Debby Dunn’s Fab 4: A look Inside SDCWA’s New Water-Smart Garden

The San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a redesign of its landscape at its Kearny Mesa headquarters to promote native vegetation. Originally laid out in 2008, the garden received an upgrade in 2017 and now, 8 years later, has gotten another major update. Spearheading the project was the Water Authority’s Senior Water Resource Specialist, Debby Dunn, who has over two decades in water conservation and sustainable landscapes. Drawing on her expertise, Debby selected a vibrant array of California native and other colorful, water-wise plants. Below, she shares her Fab 4 picks featured in the new garden.  These beauties, along with the plants on the Nifty 50 and Happy 100 plant lists, are wonderful options for residential and commercial landscapes across Southern California. Here are four great additions for your garden:

 

 

Debby’s Fab 4 Plant Recommendations

Common Name: Cleveland Sage

Botanical Name:  Salvia clevelandii

An evergreen, California native shrub that forms a dense, upright mound. Gray-green leaves are soft, quilted, and delightfully fragrant. Upright stalks carry tiered whorls of two-lipped flowers in violet-blue, which make fabulous cut flowers for bouquets or sachets. Heaviest blooms in spring and fall. The flowers and seeds attract birds, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

While some say it grows 3’-5’ high and wide, garden proof shows it can get 4’-6’ high and wide. Only trim it back one-third at a time or risk losing the beautiful plant.

Common Name: Superb Grevillea

Botanical Name:  Grevillea ‘Superb’

 

A fast-growing shrub with a plethora of large, spidery-shaped flowers that go from red to orange to yellow.   The green leaves are large in profile but finely dissected and fern-like. Given the space, Australian native can get up to 5’ – 6’ hide by 6’ – 8’ wide.  Superb offers year-round delightful flowers that invite bees and create a hummingbird party.   Debby says, “no garden is complete without a Grevillea Superb!”

Plant in well-drained soil in full or part sun and irrigate occasionally as this plant is tolerant of extended dry periods once established. Do not fertilize this plant, just talk to it and say, “Hey Beautiful!”  This will cause Superb to bloom more and provide you with flowers that create a beautiful bouquet.

Common Name: Toyon

Botanical Name:  Heteromeles arbutifolia

 

Toyon, also known as Christmas Berry, is an evergreen, native shrub or tree.  They do fine in sun or shade and tolerate most soil types.  In the summer, Toyon produces fragrant, white flowers and in the winter red berries the birds like to eat.  Given the space, it can grow 8’ to 12’ high and wide.  It can be pruned to a shrub or tree shape.  Once established, this is one of the Sturdy 30 plants listed on the Happy 100 plant list.

Common Name: Arabian Lilac

Botanical Name:  Vitex trifolia ‘Purpuirea’

A fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree growing 5 to 10 feet high by 10 to 15 feet wide with distinctively colored leaves that are green on top and curl, highlighting their purple underside.  This full sun plant produces small lavender-colored flowers.  Vitex is good for slopes, screening or hedging, and attracts butterflies and bees. Shape when young to fit its environment.

More Resources for Upgrading Your Garden

Whether you’re planning a full landscape redo or just looking to add a few new plants to your backyard, Debby’s Fab 4 are a great place to start. Not only are they beautiful, but also low-maintenance and built to thrive in our Southern California climate. With smart plant choices, it’s easier than one may think to create a garden that is both welcoming and water conscious. For more resources on creating a landscape of your own go to www.sdcwa.org/your-water/conservation