How often to water garden plants in California

Live mostly on winter rain once established. An occasional deep soak in the warm months, and drainage matters more than irrigation.

OleanderGuideNerium oleander ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesAgaveGuideAgave americana (and thick-leaved relatives)rated for 6 of 6 zonesCactusGuideOpuntia spp. & cvs. (CA natives and non-natives)rated for 6 of 6 zonesOak TreesGuideQuercus agrifoliarated for 5 of 6 zonesSpanish BroomGuideSpartium junceumrated for 5 of 6 zonesSalt CedarGuideTamarix aphyllarated for 6 of 6 zonesPearl AcaciaGuideAcacia podalyriifoliarated for 4 of 6 zonesNaked LadyGuideAmaryllis belladonnarated for 6 of 6 zonesBig SagebrushGuideArtemisia tridentatarated for 5 of 6 zonesVoodoo LilyGuideDracunculus vulgarisrated for 4 of 6 zonesCalifornia PoppyGuideEschscholzia californicarated for 4 of 6 zonesCypress SpurgeGuideEuphorbia cyparissiasrated for 3 of 6 zonesDaffodilGuideNarcissus spp.rated for 6 of 6 zonesMexican Palo VerdeGuideParkinsonia aculeatarated for 6 of 6 zonesFoothill PineGuidePinus sabinianarated for 4 of 6 zonesCalifornia Scrub OakGuideQuercus berberidifoliarated for 5 of 6 zonesCalifornia ButtercupGuideRanunculus californicusrated for 4 of 6 zonesGiant ScillaGuideScilla peruviana (Scilla hughii)rated for 4 of 6 zonesInterior Live OakGuideQuercus wislizenirated for 5 of 6 zonesBlue OakGuideQuercus douglasiirated for 4 of 6 zonesNuttall's Scrub OakGuideQuercus dumosarated for 5 of 6 zonesVariegated Century PlantGuideAgave americana var. marginatarated for 6 of 6 zonesDesert AgaveGuideAgave desertirated for 6 of 6 zonesThread Leaf AgaveGuideAgave filiferarated for 6 of 6 zonesPalmer AgaveGuideAgave palmerirated for 6 of 6 zonesButterfly AgaveGuideAgave potatorumrated for 6 of 6 zonesSisalGuideAgave sisalanarated for 6 of 6 zonesCentury PlantGuideAgave spp. & cvs.rated for 5 of 6 zonesBlue AgaveGuideAgave tequilana & ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesUtah AgaveGuideAgave utahensisrated for 6 of 6 zonesQueen Victoria AgaveGuideAgave victoriae-reginaerated for 6 of 6 zonesCreosote BushGuideLarrea tridentata ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesPurple SageGuideSalvia leucophylla ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesBlack SageGuideSalvia mellifera ssp. & cvs.rated for 4 of 6 zonesBeaked YuccaGuideYucca rostrata ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesCalifornia BuckeyeGuideAesculus californicarated for 4 of 6 zones

Deep, infrequent soakings from late spring to early fall. Most of the Mediterranean and native palette sits here.

LavenderGuideLavandula spp. & cvs.rated for 5 of 6 zonesRosemaryGuideRosmarinus officinalisrated for 6 of 6 zonesBougainvilleaGuideBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.rated for 5 of 6 zonesAgapanthusGuideAgapanthus orientalisrated for 6 of 6 zonesGeraniumsGuidePelargonium x hortorum and cvs.rated for 4 of 6 zonesOlive TreesGuideOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesFig TreesGuideFicus carica ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesCrape MyrtleGuideLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesWisteriaGuideWisteria spp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesLantanaGuideLantana camara ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesSalviaGuideSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridsrated for 6 of 6 zonesIrisesGuideIris germanicarated for 6 of 6 zonesAloeGuideAloe spp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesSucculentsGuideEcheveria spp. & cvs.rated for 4 of 6 zonesPomegranate TreesGuidePunica granatumrated for 6 of 6 zonesEucalyptusGuideEucalyptus polyanthemosrated for 6 of 6 zonesPine TreesGuidePinus canariensisrated for 6 of 6 zonesJunipersGuideJuniperus spp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesRussian SageGuidePerovskia spp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesYarrowGuideAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)rated for 6 of 6 zonesMountain AlyssumGuideAlyssum montanumrated for 4 of 6 zonesSagebrushGuideArtemisia spp. (shrubby)rated for 6 of 6 zonesWild PrivetGuideLigustrum vulgarerated for 3 of 6 zonesFlowering WoodbineGuideLonicera periclymenumrated for 2 of 6 zonesStar of BethlehemGuideOrnithogalum arabicumrated for 4 of 6 zonesTexas Red OakGuideQuercus buckleyirated for 2 of 6 zonesPortuguese OakGuideQuercus faginearated for 1 of 6 zonesSoapbark TreeGuideQuillaja saponariarated for 3 of 6 zonesSilver SageGuideSalvia argentearated for 4 of 6 zonesNecklace TreeGuideSophora affinisrated for 1 of 6 zonesCoralberryGuideSymphoricarpos orbiculatus (SHADE)rated for 3 of 6 zonesPurple MulleinGuideVerbascum phoeniceumrated for 4 of 6 zonesBailey AcaciaGuideAcacia baileyanarated for 4 of 6 zonesSilver WattleGuideAcacia dealbatarated for 4 of 6 zonesGreen WattleGuideAcacia decurrensrated for 4 of 6 zonesSydney Golden WattleGuideAcacia longifoliarated for 4 of 6 zones

Steady moisture through the warm season without soggy soil. Most fruit trees, flowering shrubs and lawn companions.

RosesGuideRosa hybrids..bushrated for 6 of 6 zonesCitrus TreesGuideCitrus spp.rated for 5 of 6 zonesAzaleasGuideRhododendron spp. (CA native and non-native spp.)rated for 4 of 6 zonesCamelliasGuideCamellia japonica (SHADE IN DESERT)rated for 5 of 6 zonesGardeniasGuideGardenia spp. & cvs.rated for 5 of 6 zonesJasmineGuideJasminum polyanthumrated for 5 of 6 zonesJapanese MapleGuideAcer palmatumrated for 4 of 6 zonesAvocado TreesGuidePersea americanarated for 4 of 6 zonesBird of ParadiseGuideStrelitzia reginae (shade in desert)rated for 6 of 6 zonesDahliasGuideDahlia spp.rated for 4 of 6 zonesHibiscusGuideHibiscus rosa-sinensisrated for 6 of 6 zonesMagnolia TreesGuideMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesPalm TreesGuideSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)rated for 6 of 6 zonesSago PalmGuideCycas revolutarated for 6 of 6 zonesStar JasmineGuideTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesHoneysuckleGuideLonicera japonicarated for 6 of 6 zonesFernsGuideNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)rated for 6 of 6 zonesDayliliesGuideHemerocallis spp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesBegoniasGuideBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)rated for 5 of 6 zonesIvyGuideHedera helixrated for 5 of 6 zonesApple TreesGuideMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)rated for 6 of 6 zonesPeach TreesGuidePrunus spp. ediblerated for 6 of 6 zonesPersimmon TreesGuideDiospyros kakirated for 6 of 6 zonesGrapevinesGuideVitis vinifera ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesArborvitaeGuideThuja occidentalis ssp. & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesBambooGuideBambusa spp.rated for 6 of 6 zonesCalla LiliesGuideZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTrated for 5 of 6 zonesCannasGuideCanna spp.rated for 6 of 6 zonesClematisGuideClematis & ssp., hybrids & cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesLilacsGuideSyringa hybrids (including Descanso hybrids)rated for 5 of 6 zonesSpireaGuideSpiraea spp. (CA native and non native spp.)rated for 6 of 6 zonesButterfly BushGuideBuddleja davidii and hybridsrated for 6 of 6 zonesStrawberriesGuideFragaria spp. & cvs. (CA native and non-natives species)rated for 6 of 6 zonesSageGuideSalvia officinalis and cvs.rated for 6 of 6 zonesAmur MapleGuideAcer ginnalarated for 2 of 6 zonesFernleaf MapleGuideAcer japonicumrated for 2 of 6 zones

Constant moisture in the root zone through the warm months. In a dry climate each one is a deliberate choice.

HydrangeaGuideHydrangea macrophylla & cvs.rated for 4 of 6 zonesBlueberriesGuideVaccinium hybrids and cvs (CA native and non- native spp.)rated for 4 of 6 zonesBig Leaf MapleGuideAcer macrophyllumrated for 4 of 6 zonesJapanese Sweet FlagGuideAcorus gramineusrated for 4 of 6 zonesWhite AlderGuideAlnus rhombifoliarated for 5 of 6 zonesRed AlderGuideAlnus rubra (Alnus oregona)rated for 4 of 6 zonesRed GingerGuideAlpinia purpuratarated for 4 of 6 zonesShell GingerGuideAlpinia zerumbetrated for 4 of 6 zonesBog RosemaryGuideAndromeda polifoliarated for 2 of 6 zonesRiver BirchGuideBetula nigrarated for 4 of 6 zonesWater BirchGuideBetula occidentalisrated for 4 of 6 zonesEuropean White BirchGuideBetula pendularated for 4 of 6 zonesWhite-Barked Himalayan BirchGuideBetula utilis var. jacquemontiirated for 2 of 6 zonesSiberian BuglossGuideBrunnera macrophyllarated for 3 of 6 zonesMarsh MarigoldGuideCaltha palustrisrated for 2 of 6 zonesBlood Twig DogwoodGuideCornus sanguinearated for 3 of 6 zonesUmbrella Sedge and PapyrusGuideCyperus spp. (CA native and non-native species)rated for 6 of 6 zonesUmbrella PlantGuideDarmera peltata (Peltiphyllum)rated for 3 of 6 zonesFoxgloveGuideDigitalis purpurea cvsrated for 4 of 6 zonesRed-veined EnkianthusGuideEnkianthus campanulatusrated for 2 of 6 zonesAbyssinian BananaGuideEnsete ventricosumrated for 4 of 6 zonesEuropean BeechGuideFagus sylvaticarated for 2 of 6 zonesLeopard PlantGuideFarfugium japonicum cvs. (Ligularia tussilaginea cvs.)rated for 4 of 6 zonesTransvaal DaisyGuideGerbera jamesonii & hybridsrated for 4 of 6 zonesGiant GunneraGuideGunnera manicatarated for 4 of 6 zonesWhite Ginger LilyGuideHedychium coronariumrated for 4 of 6 zonesClimbing HydrangeaGuideHydrangea anomala petiolarisrated for 3 of 6 zonesSnowball HydrangeaGuideHydrangea arborescensrated for 2 of 6 zonesLacecap HydrangeaGuideHydrangea aspera villosarated for 2 of 6 zonesJapanese IrisGuideIris ensatarated for 4 of 6 zonesRushGuideJuncus aquatic spp. (native and non-native spp.)rated for 5 of 6 zonesBrazilian Plume FlowerGuideJusticia carnearated for 4 of 6 zonesCardinal FlowerGuideLobelia cardinalis hybrids and cvs. (CA native and non-native spp.)rated for 4 of 6 zonesBananaGuideMusa spp. (shade in low desert)rated for 5 of 6 zonesSensitive FernGuideOnoclea sensibilisrated for 3 of 6 zonesRoyal FernGuideOsmunda regalisrated for 3 of 6 zones

WUCOLS gives these plants no rating here. Pick another zone above, or open a card to see the zones that rate it.

Chenille PlantGuideAcalypha hispidarated for 2 of 6 zonesCopperleafGuideAcalypha wilkesianarated for 1 of 6 zonesHawthorn MapleGuideAcer crataegifoliumrated for 1 of 6 zonesMountain MapleGuideAcer glabrumrated for 1 of 6 zonesMiyabe MapleGuideAcer miyabeirated for 1 of 6 zonesSugar MapleGuideAcer saccharumrated for 1 of 6 zonesEverglades PalmGuideAcoelorraphe wrightiirated for 2 of 6 zonesPink CedarGuideAcrocarpus fraxinifoliusrated for 1 of 6 zonesVariegated KiwiGuideActinidia kolomiktarated for 1 of 6 zonesDesert RoseGuideAdenium obesumrated for 2 of 6 zonesLilyleaf LadybellsGuideAdenophora liliifoliarated for 3 of 6 zonesYellowwoodGuideAfrocarpus falcatus (Podocarpus falcatus)rated for 4 of 6 zonesQueensland KauriGuideAgathis robustarated for 3 of 6 zonesGolden Trumpet VineGuideAllamanda catharticarated for 1 of 6 zonesCherimoyaGuideAnnona cherimolarated for 3 of 6 zonesNew Caledonian PineGuideAraucaria columnaris (A. cookii)rated for 3 of 6 zonesJapanese ArdisiaGuideArdisia japonicarated for 2 of 6 zonesFormosa Sugar PalmGuideArenga englerirated for 1 of 6 zonesPelican FlowerGuideAristolochia gigantearated for 1 of 6 zonesArnicaGuideArnica montanarated for 1 of 6 zonesNeemGuideAzadirachta indicarated for 2 of 6 zonesYellow Bell BauhiniaGuideBauhinia tomentosarated for 1 of 6 zonesPurple Orchid TreeGuideBauhinia variegata (purpurea)rated for 3 of 6 zonesFrilly BergeniaGuideBergenia ciliatarated for 3 of 6 zonesToogGuideBischofia javanicarated for 1 of 6 zonesBismarck PalmGuideBismarckia nobilisrated for 2 of 6 zonesCabbage on a StickGuideBrighamia insignisrated for 1 of 6 zonesBasket PlantGuideCallisia fragransrated for 1 of 6 zonesMagic FlowerGuideCantua buxifoliarated for 3 of 6 zonesForest SedgeGuideCarex sylvaticarated for 2 of 6 zonesAmerican HornbeamGuideCarpinus carolinianarated for 1 of 6 zonesJapanese HornbeamGuideCarpinus japonicarated for 1 of 6 zonesClustered Fishtail PalmGuideCaryota mitisrated for 1 of 6 zonesWhite SapoteGuideCasimiroa edulisrated for 3 of 6 zonesChilean Feather BambooGuideChusquea culeou (C. breviglumis)rated for 2 of 6 zonesAmerican YellowwoodGuideCladrastis kentukearated for 1 of 6 zones