Native plants are one of the best options if you are looking for low-maintenance garden plants, especially if you are planning for a drought-tolerant landscape design. So here are some benefits and examples of native plants in Sacramento you can consider for your landscape garden.
Benefits of Having Native Plants in Your Garden
- Low Maintenance: Since native plants have lived in the area for hundreds of years, they’re not much affected by the long, dry summers or winter rains. The native plants in Sacramento are accustomed to the weather and stay healthy in the climate. Having lawns full of native plants has become an attractive and low-maintenance option for drought-weary lawns.
- Attract Pollinators: Native plants are also friends with the local population of pollinators. You can choose plants that provide food and shelter to the creatures, invite birds and bees, or create a butterfly garden.
- Reduce the Use of Fertilizer and Pesticides: the native plants have been in the area for a long time. Hence, they predate modern fertilizers and pesticides. So you can ditch the chemicals and enjoy a chemical-free garden.
- Allows You to Include Drought-Tolerant Plants: Most native plants require low-water or no-water once established. However, some will require more water, so choose the ones that match your preferred water requirements.
- Protecting the Ecosystem: Native plants support the local ecosystem by being water-wise additions to your lawn, supporting pollinators, and providing egg-laying sites and shelter to local wildlife.
California fuchsia
This is a low-lying perennial with trumpet-shaped, scarlet-colored flowers. It is popular in the foothills and coastal areas of California. It is a summer and fall-flowering plant that can give homeowners flowers in the hottest summer months, attract hummingbirds, and add beautiful red flowers to the landscape. It is perennial, fire-resistant, cold tolerant down to 0 F, can be watered once a month in summer, and attracts hummingbirds.
Once the flowers die in the fall, you can cut the plant to the ground, and it will grow back full and lush in spring. California fuchsia should be your top choice if you want to attract pollinators and hummingbirds to your landscape. It grows well in sandy, clayey, and serpentine soils and requires full sun. They grow up to one and a half feet and 3 feet wide.
Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
This plant gets its name due to the seeds inside the berries resembling coffee beans. It is also known as California Buckthorn and is an evergreen shrub ideal for local bird populations. The berries are a favorite treat for the local birds in Sacramento. This red-branched shrub requires plenty of room as it can grow up to 15 feet tall.
It is a beautiful plant that is extremely easy to grow. It requires full or partial sun and can be watered only twice a month once established. It can grow in many types of soils, but it would be better to check the species before growing them because some species prefer only certain soil types.
Common Manzanita
Many species of manzanita are not native to Sacramento. But Arctostaphylos manzanita is found on the outskirts of Sacramento. It can make a dramatic and sculptural addition to your landscape design. It is also known as Whiteleaf manzanita, an evergreen tree or shrub with small, upside-down flowers.
Its berries deepen in color over the summer season. The plant has reddish-colored winding and twisting branches that make it visually interesting. It is a perennial shrub that requires full or partial shade. It can tolerate many soils, including alluvial and clay, and can be watered monthly in summer.
Common Yarrow
You have many choices when it comes to yarrow. Achillea millefolium is a good option to start with. It grows well on its own and reseeds, but it can be an aggressive spreader. Common yarrow produces yellow or white flowers in the spring and summer. It requires watering just once a week and is great at controlling erosion.
This is because it has deep roots and can live in any soil if it’s not too wet. Also, it can grow in any amount of sun, whether full sun, partial sun, or full shade. It is a perennial herb that grows 1-3 feet tall.
Blue-Eyed Grass
Blue-eyed grass is an ornamental grass that puts out blue or purple flowers from January through July; thus, it is a great long-term flowering species. It goes dormant during the hot summer and dry climates but can be kept alive by watering it twice a month during the summer.
The grass self-seeds and can be best planted on the perimeter of your garden to give a fresh pop of color. Watering it twice a month is sufficient, and it prefers moist, loamy soil but can also grow in sand or clay. It grows 1-2 feet tall and 3 inches wide.
Conclusion
So, if you plan to have some native species in your landscape, these are great options. Sacramento has a wide range of native plant species that can add authenticity to your landscape design.
