Commercial Landscaping and Drought Tolerant Plants
California native plants – For many years, Carlsbad Landscape maintenance companies, performing landscape services, constantly used the same old boring plants. One positive thing about the Southern California water shortage is, it’s forcing landscapers to find and use a variety of low water use shrubs and plants.
Property managers and owners are paying increasingly more for their water usage. As a result, lawn care companies are installing hardy, flowering drought tolerant and California native plants. These low water use shrubs and plants look beautiful year round, without going into an unattractive dormant state.
Here are a few examples of California native and drought tolerant plants:
Ground Covers:
- Geranium incanum
- Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’ – Manzanita Emerald Carpet
- Ceanothus griseus v. hor. ‘Diamond Heights’ – Carmel Creeper
- Dudleya pulverulenta – Seaside Daisy
- Mimulus X hybridus – Monkey Flower
- Yucca whipplei
Shrubs:
- Arctostaphylos ‘Sunset’ – Sunset Manzanita
- Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks’
- Artemisia californica – California Sagebrush
- Calliandra eriophylla – Baja Fairy Duster
- Ceanothus ‘Joyce Coulter’ – Joyce Coulter California Lilac
- Encelia farinosa – Coast Sunflower
- Fremontodendron ‘El Dorado Gold’ – El Dorado Gold Fremontia
- Ribes sanguineum glutinosum – Southern Pink Flowering
Trees:
- Acacia smallii – Sweet Acacia
- Cercis occidentalis – Western Redbud
- Prosopis glandulosa torreyana – Western Honey Mesquite
- Sambucus mexicana – Blue Elderberry
- Heteromeles arbutifolia – Toyon
Benefits of California Native Plants for North County Landscape Maintenance
Southern California native plants were created to thrive in our dry and sometimes harsh climate which benefits us as gardeners in the following ways:
- Saves Water:
Once established, many California Native Plants need minimal irrigation beyond normal rainfall. - Low Maintenance:
Low maintenance landscaping methods are a natural fit with California Native Plants, which are already adapted to the local environment. Look forward to using less water, little to no fertilizer, little to no pesticides, less pruning, and less of your time. - Pesticide Freedom:
Native plants have developed their own defenses against many pests and diseases. Since most pesticides kill indiscriminately, beneficial insects become secondary targets in the fight against pests. Reducing or eliminating pesticide use lets natural pest control take over and keeps garden toxins out of our creeks and watersheds. - Wildlife Viewing:
Native plants, birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and interesting critters are “made for each other.” Research shows that native wildlife prefers native plants. - Support Local Ecology:
As development replaces natural habitats, planting gardens, parks, and roadsides with California natives can provide a “bridge” to nearby remaining wild-lands.
Resources:
Tree of Life Nursery http://www.californianativeplants.com/
Las Pilitas Nursery http://www.laspilitas.com
California Native Plant Society http://www.cnps.org
If you want more information or a design using drought tolerant plants, contact Western Landscape Maintenance, Inc. at 888-829-8333 or email me at info@westernlandscapemaintenance.com