These Julie Orr Design top plants choices not only have year-round interest in the garden but they are easy to care for and maintain. Once established in your garden, they only require deep irrigation 1-2 times per month.

  1. Salvia clevelandii ‘Winnifred Gilman’- This California native evergreen sage produces sprays of tall blue-violet flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects
  2. Eriogonum giganteum-Saint Catherine’s Lace is an evergreen California native plant prized for its fast growing, showy gray foliage and airy white flowers that attract beneficial insects.
  3. Epilobium canum- the California Fuchsia is a California native plant that is not only easy to grow but attracts hummingbirds effortlessly with it’s red colored flowers and sweet nectar.
  4. Teucrium chamaedrys ‘Nana’- Dwarf Germander is a great substitution in place of lavender where  a year-round evergreen appearance is desired. It’s low growing with pink flowers and does well in both full sun or partial shade.
  5. Muhlenbergia rigens- Deer Grass is a wonderful accent plant with strong shape and texture. The long seed heads give enjoyable movement – just wait for a light breeze to help them sway back and forth.
  6. Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’- Showy lavender flowers bloom through spring and summer with evergreen light green leaves.
  7. Ceanothus  ‘Ray Hartman’- One of the best California Lilacs for the garden because it’s more forgiving than other varies when it comes to summer irrigation. Since it is an evergreen, small tree, it makes a good screen or focal point for smaller gardens.
  8. Cercis occidentalis- The Western Redbud, also a California native, has the sweetest heart shaped leaves and dramatic winter displays of hot pink buds. It is deciduous and doesn’t like to be over-watered.
  9. Carpenteria californica- The Bush Aemone is a delightful evergreen Cal native with dark green leaves year round and white fragrance flowers from spring to summer.
  10. Clytostoma calystegiodes- This wonderful evergreen climbing vine has trumpet shaped violet flowers with purple veins that bloom from late spring to summer.The best feature is that old growth by the trunk will still continue to produce leaves and flowers, making it a favorite for trellises and arbors.