alum rootHeuchera 'Rosada'Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Arboretum All-Stars rated for California: water needs by climate zone
Each plant shows its water use rating for each of the six California climate zones. Minutes opens the sprinkler calculator with the plant and a climate city preset.
alum rootHeuchera 'Rosada'Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
autumn sageSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridsPerennial, Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDM
Aztec lilySprekelia formosissimaBulb, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
Belle Etoile mock orangePhiladelphus 'Belle Etoile'Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SC?
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
bladderpodPeritoma arborea (Isomeris arborea)Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
bush anemoneCarpenteria californicaShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
bush germanderTeucrium fruticans ssp. & cvs.Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
California beach asterLessingia filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet' (Corethrogyne)Ground cover, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SCL
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
California Dutchman's pipeAristolochia californicaCalifornia native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCM
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
California fescueFestuca californica ssp. & cvs.Ornamental grass, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
California fuchsiaEpilobium (Zauschneria) spp. & cvs.Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDM
- LD×
catmint/catnipNepeta spp. & cvs.Perennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
chaparral currantRibes malvaceumShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
cherry/Graham sageSalvia microphylla (Salvia grahamii) ssp. & cvs.Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCM
- SIL
- HD?
- LDM
Chilean jasmineMandevilla laxa (Mandevilla suavelolens)Vine, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
Chinese fringe treeChionanthus retususTree, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
Christmas Cheer red hot pokerKniphofia 'Christmas Cheer'Perennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
compact Oregon grape hollyBerberis aquifolium 'Compacta'Ground cover, Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDH
Concha ceanothusCeanothus 'Concha'Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
coral bells cultivarsHeuchera hybrids, ssp. & cvs. ( CA natives and non-natives)Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
coral fountainRusselia equisetiformisShrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
Corsican helleboreHelleborus argutifoliusPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
crape myrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.Shrub, Tree, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
cutleaf lilacSyringa x laciniataShrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SC×
- SIM
- HD?
- LD×
deer grassMuhlenbergia rigensOrnamental grass, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
desert goldeneyeViguiera parishiiShrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
desert spoonDasylirion spp. & cvs.Shrub, Succulent, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIVL
- HDL
- LDL
- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
dwarf plumbagoCeratostigma plumbaginoidesGround cover, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
eulalia grassMiscanthus sinensis ssp. & cvsOrnamental grass, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD×
evergreen currantRibes viburnifolium and cvs.Ground cover, Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
fleabaneErigeron karvinskianusPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
giant chain fernWoodwardia fimbriataPerennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
golden currantRibes aureumShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
Grecian horehoundBallota pseudodictamnusPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Greek strawberry treeArbutus andrachneTree, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
hardy ice plantDelosperma cooperi ssp & cvs.Ground cover, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
hens and chickensEcheveria spp. & cvs.Perennial, Shrub, Succulent, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
hummingbird/pitcher sageSalvia spathacea and cvs.Ground cover, Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
hyacinth orchidBletilla striataPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
hybrid soapwortSaponaria x lempergii 'Max Frei'Ground cover, Perennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
island alum rootHeuchera maximaPerennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
island mountain mahoganyCercocarpus betuloides var. blancheaeShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SC?
- SIVL
- HD?
- LD?
ivy leaf cyclamenCyclamen hederifoliumBulb, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
Japanese holly fernCyrtomium falcatumPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LD×
lilac vineHardenbergia violaceaShrub, Vine, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCL
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
lily-of-the-valley treeCrinodendron pataguaTree, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
Lynn's everblooming Texas sageLeucophyllum langmaniae 'Lynn's legacy'Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
manzanita cvs. e.g. Howard McMinn, SentinelArctostaphylos densiflora & ssp. & cvs.Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
Margarita B.O.P foothill penstemonPenstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP'Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
Marie Simon ceanothusCeanothus x pallidus 'Marie Simon'Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
Pacific Coast hybrid irisIris Pacific Coast hybridsPerennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
pine muhlyMuhlenbergia dubiaOrnamental grass, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
pineapple guavaAcca sellowiana (Feijoa sellowiana)Shrub, Tree, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
poker plantKniphofia spp. and cvs.Perennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
purple bottle brushCallistemon 'Violaceus'Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
purple Jerusalem sagePhlomis purpurea (Phlomis caballeroi)Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
Ray Hartman ceanothusCeanothus 'Ray Hartman'Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
red argentine amaryllisRhodophiala bifidaBulb, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIVL
- HD?
- LD?
red/ yellow yuccaHesperaloe parvifloraShrub, Succulent, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
salvia Cleveland/Alan Chickering etc.Salvia clevelandii ssp., cvs. & hybridsShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
- NCVL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
snow in summerCerastium tomentosumGround cover, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LDL
St. Catherine's laceEriogonum giganteumShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIVL
- HD?
- LD?
stalked bulbineBulbine frutescens & ssp. & cvs.Perennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDM
toyonHeteromeles arbutifolia ssp. & cvs.Shrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
valley oakQuercus lobataTree, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
Valley Violet ceanothusCeanothus maritimus 'Valley Violet'Ground cover, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
violet trumpet vineClytostoma callistegioidesVine, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
walking irisNeomarica caeruleaPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
Wayne Roderick daisyErigeron 'Wayne Roderick'Perennial, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVM
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
western redbudCercis occidentalisTree, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
western spice bushCalycanthus occidentalisShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
white rain lilyZephyranthes candidaBulb, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCM
- SIL
- HDL
- LDM
white sageSalvia apianaShrub, California native, Arboretum All-Star- NCVL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
winter blooming bergeniaBergenia crassifoliaPerennial, Arboretum All-Star- NCM
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD×
winter jasmineJasminum nudiflorumShrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Photo credits, 75 images from Wikimedia Commons
- alum root: NPS Photo, Public domain
- autumn sage: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Aztec lily: JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com), CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Belle Etoile mock orange: Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0 (licence)
- bladderpod: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- bush anemone: Kurt Stüber, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- bush germander: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- California beach aster: Peter D. Tillman from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)
- California Dutchman's pipe: peganum from Small Dole, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)
- California fescue: Stickpen, Public domain
- California fuchsia: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- catmint/catnip: Jon Sullivan, Public domain
- chaparral currant: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- cherry/Graham sage: Dave Whitinger, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Chilean jasmine: peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)
- Chinese fringe tree: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- Christmas Cheer red hot poker: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- compact Oregon grape holly: The original uploader was Meggar at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Concha ceanothus: Cristian Bortes from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- coral bells cultivars: A. Köhler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- coral fountain: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Corsican hellebore: Picture taken by User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- crape myrtle: Lepetro, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- cutleaf lilac: Wouter Hagens, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- deer grass: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- desert goldeneye: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- desert spoon: Fritz Hochstätter, Public domain
- dwarf plumbago: Denis.prévôt, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- eulalia grass: 松岡明芳, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- evergreen currant: Stickpen, Public domain
- fleabane: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 (licence)
- giant chain fern: Anthony Valois and the National Park Service, Public domain
- golden currant: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- Grecian horehound: Ghislain118 http://www.fleurs-des-montagnes.net, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Greek strawberry tree: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- hardy ice plant: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- hens and chickens: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- hummingbird/pitcher sage: Taken by Antandrus, Public domain
- hyacinth orchid: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- hybrid soapwort: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Public domain
- island alum root: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- island mountain mahogany: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- ivy leaf cyclamen: PLAKLE, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- Japanese holly fern: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- lilac vine: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- lily-of-the-valley tree: sheriff_woody_pct, CC BY 4.0 (licence)
- Lynn's everblooming Texas sage: This picture is a work by Emmanuel Douzery. Please credit this with: Picture..., CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- manzanita cvs. e.g. Howard McMinn, Sentinel: Daderot, CC0 (licence)
- Margarita B.O.P foothill penstemon: Stickpen, Public domain
- Marie Simon ceanothus: Wouter Hagens, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Pacific Coast hybrid iris: Tranceliner, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- pine muhly: Stickpen, Public domain
- pineapple guava: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- poker plant: yakovlev.alexey from Moscow, Russia, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)
- purple bottle brush: Magnus Manske, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple Jerusalem sage: Stickpen, Public domain
- Ray Hartman ceanothus: Cristian Bortes from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- red argentine amaryllis: Gabriela F. Ruellan, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- red/ yellow yucca: Fritz Hochstätter, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (licence)
- salvia Cleveland/Alan Chickering etc.: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Location credit to the Chanticle..., CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- snow in summer: Ra'ike, CC BY-SA 2.0 de (licence)
- St. Catherine's lace: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- stalked bulbine: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- toyon: Miguel Vieira from Walnut Creek, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- valley oak: Miguel Vieira from Walnut Creek, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- Valley Violet ceanothus: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- violet trumpet vine: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- walking iris: Raffi Kojian, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Wayne Roderick daisy: Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- western redbud: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- western spice bush: Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- white rain lily: Muhamad Izzul Fiqih, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- white sage: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- winter blooming bergenia: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- winter jasmine: Burkhard Mücke, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
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Zones: NC North-Central Coastal, CV Central Valley, SC South Coastal, SI South Inland, HD High and Intermediate Desert, LD Low Desert. Ratings: VL very low water, L low, M moderate, H high, ? not rated for that zone, × not suited to that zone. Ratings are the University of California WUCOLS IV list.
How to use this list
- MinutesOpen the calculator with this plant set. The preset city is in a zone where WUCOLS rates the plant. Set your sprinkler type and watering days.
- GuideRead a plant watering guide. Links appear for plants covered by our 1023 written guides.
- PlanBuild your personal watering plan. Put your plants and city together for monthly sprinkler minutes on a printable sheet.
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant list, University of California, snapshot of the live databaseRead August 23, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS
- Appendix C reference evapotranspiration table behind the six zonesRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf