In Northern and Central / Coastal California there's SO many great plants you can grow without irrigation. It's not easy, and it may take some trial and error, but be assured, if you've got a patch of land with no water running to it, you can still find something beautiful to grow there.
In Southern California light drip irrigation is likely necessary for most of these plants, unless you're growing in the dappled shade. Like that of a Palo Verde. Or plant these California natives with the perfect soil and coastal fog layer. Though there are still a few good native plants for SoCal xeric gardening. They are marked with asterisks in the list below.
What's the Trick to Gardening in California with without Irrigation?
Well, there's really 3 tricks to ensuring your xeric garden succeeds in California. Not all of them are absolutely essential for every region, but gardening without water can be tricky. The most important things is timing your planting with the seasons.
Planting in Fall or Early Winter is Essential
Planting just before or during the rainy season in your area is essential the success of growing California native plants without irrigation. This gives plant roots the adequate moisture they need to establish in the soil.
Ensure your Soil is Appropriate for Native Plants
Ensuring your soil is appropriate for native plants is not the easiest task for a novice. But it can be done! Beat down compacted clay-dominant soils are often certain-death environments for California native plants. Many of which are adapted to growing in sandy seasonal river washes or on steep fast-draining hillsides.
If you want to know if your soil can support native plants, checkout the surrounding wild regions in your area to see what's growing there. And try digging a hole! If you can't even get your trowel in the ground than you're going to need to amend your planting holes (checkout this infographic for an easy hack).
Utilize Light Shade
Planting in Part-Shade is a great way to save water. Even when growing vegetables! Light shade protects plants from the hottest sun and over dryness, especially in hotter climates (avoid in damp coastal ones). For new natives planting in areas with a few hours of shade a day (or even just afternoon shade) can significantly stretch a plant's capacity to endure long, hot seasons without water.
Plus you can always prune back mature tree limbs to expose native plants later, once they've grown large enough to handle more dramatic heat exposures.
Best Plants for California Native Gardening with no Irrigation
- Flannel Bush - Fremontedendron ‘California Gold’ (always handle with gloves)
- *Ceanothus - any variety (groundcover or bush) you find attractive
- California Fuschia - Epilobum or Zauschneria
- California Sages - Salvia leucophylla, Salvia clevelandii or Salvia spathacea
- Redbud Tree - Cercis occidentalis (though I find Cercis canadensis to be just as xeric and better in landscaping settings in our climate. Likes part shade)
- *Manzanita - Arctostaphylos (any variety, some are groundcover, some small tree)
- *Buckwheats - Eriogonum (rubescens is especially pretty in coastal regions)
- *Toyon - Heteromeles arbutifolia
- *California Sunflower - Encelia californica (very large bush form)
- Native Mugwort - Artemisia douglasiana
- Coyote Mint - Monardella villosa
- Native Lupins - especially lupinus arbifolius
- Sticky Monkey Flower - Mimulus auranticus (non streamside varieties)
*Plants that can be grown without irrigation in Southern California (excluding desert and hottest inland)
Be prepared for Summer Dormancy
Much of California's flora goes dormant in the summer: dropping leaves or losing verdancy until seasonal rains return. Don't stress, and don't - in most circumstances - irrigate. Dormancy is a natural part of the seasons here, just like deciduous trees in Northern climates losing their leaves in fall. It's OK, and it's its own aesthetic. Maybe it's a good time for you to rest too.
If it's still spring and temperatures have yet to peak, this is the best time to give your native plants a bit of added water to get through the hot dry times. But only do this if they're showing signs of struggle. Irrigation some plants, especially ceanothus and Fremontedendron, while it's hot can quickly kill them.
Other plants great to trial in Xeric Plantings? Australians!
