Common name:Common Yarrow, Mifoil
Botanical name:Achillea millefolium

Common Yarrow is a hardy perennial with hairy, evergreen green foliage. It has a tight cluster of white flowers and typically blooms in the summer months. It attracts bees and butterflies. It prefers full to part sun and becomes drought tolerant once it's established. Following bloom, one should dead head the plant and divide the clumps when it appears crowded to keep it looking tidy.

Common name:Mexican Blue or Blue Hesper Palm
Botanical name:Brahea armata

This native to Mexico and Baja California displays a dense canopy of stiff fronds contrasted by graceful inflorescences that arch downward and extend well beyond the foliage.

Common name:Common Field or Slender Sedge
Botanical name:Carex praegracilis

This California native grass can tolerate occasional flooding or standing water as it is found in marshes and wetlands. It does make a great lawn substitute as it can be mowed, will take sun and part sun and need watering once a week in hot summer months. This sedge uses much less water than sod. It can be used for erosion control also.

Common name:Santa Barbara or Mexican Daisy
Botanical name:Erigeron karvinskianus

This low mounding perennial, with fine leaves and white to pinkish daisy-like flowers, is an excellent asset to rock gardens.

Common name:Candelabrum Agave, Spider Agave
Botanical name:Agave bracteosa

One of the most attractive smaller agaves, sometimes clump forming. Unarmed leaves make for a good container plant. Best in part sun to light shade. Slender recurving narrow green leaves resembles a spider. Aloe-like flowers are white-orange This agave is one of only a few, that does not die after flowering. The bloom spike is 3' of densely packed cream colored flowers. Is more moisture tolerant than others, needing good drainage. Native on limestone ledges.

Dealing With Drought

More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.

Click in the green box for more information