Nipomo Community Services District
Conservation News Issue 2 2007
Plants! Choosing Water Conserving Plants is
Plants! an Ideal Way to Have a Beautiful
and Water-Wise Home Garden
Plants! Spring provides an ideal time to shop at local nurseries for plants to
enrich your garden. However, when you are making decisions, one
very important factor to consider is the long term watering needs of
the plants you select. In order to maximize your landscape water
efficiency, it is best to design your garden to include no more than
20% high water use plants, including turf. If you select plants that
require heavy watering during the hot summer months, you will find
your water bill climbing as the heat presses on. Choosing drought
tolerant plants allows you to build a garden or home landscape
which is economical in both water use and maintenance needs.
So, how do you determine which plants are ‘low-water need’ plants?
One way to start is to research plants native to the California
Coastal region. Native plants have evolved over time to survive the
hot, dry summer and cool, wet winters of the Nipomo area. They are
adapted as well, to the varying soils inherent in Nipomo, from the
adobe clay of the eastern foothills and flatlands to the sandy soils of
the western mesa. The Nipomo Native Garden, the SLO Botanical
Garden, and the Santa Maria Sustainble Garden all feature native
plant demonstration areas, and many local nurseries are happy to
help you choose natives as well. Choosing natives also helps by
returning the flora of the chapparal ecosystem, which has been lost
through development and invasive species.
There are also many ‘water-wise’ plants to choose from other parts
of the world with similar climates. Varietals are available in grasses,
groundcovers, shrubs and trees from Mediterranean, African and
Australian ecosystems. However,
keep in mind some species can See the Low
become invasive, and so they
must be carefully contained to Water Use Plant
prevent problems of unchecked Suggestions
growth into adjoining areas.
(continued on reverse) listed on the back!
NCSD has a new web address: www.ncsd.ca.gov
148 South Wilson Street, Nipomo, CA 93444 (805) 929-1133
Reducing Lawn & Garden The following are “Water -Wise Plant”
Chemical Use Helps to recommendations for San Luis Obispo County
Preserve Water Quality
Plant list courtesy of the City of SLO website: http://www.
ci.san-luis-obispo.ca.us/utilities/conservation-garden/plantsite/
waterconservingplants.asp
Annuals and Biennials
Pot Marigold, Bachelor’s Button/Cornflower, Mexican Aster, African Daisy/
Cape Marigold, Blanket Flower/Indian Blanket, Marigold, Baby Blue Eyes,
California Bluebell, Scarlet Flax ‘Robrum’, Farewell-to-Spring, California
Poppy
Grasses
American homeowners apply Indian Ricegrass, Purple Three-Awn, Pampas Grass, Blue Lovegrass,
an estimated 78 million pounds April Gruin Sheep’s Fescue, Muelleri’s Fescue, Blue Fescue, Blue Oat
of insecticides, herbicides, and Grass, Blue Rye, Canyon Prince Wild Rye, Lindheimer’s Muhly, Deer
fungicides per year to their homes, Grass
lawns, and gardens. And, this does Groundcovers
not include applications made Wooly Yarrow, California Sagebrush, Dwarf Coyote Bush, Japanese
by pest control and lawn care Garden Juniper, Aaron’s Beards/St. Johnswort, Dwarf Rosemary, Wall
companies. Germander, Myoporum, Bearberry
These chemicals can have adverse Perennials
health effects in the community. Agapanthus, Yarrow, Gold Coin Daisy, Dusty Miller, Tickseed, Giant
Overirrigation and runoff allows Coreopsis, Seaside Daisy, Santa Barbara Daisy/Dancing Daisy/Latin
these chemicals to move into water American Fleabane, Treasure Flower, Silver Pink, Blue-Eyed Grass,
bodies and water supplies. Lamb’s Ear, Thyme, Cyclamen, Whirling Butterflies, California Evening
Primrose, Mexican Evening Primrose, California Fuschia, Matilija Poppy,
One great alternative for the lawn New Zealand Flax, Statice/Sea Lavender, Penstemon, Red Valerian
is to use Corn Meal Gluten as a Shrubs
non-toxic, “weed and feed” pre- Smoke Tree, Bush Daisy, Licorice Plant, Lavender Cotton, Marigold,
emergent herbicide and fertilizer. Bearberry, Heavenly Bamboo, Butterfly Bush, Western Red Bud, Rock
More info: www.eartheasy.com/ Rose, Bush Morning Glory, Spotted Laurel, Manzanita, Lavender, Lion’s
article_corn_gluten.htm. Tale, Jerusalem Sage, Rosemary, Sage, Indian Mallow, Blue Hibiscus,
You can select less toxic Cape Mallow, Tree Mallow, Pacific Wax Myrtle, Pineapple Guava,
alternatives by looking for the Bottlebrush, Common Netbush, Silky Net Bush, Wax Flower, TeaTree,
“Our Water, Our World” symbol Bush Anemone, Imperial Blue, Saffron Buckwheat, Canberra Gem, Long
on garden care products at local John, Wild Lilac, Coffeeberry, Prostrate Chamise, Cottoneaster, California
stores. To learn more, feel free to Holly/Christmas Berry/Toyon, Breath of Heaven, Australian Fuschia,
come by the District office and ask Monkey Flower, Flannel Bush/California Fremontia, Lantana, Vervain
for the “ Our Water, Our World” Succulents
resource binder or visit www. Agave, Yucca, Hardy Ice Plant, Prickly Pear Cactus, Dudleyas, Stonecrop,
ourwaterourworld.org. Milkweed/Spurge, Aloe
Trees
California Peppertree, Incense Cedar, Monterey Cypress, Madrone, Palo
Plants (continued) Verde, Coast Live Oak, California Buckeye, African Olive, European
There are many excellent websites Olive, Foothill Pine, Showy Banksia
and publications which can offer
guidance in plant selection. Some suggested reading: (copies available for use in the District office)
In addition, experts at local nurseries Sunset Publishing / Western Garden Book & Waterwise Gardening
offer a wealth of free advice. In Bornstein;Fross;O’Brien / California Native Plants for the Garden
general, they are eager to guide you F. Rushing / Tough Plants for California Gardens
in the selection of drought tolerant B. Asakawa / California Gardener’s Guide
plants to fit your budget and home printed on 30%
G. Weinstein / Xeriscape Handbook post consumer
landscaping needs. recycled paper