How often to water winter's bark in California
In July on the north-central coast, established winter's bark in loam needs a deep watering about every 13 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 29 gallons a week. Winter's bark is a spreading evergreen tree or large shrub from Chile and Argentina with glossy, aromatic, leathery leaves that are blue-white beneath. In early summer it carries clusters of fragrant, creamy white, star-shaped flowers at the branch tips. It grows in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, in a sheltered spot.
How often to water winter's bark, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- When the ground beneath the canopy is dry three inches down in summer, winter's bark needs a drink
- Its glossy leaves hanging down and losing their shine by afternoon suggest the roots are dry
- Leaf margins scorching brown after hot, dry wind can follow a dry spell
- Yellow, droopy leaves above soil that never dries out point to poor drainage
How to water it
- Run a drip ring or soaker under the spread of the branches
- Give a slow soak that reaches roughly a foot deep, and repeat once the upper few inches are dry
- Plant in free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade
- Choose a sheltered spot out of drying wind
- Mulch the root zone to keep moisture even
Through the seasons
Water a new tree regularly through its first summers while roots spread. Established trees want moderate water through the dry season. It is evergreen and flowers in early summer. Shelter from wind helps keep the leaves fresh, and mulch keeps the roots cool. The north-central coast is the only region WUCOLS has rated, giving winter's bark a moderate water rating there. For every other region, from the Central Valley and south coast to South Inland and both deserts, WUCOLS has not evaluated it.
In pots
A young winter's bark can grow for several years in a large container in a sheltered spot. Choose a free-draining mix and a pot with good holes. Water once the top two inches are dry, slowly enough that the whole root ball gets wet. During summer, look at it every few days. Pour off any water in the saucer. In winter, water when the mix dries and protect the pot from hard freezes.
- A year
- no figure
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
WUCOLS lists Winter's Bark as not evaluated for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.
Monthly water need by climate zone
Winter's Bark: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.18 | – | – | – | – | – |
| May | 1.46 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | 1.49 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.47 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.31 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Year | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated not evaluated in the Central Valley, like winter's bark. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Hawthorn MapleAcer crataegifoliumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Mountain MapleAcer glabrumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Miyabe MapleAcer miyabeinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Everglades PalmAcoelorraphe wrightiinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Pink CedarAcrocarpus fraxinifoliusnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
YellowwoodAfrocarpus falcatus (Podocarpus falcatus)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
New Caledonian PineAraucaria columnaris (A. cookii)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Formosa Sugar PalmArenga englerinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
NeemAzadirachta indicanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Bismarck PalmBismarckia nobilisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
American HornbeamCarpinus caroliniananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Japanese HornbeamCarpinus japonicanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukeanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Pagoda DogwoodCornus alternifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Giant DogwoodCornus controversanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Butterfly PalmDypsis lutescens (Areca)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes winter's bark, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does winter's bark need per day?
In July on the north-central coast, established winter's bark needs about 4.1 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 16 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for winter's bark change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates winter's bark separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, not evaluated in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Is winter's bark aromatic?
Yes, its leathery leaves are aromatic. It is also called winter cinnamon. Brush the leaves to release the scent.
How big does winter's bark get?
It can grow into a tree over 40 feet tall over many decades. In gardens it is often a large shrub. Give it room to spread.
Are the flowers fragrant?
Yes, the creamy white, star-shaped flowers are fragrant. They appear in early summer at the branch tips. Plant it near a path.
Does winter's bark have pest problems?
It is generally pest and disease free. Most problems come from dry soil or wind. Keep it sheltered and moist.
Can winter's bark grow in shade?
Yes, it grows in full sun or partial shade. Keep the soil evenly moist.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Drimys winteri, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead 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
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf