Drought Tolerant

Family:  Asphodelaceae
Zone: 5-9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height:  24" - 48"
Bloom Time: July to September
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Coral orange flowers open creamy white on tall, spiky stems.  Re-blooming.  Grass-like foliage. 
Notes: Tropical looking and bred to be winter hardy in cooler climates.  

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: PNW; Washington, Oregon, California
Soil: moist, summer dry, well drained
Light: part shade, Sun
Height: 12" - 36" tall
Attributes: Deciduous. Blooms early summer.  Yellow blooms spotted dark purple.  Bulb goes summer dormant.
Notes:  A great plant for a hummingbird and butterfly garden.  Will not need supplemental water and should be allowed to go mostly dry in summer.  Plant in a rock garden or wildflower meadow, or along a shady border.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Caprifoliaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 5"
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Attributes:  Evergreen, dainty, glossy, rounded foliage.  Numerous, small rosy red buds tipped in chartreuse-turning orange as the flowers mature.  Small dark blue-black fruit.
Notes: Works well in containers or scrambling over rocks and stumps.  .  Clinging to the face of a mossy cliff face.

Pot Size:4" Band Pot

Family:  Myrtaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: Central Andes
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light: sun
Height: 15'
Bloom Time:  August to September
Attributes:  Smooth bark with grey and orange-brown mottling.  Peeling bark.  Small, evergreen fragrant leaves.  Profuse white flowers in midsummer.  Black-blue fruit.
Notes:  Once established it is fairly drought and frost tolerant

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Part shade
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  May to June, September to November
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: A shorter growing, multi-branched Mahonia.  Unlike most Mahonia this hybrid has both flowers and fruit at the same time.  Hybrid named after Ozzie Johnson.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Part sun, shade
Height: 8'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Bloom Time: February to April
Attributes: Evergreen.  Creamy yellow flowers on short spikes.
Notes: These are open pollinated seedlings.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 8'
Bloom Time: December to March
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow to orange flowers.  Mat like texture with sharp lobes.
Notes: An exciting hybrid bred by Andy Navage director of horticulture at the Bloedel reserve.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone:  7 - 10
Natural Range:  China
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Part shade
Height:  4'
Bloom Time:  Fall and Spring
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Feathery foliage with short spikes of yellow flowers.
Notes:  Spineless Mahonia perfect for containers and planted in the lightly shaded garden.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 8'
Bloom Time: December to March
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow flowers on short spikes.  Dazzling new growth is bright silvery, maturing to a deep green with a silver sheen.
Notes: One of the best Mahonia species for foliage.  These are open pollinated, seed grown plants with a bit of variation in foliage.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow flowers.  Compound leaves with fern-like appearance.
Notes: Bronze new growth.  Gives the garden a tropical texture.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: Channel Islands
Soil: Average
Light: Part sun
Height: 6' - 10'
Bloom Time: March to April
Attributes: Evergreen.  Upright, rounded shrub with smooth, glossy pinnate leaves.  Yellow flowers with blue fruit.
Notes:  A unique spineless species native to southern Oregon to Southern California but this particular cultivar is only found on the Channel Islands of California.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: Oregon, California
Soil:  Average-dry, humus rich, Well drained
Light: part shade, sun
Height: 6" - 12"
Attributes: Evergreen suckering shrub.  Brilliant purple, red, blue green foliage when planted in at least half a days worth of sun.  Yellow flowers early summer, blue fruit in fall.
Notes:  I can't say enough about this small Mahonia species.  The color is better than any other of the native Mahonia species and each leaf is ringed with a light colored line.  Rarely taller than 6" and forms a loose low clump of foliage.  It often grows in association with Arctostaphylos species.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 5 - 10
Natural Range: Western and Central North America
Soil: Average, dry
Light: Part sun, sun
Height: 1' - 2'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attributes: Evergreen, spreading, stoloniferous shrub.  Upright shrub with pinnate, glossy green leaves.  Yellow flowers with blue fruit.
Notes:  A sturdy low growing species.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 4' - 8'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height:4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, thick, green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: 'Charity' has longer and wider leaves than 'Winter Sun' and also start flowering later.  Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height:4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, thick, green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes:  Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Oleaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Turkey
Soil:  average, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 8'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attributes: Evergreen shrub.  Small, fragrant white flowers.
Notes:  Roy Lancaster collection from Turkey.  Also known as Phillyrea vilmoriniana, Phillyrea decora.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Pot Size: Medium Band Pot

Family:  Oxalidaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height:  6"
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Dark green leaves with silver mottling.  Deep pink flowers.
Notes: This form was introduced form northern California.  Growing beneath old growth Redwoods in deep rich duff.  Darker pink flowers and rich mottling.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family:  Hydrangeaceae
Zone: 4 - 10
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 8'
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Fragrant creamy white, double flowers.
Notes: Discovered near the Smith River in Del Norte County.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Hydrangeaceae
Zone: 5 - 10
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 8'
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Arching branches with large fragrant white flowers with purple center.
Notes: Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  9 - 11
Natural Range:  Mexico, Central America
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Broadly conical with spreading branches.  Needles in groups of two to five. 
Notes:  This variety has blue-green needles.

Pot size: 4" Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:  Average, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun
Height: 30'
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Large seed cones similar to Pinus sabiniana.
Notes:  Native to elevations of 300-2,100m, usually found on dry rocky slopes and ridges among oaks.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: Guatemala, Mexico
Soil:  Moist to dry, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 60', smaller in cultivation.
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes: Evergreen.  Long green needles.  Drooping
Notes: In the wild is often associated with Gaultheria, Liquidambar, Quercus.  Native to the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala from 1000 m - 1500 m above sea level.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 11
Natural Range:  Mexico; Sierra Madre Occidental
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Dark green needles of five and seven per fascicle.
Notes:  In the wild Pinus durangensis grows at moderately high altitude between 1,500 - 2,800m

Pot size: 4" Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  China
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  40'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Straight trunk and level branches with dense upright branchlets.  As the tree ages it develops a flattened top.
Notes:  In the wild Pinus hwangshanensis grows at elevations of 600-3'400m above sea level in mixed temperate and montane forests and sunny ridges.
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Zone:8 - 10
Natural Range: Mexico, southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles to 5" long.  Ovoid seed cones are solitary or in whorls of 2-5.  The sheath around the needle fascicles is shed as the needles expand.
Notes:  The natural range is primarily in Mexico that extends into the United States.  In the wild Pinus leiophylla grows between 1600m and 3000m altitude.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 11
Natural Range:  Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Tall, strait trunk.  Young trees have open pyramidal crown.
Notes:  In the wild Pinus maximonii grows at moderately high altitude between 600 - 2,400m. 

Pot size: Small Band Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:8 - 11
Natural Range: CentralMexico
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles to 12" long.  Crown is broad and rounded with dense branches. 
Notes: In the wild Pinus montezumae  grows in the mountains of Central and South Mexico where the climate is temperate at elevations between 1200m and 3600m.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:  Average, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun
Height: 40' - 80'
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Straight or contorted trunk with rounded or flattened irregular crown.  Needles are borne with two per fascicle.  Needles to 6" inches long.
Notes:   Native from sea level to 300m , occurring along the coast and on Santa Cruz Santa Rosa  and Guadalupe islands Islands.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 -  10
Natural Range: Southern Europe
Soil:  Moist to dry, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 40', smaller in cultivation. 
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Grows with a distinct umbrella like canopy when mature.  Reddish gray bark.
Notes:  This is the true Pine Nut tree.  About $20 a pound for the tasty nut.  You too can harvest your own Pine Nuts in nearly a lifetime.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: Taiwan
Soil:  Moist to dry, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 60', smaller in cultivation.
Attributes: Evergreen.  Short, dark green needles
Notes: In the wild Pinus taiwanensis grows along the Central Mountain Range at altitudes of 750 - 3000 m. 

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 9
Natural Range:  Mexico; Western Chihuahua, Northern Coahuila to Southeastern Chiapas
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Single-trunked tree with rounded, dense crown.
Notes:  In the wild it is found in the mountains at elevations of 1,500 - 3,000m

Pot size: Small Band Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:8 - 11
Natural Range: SouthernMexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles to 7" long.  Narrow crown with numerous horizontal branches densely clothed with foliage at the tips.
Notes: In the wild Pinus techumanii  grows in the mountains of Mexico and central America at elevations between 450m and 2900m.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: sun
Height: 150', much smaller in cultivation
Attributes:  Evergreen, conical crown, blue green leaves to 8 inches long.  Graceful, drooping foliage.  Long cylindrical cones.
Notes:  Rare in cultivation.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun
Height: 80', much smaller in cultivation
Attributes:  Evergreen, conical crown, blue green leaves to 11 inches long.  Graceful, drooping foliage.  Long cylindrical cones.
Notes:  Rare in cultivation.  Predominantly grows at 600 - 3000 m elevation on the high plateaus of Yunnan but extending north into Sichuan and south into Myanmar.  1 gallon size plants.

Pot Size:   1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Colorado; Hybrid; macrocarpa x gambelii
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15' - 18'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous. Small, blue tinged foliage.  Fall foliage turns to red-mahogany late in the season.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot