Fall water-efficient plant list

Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon

Found at the entrance of the Native garden, this evergreen native rose family large shrub (or small multi-trunked tree) carrying the name given by the Ohlone, toyon, bears gorgeous clusters of red berries on stems of glossy, leathery leaves just in time for the holiday season. Unpalatable until the berries have ripened and fermented many birds will have their own tipsy holiday feast on these brilliant berries.  Abundantly found in chaparral and woodlands from Humboldt County to Baja California and in the Sierras below 4000 feet it is also known as or Christmas berry or California holly. It is the namesake of the city of Hollywood.

Toyon is usually grown as a large accent shrub or small multi-trunked tree. Mature plants can be 8 to15 feet tall and wide. Adaptable to a wide range of soils, moisture conditions and exposure, it does best with good drainage and only light shade.  Hedging and hard pruning is not recommended and young specimens up to 2 years may be more vulnerable to pathogens but once established, toyons are long lived and low-maintenance. Plants can harbor low levels of many pests, including aphids, scale, mealy bugs but usually they do not cause significant damage to established specimens. Clusters of small white blossoms mature to berries in winter. While we have planted our toyon as an accent plant with Spreading California aster, California fuchsia and Cleveland sages, it also can be combined in a shrub grouping with other California natives such as manzanitas and ceanothus.

A UC Davis Arboretum All-Star selection.

Hylotelephium (Sedum) spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’
Autumn Joy stonecrop

‘Autumn Joy’ is a hybrid hardy succulent that starts blooming in late summer with rosy pink flower clusters on upright, green, round leaved stems reaching up to 2 feet tall. Bees love the blooms.  As the flowers age, they turn coppery pink then bronze. Appealing as cut flowers, the entire plant dies to the ground in winter. It does well as a companion plant to salvias, euphorbia and ornamental grasses. It is shown here with ruellia and a small ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ variegated euphorbia.

Preferring well-drained soil (we have it in our raised entrance bed), and sun, they do well here with afternoon shade, little maintenance and low water.

Laurus nobilis
Sweet bay

As the weather cools, many of us start cooking stews, soups, stuffings and stocks. A favorite culinary flavoring is the aromatic (thanks to the essential oil ceneole), fragrant leaf of the Mediterranean Laurus nobilis also known as sweet bay or Grecian laurel. The leaves of this evergreen, versatile tree, multi-trunked shrub, container plant, hedge or topiary can be harvested year round. Historically a garden and culinary favorite, ancient Greeks made garlands and crowns from the branches and leaves to honor bravery, victory and heroics. The commonly used phrases “resting on your laurels”, poet laureate and baccalaureate also originated from old Greek roots.

Sweet bay is a member of the primarily tropical Lauraceae family, which includes avocados, cinnamon, camphor and the California native bay laurel, Umbellularia californica (which can also be used as a flavoring agent, but is not as popular).

Bay laurels grow well in Sacramento with some afternoon shade to protect from sunburn. Not overly picky about soils, they do prefer well drained, slightly acidic locations. Small bay trees do well in pots due to their slow growth but can reach 20 to 40 feet tall in landscapes. Easy to propagate from seeds (flowers are insignificant and berries are often overlooked) or cuttings and forgiving of shearing, pruning and hedging they make a good choice for local gardens. Although very water-wise, a deep watering every 2 to 3 weeks in the summer will help the tree maintain vigor. If you are unfamiliar with the tree come visit the WEL where it is located along the fence bordering the community garden in the Mediterranean climate entrance garden. There is also a smaller tree in the herb garden.

Lepechinia hastata
Pitcher sage (Pakaha)

This easy, fast-growing native shrub from Hawaii does well in semi-shady, well-drained areas of our garden. It requires little water. Spreading by underground rhizomes, it has felty, gray-green leaves and tall flower spikes bearing magenta tubular flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds. The flower spikes were blooming late into December last year. The plant is said to be deer resistant and hardy to 0ºF. It grows 4 to 5 feet high by 2 to 3 feet wide.

Muhlenbergia capillaris
Pink muhly grass

For most of the year, this warm season mounding ornamental grass is just another evergreen background plant.  But, in late summer and early fall just as other summer blooms fade, an otherwise nondescript evergreen grass takes center stage in the FOHC parking lot bursting with show stopping persistent, vibrant, gauzy, pinkish-red, waving panicles rising up to 2 feet above the thin dark green mounding leaves. It is guaranteed to grab attention as visitors enter the front gate.

Muhlenbergia capillaris, pink muhly grass, is native to Mexico and the eastern United States. Thriving in sun to part shade, it copes well with our hot, dry climate with some summer water and good drainage.  Growing to 2 feet by 2 feet prior to bloom the dark green, slender leaves make a good background for spring and early summer perennials and annuals. The long lasting blooms dry into a light buff color throughout  winter until February when we prune the entire plant down to 4 to 6 inches just prior to new spring growth. (Additional  information about this and other ornamental grasses seen in the WEL and elsewhere in Sacramento can be found here.)

Punica granatum ‘Nana’
Dwarf pomegranate

Pomegranates, which are natives of Northern Africa, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Himalayas, have been in California since the 1770s. Featured at the entrance to our "Commonly Available" garden area, this dwarf variety bears fall ripening fruit that is primarily decorative. It is generally evergreen in Sacramento. Tolerant of many soil types, including alkaline soils, heat and cold, and drought tolerant, it makes a good foundation shrub, hedge, accent or small tree. ‘Nana’ grows to 3 feet high by 6 feet wide.

Quercus coccinea
Scarlet oak

This attractive native of the United States east of the Mississippi River grows to 80 feet tall by 50 feet wide. The leaves turn a brilliant golden scarlet with cold autumn nights and hang on throughout winter until pushed off by spring buds (a trait called marcescence). This attractive oak is native to the central and eastern United States where it is commonly found on sandy and gravelly upland ridges, slopes and occasionally on poorly drained soils. Adaptable to a wide variety of soils, and deep rooted, the scarlet oak is commonly used as a street, parkway and lawn shade tree. It is among the trees offered to homeowners by the Sacramento Tree Foundation.

Salvia leucantha ‘Santa Barbara’
Mexican bush sage 

Also known as velvet sage, S. leucantha is a native of eastern and central Mexico. A moderate sized late summer/fall blooming perennial star in our far parking lot bed, it will bloom abundantly from late summer until the first frost especially if spent blossoms are removed just as they begin to fade. The size (2-1/2 feet tall and 4 feet wide) of our ’Santa Barbara’ cultivar is not as large as many other varieties.  Very drought tolerant once established, the soft grayish green leaves set off brilliant purple flower stalks that make good cut and dried flowers. Plant in full sun, well drained soil and reduce summer watering for the best bloom.

Mexican bush sage will die back to the ground in winter and may not survive a severe frost.  If it does not die back during a mild winter, the plant should be cut close to the ground before spring growth begins to maintain a more compact shape and control flopping flower stems.

Tagetes lemmonii 'Compactum'
Dwarf Copper Canyon daisy

Also known as tangerine scented marigold, this large shrubby herbaceous perennial originates in canyons at elevations between 4,000 to 6,000 feet from southern Arizona throughout Mexico. A member of the sunflower family, it is covered in the fall with vibrant, yellow daisy-like flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.  The very aromatic, airy foliage can cause dermatitis so care should be taken when pruning. We have 2 varieties in our garden, one that reaches 6 to 8 feet in height and a dwarf variety that grows to about 4 feet tall. Both can reach 4 to 6 feet in width. Copper canyon daisy prefers good drainage and is drought tolerant.  In fact, it blooms more abundantly when not overwatered.

Blooms are triggered by shorter days in fall, so an overcast period earlier in the year may produce some additional bloom. If overwatered or given too much shade, the plant may become leggy. Hedging back the stems may reduce subsequent flower production, however.  Fall blooms cover the bush and last until frost. Plants will die back in winter under frost conditions.  We have found that our plants do best when cut back close to the ground just as spring growth begins.