Desert mallow is native across the low, intermediate and high desert zones of California, Arizona and Mexico. It grows as a multi-branched perennial shrub with an upright habit, 3-4 ft. tall and 3-4′ (occasionally 5′) wide. Foliage is comprised of small pale green leaves that are covered with fine gray hairs and have palmately lobed […]
Please note: For most situations, we would not recommend installing this plant in new gardens, landscapes, or plantings in southern California. Depending on the situation and desired qualities of the tree, our top recommendations to consider instead of weeping bottlebrush include desert willow, pink chitalpa, toyon, western redbud, and Desert Museum palo verde. This plant
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The Engelmann oak can grow into a medium to large size evergreen tree, capable of eventually reaching 25-60 ft. tall and as wide. Native to Southern California, there are many heritage scale trees currently growing in gardens, parks and preserves that have been protected from urban development. This species has pale blue-green leaves and coarse
Please note: For most situations, we would not recommend installing this plant in new gardens, landscapes, or plantings in southern California. We recommend considering planting Desert Museum palo verde, desert willow, or pink chitalpa instead. This plant profile is included in this site as a reference for two primary reasons: If you already have this
Sweet acacia gets its name from the richly fragrant yellow flowers it produces each spring. Native to deserts of the Southwest, Mexico and Chile, this drought adapted plant can be grown as a large mounding shrub or medium size deciduous tree with a broad canopy. Old specimens can reach 20-25 ft. tall and as wide.
The Mesquite is one of the signature native plants of Southwestern USA, Mexico and South America. These tough and drought adapted trees and shrubs, and several species and cultivars have been introduced into ornamental landscapes in desert communities for many years where they are appreciated for their shade and adaptability to harsh and arid conditions.
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The Marina strawberry tree easily grows into a handsome evergreen tree, capable of reaching 24-40 ft. tall and 20-25 ft. wide. It has rich dark green 3-4 in. long leaves, with lightly toothed margins. Pendulous clusters of attractive pink to rose colored flowers occur in spring and summer; showy reddish orange strawberry-like fruit mature in
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Pink chitalpa is a medium size deciduous tree developing a dome shaped canopy and growing rapidly to 20-30 ft. tall and as wide. Medium green leaves grow 4-5 in. long, to 1 in. wide and grow on twisting branches. Trumpet-shaped flowers are pink to white, with purple markings and occur in showy clusters from late
The Cork oak can become a large, heritage scale, evergreen tree slowly growing 30-60 ft. tall and 40-50 ft. wide. Pale green leathery leaves have heavily serrated margins and occasional spines; acorns grow to 1 1/4 in. long and are held by a heavily fringed base. Trunks and branches are covered by thick bark that
Please note: For most situations, we would not recommend installing this plant in new gardens, landscapes, or plantings in southern California. Depending on the situation, some of our favorite California native alternatives to Lemon Bottlebrush are Toyon, Sugar Bush, Lemonade Berry, and Desert Willow. This plant profile is included in this site as a reference
An online resource for you to learn about and choose the best plants for your inland Southern California landscape.
Promoting water conservation through education, stormwater capture, waterwise landscapes, and other initiatives.
We provide programs, services, and resources to serve audiences of all ages to cultivate a community-wide conservation ethic and build regional capacity for water resilience.
Choose between a list or map view of all signs found in our waterwise garden and park.
This is a digital registry created to offer further information on the physical signs in our waterwise garden and park premises.
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Using the map view, you can preview what each specific sign is about by tapping on the plus icon.
You can view these tips at any time by tapping the Help link in the top left.
