SCV-Friendly Plant Guide - Castaic Lake Water Agency

Grasses
Perennials
Santa Clarita Valley-Friendly
Plant Guide
Shrubs
Castaic Lake Water Agency
27234 Bouquet Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
Email address: mail@clwa.org
Trees
Groundcovers
Santa
Clarita
Zone 18
Table of Contents
Groundcovers
(including grasses)
Perennials
Shrubs
Trees
Tips for a Water Wise Yard
Mulch, mulch , mulch
Use drip irrigation when possible
Do not overwater. Roots need time
for the water to soak in so that air
will be pulled into the soil behind the
water. Watering every other day
allows this to happen.
Water Between 2am and 6am
Run water in 2 short cycles to
reduce runoff.
Groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover
Blue Fescue Elijah Blue
Festuca glauca
Groundcover
Blue Fescue Siskiyou Grass
Festuca idahoensis
Evergreen Grass, silver blue
foliage
Small clumping perennial
grass, blue color
Height: 8"-12"
Spread: 10"
Height: 1'
Spread: 1'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Flowering: No
Flowering: No, silvery blue
foliage
Blue Lyme Grass
Leymus arenarius
Groundcover
Blue Moor Grass
Sesleria caerulea
Robust grass with blue-silver
foliage
Grass with spiky clumps of
narrow leaves, blue on top
Height: 3'
Spread: continuous
Height: 8"
Spread: 8"
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, blue gray
leaves, flowers not showy
Flowering: Yes, powder blue
and dark green twisted
leaves, purple/black spike
flowers
Blue Sedge
Carex glauca
Groundcover
Cotoneaster 'Low Fast'
Cotoneaster dammeri 'Low
Low growing perennial with
silver-blue foliage
Good slope groundcover
with bright red berries
Height: 1'
Spread: 1'
Height: 1'
Spread: 12'
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: No, blue gray,
grass-like, spreads slowly
Flowering: Yes, tiny white or
pink flowers followed by
bright red fruit
Creeping Lily Turf Spicata Groundcover
Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon'
Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Low-growing plant with
leaves, striped silvery white
Very low growing plant that
tolerates foot traffic
Height: 8"
Spread: 12" spreading
Height: 3"
Spread: 1.5'
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, deep green
leaves, lilac to white flowers
Flowering: Yes, small pinkish flowers
Groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover
Dymondia
Dymondia margaretae
Groundcover
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe pumila
Tight mat ground cover with
gray-green leaves
Succulent leaves with a
mounding growth habit
Height: 2"
Spread: 1.5'
Height: 1'
Spread: 2'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, small yellow
flowers among showy green
and white leaves
Flowering: Yes, small pink
and yellow flowers
Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea
Groundcover
Myoporum 'Pink'
Myoporum parvifolium 'Pink'
Leafy clump grass
Fast growing Shrub that is
good on slopes
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 2-3'
Height: 4"
Spread: 9'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Regular to Ample
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate to Regular
Flowering: Yes
Flowering: Yes, small pink
flowers, not showy and small,
colorful fruit
Pink Muhly
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Groundcover
Red Fountain Grass
Pennisetum rubrum 'Eaton
Fine textured grass with late
summer flowers
Clumping semi deciduous
grass, plumes
Height: 3'
Spread: 6'
Height: 2'
Spread: 2'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, plumes of
feathery reddish flowers that
rise 2.5' higher than plant
Flowering: Yes, arching
stems of furry, foxtail-like
flower plumes
Stonecrop
Sedum crassulaceae
Perennial
African Daisy
Osteospermum asteraceae
Spoon shaped, blue-green
leaves yellow flowers
Mounding or trailing flower,
attracts butterflies
Height: 3"
Spread: 12-18"
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 2-4'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, small starshaped flowers, color varies
Flowering: Yes, white and
purple varieties
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Daylily
Hemerocallis
Gaura
Gaura
Perennial
Large clumps of arching
sword-shaped leaves
Airy, upright growth- flower
spikes
Height: 2-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Height: 3'-4'
Spread: 2'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to Regular
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, many varieties of large showy flowers
Flowering: Yes, pink buds
produce white blossoms
Gazania
Asteraceae
Perennial
Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
Low clumping or spreading
plant with colorful daisies
Evergreen vine with fragrant
white flowers
Height: 6-10"
Spread: 12-18"
Height: vine
Spread: 30'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to Regular
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, many colorful varieties
Flowering: Yes, small trumpet fragrant flowers, variety
of colors
Matilija Poppy
Romneya coulteri
Perennial
Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon plantaginaceae
Large perennial covered
with 9" yellow centered
Long spikes with narrow
dark green leaves
Height: 6-8'
Spread: 10-12'
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 1-2'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, 9" yellow
centered, white flowers
Flowering: Yes, narrow bell
shaped, purple flowers
Penstemon Red
Penstemon
Perennial
Pork and Beans
Sedum x robrotinctum
Long spikes with narrow
dark green leaves
Leaves shaped like jelly
beans, green to red brown
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 1-2'
Height: 4-6"
Spread: 6-8"
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, narrow bell
shaped, red flowers
Flowering: No
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Rock Rose
Cistus
Perennial
Sea Pink
Armeria juniperfolia
Evergreen shrub that is covered with flowers
Stiff needle-shaped leaves
Height: 3-6'
Spread: 3-6'
Height: 6"
Spread:
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, 2-4" flowers,
colors vary, blooms from
spring to early summer
Flowering: Yes, pink or
white pom-pom flowers
Society Garlic
Tulbaghia violacea
Perennial
Sunray Coreopsis
Coreopsis grandflora
Dense clumps of evergreen
leaves, stalks of flowers
Dark green lobed leaves
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 1-2'
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 3'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Regular
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, long stems
of pink-purple trumpet flowers
Flowering: Yes, bright yellow 3" flowers
Verbena
Verbena
Perennial
Wallflower
Erysimum
Showy perennial with clusters of small tubular flowers
Bedding plant, many varieties
Height: 8"-16"
Spread: 18" +
Height: 1-3'
Spread: 2-6'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, many colors
Flowering: Yes, clusters of 4
petal flowers, many colors
Wooly Yarrow
Achillea tomentosa
Perennial Annual
Stock
Matthiola
Generously blooming perennial, gray or green leaves
Narrow gray green leaves,
spikes of fragrant flowers
Height: 8-12"
Spread: 18-24"
Height: 1-3'
Spread: 10-16"
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to Regular
Flowering: Yes, many colors,
attracts butterflies
Flowering: Yes, valued for
spikes of sweet, spicy scented
flowers, many color varieties
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
California Lilac
Ceanothus
Shrub
Coast Sunflower
Encelia californica
Many varieties, bloom in
winter and spring
Deciduous shrub, bright
green leaves
Height: 1-12'
Spread: 3-12'
Height: 3'
Spread: 4'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, flowers
range from blue to purple
Flowering: Yes, yellow daisies
Creeping Mahonia
Mahonia repens
Shrub
Desert Spoon
Dasylirion wheeleri
A low and slowly spreading
evergreen
Grassy looking shrub forms
near spherical clumps, blue
Height: 1'
Spread: 3'
Height: 3-5'
Spread: 4-5'
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, short clusters
of flowers followed by blue
berries
Flowering: No
Dwarf Coyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis
Shrub
Euonymus
Euonymus japonica
Dense foliage with cottony
seed clusters
Glossy green evergreen
leaves, low shrub
Height: 12-22"
Spread: 6-9'
Height: 3-4'
Spread: 6-8'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, yellow cottony seed clusters
Flowering: Yes, not showy
Euryops Daisy
Euryops pectinatus
Shrub
Giant Lily Turf Glory
Liriope gigantea
Small woody shrub with yellow daisy flowers
Grassy strap-like leaves with
a clumping growth habit
Height: 3-6'
Spread: 3-6'
Height: 3'
Spread: 3'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Part shade
Water: Moderate to Regular
Flowering: Yes, yellow 3"
daisies
Flowering: Yes, spikes of
lavender blue flowers
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Golf Ball Pittosporum
Pittosporum
Shrub
Gulf Stream Nandina
Nandina
Grown for foliage and
spherical form
Foliage emerges as red or
pinkish and then turns light
Height: 4-6'
Spread: 4-6'
Height: 3-4'
Spread: 3-4'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to Regular
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Low to Regular
Flowering: Yes, small bell
shaped fragrant flowers
Flowering: Yes, if planted in
groups, red berries follow
pink or white blossoms
Japanese Garden Juniper
Juniperus procumbens
Shrub
Manzanita 'Howard
McMinn'
Feathery blue green foliage
Slow growing mounding
shrub or small tree
Height: 1'
Spread: 8'
Height: 7"
Spread: 7"
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, not showy
Flowering: Yes, stalks of
purple, trumpet shaped flowers
Prostrate Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
Shrub
Sage
Salvia - many varieties avail-
Low growing mounding
plant
Slender stalks produce small
flowers
Height: 2'
Spread: 5'
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 2-4'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, small clusters of blue blossoms, aromatic evergreen
Flowering: Yes, two-lipped
flowers on stalks, colors vary
Shore Juniper
Juniperus conferta
Shrub
Sweet Broom
Genista Papilionaceae
Soft bluish green needles
Deciduous shrub, bright
green leaves
Height: 1'
Spread: 6-8'
Height: 1-3'
Spread: 3-4'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, not showy
Flowering: Yes, profuse yellow sweet-pea shaped blossoms
Shrub
Shrub Evergreen
Shrub or Tree
Tree
Sweet Pea Shrub
Polygala fruticosa
Shrub Evergreen
Breath of Heaven
Colenema pulchellum
Inch long rounded leaves
Slender branches with tiny
flowers
Height: 2-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Height: 5'
Spread: 5'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, purplish pink
sweet pea shaped blossoms,
blooms year-round
Flowering: Yes, pink
Lavender
Lavendula
Shrub Evergreen
Mexican Heather
Cuphea hyssopifolia
Flowers bloom on spikes,
fragrant, colors vary
Flexible leafy branchlets,
tiny flowers
Height: 1-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Height: 12-24"
Spread: 30"
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to Ample
Flowering: Yes, fragrant
flower clusters. Pink, purple
or white, attracts butterflies,
birds
Flowering: Yes, tiny pink,
purple or white
Low Lying Acacia
Acacia redolens
Shrub\Small
Tree
Flannel Bush
Fremontodendron
Low lying shrub or tree
Sprawling irregular shaped
shrub, round leathery leaves
Height: 2-6'
Spread: 8-10'
Height: 15-20'
Spread: 15-20
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, puffy, yellow ball shaped flowers
Flowering: Yes, yellow saucer shaped
African Sumac
Rhus lancea
Tree
Century Plant
Agave Americana
Ornamental deciduous tree
Large succulent with leaves
up to 6 feet long with sharp
Height: 20-30'
Spread: 20-30'
Height: 8'
Spread: 12'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, tiny flowers
followed by yellow or red
fruit
Flowering: Yes after 10
years, giant spikes of large
white flowers
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Chinese Fringe Tree
Chionanthus Retusus
Tree
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolla
Multi-stemmed shrub can be
trained as small tree
Evergreen, rounded head,
dense foliage
Height: 12-20'
Spread: 20'
Height: 20-70'
Spread: 20' -70'+
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate to Regular
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, flowers have
fringe like white petals
Flowering: No
Fern of the Desert
Lysiloma thornberi
Tree
Grecian Laurel
Laurus nobilus
Lobed scalloped edged
leaves, fernlike
Leathery, aromatic leaves,
bay leaf used in cooking
Height: 10-15'
Spread: 12-15'
Height: 12'-40'
Spread: 15-20'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Flowering: Yes, small white
Flowering: Yes, clusters of
small yellow flowers, followed by black or purple fruit
Palo Verde
Parkinsonia cercidium
Tree
Ponytail Palm or Bottle
Palm
Creates lightly filtered shade
cast by a canopy of branches
One or more trunks, wide
base, long leaves arch and
Height: 20-25'
Spread: 20-25'
Height: 12-15'
Spread: 9-12'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low to Moderate
Flowering: Yes, clusters of
bright yellow flowers, valued
for floral display
Flowering: Yes, may bloom
after years
Red Sensation Cordyline
Cordyline austrailis
Tree
Sago Palm
Cycas revoluta
Fountain of narrow 3 ft long
leaves, matures to tree
Evergreen, looks like a palm,
dark green 2-3' leaves
Height: 20'+
Spread: 6-12'
Height: 10'
Spread: 4-8'
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Sun: Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, fragrant
flowers in long branching
clusters
Flowering: No
Tree
Vine
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Tree
Windmill Palm
Trachhycarpus fortunei
Brilliant buds turn to flowers in spring
Very hardy fan palm, fast
growing
Height: 20-25'
Spread: 20-25'
Height: 30'
Spread: 10'
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Moderate to Regular
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to Regular
Flowering: Yes, pink to purple
Flowering: Yes
Chinese Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
Twining woody vines, exceptionally beautiful flowers
Height: varies by location
Spread: vine can be trained
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Flowering: Yes, blue white or
pinkish clusters of blossoms
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Castaic Lake Water Agency
27234 Bouquet Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, California 91350
clwa.org
Phone (661) 297-1600
Fax (661) 297-1611
E-mail Address: mail@clwa.org