Drought Tolerant

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: Leaf ranges from large to smaller with numerous sharp points.

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.  M. confusa

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer and Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Spinney leaves.  Reddish orange new growth.  Creamy yellow flowers.
Notes: Smaller growing Mahonia.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon 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: Cistus Nursery introduction. Bronze new growth.  Gives the garden a tropical texture.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon 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

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 8
Natural Range: Hybrid;  Mahonia gracilipes x nitens
Soil:  Average, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer and Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen, Red and yellow blooms are formed on racemes. Blue fruit in the late fall.  Leaves can vary in size and often have bright white underside of leaf. 
Notes:  These are seedlings of Mahonia gracilipes x nitens.  Like other Mahonia species these are very drought tolerant once established.

Pot Size: Small Band Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer and Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Spinney leaves.  Yellow flowers
Notes: Smaller growing Mahonia.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Tibet, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, India
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 6' - 12'
Bloom Time: Spring  to Summer
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer and Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen, yellow flowers formed long racemes. Blue fruit in the late fall.  Thick, dark green pinnate leaves.
Notes:  Proven to be nice and hardy in the PNW.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil: Average
Light: Sun, Part Sun, Shade
Height: 3'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Suckering shrub forming a loose groundcover.  Dark green leaves with yellow flowers and blue fruit.
Notes:  This selection has orange-red flower buds and tends to grow a bit taller.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil: Average
Light: Sun, Part Sun, Shade
Height: 3'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Suckering shrub forming a loose ground-cover.  Dark green leaves with yellow flowers and blue fruit.
Notes:  This is the standard low selection with purplish winter foliage.  One of the best evergreen shrubs for the temperate garden.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer and Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen, Red with yellow flowers formed on short racemes. Blue fruit in the late fall.  Thick, dark green pinnate leaves.
Notes:  Similar to Mahonia gracilipes but with a more upright and uniform growth, lacks the characteristic waxy white under the leaf.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer and Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen, Numerous small yellow flowers followed by blue fruit.
Notes:  This selection has smaller narrower leaves.  Seems to grow wider than tall.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon 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:  1 Gallon 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.  Forms a loose low clump of foliage.  It often grows in association with Arctostaphylos species.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon 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

Family: Berberidaceae

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:  Hummingbirds
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

Great Plant Picks

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

Family: Berberidaceae

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:  Hummingbirds
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:  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, 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: 4 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Shade-sun
Height: 1'
Attributes:  Deciduous, Arching stems with oval leaves to 6" long.  Panicles of small creamy white flowers in summer.  Red fruit in late summer early fall.
Notes:  Smilacina has nice structure and texture and can be used both as a specimen plant or in large groupings.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family:  Francoaceae
Zone:  7 - 11
Natural Range:  South Africa
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 10'
Bloom Time:  June to August
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen to semi-evergreen.  Powdery blue leaves with reddish stems and flower bracts.
Notes:  Looses foliage when extended temps below 25 degrees but re-sprout in the spring, reaching full size the next season.  Plant stems deep for better hardiness.  Flowers on previous seasons growth.
 
Pot size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Boraginaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Turkey
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 8"
Bloom Time:  April to June
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Deciduous. Clumping.  Mounds of deep green leaves with airy sprays of deep blue flowers
Notes:  The photos were taken during a sunset in mid April giving a glowing purple-pink cast.  Charming perennial combining well with ferns, Epimedium and other woodlanders.

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:  Poaceae
Zone:  9 - 11
Natural Range:  Mexico
Soil:  Average
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  15'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Graceful clumping bamboo with arching culms with a weeping habit.  Leaves have a narrow curled-pinched look with a grayish cast. 
Notes: Native to forested mountains in Mexico.  Works well in pots.  Best when not allowed to get colder than around 20 degrees and can loose leaves and cane dieback below 18 degrees, re growing from the base around 15 degrees.
 
Pot size:  1 Gallon 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 light silver mottling.  Wine red underside of the leaf.  Pink and white flowers.
Notes: Great ground cover that will do well in deep shade and summer dry.

Pot Size:  4" 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:  Oxalidaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Shade, part sun
Height:  6"
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes: Evergreen.  Rich green leaves with white flowers striped with light pink.
Notes: Great ground cover that will do well in deep shade and summer dry.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Brassicaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Turkey
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Shade, part shade
Height: 12"
Bloom Time: March to April
Attributes:  Evergreen, mounding.  Bright green rounded leaves with white flowers.
Notes:  Drought tolerant once established.  Brightens up the early garden with masses of white flowers.
 
Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Paeoniaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil: Average
Light: Part sun, sun
Height: 12"
Bloom Time:  April to June
Attributes: Deciduous. Nodding red/purple and yellow flowers.  Grayish green ferny foliage.
Notes:  Needs good drainage.  Best when planted in rock garden setting.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Hydrangeaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: PP34,296; CBRAF
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  3' - 4'
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Fragrant creamy white flowers.  Green foliage with yellow variegation.
Notes: Great foliage texture.

Pot Size:  4" Band 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:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Hydrangeaceae
Zone: 8 - 11
Natural Range: Mexico
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 8'
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Semi-evergreen.  Fragrant creamy white flowers.
Notes: Like other Philadelphus species this is a nice durable shrub that is quite drought tolerant once established. 

Pot Size:  1 Gallon 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: Phormiaceae
Zone:7 - 10
Natural Range: New Zealand
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, Part sun
Height: 4'
Bloom Time:  Spring to Summer
Attributes: Evergreen, clumping growth with gracefully arching green, cream and red striped foliage.  Yellow-green flowers.
Notes:Tolerant of dry conditions once established.  Phormium cookianum is less common than other species of Phormium.  This species is great for is smaller stature and stunning variegation.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon 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:  Large 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

Family: Pineaceae

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:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 10
Natural Range:  Mexico
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  20' - 45'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen. Blue green needles with broad crown, irregular branching
Notes:  Reported to be one of the rarest trees.

Pot size: Small Band Pot