Drought Tolerant Gardening

Many people do not realize that not all California native plants are drought tolerant. California is geographically diverse: ranging from a foggy coast to the hot central plains, and foothills that climb up into the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains, something we know very well in the SF Bay area. This diversity is closely reflected in the native plants that have successfully adapted to their environment. 


To choose California native plants for your location, there are climatic zone maps published by the USDA that are based on average minimum temperatures. Sunset magazine has published its own climatic zone maps. The Sunset zones use multiple factors and are therefore rather more useful than the USDA zone maps. Since many nurseries use the USDA zone on their plant descriptions, you need to be aware of both systems.


For additional information on landscaping with California native plants and creating a drought tolerant garden, check out California Native Landscape Designs.