Drought tolerant plants for Northern California.
In the 1500's
California went through an 80 year drought. During the winter there
were blizzards in Central California, the Salinas river froze solid
where it flowed into the Monterey Bay. During the summer there was no
humidity, no rain, and temperatures in the hundreds for many
months. The same native plants that lived through that are still on
the hillsides of California. California native plants that do not
normally live in the creeks and ponds are very drought
tolerant.
The best way to find your plant is to check
www.mynativeplants.com and do not water at all. But if you want a
simple list of drought tolerant plants that can work for your garden
here are some.
Sandy Loam soils of
Coastal Northern California , including San
Francisco and much of the Bay area.
| Plant Description | Genus | Species | Variety | Cultivar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Description |  |
Achillea | millefolium | rosea | Island Pink |
| Plant Description |  |
Achillea | millefolium | californica | |
| Plant Description |  |
Adenostoma | sparsifolium | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Amelanchier | alnifolia | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Amorpha | fruticosa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Anaphalis | margaritacea | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Antirrhinum | coulterianum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Antirrhinum | nuttallianum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glauca | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glauca | Frazier Park Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glandulosa | zacaensis | San Marcos Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glandulosa | ssp.crassifolia | Del Mar Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | rudis | Burton Beauty Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glauca | Dwaine's Dwarf | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | osoensis | SLO Valley Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | wellsii | Wells Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pungens | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | manzanita_x_densiflora | Austin Griffiths Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glandulosa | campbelliae | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | rainbowensis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glauca | Ramona Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | otayensis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pringlei | drupacea | Idyllwild Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glauca | Los Angeles | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | Ian Bush Manzanita | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pumila | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | insularis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | luciana | Adelaide Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | densiflora | Sentinel Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | rudis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | purissima | Burton Mesa Groundcover | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | manzanita | Dr. Hurd Manzanita Tree | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | viridissima | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | cruzensis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pajaroensis | Paradise Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | hookeri | franciscana | Franciscana Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | densiflora | Harmony Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glandulosa | adamsii | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | mariposa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | cushingiana | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | patula | platyphylla | Julian Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | manzanita | Real manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | Sonoma Manzanita Bush | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glandulosa | howellii | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | hookerii X pajaroensis | Sunset Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | Baby Bear Manzanita Bush | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | obispoensis | San Luis Obispo Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | tomentosa | subcordata | Tranquil Cliff |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | silvicola | Ghostly Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | refugioensis | Refugio Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pechoensis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | stanfordiana | stanfordiana | Zin Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | edmundsii | Big Sur Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | La Panza | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | Mama Bear Manzanita | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | Margarita Pearl | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | John Dourley | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | tomentosa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | edmundsii | Danville Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | crustacea | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pilosula | pilosula | Atascadero Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pilosula | pismoensis | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | uva-ursi | saxicola | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | edmundsii | parvifolia | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | hookeri | Wayside Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | stanfordiana | bakeri | Louis Edmunds Manzanita |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | viscida | ssp. viscida | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | myrtifolia | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | glandulosa | glandulosa | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | uva-ursi | suborbiculata | San Bruno |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | edmundsii | Carmel Sur Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | pacifica x | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | densiflora | Howard McMinn Manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | hookeri | Monterey Carpet manzanita | |
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | mewukka | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Arctostaphylos | Pacific Mist | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Artemisia | ludoviciana | ludoviciana | |
| Plant Description |  |
Artemisia | palmeri | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Artemisia | californica | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Artemisia | californica | Canyon Gray | Canyon Grey |
| Plant Description |  |
Asclepias | erosa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Asclepias | californica | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Asclepias | fascicularis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | pilularis | consanguinea | |
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | viminea | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | pilularis | pilularis | Santa Ana |
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | pilularis | consanguinea | P.S. |
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | pilularis | pilularis | Pigeon Point |
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | pilularis | pilularis | Twin Peaks |
| Plant Description |  |
Baccharis | emoryi | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Baeria | chrysostoma | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Bloomeria | crocea | aurea | |
| Plant Description |  |
Bloomeria | crocea | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Bothriochloa | barbinodis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Brickellia | californica | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Brickellia | grandiflora | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Brodiaea | pulchella | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calandrinia | maritima | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calandrinia | ciliata | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calochortus | species | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calochortus | albus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calyptridium | monandrum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calystegia | macrostegia | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Calystegia | subacaulis | ssp. episcopalis | |
| Plant Description |  |
Carpenteria | californica | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Castilleja | foliolosa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | crassifolius | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | cuneatus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | arboreus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | arboreus | Owlswood Blue | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Mountain Haze | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Ray Hartman | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | ramulosus | fascicularis | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | impressus | nipomoensis | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Mills Glory | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | purpureus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Julia Phelps | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Dark Star | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | verrucosus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | cyaneus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | impressus | impressus | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Joyce Coulter | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Frosty Blue | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | greggii | vestitus | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | tomentosus | olivaceus | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | oliganthus | oliganthus | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | maritimus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Remote Blue Ceanothus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Celestial Blue | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Rubins Blue | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | leucodermis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Concha | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | sorediatus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | hearstiorum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | jepsonii | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | gloriosus | gloriosus | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | spinosus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | sorediatus | Klamath | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Wheeler Canyon | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Tassajara Blue Ceanothus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | Blue Cascade | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | cyaneus | Sierra Blue Ceanothus | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | thyrsiflorus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | thyrsiflorus | repens | |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | gloriosus | exaltatus | Emily Brown |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | foliosus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | roderickii | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | griseus | horizontalis | Yankee Point |
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | tomentosus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | griseus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ceanothus | thyrsiflorus | Snow Flurry | |
| Plant Description |  |
Cercis | occidentalis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cercocarpus | alnifolius | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cercocarpus | minutiflorus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cercocarpus | betuloides | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cercocarpus | ledifolius | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Chenopodium | californicum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Chlorogalum | pomeridianum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Chrysopsis | villosa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cirsium | californicum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cirsium | proteanum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Clarkia | unguiculata | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Clarkia | amoena | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Clematis | pauciflora | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Clematis | lasiantha | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cneoridium | dumosum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Collinsia | heterophylla | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Comarostaphylis | diversifolia | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Corethrogyne | filaginifolia | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Corethrogyne | filaginifolia | Silver carpet | |
| Plant Description |  |
Crossosoma | californicum | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Croton | californicus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cryptantha | clevelandii | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cucurbita | foetidissima | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cupressus | nevadensis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cupressus | macnabiana | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Cupressus | goveniana | ssp. goveniana | |
| Plant Description |  |
Delphinium | cardinale | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Delphinium | nudicale | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Dendromecon | harfordii | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Deschampsia | elongata | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | aurantiacus | australis | Ramona |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | clevelandiiX | puniceus | San Diego Sunrise |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | longiflorus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | puniceus | Otay monkey flower | |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | fasciculatus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | rutilus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | aurantiacus | lompocensis | Vandenberg Monkey Flower |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | longiflorus | Topanga monkey flower | |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | calycinus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | aurantiacus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | longiflorus | Agoura Spunky Monkey | |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | puniceus | Pumpkin | |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | aurantiacus | Sierra monkey flower | |
| Plant Description |  |
Diplacus | longiflorus | Conejo monkey flower | |
| Plant Description |  |
Dodecatheon | clevelandii | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Dodecatheon | clevelandii | insulare | |
| Plant Description |  |
Dudleya | edulis | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Dudleya | pulverulenta | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Dudleya | lanceolata | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Dudleya | cymosa | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Elymus | condensatus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Encelia | californica | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Ericameria | arborescens | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Erigeron | foliosus | blochmaniae | |
| Plant Description |  |
Erigeron | glaucus | ||
| Plant Description |  |
Erigeron | Wayne Roderick Daisy | ||
| Plant Description |  |
E |