chinese redbud (Photo: Neil Bell)

WaterWise Trees

Holly oak (Quercus ilex) http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/quilex.htm

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) Photos: Amy Jo Detweiler

WaterWise Trees

WaterWise Trees

Western larch (Larix occidentalis) http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/images.php/id-1187

Rocky mountain maple (Acer glabrum)

http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/species.php/id-87

http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/wcl/trees/acerglab/wacglf.gif

WaterWise Shrubs

• Many shrubs are available

• Choose from a wide variety of native flowering shrubs

• Many native shrubs have attractive named cultivars

• Choose shrubs and subshrubs from Mediterranean areas as other choices

Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), a native Oregon flowering shrub - Photo: Linda McMahan

The Value of Shrubs

• Eye level• Shelter & food

for birds, butterflies, beneficial insects

• Create the “middle layer” of a vertical landscape Golden currant (Ribes

aureum), an Oregon native plant for east and westside - Photo: Linda McMahan

Holodiscus discolor, oceanspray

WaterWise OR Native Shrubs

Philadelphus lewisii, mock orange

Garrya elliptica, silk tassel bush

Photos: Neil Bell

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Victoria’ California lilac Photo: Neil Bell

WaterWise OR Native Shrubs

Sambucus mexicana (caerulea), blue elderberry Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise OR Native

Shrubs

Arctostaphylos patula Photo: Neil Bell

Mt. mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/species.php/id-920

WaterWise Native Shrubs

Purple sage (Salvia dorii) http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/images.php/id-1072

Low Oregon grape (Berberis repens) http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/images.php/id-11

WaterWise OR Native Shrubs

Artemesia tridentata Photo: Tonie Fitzgerald, WSU Extension

Euonymus japonicus (a variegated form) http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/eujav1.htm  

WaterWiseShrubs

Early flowering Grevillea rosmarinifoliaPhoto: Neil Bell

WaterWise Shrubs

Cistus x purpureus Photo: Neil Bell Cistus sp. Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Shrubs

Holly leaf osmanthus, Osmanthus heterophyllus http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/oshe.htm

Box honeysuckle, Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/lonibg.htm

WaterWise Perennials and “Subshrubs”

• More perennials are available than of trees and shrubs

• Choose from natives, prairie plants, herbs & other mediterranean plants

Helianthemum, rock rose - Photo: Neil Bell

What is a Subshrub?

It is perennial like, but dies back each winter to a woody base from which it resprouts.

The Value of Perennials

• Garden Interest and design element

• Nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, & insects

• Cut flowersEpilobium canum (Zauchneria californica), California fuschia - Photo: Neil Bell

WaterWise Perennials and Subshrubs

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ - Photos: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Perennials and Subshrubs

Pineleaf Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) - Photos: Amy Jo Detweiler – Yellow form also available

WaterWise Perennials and Subshrubs

Painted daisy (Tanacetum coccineum) Photos: Amy Jo Detweiler

Achillea millefolium. Yarrow (Photo: Linda McMahan)

Erysimum ‘Julian Orchard’, wallflower (Photo: Neil Bell)

WaterWisePerennials & Subshrubs

WaterWise Perennials and Subshrubs

Senecio cineraria, dusty miller Photo – Neil Bell

Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Herbs

• Herbs from the Mediterranean are a familiar form of herbaceous plant for gardens

• They are also culinary herbs, and may even act as deer repellants

• Avoid lemon balm and fennel which can become invasive in nature

Rosmarinus officinalis, rosemary Photo: Neil Bell

Lavendula angustifolia Photo: Linda McMahan

Lavendula cultivar Photo: Neil Bell

WaterWiseHerbs

Several kinds of lavendar work well in WaterWise gardens

WaterWise Herbs

Salvia chamaedryoides Photo: Neil Bell

Chives – Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Herbs

From the Michigan State University’s 4-H Children’s Garden Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Herbaceous

PlantsNative

Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/images.php/id-1757 (Inset: Linda McMahan)

Showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/images.php/id-2033

WaterWise Herbaceous PlantsOregon Natives

Pearly pussytoes Antennarria anaphaloides Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Herbaceous PlantsOregon Natives

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, native form (Photo: Linda McMahan

Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, (Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Herbaceous PlantsOregon Natives

Pearly everlasting, Anaphalas margaritacea Photo: Linda McMahan

Sword fern, Polystichum munitum – Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Bulbs

• Most are attractive• Many are native to

Oregon or Mediterranean areas of the world

• Many are already familiar to Oregon gardeners

Leucojum aestivum, summer snowflake Photo: Linda McMahan 

Why Bulbs?

• Nearly all bulbs, except those of tropical origin fit well into WaterWise landscapes

• Withholding most water in the summer months actually aids in bulb survival in our gardens

Iris tenax, Oregon iris – Photo: Linda Mcmahan

WaterWise Bulbs

Anemone blanda

Crocus sp.

Photos: Linda McMahanTulips, Tulipa sp.

WaterWise Bulbs

Photos: Linda McMahanIris ‘Queen Dorothy’

Various Asiatic lilies

Douglas’ iris Iris douglasii Photo: Linda McMahan

Camas sp. Photo: Neil Bell

WaterWise Bulbs Oregon Natives

WaterWiseAnnuals

Helianthus annuusSunflower – Photo:Linda McMahan

Eschscholzia californicaCalifornia poppy Photo: Linda Mcmahan

Clarkia sp. Photo: Neil Bell

WaterWiseGroundcovers

• Lastly, groundcovers provide help in weed suppression and water retention

• And provide cover for smaller wildlife and beneficial insects Fragaria virginiana, one of our

native strawberries Photo: Linda McMahan

WaterWise Groundcovers

Fragaria chiloensis, Beach strawberry http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/frch3.htm

Juniperus horizontalis 

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/juho1.htm

Sedum spathulifolium, Photo – Linda McMahan

WaterWise Groundcovers

Ceanothus prostratus

Kinnickinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Photos: Linda McMahan

The End

Enjoy your new garden!