Water-Wise Plants for Utah Landscapes
In order to better market the water wise plants available in many Utah nurseries and garden centers, and to assist consumers in identifying these plants, a program to recognize desirable low water use species has been developed. Representatives from Utah State University Extension, Utah State University Center for Water Efficient Landscaping, the Utah Nursery and Landscape Association, Utah Division of Water Resources, Utah Botanical Center, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, Red Butte Gardens, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Salt Lake City Corporation, Sandy City, and the Utah Native Plant Society have worked together to organize a water wise list of ornamental trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, and ground covers. The plants on the list are (1) water conserving, (2) adapted to Utah’s arid climate and cold winters, (3) available in the industry, (4) relatively easy to maintain in the landscape and (5) have desirable landscape characteristics which remain desirable under limited water availability. The water wise designation suggests that, on average, the plants only need to be watered approximately once every two weeks after establishment and will still retain their aesthetic characteristics. More specific information on cultural requirements such as growth characteristics, USDA hardiness zones, soil preference, etc., can be found at www.waterwiseplants.utah.gov
Deciduous Trees
| Acer grandidentatum | Bigtooth Maple | Crataegus douglasii | Black Hawthorne |
| Acer tataricum | Tatarian Maple | Fraxinus anomala | Single-leaf Ash |
| Acer truncatum | Shantung Maple | Ginkgo biloba | Ginkgo |
| Amelenchier species | Serviceberry | Gymnocladus dioicus | Kentucky Coffeetree |
| Catalpa speciosa | Western Catalpa | Koelreuteria paniculata | Golden Raintree |
| Celtis occidentalis | Common Hackberry | Maclura pomifera | |
| Chilopsis linearis | Desert Willow | (select cultivars) | Osage-Orange |
| Corylus colurna | Turkish Filbert | Parrotia persica | Persian Ironwood |
| Persian Ironwood | American Smokebush | Platanus x acerifolia | London Planetree |
| Ptelea trifoliata | Hop Tree | Syringa reticulata | Tree Lilac |
| Quercus gambelii | Gambel Oak | Ulmus parvifolia | Lacebark/Chinese Elm |
| Quercus macrocarpa | Bur Oak | Zelkova serrata | Zelkova |
| Robinia neomexicana | New Mexico Locust | ||
| Sophora japonica | Japanese Pagodatree |
Evergreen Trees
| Abies concolor | White Fir | Juniperus scopulorum | Rocky Mountain Juniper |
| Calocedrus decurrens | Incense-cedar | Picea abies | Norway Spruce |
| Cedrus atlantica glauca | Blue Atlas Cedar | Picea pungens | Colorado Spruce |
| Cedrus libani | Cedar of Lebanon | Pinus species | Pine species |
| Cupressus arizonica | Arizona Cypress | Pseudotsuga menziesii | Douglas-fir |
| Juniperus osteosperma | Utah Juniper |
Shrubs (Full Sun)
| Amelanchier species | Serviceberry | Juniperus species | Juniper |
| Amorpha canescens | Lead plant | Kolkwitzia amabilis | Beauty Bush |
| Amorpha nana | Dwarf Lead Plant | Mahonia fremontii | Utah Holly |
| Artemisia species | Sagebrush | Peraphyllum ramosissimum | Squaw Apple |
| Atriplex confertifolia | Shadscale | Philadelphus species | Mock Orange |
| Buddleia davidii | Butterfly Bush | Physocarpus species | Ninebark |
| Caragana species | Siberian Peashrub | Pinus mugo | Mugo Pine |
| Caryopteris x clandonensis | Blue Mist Spirea | Potentilla fruticosa | Potentilla |
| Ceratoides lanata | Winterfat | Prunus besseyi | Western Sand Cherry |
| Cercocarpus species | Mountain-mahogany | Prunus x cistena | Purple-leaf Sand Cherry |
| Chamaebatiaria millefolium | Fernbush | Prunus virginiana | Common Chokecherry |
| Chrysothamnus nauseosus | Rabbitbrush | Quercus turbinella | Shrub Live Oak |
| Cotinus coggygria | Smokebush | Rhus species | Sumac |
| Cotoneaster species | Cotoneaster | Rosa woodsii | Woods Rose |
| Cowania mexicana | Cliffrose | Salvia dorrii | Dorr Sage |
| Cytisus scoparius | Scotch Broom | Shepherdia argentea | Silver Buffaloberry |
| Ephedra viridis | Green Mormon Tea | Sorbaria sorbifolia | False Spirea |
| Fallugia paradoxa | Apache Plume | Syringa vulgaris | Lilac |
| Forestiera neomexicana | New Mexico Privet | Viburnum lantana | Wayfaring Tree |
| Genista species | Spanish Broom |
Shrubs (Shade)
| Holodiscus dumosus | Mountain Spray | Symphoricarpos species | Snowberry |
| Kerria japonica | Japanese Kerria | Viburnum rhytidophyllum | Leather-leaf Viburnum |
| Mahonia aquifolium | Oregon-grape | Viburnum x rhytidophylloides | Blackhaw |
Perennials (Full Sun)
| Achillea species | Yarrow | Aurinia saxatilis |
| Aethionema schistosum | Stonecress | Basket-of-Gold |
| Agastache species except foeniculum | Hyssop/Agastache | Baileya multiradiata |
| Allium species | Ornamental Allium | Desert Marigold |
| Amsonia tabernaemontana | Blue Star | |
| Anacyclus depressus | Mount Atlas Daisy | |
| Anaphalis margaritacea | Pearly Everlasting | |
| Antennaria species | Pussy Toes | |
| Arabis caucasica | Rock Cress | |
| Armeria maritime | Sea Pinks/Thrift | |
| Asclepias tuberose | Butterfly Weed | |
| Aster species | Aster | |
| Astragalus utahensis | Utah Lady Finger | |
| Aubrieta deltoidea | Aubrieta |
| Ballota pseudodictamnus | Horehound | Liatris spicata | Liatris/Gayfeather |
| Berlandiera lyrata | Chocolate Flower | Limonium latifolium | Sea Lavender |
| Brodiaea species | Brodiaea | Linum species | Flax |
| Callirhoe involucrata | Poppy Mallow/Wine | Melampodium leucanthum | Blackfoot Daisy |
| Cups | Mirabilis multiflora | Desert Four O’Clock | |
| Calylophus species | Sundrops | Narcissus species | Daffodils/Narcissus |
| Catananche caerulea | Cupid’s Dart | Nepeta x faassenii | Catmint |
| Centranthus rubber | Jupiter’s Beard/Red Valerian | Oenothera macrocarpa, pallida, and caespitosa | Evening Primrose |
| Colchicum autumnale | Autumn Crocus | Origanum species | Oregano |
| Coreopsis verticillata | Thread-leaf Coreopsis | Papaver orientale | Oriental Poppy |
| Crocus species | Crocus | Penstemon species | Penstemon |
| Delosperma species | Ice Plant | Perovskia atriplicifolia | Russian Sage |
| Dianthus x allwoodii, deltoides, gratianopolitanus, and plumaris | Dianthus/Pinks | Phlomis species | Jerusalem Sage |
| Potentilla species | Cinquefoil | ||
| Psilostrophe tagetina | Paper Flower | ||
| Pulsatilla vulgaris | Pasque Flower | ||
| Diascia integerrima | Twinspurs | Ratibida columnifera | Mexican Hat |
| Dictamus albus | Gas Plant | Salvia species | Sage/Salvia |
| Echinops ritro | Globe Thistle | Santolina species | Santolina/Lavender |
| Erigeron species | Fleabane | Cotton | |
| Eriogonum species | Buckwheat | Scabiosa caucasica | Pincushion Flower |
| Erygium amethystinum | Sea Holly | Sedum species | Sedum/Stonecrop |
| Gaillardia species | Blanket Flower | Sempervivum tectorum | Hens and Chicks |
| Gaura lindheimeri | Gaura | Sphaeralcea species | Globemallow |
| Gypsophila paniculata | Baby’s Breath | Teucrium chamaedrys | Germander |
| Helenium hoopesii | Helen’s | Thymus species | Thyme |
| Flower/Sneezeweed | Tithonia rotundifolia | Mexican Sunflower | |
| Helianthemum nummularium | Sunrose | Tulipa species | Tulips |
| Hemerocallis x hybrids | Daylilies | Veronica spicata | Spike Speedwell |
| Hesperaloe parviflora | Red Yucca | Veronica | |
| Hymenoxys aucalis | Hymenoxys/Perky | Viguiera multiflora | Showy Goldeneye |
| Sue | Yucca filamentosa | Yucca/Adam’s | |
| Iberis sempervirens | Candytuft | Needle | |
| Iris, Bearded hybrids | Bearded Iris | Zauschneria species | Zauschneria/Hummingbird Flower |
| Kniphofia uvaria | Red Hot Poker | ||
| Lavandula angustifolia | Lavender | Zinnia grandiflora | Desert Zinnia |
| Leucojum aestivum | Snowflake | Zizophora clinopodioides | Blue Mint Bush |
Perennials (Shade)
| Aquilegia species | Columbine | Geranium endressii, sanguineum, and viscossissimum | Geranium/Cranesbill |
| Bergenia cordifolia | Bergenia | Heuchera species | Coral Bells |
| Corydalis lutea | Yellow Corydalis | Smilacina racemosa | False Solomon Seal |
| Epimedium species | Barrenwort/ Epimedium |
Ornamental Grasses (Full Sun)
| Andropogon gerardii | Big Bluestem | Helictotrichon sempervirens | Blue Oat Grass |
| Aristida purpurea | Threeawn Grass | ||
| Bouteloua curtipendula | Side Oats Grama Grass | Miscanthus sinensis | Maiden Grass |
| Oryzopsis hymenoides | Indian Rice Grass | ||
| Bouteloua gracilis | Blue Grama Grass | Panicum virgatum | Switch Grass |
| Calamagrostis acutiflora | Feather Reed Grass | Schizachyrium scoparium | Little Bluestem |
| Elymus cinereus | Great Basin Wildrye | Sorghastrum nutans | Indian Grass |
| Erianthus ravennae | Ravenna Grass | Stipa comata | Needle and Thread grass |
| Festuca ovina glauca | Blue Fescue | Stipa tenuissima | Mexican Grass |
Ornamental Grasses (Shade)
| Dechampsia caespitosa | Tufted Hair Grass | Molina caerulea | Purple Moor Grass |
Groundcovers
| Antennaria species | Pussy Toes | Mahonia repens | Creeping Mahonia |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Kinnikinnick | Phlox subulata | Creeping Phlox |
| Buchloe dactyloides | Buffalograss | Sedum species | Sedum |
| Cerastium tomentosum | Snow-in-Summerc | Stachys byzantina | Lamb’s Ear |
| Helianthemum nummularium | Sun Rose | Teucrium chamaedrys | Germander |
| Hypericum calycinum/reptans | St. Johnswort | Thymus species | Thyme |
| Veronica liwanensis | Turkish Veronica | ||
| Juniperus horizontalis | Horizontal Juniper | Veronica rupestris/prostata | Creeping Veronica |
Vines
| Campsis radicans | Trumpet Vine | Polygonum aubertii | Silverlace Vine |
| Clematis tangutica | Clematis | Wisteria species | Wisteria |
References
- Cerny, Teresa A.; Hefelbower, Rick; Sagers, Larry A.; and Bitner, Wade, "Water-Wise Plants for Utah Landscapes" (2003). CWEL Extension Fact Sheets. Paper 20. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cwel_extension/20
Authors
Teresa A. Cerny, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist; Rick Heflebower, Washington County Horticulture Extension Agent; Larry Sagers, Thanksgiving Point Regional Horticulture Extension Agent; Wade Bitner, Salt Lake County Horticulture Extension Agent
Rick Heflebower
Extension Professor | Horticulture | Washington County
Agriculture and Natural Resources
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