Mesa’s Demonstration Garden: A Guide to Waterwise Gardening

Mesa’sDemonstration

GardenA guide to Waterwise Gardening

The Demonstration GardenIn 2004, Mesa Consolidated Water District created the

Demonstration Garden as a unique resource for its customers. Withover 50% of residential water use being applied to landscapes, Mesa’sBoard of Directors wanted to provide a water-wise garden to assistcustomers with reducing their outdoor water usage.

The Demonstration Garden provides a convenient way to identifya wide variety of plants that are water efficient and attractive. Ondisplay is an array of beautiful California friendly plants that make iteasy to find the perfect look for any garden. These choices are just asvibrant and colorful as other plants and require much less water andmaintenance.

The Demonstration Garden is an excellent resource for those whoare interested in using water wisely, saving money and protectingprecious natural resources. The garden features a drip irrigationsystem and markers identifying the plant names and numberscorresponding with this brochure.

Mesa was awarded partial funding to complete the garden fromthe Metropolitan Water District of Southern California through itsCommunity Partnering Program.

Mesa supports its mission: dedicated to satisfying our community’swater needs, through its numerous programs and services. Mesademonstrates its commitment to this level of service by providingcustomers with ways to effectively reduce their water usage withminimal impact to their lifestyles.

Mesa invites you to browse and enjoy the Demonstration Garden.Please keep this brochure as a reference and enjoy the water-wisegardening experience.

1. Botanical Name: Leucophyllum frutescens Common Name: Texas Silverleaf 'Green Cloud'Sun: FullGrowth Rate: SlowAdverse Factors: Deep ShadeDesign Style: DesertAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: BackgroundAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: PinkFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

Description: Good for low maintenance gardenswith low water requirements. Must have welldrained soil.

2. Botanical Name: Rhamnus californica Common Name: California Coffee BerrySun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: N/ASeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: ButterfliesFlower Color: GreenFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

The California coffee berry is an evergreen shrubthat reaches 6-8 ft. high. It grows inland and haslarge green to black berries in late summer. Thisshrub tolerates sun or partial shade in all soil types.It is a beneficial insect plant.

3. Botanical Name: Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' Common Name: California LilacSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: Showy flowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: Hummingbirds Flower Color: BlueFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

This cultivated variety, with a generous amount ofmedium blue tiny flowers in 3-5 in. clusters can (withgood drainage) tolerate garden moisture and heavy soils.

Mesa Consolidated Water District 3

DEMONSTRATION GARDEN - Water Conserving Plants

4. Botanical Name: Tagetes lucida Common Name: Mexican MarigoldSun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: EntryAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

Native in Mexico and in Central America. Can bean annual in colder areas or perennial in warm.Rapid to 3 ft. Erect unbranched stems with narrowlance shaped leaves. Flowers are small, yellow. Fullsun or part shade. Average water. Does have veryaromatic foliage smelling of anise.

5. Botanical Name: Trichostema lanatum Common Name: Woolly Blue CurlsSun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BeddingAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: PurpleFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

The wooly blue curl is an evergreen shrub thatreaches 3-5 ft. high. It has an open branching habitand has long stalks of brilliant purple wooly flowersin the spring and summer.

6. Botanical Name: Cistus purpureus Common Name: Orchid RockroseSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: N/A Flower Color: PinkFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

Evergreen shrub grows 4 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide and isoften shorter in stressful situations. The rosy-crimsonflowers 3 in. wide exhibit a dark purple blotch at the baseof each petal, and bloom early to mid-summer. Theflowers also feature a contrasting yellow cluster ofstamens in the center. The evergreen shrub is a finechoice for a limited environment of salt spray and coolwinds. It is relatively long-lived, tolerant of heat andaridity as well as accepting many soils conditions.

4 Mesa Consolidated Water District


7. Botanical Name: Mahonia aquifolium Common Name: Oregon GrapeSun: ShadeGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MeadowAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: EntryAttracts Wildlife: BirdsFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

Exhibiting erect growth, this evergreen shrub growsto a height of 6 ft. The leaves are 4-10 in. long, with5-9 very spiny-tooted, oval, leaflets that are 1 in. inlength.

8. Botanical Name: Salvia leucantha Common Name: Mexican Bush SageSun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: BlueFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

The Mexican sage is a bushy shrub that grows 3-4ft. tall and wide. It has hairy white stems, gray-greenleaves and velvet like purple flower spikes thatbloom summer through fall. This shrub toleratessun, light shade, little water, and is hardy to 15° F.

9. Botanical Name: Penstemon spectabilis Common Name: Showy PenstemonSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: BlueFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

This shrubby perennial produces spectacular blue-purpletubular flowers on spikes, which is quite attractive tohummingbirds. Royal beardtongue can reach a maturesize of about 3-4 ft. tall and wide. Best planted in the fall.Spring to summer bloomer.



10. Botanical Name: Ceanothus gloriosus Common Name: Point ReyesSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: BlueFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

As an evergreen groundcover, this Ceanothus form6-10 in. mats of small, holly-like, dark green leaves,in addition distinct flowers of a dark blue coloring.It attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficialinsects.

11. Botanical Name: Phlomis fruticosa Common Name: Jerusalem SageSun: FullGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: RanchAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: Perennial BorderAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

This hardy perennial is a useful, old-time gardenplant with coarse, woolly gray/green, wrinkledleaves and yellow, 1 in. flowers in ball-shapedwhorls. It handles drought and poor soils but needsfull sun.

12. Botanical Name: Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ Common Name: Artemisia Powis Castle Sun: FullGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: English CottageAccenting Features: Unusual FoliageSeasonal Interest: WinterLocation Uses: BackgroundAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

This mounding shrub reaches 3 ft. high and up to 5 ft.wide with fine silver foliage.



13. Botanical Name: Epilobium californica Common Name: California FuchsiaSun: FullGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MeadowAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: BeddingAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdFlower Color: RedFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

The Califonia fushia is a showy perennial shrub thatgrows 1-2 ft. high with upright stems. It has gray-green foliage and bright orange-red tubular flowers

14. Botanical Name: Salvia greggii Common Name: Autumn SageSun: ShadeGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: WinterLocation Uses: EntryAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: LavenderFlower Season: WinterLeaf Color: Green

The autumn sage is a hybrid evergreen shrub thatgrows 3-4 ft. high. It has fragrant green leaves andcolorful flowers that bloom in spring and summer.This evergreen shrub can tolerate sun or partialshade and is hardy to 15° F. The autumn sage isdrought tolerant. The flower colors that can begrown are: Coral, Pink, Purple, Red, and White.

15. Botanical Name: Cistus salviifolius Common Name: Sageleaf Rockrose Sun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: FragraceSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: WhiteFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

This low-spreading shrub reaches a size of 2 ft. tall by 6-8 ft. wide. It bears white flowers that are 1 in. wide withyellow centers. This variety makes a good groundcover.The plant requires average to good drainage and little orno summer watering when established. It should begrown in sun or part shade.



16. Botanical Name: Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Big Red’ Common Name: Big Red Kangaroo PawSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BackgroundAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: RedFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

The Big Red is an evergreen perennial with fuzzyrich red flowers that look like claws that rise highabove the iris-like foliage from spring through fall.(Nearly year round along the coast). Grows 4-6 ft.tall and 2-3 ft. wide.

17. Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia Common Name: English LavenderSun: FullGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: Deep ShadeDesign Styles: AlpineAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: BeddingAttracts Wildlife: ButterfliesFlower Color: LavenderFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: White

A well-developed woody base is apparent with thisevergreen sub shrub. Its leaves assume an obtuseform, and have a gray-green color above and awhite tomentose shade below. It is fragrant andneeds little water, full sun, and well-drained soils.

18. Botanical Name: Hesperaloe parviflora Common Name: Red YuccaSun: FullGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: EntryAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: RedFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Grey

Spectacular accent for desert gardens. Tolerates drought,full sun, reflected heat, poor soils and cold to at least 0°F.Rosettes of leaves to about 3-4 ft. tall x 6 ft. wide. Redflower stalks emerge spring & remain on plant till end ofsummer. Evergreen. Will spread to form crowded grasslike clump. Flowers pink to nearly red. Drought resistantbut will appear better and bloom longer with addedmoisture. Very frost tolerant. Soil tolerant.



19. Botanical Name: Ribes viburnifolium Common Name: Evergreen CurrantSun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: WinterLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: PinkFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

The evergreen currant is a fragrant evergreen shrubthat grows 3-6 ft. tall and 6-10 ft. wide. It has redstems and small rose-colored flowers with redberries between February and April. This shrubtolerates moist conditions and needs partial shadeinland.

20. Botanical Name: Mahonia repens Common Name: Creeping MahoniaSun: ShadeGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MeadowAccenting Features: Unusual FoliageSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: BirdsFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

The creeping mahonia is a small evergreen shrubthat grows 1-3 ft. high. It has spiny red to greenfoliage and yellow flowers in the spring. This plantspreads by underground stems and is resistant tooak root fungus.

21. Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis Common Name: Prostrate RosemarySun: FullGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: Deep ShadeDesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: WinterLocation Uses: FoundationAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: BlueFlower Season: WinterLeaf Color: Green

The Prostratus grows to a height of 2-3 ft. with a spreadto 8 ft. Its flowers are pale, lavender-blue in color, andthe leaves are needle-like with a dark, blue-green color.This plant makes a good ground cover, and its leaves canbe used as seasoning in cooking.



22. Botanical Name: Erigeron karvinskianus Common Name: Santa Barbara DaisySun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: RanchAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BorderAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: WhiteFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

Non-woody perennial to 1 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide.White daisy–like flowers bloom mainly spring andfall in the low desert, summer time for higherelevations. Plants are fairly short-lived, but willreseed to keep population intact. Light shade ispreferred in low desert. This cultivated varietyblooms heavily. Bright green, fine textured foliage.Needs moderate irrigation. Prune back in winter torejuvenate. Can reseed with adequate water.

23. Botanical Name: Helianthemum nummularium Common Name: SunroseSun: FullGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: OrangeFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

An evergreen shrublet that grows 6-8 in. high and 2 ft. wide, the flowers of this plant are 1” wide, andfrom April to June are borne in shades of red,apricot, orange, yellow, pink, rose and white.

24. Botanical Name: Oenothera berlandieri Common Name: Mexican Evening PrimroseSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: InvasiveDesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: PinkFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Light Green

The mexican evening primrose is a perennial. Grows 10-12 in. high, with profuse showing of 1.5 in. rose pinkblooms in summer. Flowers open in daytime and stemsdie back after bloom. Can be highly invasive.



25. Botanical Name: Baccharis pilularis Common Name: Dwarf Coyote BushSun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: FallLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: WildlifeFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: FallLeaf Color: Green

Dwarf Coyote Bush is a compact low growing shrubreaching 12-18 in. high with 5-6 ft. spread. It hasdark leaves that are deeply toothed.

26. Botanical Name: Iris Pacific Coast Hybrid Common Name: Pacific Coast IrisesSun: ShadeGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: CottageAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BeddingAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: PurpleFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

This iris is an evergreen perennial for partial shadeor shade. It has spring flowers that are 3-4 in. wide.

27. Botanical Name: Stachys byzantina Common Name: Lamb’s EarSun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MeadowAccenting Features: Unusual FoliageSeasonal Interest: N/ALocation Uses: BorderAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: BlueFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

This tiny shrub will grow less that 1 ft. tall and hasmedium-size; grayish/green leaves with blue and lavenderflowers that bloom in the spring.



28. Botanical Name: Heuchera sanguinea Common Name: Coral BellsSun: HalfGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: English CottageAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: EntryAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: PinkFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

Similar to the ‘June Bride’ with its spreading moundof scalloped and slightly mottled leaves. Panicues ofred, pink, or white flowers are held well above thefoliage. In seed propagated versions of the plant,flower color is variable.

29. Botanical Name: Salvia spathacea Common Name: Pitcher SageSun: ShadeGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: FragranceSeasonal Interest: SpringLocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: HummingbirdsFlower Color: PinkFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

The extravagant leaves of this small clumping sageemit a perfectly sweet fragrance, which attractshummingbirds. In the spring, the red/pinkflowering spikes become a deep fuchsia. It is a greatplant for dry shade.

30. Botanical Name: Dracaena draco Common Name: Dragon TreeSun: FullGrowth Rate: SlowAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: RanchAccenting Features: SilhouetteSeasonal Interest: SummerLocation Uses: IndoorAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: GreenFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

This evergreen is similar to a palm tree and will grow 30 ft. high x 20 ft. wide. It produces clusters ofgreen/white flowers on the end of the branches and alsoproduces orange berries. It has a very distinct appearancewhen mature.



31. Botanical Name: Phoenix dactylifera Common Name: Date PalmSun: FullGrowth Rate: SlowAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: DesertAccenting Features: SilhouetteSeasonal Interest: N/ALocation Uses: BackgroundAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: YellowFlower Season: SummerLeaf Color: Green

This tree, the source of edible dates, will grow up to80 ft. tall and has grayish/green leaves on a slendertrunk. It does well in desert and ocean gardens andthose in between. This palm is often used in formalgroupings around large buildings.

32. Botanical Name: Phoenix Reclinata Common Name: Senegal Date PalmSun: FullGrowth Rate: ModerateAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: MediterraneanAccenting Features: Multiple trunksSeasonal Interest: N/ALocation Uses: CourtyardAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: N/AFlower Season: N/ALeaf Color: Green

A desirable suckering fan palm that can toleratesome degree of cold weather. Can be transplanted.The pure form from Africa has a very flat leaf.“Hybridized” forms are more plumose (fluffyappearance) in the leaf.

33. Botanical Name: Armeria maritima Common Name: Sea Pink, Common Thrift Sun: HalfGrowth Rate: FastAdverse Factors: N/ADesign Styles: English CottageAccenting Features: Showy FlowerSeasonal Interest: N/ALocation Uses: BankAttracts Wildlife: N/AFlower Color: PinkFlower Season: SpringLeaf Color: Green

This clumping, grass-like perennial is natve to manyareas, including coastal California. Its flowers range fromdeep rose pink through white.





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ResourcesTo assist you in your gardening endeavors, Mesa provides the following resources:

Internet-Go to www.mesawater.org. In the conservation section you will findhelpful information for all your gardening needs. Simply click on the bewaterwisegraphic for information on plant selection, garden design, local retailers, and muchmore.

Workshops-Mesa provides landscape workshops on a seasonal basis. TypicallyMesa presents two workshops in the spring and two in the fall. These workshopsare designed to provide information from how to select your plants to sprinklermaintenance. The three-hour workshops are usually held on Saturdays. VisitMesa’s web site or call (949) 631-1205 to inquire about scheduled classes.

Home Survey-Looking for more? Not to worry, Mesa can help you right at yourown home! By participation in a home survey you will get personalized attention.A trained Mesa professional will evaluate water usage both inside and outside yourhome. After the survey you will receive a custom watering schedule for your owngarden. Visit Mesa’s web site or call (949) 631-1205 to schedule a survey.

For more information on these and other programs, or for links to related web sites,

please visit us at www.mesawater.org.

(949) 631-1205 • www.mesawater.org

Education

Mesa’s Demonstration Garden: A Guide to Waterwise Gardening