Western Oregon has a Mediterranean-type climate which is characterized by mild, wet winters and dry warm summers. Our dry period typically lasts 3 months (July-September), when daytime temperatures may exceed 90˚ F. This combination of dry days and summer heat will cause stress to many landscape plants if they are not irrigated regularly. As a result, municipal water use in the Willamette Valley frequently doubles or triples during the summer months due to outdoor watering.
(Image from OSU extension service publication: Water-efficient Plants
for the Willamette Valley)
As the population in our region grows, meeting our summer watering needs is becoming more challenging. This plant list will help you garden in balance with nature, so you can enjoy a beautiful yard that’s healthy, easy to maintain, and good for the environment. When choosing plants, we often think about factors like size, shape, foliage, and flower color. But the most important consideration should be whether a site provides the conditions a specific plant needs to thrive. Soil type, drainage, sun and shade- all these affect a plant’s health, and as a result, its appearance and maintenance needs.
In addition to planting more waterwise plants, also consider alternate watering methods such as soaker hoses, which water directly to the ground instead of overhead, where you’ll lose a lot of your water to evaporation rather than it going directly to the roots of the plant. Rain barrels are a great method in our area to capture rainwater from the roof to be used in the garden during the more dry months, saving you money and using resources more efficiently.
The compiled list below contains some of the many plants that can be happy here in the temperate Pacific Northwest. Remember, this list is just a starting point, and by no means a complete list of water wise plants. The more information you have about your gardens conditions and particular plant needs before you purchase a plant, the better. By creating a plan and selecting plants wisely, you’ll avoid costly errors, reduce maintenance, and enjoy a better way to a beautiful, healthy garden.
PLANTS FOR WATER WISE GARDENS
SHRUBS
Acacia (many)
Anisodontea x hypomadara (Cape mallow)
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree)
Arctostaphylos (Manzanita)
Aronia (Chokeberry)
Artemisia (most)
Atriplex (Saltbush)
Aucuba japonica (Japanese Aucuba or Golddust Plant)
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry)
Caryopteris x clandonensis (Blue Mist)
Ceanothus (California Wild Lilac)
Cercis occidentalis (Western Rosebud)
Chaenomeles speciosa (Flowering Quince)
Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange)
Cistus (Rockrose)
Convolvulus cneorum (Bush Morning Glory)
Coprosma
Corokia (Wire Cutting Bush)
Correa (Australian Fuchsia)
Cotinus coggygria (Smoke Tree)
Cotoneaster
Cytisus (Broom)
Dodonaea viscosa (Hop Bush)
Drimys lanceolata (Mountain Pepper)
Elaeagnus (some)
Erica (Heath or Heather)
Euryops
Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava)
Fremontodendron (Flannel Bush)
Garrya elliptica (Silk Tassel Bush)
Genista (Broom)
Grevillea
Halimiocistus
Hebe (some)
Holodiscus
Justicia (some)
Lantana
Lavandula (Lavender)
Lavatera assurgentiflora (Tree Mallow)
Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail)
Leptospermum (Tea Tree)
Leucadendron
Leucophyllum (Texas Ranger)
Mahonia (many)
Melaleuca (most)
Myrtus communis (Myrtle)
Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)
Nerium oleander (Oleander)
Opuntia
Osmanthus
Ozothamnus diosmifolius (Rice Flower)
Phlomis
Pittosporum tobira (Japanese Mock Orange)
Plumbago auriculata (Cape Plumbago)
Portulacaria afra (Elephant’s Food)
Prostanthera cuneata (Alpine Mint Bush)
Prunus ilicifolia
Punica granatum (Dwarf Pomegranate)
Pyracantha (Firethorn)
Rhamnus (Buckthorn)
Rhus (Sumac)
Ribes (Currant) (most)
Rosa rugosa (Ramanas Rose)
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Rubus (Bramble)
Ruscus (Butcher’s Broom)
Salvia (Sage) (many)
Santolina chamaecyparissus (Lavender Cotton)
Senecio greyi
Sophora (some)
Symphoricarpos (Snowberry)
Teucrium (Germander)
GROUNDCOVERS AND VINES
Acacia redolens (Prostrate Acacia)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry)
Arctotheca calendula (Cape Weed)
Calylopholus hartwegii fendleri (Sundrops)
Dalea greggii (Traveling Indigo Bush)
Hypericum calycinum (Aaron’s Beard)
Juniperus
Lampranthus (Ice Plant)
Lantana
Mahonia (some)
Ribes viburnifolium (Catalina Perfume)
Rosa banksiae (Lady Banks’ Rose)
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary (trailing types))
Tecoma capensis (Cape Honeysuckle)
Thymus (Thyme)
Verbena (some)
Wisteria
TREES
Acacia (many)
Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)
Albizia julibrissin (Mimosa)
Arbutus
Arbutus menziesii (Madrone)
Azara microphylla (Azara)
Calocedrus decurrens (Incense Cedar)
Catalpa speciosa (Western Catalpa)
Cedrus (Cedar)
Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow)
Chitalpa tashkentensis
Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry)
Cupressus (Cypress)(many)
Elaeagnus augustifolia (Russian Olive)
Eucalyptus (most)
Ginko biloba (Maidenhair Tree)
Grevillea
Koelreuteria paniculata (Golden Rain Tree)
Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle)
Laurus nobilis (Sweet Bay)
Olea europea (Olive)
Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)
Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce)
Pinus (most)
Quercus (Oak) (many)
Rhus Iancea (African Sumac)
Robinia (Locust)
Styphnolobium japonicum (Japanese Pagoda Tree)
Tamarix (Tamarisk)
Umbellularia californica (California Laurel)
ANNUALS, BULBS, & PERENNIALS
Achillea (Yarrow)
Agapanthus (Lily-of-the-Nile)
Agastache
Agave (most)
Aloe
Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Lady)
Arctotis (African Daisy)
Armeria maritima (Common Thrift)
Artemisia
Calamintha (Calamint)
Centaurea
Centranthus ruber (Jupiter’s Beard)
Coreopsis (most)
Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon)
Echium
Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican Daisy)
Eriogonum (Wild Buckwheat)
Euphorbia (most)
Gaura lindheimeri
Hesperaloe parviflora (Red yucca)
Iris, bearded
Iris foetidissima (Gladwin Iris)
Limonium perezii (Statice)
Linum (Flax)
Lobelia laxiflora
Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky Monkey Flower)
Monardella
Muhlenbergia
Narcissus (Daffodil)
Nassella (Needle Grass)
Oenothera (Evening Primrose)
Pennisetum setaceum (Fountain Grass)
Penstemon (Beard Tongue) (many)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage)
Phlomis
Phormium
Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy)
Santolina
Sedum (Stonecrop) (many)
Sisyrinchium idahoense bellum (Blue-eyed Grass)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears)
Stipa gigantea (Giant Feather Grass)
Verbena (many)
Watsonia
Yucca (most)
Zauschneria (California Fuchsia)
