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Landscape Guide: Plant List

Introduction | Water Characteristics | Soil Management |
Irrigation | Turf Grass | Water Features | Plant List

The following plant list, which includes trees, shrubs and ground covers, is limited to plants that have been part of official screening trials and/or successfully used in landscapes in our area where recycled water is in use. This selection includes many plants widely used in Santa Clara County.

Converting to recycled water use does not necessarily mean making radical changes in your plant palette. If you have plants in your landscape that are not included in this list, it does not mean they are incompatible with recycled water. South Bay Water Recycling encourages its customers to try other plants as well.

There are many parameters that guide landscape decisions. By understanding these interrelated factors - seasonal rainfall, temperatures, evapotranspiration rates, soil characteristics and water quality - you can select from a wide range of plants and develop landscapes that are appropriate to your site. Again, proper management of all facets is key to successful landscaping

Scientific
Name
Common Name Height
Spread
Type Growth
Rate
Water
Requirement
Soil
Trees            
Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood Acacia
40-20
Evergreen Mod/Fast Moderate Well drained
Acer
palmatum
Japanese Maple
20-20
Deciduous Low/Mod Moderate Well drained
Albizia
julibrissin
Silk Tree
40-40
Deciduous Fast Low/Mod Adaptable
Alnus
cordata
Italian Alder
40-25
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Alnus
rhombifolia
White Alder
50-40
Deciduous Fast Mod/High Adaptable
Arbutus
unedo
Strawberry Tree
25-25
Evergreen Low/Mod Moderate Adaptable
Betula
pendula
European White Birch
30-20
Deciduous Moderate Mod/High Well drained
Casuarina
stricta
Drooping She-Oak
35-20
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Cedrus
deodara
Deodar Cedar
80-40
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Celtis
australis
European Hackberry
40-30
Deciduous Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Celtis
sinensis
Chinese Hackberry
35-35
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Ceratonia
siliqua
Carob
35-35
Evergreen Moderate Low Adaptable
Cinnamomum camphora Camphor Tree
50-50
Evergreen Slow Low Well drn/Adapt
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Red Gum
100-80
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Eucalyptus globulus 'Compacta' Compact Blue Gum
60-50
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Eucalyptus leucoxylon
'Rosea'
White Ironbark
50-30
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Eucalyptus
rudis
Flooded Gum
50-50
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Eucalyptus sideroxylon Red Ironbark
50-30
Evergreen Fast Low Well drn/Adapt
Fraxinus angustifolia 'Raywood' Raywood Ash
30-30
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Fraxinus
uhdei
Evergreen Ash
75-50
Deciduous Fast Low/Mod Adaptable
Fraxinus
velutina
'Modesto'
Modesto Ash
50-30
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Gleditsia tricanthos
inermis
Shademaster Honeylocust
30-30
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Lagerstroemia fauriei
'Mustogee'
Crape Myrtle
20-20
Deciduous Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Scientific
Name
Common Name Height
Spread
Type Growth
Rate
Water
Requirement
Soil
Lagerstroemia indica Crape Myrtle
15-15
Deciduous Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Leptospermum laevigatum Australian Tea Tree
30-30
Evergreen Moderate Low/Mod Well drn/Adapt
Magnolia grandiflora Magnolia
80-40
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Well drn/Adapt
Metrosideros excelsus New Zealand Christmas
30-30
Evergreen Low/Mod Low/Mod Adaptable
Morus
alba
White Mulberry
30-35
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Myoporum
laetum
Myoporum
30-20
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Olea europea Olive
30-30
Evergreen Low/Mod Low Adaptable
Olea europea 'Manzanillo' Olive
30-30
Evergreen Low/Mod Low Adaptable
Pinus
canariensis
Canary Island Pine
60-50
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Pinus
halepensis
Aleppo Pine
50-50
Evergreen Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Pinus
radiata
Monterey Pine
80-80
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Pistacia
chinensis
Chinese Pistache
60-50
Deciduous Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Pittosporum eugenioides blank 
40-20
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Platanus
acerfolia 'Bloodgood'
London Plane Tree
75-40
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Populus
nigra 'Italica'
Lombardy Poplar
75-20
Deciduous Fast Mod/High Adaptable
Prunus
cerasifera
'Krauter
Vesuvius'
Purple Leaf Plum
20-15
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Prunus
ilicifolia
Hollyleaf Cherry
25-30
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Well drn/Adapt
Prunus
yedoensis 'Akebono'
Yoshino Flowering Cherry
25-25
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Pyrus
calleryana 'Bradford'
Ornamental Pear
50-30
Deciduous Fast Moderate Adaptable
Pyrus
kawakamii
Evergreen Pear
25-25
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Salix
babylonica
Weeping Willow
40-40
Deciduous Fast Mod/High Adaptable
Schinus
molle
California Pepper Tree
40-40
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Sequoia sempervirens Coast Redwood
75-30
Evergreen Fast Mod/High Adaptable
Scientific
Name
Common Name Height
Spread
Type Growth
Rate
Water
Requirement
Soil
Shrubs            
Abelia
grandiflora
Glossy Abelia
5-8
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Camellia
japonica
cultivars
Camellia
varies
Evergreen Low/Mod Moderate Well drained
Ceanothus griseum horizonalis Wild Lilac
2-15
Evergreen Mod/Fast Low Well drained
Cistus
'Doris
Hibberson'
Rockrose
3-3
Evergreen Low/Mod Low Well drained
Dodonaea
viscosa
Hoopseed Bush
15-10
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Echium
fastuosum
Pride of Madeira
5-5
Evergreen Moderate Low Adaptable
Escallonia exoniensis 'Frades' Escallonia
5/6-5
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Grevillea
'Noelii'
 
4-5
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Hakea
suaveolens
Sweet-scented Hakea
15-15
Evergreen Fast Low Adaptable
Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon
20-15
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Hypericum moserianum Gold Flower
3-3
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa' Hollywood Juniper
15-15
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Lavandula
species
Lavender
3-3
Evergreen Moderate Low Well drn/Adapt
Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' Wax-Leaf Privet
10-10
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Mahonia aquifolium Oregon Grape
6-6
Evergreen Moderate Low Adaptable
Myrtus
communis 'Compacta'
Dwarf Myrtle
3-3
Evergreen Slow Low Adaptable
Nandina domestica Heavenly Bamboo
6-4
Evergreen Low/Mod Moderate Adaptable
Nerium
oleander & cultivars
Oleander
varies
Evergreen Mod/Fast Low Adaptable
Phormium
tenax
New Zealand Flax
varies
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Photinia
fraseri
Photinia
0/15-1
Evergreen Fast/Mod Moderate Adaptable
Pittosporum
tobira and cultivars
Tobira
varies
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Prunus
ilicifolia
Hollyleaf Cherry
15-15
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Well drn/Adapt
Pyracantha
'Santa Cruz'
Firethorn
5-5
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Well drn/Adapt
Rhaphiolepis indica & cultivrs India Hawthorn
varies
Evergreen Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Collingwood Ingram' Prostrate Rosemary
3-4
Evergreen Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Viburnum suspensum Sandankwa Viburnum
10-10
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Viburnum tinus 'Spring Boquet' Laurustinus
6-6
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Xylosma congestum Shiny Xylosma
10-10
Evergreen Mod/Fast Moderate Adaptable
Scientific
Name
Common Name Height
Spread
Type Growth
Rate
Water
Requirement
Soil
Groundcovers            
Contoneaster horzontalis Rock Cotoneaster
3-15
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Coprosma
kirkii
 
3-5
Evergreen Moderate Low/Moderate Adaptable
Hedera canariensis Algerian Ivy
1-15
Evergreen Mod/Fast Moderate Adaptable
Hypericum calycinum St. Johnswort
1-3
Evergreen Mod/Fast Moderate Adaptable
Lantana montevidensis 'Carnaval' Lantana
2-4
Evergreen Mod/Fast Moderate Adaptable
Myoporum parvifolium
'Putah Creek'
Myoporum
1-8
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Osteospermum fruticosum Trailing African Daisy
1-4
Evergreen Fast Moderate Well drn/Adapt
Trachelospermum jasminoides Star Jasmine
2-5
Evergreen Low/Mod Moderate Adaptable
Vines            
Clematis
armandii
Evergreen Clematis
20
Evergreen Fast Moderate Well drained
Macfadyena unguis-cati Cat's Claw
25/40
Evergreen Fast Low/Mod Adaptable
Wisteria
sinensis
Chinese Wisteria
20
Deciduous Mod/Fast Moderate Adaptable
Perennials            
Agapanthus 'Queen Ann' Lily of the Nile
blank
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Agapanthus africana Lily of the Nile
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Agapanthus africana 'Peter Pan' Dwarf Lily of the Nile
blank
Evergreen Fast Moderate Adaptable
Dietes and cultivars Fortnight Lily
Evergreen Fast Low/Mod Adaptable
Lantana
camara
Yellow Sage
blank
Evergreen Fast Low/Mod Adaptable
Lantana montevidensis Trailing Lantana
Evergreen Fast Low/Mod Adaptable
Tulbaghia
violacea
Society Garlic
blank
Evergreen Moderate Low/Mod Adaptable
Scientific
Name
Common Name Height
Spread
Type Growth
Rate
Water
Requirement
Soil
Native Grass Covers            
Bromus
carinatus
California Brome
30"/24"
Summer Dormant Mod/High Moderate Deep/Adaptable
Deschampsia caespitosa California Tufted Hairgrass
2’/1’
Evergreen Slow/Mod Low Well drn/Adapt
Elymus
glaucus
Blue Wildrye
2'/18"
Evergreen Mod/High Moderate Adaptable
Elymus
triticoides
Creeping Wildrye
4' creeping
Evergreen Slow/High Moderate Adaptable
Festuca
californica
Western Fescue
2-4'
Evergreen Slow Low Well drn/Adapt
Festuca idahoensis Idaho Fescue
1-2'
Evergreen Slow Low Well drn/Adapt
Festuca
longifolia
Hard Fescue
12"
Evergreen Slow Low/Mod Well drn/Adapt
Festuca
rubra
Molate Fescue
14"
Evergreen Moderate Moderate Well drn/Adapt
Festuca rubra 'Molate Blue' Molate Blue Fescue
14”
Evergreen Moderate Low/Mod Well drn/Adapt
Hordeum brachyantherus Meadow Barley
2'/2'
Summer Dormant Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Milica
imperfecta
Coast Range Melic
2'/2'
Summer Dormant Slow Low Well drn/Adapt
Stipa
cernua
Nodding Needle Grass
2'/1'
Summer Dormant Moderate Moderate Adaptable
Stipa
pulchra
Purple Needle Grass
1'/1'
Summer Dormant Moderate Moderate Adaptable
  illustration of pyracantha  

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