Drought Tolerant

Family: Sapindaceae
Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average to dry, humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  15’ - 30'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous, small tree or shrub.  Pink new growth.  Red stems.
Notes:  This form was collected from the San Juan Islands.

Pot Size: Medium Band Pot

Family: Sapindaceae
Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range: Utah
Soil:  Average to dry, humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  10'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous, small tree or shrub.  Pink new growth.  Red stems.
Notes:  This distinctly three lobbed form was collected in the Wasatch Mountains.

Pot Size: Medium Band Pot

Family: Sapindaceae
Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range: Western US
Soil:  Average to dry, humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  15’ - 30'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous, small tree with broad, spreading canopy, often grows into a multi-stemmed tree.  Dark green lobed leaves with brilliant fall foliage in tones of red, orange, and yellow
Notes:  Very popular and adaptable to difficult conditions.  From our collections in the mountains above Salt Lake City.

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family: Sapindaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range:PNW
Soil:  Humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 25'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attributes: Deciduous.  Columnar growth with gold fall foliage.
Notes: A great selection for small gardens.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot 3' -4'

Family:  Sapindaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Mediterranean
Soil: Average
Light: Sun to Part sun
Height: 12' - 30'
Bloom Time: April to May
Attributes: Semi-evergreen.  Densely branched shrub with small, glossy leaves. 
Notes:  Rounded crown.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Pteridaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: California
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade-shade
Height: 12" - 24"
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Bright green, fronds.  Short creeping rhizome.  Clumping. 
Notes: Rare newly described species endemic to parts of Northern California.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 4-9
Natural Range:  China;  Himalayan Mountains
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich well
Light:  shade, part shade
Height:  6"-12"
Bloom Time:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen, dark purple stipe, red-pink new growth, dark green fronds.
Notes:  Low growing mat forming groundcover fern that can form broad dense stands.  One of the best ferns EVER!!!!!!

Great Plant Picks

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family:  Amaryllidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range:  Hybrid;  PP25,966
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun
Height:  24"
Bloom Time:  July to September
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous in cooler climates.  Clumping.  A compact variety with uniform heads of rich blue flowers and a dark midstripe on each petal.
Notes:  Hybridized by Vance Hooper from New Zealand.  One of the parents is native to high elevations of South Africa.

Pot Size:  Quart Pot

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Zone:  6 – 10
Natural Range:  Hybrid;  PPAF
Soil:  Average
Light:  Sun
Height:  36”
Bloom Time:  July to September
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous strap like foliage in cooler climates.  Clumping. Tall, slender stalks with a starburst of blue flowers streaked with dark blue.
Notes:  Strong growing new hybrid developed for more vigor in cooler climates.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 6-9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, rich well-drained soil
Light:  Sun
Height:  24"
Bloom Time:  July to September
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous. Compact habit with well-branched and bushy foliage topped with vibrant orange-red flowers and gold center with dark streaks.
Notes:  Tuberous perennial lily.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:Apocynaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: North America
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 36” tall 42” wide
Bloom Time: May to July
Attracts:Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Resistant to: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous, Clumping. Dark purple new growth, turning olive green during the summer and yellow fall foliage. Numerous periwinkle blue flowers.
Notes:  Looks best when massed in an informal setting.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:Ranunculaceae
Zone:6 - 10
Natural Range: Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California Alberta and Wyoming
Soil: Average to moist well drained
Light: part shade, Sun
Height: 2' - 4'
Attributes: Deciduous. Basal leaves with orange-red and yellow flowers.
Notes: Great for hummingbirds and pollinators.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Ericaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average to dry, well drained
Light: Part shade-sun
Height: 15'- 30'
Attributes:  Evergreen, Bright red - orange bark, peels to reveal a green new layer.  White flowers in hanging cluster, orange - red fruit.
Notes:  Once established they resent root disturbance and do not take to transplantation.  Use as a specimen tree to show off its ornamental bark.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot  12" - 18"

Family:Aristolochiaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:Average to moist, humus rich, becomes fairly drought tolerant
Light: Part shade
Height: 50'
Bloom Time: February to May (re-blooms sporadically all summer)
Attracts: Butterflies
Pest Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:Deciduous.  One inch pipe shaped flowers.  Heart shaped fuzzy leaves.
Notes:In the Sierras A. californica often is found growing in shady woodlands scrambling among shrubs in damper areas.  Can take a few seasons before it realy takes off.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: hybrid
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 16"
Attributes:  Deciduous. Tight foliage with short flower spikes of creamy white flowers.  Orange-red fall foliage.
Notes:  A low maintenance plant that works well with other lower growing shade perennials.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pots 

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 4' - 6'
Attributes:  Deciduous, male flowers and female flowers on separate plants.  Tall plumes of white flowers.  Ferny foliage.
Notes:  A low maintenance plant that looks nice as a backdrop in a perennial garden, or shady edge.  These seedlings are from a Silver Creek seed collection.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pots 

Family: Garryaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:  Average
Light: Part shade to shade.
Height: 4'
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Mat-green leaves with toothed edges.  Star shaped, dark purple-red flowers.  This form has wider leaves and small yellow spotting.
Notes: A Cistus Nursery introduction. Attractive small, open shrub from the cool forests of China. 

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Garryaceae
Zone:7 - 10
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:  Average
Light: Part shade to shade.
Height: 4'
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Mat-green leaves with toothed edges.  Star shaped, dark purple-red flowers with yellow pollen.
Notes: Attractive small, open shrub from the cool forests of China. 

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family: Garryaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Japan
Soil:  Average
Light: Part shade
Height: 4'
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Green leaves
Notes: An easily grown broad leaf evergreen shrub that is a great foundation plant.

Pot Size: Medium Band Pot

Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: Tibet
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 4'
Attributes:  Evergreen.  1" yellow flowers.  Red stems with dark green, holly like foliage with contrasting white underside.  
Notes: A rare species from Tibet with  large flowers that are much bigger than other Berberis species.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range:  Chile
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant
Light: Sun
Height: 4' - 8'
Bloom Time:  March to May
Attracts:  Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Rich orange flowers.
Notes: More compact when given full sun.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Family:  Berberidaceae
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, Well drained
Light: part shade, sun
Height: 5'
Attributes: Dense evergreen shrub.  Narrow dark green leaves with pale yellow flowers in summer and dark blue fruit in winter.
Notes:  Attractive foliage plant.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 4' - 8'
Bloom Time: 
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Yellow flowers from 15-25 clusterd at one joint.  Black fruit.  Long, lanceolae leaves to 5" long with short spiny margins. 
Notes: One of the finest Berberis for foliage.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: Taiwan
Soil:  Average, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 4' - 6'
Attributes:  Evergreen, yellow flowers in summer, blue fruit in fall.  powdery white underneath the immature foliage.  Dark green whorled foliage on mature plants.
Notes:  Berberis Kawakamii is a hardy and substantial species with thick dark green and glossy leaves.  When in flower the branches are clad in numerous bright yellow flowers.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Cupressaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  Western North America
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  30' - 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Flat needles.  Orange-brown bark. 
Notes:  Noted to be tolerant of summer heat and humidity. 
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range:  Europe
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light:  Part shade
Height:  10"
Attributes:  Deciduous,  Very early spring blooms purple flowers.  Spreading groundcover.
Notes:  A stunning early blooming perennial for the lightly shaded garden.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family:  Juglandaceae
Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range:  Eastern United States
Soil:  Average, moist well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Straight trunk, rounded crown.  Compound pinnate leaves.  Attractive yellow fall foliage.
Notes:  Native to hillsides and ridges throughout eastern and central U.S.  Especially in the Appalachian forests and the Ohio River Valley.

Pot size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Juglandaceae
Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range:  Eastern North merica
Soil:  Average, moist well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Irregular, oval-rounded crown.  Smooth, yellow-green pinnate leaves.  Yellow fall foliage.
Notes:  Hickory produces edible nuts.

Pot size:  Large Band Pot

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot 2' - 3' Tall

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: PNW; Northern California
Soil:  Average to dry, humus rich, well drained
Light:  Part shade, sun
Attributes: Deciduous.  8' - 15' tall.  Large shrub or small tree with multi - stemmed trunks.  Blue - green heart shaped leaves that turn yellow and red in the fall.  Small pea like flowers are purple - pink in spring followed by brown - red pea pods.
Notes: A great drought tolerant species for the native garden.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot 

Family:  Cupressaceae
Zone:  5 - 9
Natural Range:  California, Oregon
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  30' - 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Blue-green needles with feathery look.
Notes:  Narrow pyramidal growth.
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot 18" - 24"

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Washington, Oregon, California
Soil:  Average drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  February to July
Attributes: Slow growing evergreen tree with rich green leaves and yellow scales on the underside of its leaves.  White flowers late winter to late spring.  Seeds are in-cased in a spiny burr like cover.
Notes:  Male and female flowers on same tree.  Slow growing tree that in the wild is reported to grow over 100 feet tall.

Pot Size:  Small band pot 8"-12" tall

Family:  Asparagaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: New Zealand
Soil:  Average, humus rich well drained
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 8'
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Attracts: NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Greenish-white to purple brown fragrant flowers.
Notes: Small single trunk with 5" wide leaves.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot 18" - 24"

Family:  Argophyllaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  New Zealand
Soil:  Average
Light:  Sun
Height:  5'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Yellow flowers.  Red-orange berries.  Small gray leaves and zigzagging stems.
Notes:This unusual shrub evolved this way as a defense against the now extinct Moa birds.
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Iridaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun
Height:  30"
Bloom Time: August to September
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous, clumping.  Tall spikes of re-curved, star-like deep reddish orange flowers with dark center.  Larger flowers than typical.
Notes: Thrives in the hot sunny herbaceous border.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Iridaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun
Height:  30"
Bloom Time: August to September
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous, clumping.  Tall spikes of re-curved, star-like deep red buds and petals with contrasting yellow-orange inside.
Notes: Thrives in the hot sunny herbaceous border.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Iridaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun
Height:  24"
Bloom Time: August to September
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous, clumping.  Bright golden-yellow flowers stand tightly together in rows on gracefully arched stems.  Broad, sword-like leaves.
Notes: Demonstrates good vigor, long flowering and reliable hardiness.  Not a thug!  Great for cut flowers.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Great Plant Picks