ponytail palmBeaucarnea recurvata (Nolina recurvata)Shrub, Tree- NCL
- CV×
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LDM
Plants starting with P: water needs by California 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.
Page 2 of 2: ponytail palm to pyjama bush.
ponytail palmBeaucarnea recurvata (Nolina recurvata)Shrub, Tree
poor knight's lilyXeronema callistemonPerennial- NCM
- CV?
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
poor man's rhododendronImpatiens sodenii (I. oliveri, I. uguenensis)Perennial, Shrub- NCM
- CV×
- SCH
- SI×
- HD×
- LD×
Popcorn CA lilacCeanothus maritimus 'Popcorn'Ground cover, California native- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
popcorn sennaSenna didymobotrya (Cassia didymobotrya)Shrub- NC?
- CV?
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
poplar boxEucalyptus populneaTree- NCL
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
poppy-flowered anemoneAnemone coronariaBulb- NCL
- CVM
- SC?
- SIVL
- HD?
- LD?
porcupine flowerCentratherum punctatumPerennial- NC?
- CV?
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Portugal laurelPrunus lusitanicaTree- NCM
- CV?
- SCM
- SI×
- HD×
- LD×
Portuguese oakQuercus fagineaTree- NC?
- CVL
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
potato vineSolanum laxum (jasminoides)Vine- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
poverty weedIva hayesianaGround cover, California native- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
Powder Puff white myrtleHypocalymma angustifolia 'Powder Puff'Shrub- NCM
- CV?
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Powis Castle sagebrushArtemisia 'Powis Castle'Shrub- NCL
- CVM
- SCM
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
Prague viburnumViburnum x pragenseShrub- NC?
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
prairie flameleaf sumacRhus lanceolataTree- NC?
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HDL
- LDL
prairie sageSalvia azureaPerennial- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
prairie zinniaZinnia grandifloraGround cover, Perennial- NCL
- CVM
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
Preston lilacSyringa x prestoniaeShrub- NC?
- CV?
- SC×
- SI?
- HD?
- LD×
Pretty Polly pink roseRosa ‘Zlepolone’ Pretty Polly® PinkShrub- NC?
- CVL
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Pretty Polly white roseRosa 'Zlepoltwo' Pretty Polly® WhiteShrub- NC?
- CVL
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
prickly heathGaultheria mucronata (Pernettya mucronata)Shrub- NCM
- CV?
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
prickly pear/chollaOpuntia spp. & cvs. (CA natives and non-natives)Shrub, Succulent, California native, - NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIVL
- HDVL
- LDVL
- NCVL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
prickly poppyArgemone munitaPerennial, California native- NCVL
- CVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
prickly-leaved paperbackMelaleuca styphelioidesTree- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
pride of MadeiraEchium candicans (fastuosum)Perennial, Shrub- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
Pride of MadeiraEchium fastuosumShrub- NC×
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
pride of TeneriffeEchium pininanaPerennial, Shrub- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SI×
- HD×
- LD×
primrose jasmineJasminum mesnyiShrub- NCL
- CVM
- SCL
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
primrose treeLagunaria patersoniiTree- NCL
- CV×
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
princess flowerTibouchina urvilleana (semidecandra)Shrub- NCM
- CV×
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LD?
privet honeysuckleLonicera pileataShrub- NCM
- CVM
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
prosopis hybridsProsopis hybrids and cvs.Tree- NC?
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
Prospector elmUlmus wilsoniana 'Prospector'Tree- NCL
- CVL
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Prostrate AcaciaAcacia redolens 'Prostrata'Ground cover, Shrub- NCL
- CVVL
- SCL
- SIVL
- HDL
- LDL
Prostrate PyracanthaPyracantha x 'Santa Cruz Prostrata'Shrub- NCM
- CVL
- SCL
- SI?
- HDM
- LDM
Prostrate RosemaryRosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'Ground cover- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDM
proteaProtea spp. & cvs.Perennial, Shrub- NCM
- CV×
- SCL
- SIM
- HD×
- LD×
Pt. Reyes CeanothusCeanothus gloriosusShrub, California native- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
Pt. Reyes manzanitaArctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Point Reyes'Ground cover, California native- NCL
- CVM
- SCL
- SI×
- HD×
- LD×
Pt. Reyes wallflowerErysimum menziesiiPerennial, California native- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
Puget Blue ceanothusCeanothus impressus 'Puget Blue'Shrub, California native- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD×
Pugster Blue dwarf butterfly bushBuddleja x 'SMNBDBT' Pugster Blue™Shrub- NC?
- CVL
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
pukaGriselinia lucidaShrub- NCM
- CV×
- SCM
- SI×
- HD×
- LD×
pukaMeryta sinclairiiTree- NC×
- CV×
- SCM
- SI?
- HD×
- LD×
Punctate RabbitbrushEricameria paniculataPerennial, California native- NCL
- CV?
- SCVL
- SIVL
- HD?
- LD?
purple bell vineRhodochiton atrosanguineumVine- NCM
- CV×
- SCM
- SI×
- HD?
- LD?
purple big leaf sageSalvia macrophyllaPerennial, Shrub- NC×
- CV×
- SC×
- SI×
- HD×
- LD×
purple bottle brushCallistemon 'Violaceus'Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
- NC?
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple firespikeOdontonema callistachyumShrub- NCM
- CV?
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple hopseed bushDodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'Shrub- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
purple Jerusalem sagePhlomis purpurea (Phlomis caballeroi)Shrub, Arboretum All-Star- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
purple love grassEragrostis spectabilisOrnamental grass- NC?
- CVL
- SC?
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
purple majesty sageSalvia 'Purple Majesty'Shrub- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
purple meadow rueThalictrum aquilegiifoliumPerennial- NCH
- CV?
- SCM
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
purple milkwortPolygala virgataShrub- NCM
- CV?
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple mulleinVerbascum phoeniceumPerennial- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
purple needlegrassStipa pulchra (Nassella pulchra)Ornamental grass, California native- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIVL
- HD?
- LD?
purple New Zealand burrAcaena inermis 'Purpurea'Ground cover- NCM
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple orchid treeBauhinia variegata (purpurea)Tree- NC×
- CV×
- SCM
- SIM
- HD×
- LDM
purple orchid vineMascagnia lilacinaVine- NC?
- CV?
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LDM
Purple Pillar rose of SharonHibiscus syriacus 'Gandini Santiago' Purple Pillar®Shrub- NC?
- CVL
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple power hollyIlex latifolia 'Purple Power'Shrub- NCM
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple prairie cloverDalea gattingeri (Petalostemon purpureum)Perennial- NCL
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Purple Robe Black LocustRobinia x ambigua 'Purple Robe'Tree- NCL
- CVL
- SCM
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
purple sageSalvia dorriiPerennial, Shrub, California native- NC×
- CVM
- SC×
- SIL
- HDL
- LDM
purple sageSalvia leucophylla ssp. & cvs.Shrub, California native- NCL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
purple sage, Texas ranger etc.Leucophyllum spp. & cvs.Shrub- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDL
- LDL
Purple Splendor butterfly bushBuddleja 'Hinebud2'Shrub- NCM
- CVL
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple spurgeEuphorbia dulcisPerennial, Succulent- NCM
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple three-awnAristida purpureaOrnamental grass, California native- NCL
- CVVL
- SCVL
- SIL
- HDL
- LD?
purple torchBartlettina sordidaShrub- NCM
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple tower echiumEchium 'Purple Tower'Perennial- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD?
- LD?
purple velloziaBarbacenia purpureaPerennial- NC?
- CV?
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple wallflowerErysimum linifolium 'Variegatum'Perennial- NCL
- CV?
- SC?
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
purple winter creeperEuonymus fortunei ssp. & cvs.Ground cover, Shrub- NCM
- CVM
- SCM
- SIM
- HDM
- LDM
- NCM
- CV?
- SC?
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
purple-leaf Japanese honeysuckleLonicera japonica 'Purpurea'Vine- NCM
- CVM
- SCL
- SIM
- HD?
- LD?
purple/burgundy fountain grassPennisetum x advena (P. setaceum hybrids)Ornamental grass- NCL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HDM
- LDM
purply muhlyMuhlenbergia filipesOrnamental grass- NCL
- CVL
- SCM
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Purpus AgaveAgave ghiesbreghtiiSucculent- NCVL
- CVVL
- SCL
- SIVL
- HDVL
- LDVL
pussy toesAntennaria roseaPerennial, California native- NCL
- CVL
- SC?
- SI×
- HD?
- LD?
puyaPuya spp.Perennial- NCVL
- CVL
- SCL
- SIL
- HD×
- LD?
pyjama bushLobostemon fruticosusShrub- NC?
- CV?
- SCL
- SI?
- HD?
- LD?
Photo credits, 83 images from Wikimedia Commons
- ponytail palm: juancruzado, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- poor knight's lily: Mike Dickison, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- poor man's rhododendron: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- Popcorn CA lilac: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- popcorn senna: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- poplar box: Ethel Aardvark at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- poppy-flowered anemone: Aviad2001, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- porcupine flower: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- Portugal laurel: Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Portuguese oak: Carlosblh, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- potato vine: RoyFocker, Public domain
- poverty weed: Stickpen, Public domain
- Powder Puff white myrtle: Melburnian, CC BY 2.5 (licence)
- Powis Castle sagebrush: Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- Prague viburnum: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- prairie flameleaf sumac: Dedda71, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- prairie sage: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- prairie zinnia: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Preston lilac: Wouter Hagens, Public domain
- Pretty Polly pink rose: Joydeep, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Pretty Polly white rose: Joydeep, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- prickly heath: Draceane, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- prickly pear/cholla: JMK, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- prickly poppy: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- prickly-leaved paperback: Melburnian, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- pride of Madeira: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- Pride of Madeira: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0 (licence)
- pride of Teneriffe: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (licence)
- primrose jasmine: Wouter Hagens, Public domain
- primrose tree: Tatiana Gerus, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- princess flower: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- privet honeysuckle: User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- prosopis hybrids: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- Prospector elm: NEXT-EXIT, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Prostrate Acacia: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Prostrate Pyracantha: Laitr Keiows, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Prostrate Rosemary: Javier martin, Public domain
- protea: Chinasaur at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Pt. Reyes Ceanothus: Daderot, CC0 (licence)
- Pt. Reyes manzanita: Jan Eckstein, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Pt. Reyes wallflower: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain
- Puget Blue ceanothus: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- Pugster Blue dwarf butterfly bush: Penarc, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- puka: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- puka: Kahuroa, Public domain
- Punctate Rabbitbrush: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple bell vine: Hobbykafe, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- purple big leaf sage: Scott Zona, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- purple bottle brush: Magnus Manske, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple firespike: Rennett Stowe from USA, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- purple hopseed bush: Daderot, CC0 (licence)
- purple Jerusalem sage: Stickpen, Public domain
- purple love grass: Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple majesty sage: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- purple meadow rue: Tigerente, CC BY 2.5 (licence)
- purple milkwort: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us (licence)
- purple mullein: Jeffdelonge at French Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple needlegrass: NatureShutterbug from USA, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- purple New Zealand burr: Ghislain118 (AD) http://www.fleurs-des-montagnes.net, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple orchid tree: Peter1968 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 (licence)
- purple orchid vine: Daderot, CC0 (licence)
- Purple Pillar rose of Sharon: Mith, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple power holly: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple prairie clover: Mason Brock (Masebrock), CC0 (licence)
- Purple Robe Black Locust: Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple sage: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple sage: Björn S..., CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)
- purple sage, Texas ranger etc.: Maarten Visser from Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)
- Purple Splendor butterfly bush: Martin Thurnherr, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- purple spurge: Kurt Stüber, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple three-awn: User:Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple torch: HelloMojo at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- purple tower echium: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Public domain
- purple vellozia: João Medeiros, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- purple wallflower: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- purple winter creeper: Bloomington Urban Woodlands Project, CC BY 2.0 (licence)
- purple-leaf Japanese honeysuckle: Mokkie, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- purple/burgundy fountain grass: JonRichfield, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)
- purply muhly: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 (licence)
- Purpus Agave: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- pussy toes: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)
- puya: penarc, Public domain
- pyjama bush: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 (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