A beautifully crafted landscape will transform your home’s curb appeal. But selecting the right landscaping plants for your San Diego landscape architecture will create a tranquil oasis, fanciful paradise, or a flourishing garden.
Drought-tolerant landscaping includes low-water, low-maintenance xeriscaping or “zero-scaping” and is a popular solution for arid climates prone to dry spells. Eco Minded Solutions designs feature beautiful and hardy plants that require minimal maintenance while conserving water.
The vast selection of vivid colors and textures found in desert climate plants makes these choices even more challenging. Here is your ultimate planting guide which includes some of our favorite plants for landscaping in Southern California:
- Salvia species (perennials/shrubs)
- Leucophyllum species (shrubs)
- Agave species (succulents)
- Aloe species (succulents)
- Bougainvillea (vine)
- Muhlenbergia species (grass)
- Rosmarinus species (groundcover)
- Lantana species (groundcover)
- Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’
- Cercidium X “Desert Museum”
10 Best Landscaping Plants for San Diego
Over the years we have sought out the best plants that conserve water for San Diego landscapes, without sacrificing luxury and aesthetics. We’ve rounded up the 10 best plants for landscaping in San Diego to help you create the perfect garden for your home, whether you’re looking for potted plants, tree plantings, or other shade plants.
We use a variety of plants in our designs—when you work with our landscape design department, we will help to find the perfect plants for your home renovation.
Salvia species (perennials/shrubs)
Salvias, also known as sages, are an easy-to-grow desert plant. Many varieties bloom abundantly in the summer, adding color and beauty to your garden. They thrive in many different soil types and climates, making them a versatile addition to any landscape.
Leucophyllum species (shrubs)
These shrubs are known for their ability to forecast rain, blooming a couple of days before rainstorms in response to humidity. Since they require minimal water to thrive, this species is the perfect plant to grow in San Diego. Blooms range from white to magenta or a deep purple.
Agave species (succulents)
Agave species are one type of succulent and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and shades ranging from jewel greens to pale blues. Their leaves are typically long and triangular with sharp tips. Known for their hardiness, agave plants require very little water to thrive and add a stunning geometric element to your landscape.
Aloe species (succulents)
Aloe species of succulents range in sizes from small tabletop plants to large landscape staples. Most varieties feature spiky leaves that are thick and waxy to the touch and require very little water and also grow well in pots.
When remodeling your home and performing landscape construction, remember plants aren’t just for the outdoors! A vertical arrangement of succulents creates a beautiful living wall, the perfect backdrop for your outdoor dining and entertainment area. Indoor displays in your dining area or living room bring life and color inside your home.
Bougainvillea (vine)
Bougainvillea is an ornamental vine that thrives in San Diego climates. The vine’s delicate flower blossoms and deep green leaves provide a pop of life and color, weaving across fences and walls with ease. Drought-resistant and evergreen in warm climates, bougainvillea is a great addition to any San Diego landscape. Our landscape designers let them grow free along fences in the backyard or wind around the posts of your backyard pergola to add a colorful, natural element.
Muhlenbergia species (grass)
Commonly known as a “hairawn muhly,” this hedge-like grass grows tall with feathery, pinkish-purple flowers emerging in the late summer and early autumn. Tall grasses add texture and height to your landscape—since these plants survive well in drought conditions, they are also the perfect addition to any San Diego landscape.
Rosmarinus species (groundcover)
This prostrate rosemary plant is a low-growing herbaceous shrub, reaching heights of 2 inches to 1 foot tall, and will grow 4-8 feet in width. Reminiscent of pine needles and topped with light purple flowers, this shrub gives off the refreshing aroma of rosemary. Partial to full sun and well-draining soil to thrive, we plant them near your jacuzzi or outdoor lounge to scent the breeze with a burst of fresh rosemary aroma.
Lantana species (groundcover)
Known as shrub verbenas or lantanas, these flowering perennials produce clusters of tiny bright blossoms among their green leaves, attracting butterflies and other native insects to your landscape. A hardy plant, they survive well in Southern California landscapes, even during water shortages.
Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’
Also known as an Olive tree, this evergreen tree is native to the Mediterranean and adapts easily to temperate zones. The Swan Hill variety produces no fruit and little to no pollen, eliminating allergens and requiring minimal maintenance. These trees are noted for their wispy greyish-green foliage and are staples in California landscapes, looking especially beautiful planted in groupings, such as lining driveways or streets.
Cercidium X “Desert Museum”
The Desert Museum palo verde is a shade tree that produces large yellow blossoms in the spring. Originally native to Arizona, this variety thrives in low-water drought conditions and grows quickly. Green trunks and green branches give way to an airy canopy, producing a spotted shade below. Their unique shape enhances tranquil landscapes and makes a great addition to meditation gardens.
San Diego Design-Build Firm
The San Diego custom home builders at our residential contracting firm have been providing high-quality home remodeling services in and around San Diego County for over a decade. Clients like our design-build approach because it saves them money, keeps their projects on schedule, and simplifies management. Request your free consultation below and see what we can do for your home.
