The Best Plants To Plant in California Yards

California is a beautiful state, but the sunny, dry weather that most of it gets can be hard on your yard. That doesn’t mean you can’t create beautiful landscaping, though. When you choose the right plants and take care of them properly, you can have the gorgeous yard you’ve always dreamed of. If you’re ready to start working on your yard, there are plenty of plants that will thrive in it.

It’s a good idea to get prepared with the right landscaping tools ahead of time. You should be able to find basics at your neighborhood home and garden store. For larger projects check out Greenworks California retailers for battery operated tools that will get the job done even in larger areas that need more prep work.

Matilija Poppy

Grab your supplies, then plant the matilija poppy in your yard for a gorgeous start. The native perennial is also known as the “fried egg plant” because of its large white flowers with their golden center. This flower is an especially good idea if you have a slop in your yard since they spread by underground runners. Grow these flowers in well-draining soil with full sun exposure. Avoid transplanting them as root disturbance can damage the plan. The best time to plant matilija poppies is in the fall.

Lily of the Nile

An old-world flower that blooms in a gorgeous light purple color, Lily of the Nile is well-known in California. It features clumping foliage at its base and spikes of flowers on the top. The flowers, which are usually shaped like trumpets, bloom in the late summer. These low-maintenance perennials are resistant to deer and can even be grown in containers. They need well-drained soil and full sun to thrive and can grow up to three feet tall and wide.

Lemonade Berry

An evergreen shrub that can grow up to 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide, the lemonade berry is an excellent landscaping choice. You can plant them on the edges of your yard to create a natural fence or use them to stabilize slopes on your property. The shrub has gorgeous deep green leaves and spring flowers that bloom in a rose pink shade. This plant can thrive in full or partial sun and needs well-draining soil.

African Iris

A low-maintenance flower, the African Iris can grow in sun or shade with well-drained soil. It thrives in all parts of your yard, including next to your sidewalks. This flower, which blooms in the summer, is excellent for the hard-to-grow spots in your yard and bears white flowers in the spring and summer. They can grow up to three feet tall and wide. They look beautiful on their own but you can also kick it up a notch by planting petite sunflowers with them.

Hoary California Fuchsia

A mat-forming perennial, Hoary California Fuchsia has narrow green leaves that are slightly fuzzy and pale. During the summer, they bloom with bright vermillion flowers. This plant does tend to spread, so be sure to give it plenty of room to grow. Plant it in full sun to get the largest amount of flowers to bloom. It is dry growing after its established and can grow up to a foot tall and four feet wide.

Santa Barbara Daisy

A beautiful flower for your yard during the summer, the Santa Barbara Daisy is a no-maintenance plant that has green-gray leaves and beautiful flowers that have yellow centers. The petals are white when they first bloom but eventually fade into a light purple or pink. They grow best in partial sun with well-drained soil and can be as tall as three feet.

Chalk Liveforever

If you love succulents, you’ll adore the Chalk Liveforever. The blue-white plant has long flower spikes with red and silver flowers that bloom in the late spring and last throughout the summer. This plant is dry growing after it is established and should be planted in full sun with well-draining soil. However, it does ok in partial sun as well. It can grow up to two feet tall and wide.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of plants that grow well in California, but it will help you start to plan your garden this spring and summer. Remember, using the right tools is essential for ensuring your garden thrives.