The Drought-Defying California Garden 230 Native Plants for a Lush, Low-Water Landscape

A must-have for every gardener in California looking for a new way to garden in a changing climate

In recent years California has been facing extreme drought, and in 2015 they passed state-wide water restrictions that affect home owners. Unfortunately the drought is only going to get worse, and gardeners who aren’t willing to abandon their beloved pastime entirely are going to have to learn how to garden with the absolute minimum of water. The Drought-Defying California Garden highlights the best 230 plants to grow, shares advice on how to get them established, and offers tips on how to maintain them with the minimum amount of water. All of the plants are native to California—making them uniquely adept at managing the harsh climate—and include perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, and succulents.

Greg Rubin is the president and founder of California’s Own Native Landscape Design, Inc. working as a licensed landscape contractor after leaving a career in aerospace engineering. Rubin designs residential, commercial, and institutional landscapes and has been featured in many outlets including the Wall Street Journal, San Diego Union Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Sunset, San Diego Home and Garden, California Garden, Kiplinger’s, MSNBC, and NPR. Learn more at calown.com.
Lucy Warren is a longtime regional gardening professional in southern California. She has written for many local and national publications, including a regular gardening column in the San Diego Union-Tribune. She has also been editor for California Garden magazine. She is a life-member of the San Diego Horticulture Society, a UCCE Master Gardener, and a horticulture chair on the board of Friends of Balboa Park. She is a sought-after speaker and expert on native plants and sustainable landscaping.