Plants and Plant Lists
A resilient landscape is fire-wise, water wise and promotes biodiversity by using California native plants. These gardens use sustainable practices, approach plant selection and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in the defensible space zone.
Resilient gardens save water, protect us from fire and promote biodiversity.
A resilient landscape is fire-wise, water wise and promotes biodiversity by using California native plants. These gardens use sustainable practices, approach plant selection and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in the defensible space zone.
Resilient gardens save water, protect us from fire and promote biodiversity.
Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland's Sage)
Tapestry of groundcovers: Salvia 'Pt. Sal Spreader' (Pt Sal Sage), Symphytotrichum chilense (Calfornia Aster), and Eriogonum 'Warriner Lyttle' (Groundcover Buckwheat)
Diplacus aurantiacus cultivars (Monkeyflower)
Sporabolis airoides (Alkalai Sakation on right) and Lepechinia fragrans (Fragrant Pitcher Sage on left)
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Although all plants will burn, a well maintained and well hydrated plant is less susceptible to fire. California native plants are adapted to our summer dry climate, so easier to hydrate in the summer months.
Also, it is important to think about the plant community where you live. Examples in Sonoma County are: oak woodland, riparian, redwood, grassland, coastal and coastal scrub. See the fire-wise landscape design tab on this website for broader descriptions of these communities. When gardening in Sonoma County, we suggest you use mostly plants from your site's unique plant community. You can also add plants from other parts of California to your garden, while considering their unique needs. For instance: Redwood forest - shady understory plants that need quite a bit of water. Good for shade near an existing lawn. Some good choices: alum root (Heuchera species) fern (Polystichum munitum) California currant (Ribes species) Chaparral - dry, full sun sites. This is a great group of plants for lawn replacement in urban gardens. Some good choices: toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) manzanita (Arctostaphylos species) - make sure to space them as specimen plants throughout your garden California fuchsia (Epilobium californicum) - a great group of plants with many local selections like ‘Calistoga’ for hot sites north of Santa Rosa and some fun new cultivars in white and pink. Oak woodland - under oak trees shade to part shade. This community of plants will work in part sun under existing non-native trees as well. California oaks do not appreciate summer water, so make sure to select appropriate plants that can take just monthly irrigation in the summer. Some good choices: California rose (Rosa californica) yarrow (Achillea californica) sticky monkey flower mixed with a grass (Mimulus californica and Festuca californica) Grassland - full sun, drought tolerant grasses are the dominant plant type. Create a perennial meadow with some full sun perennials from chaparral along with some California native grasses. Good choices: deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and California fescue (Festuca californica). Add lovely perennials like Cleveland’s sage (Salvia clevelandii) and California fuchsia (Epilobium californica) - there are many local cultivars like ‘Cloverdale’ - for flowering among the grasses. Coastal - along coast, full or part sun, with cooler summer weather and fog influence. Inland gardens use these plants with a little more water and part shade. Good choices: Douglas’s iris (Iris douglasiana) buckwheat (Eriogonum species) hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) |