Now is the perfect time to think about your summer garden and what to plant. A multitude of plants thrive in Southern California, including Mediterranean-type plants and Southwestern plants like succulents. Of course, it is important to choose plants that are ideal for your home’s specific growing conditions as well as plants that you’re able to care for. Some plants are higher maintenance than others. Here, we’ve gathered together a list of dazzling plants that prefer the Southern California climate and can enhance the visual appeal of your landscape and summer garden.
California Poppy
The California poppy is the state flower for a reason; it flourishes in California’s summer gardens with its bright orange tissue-papery petals and vibrant green leaves. California poppies are perennials, so once you plant and care for them, they’ll continue to bloom each year. Easy to care for, California poppies prefer full sun. They require very little water and actually prefer poor, well-draining soils. Rocky, coastal gardens are ideal conditions for these plants.
California Milkweed
If you’re searching for a distinctive plant to feature in a focal point area, consider the California milkweed with its thick, hairy stems and bold pink flower clusters. An added benefit is that these plants attract monarch butterflies as well as other butterfly species. California milkweed prefers a location with full sun, sandy soil, and sparse watering.
Chalk Liveforever
A perennial succulent, chalk liveforevers (chalk dudleya) are ideal for planting where they’re likely to be noticed. These showstoppers form large succulent rosettes that are a pale shade of blue. Once established, they are perfectly content in dry settings and require very little watering. They prefer full sunshine and sandy soils. They’re a popular addition to both coastal gardens and rock gardens.
California Lilac
Attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your summer garden by planting a California lilac shrub. A member of the buckthorn family, the California lilac blooms with fragrant blue, pink, or white flowers. Sometimes referred to as mountain lilacs, this evergreen prefers full sun and well-draining soil. To maintain its health and encourage blooming, light annual pruning is recommended.
Lemonade Blueberry Shrub
If you want to add an attractive shrub to your summer garden, opt for the beautiful lemonade berry shrub. This plant is another drought-tolerant plant like those mentioned above. It blooms with lovely pink and white flowers that produce decorative berries. These shrubs are likely to attract butterflies to your summer garden. Their berries are often used to flavor lemonade–hence, their name! This shrub prefers full to partial sun and clay or sandy soil. It may require some light watering during the summer; consider mulching around its base to lock in moisture for the soil. The soil should be well-draining.
Add these plants to your Southern California summer garden to add instant visual appeal to your landscape. Their vibrant hues or interesting growth habits promise to endow your garden with loads of attention-getting charm.