The 13 Best California Native
Drought-Tolerant Plants

With mandatory water cuts hanging over every city and suburb in California, state officials are urging folks to pull out their lawns in favor of drought-tolerant landscaping.

One snag with that plan is that most Drought-Tolerant Plants available at Local Nurseries are imported from places like South Africa and Australia. Ecologists say those plants aren’t as inviting for California’s animals, insects and birds as native plants. If you’re looking for your yard to be an oasis for local fauna, here are 13 drought-tolerant California plants to consider.

Source: Theodore Payne Foundation’s California Native Plant Database.

Benefits of Drought Tolerant Plants Include:

Lower water bills.
Reduced water use.
Attractive plants with less Maintenance.
More wildlife habitat.
Less plant disease and more pest resistance.
Deeper roots help to stabilize slopes.
More groundwater recharge.
Less polluted runoff flowing to the ocean.