Low-water Landscape | UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

Drought Resources

This page contains links to multiple resources that can help with your effort to save water, create your own low-water landscape and more!

Image of volunteers in the UC Davis Arboretum's Environmental GATEway.

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is committed to practicing, promoting and teaching about sustainable horticulture. Learn about more environmentally friendly alternatives that reduce the use of water, energy, and chemical inputs and support native pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.

Succulent Sizzlers in Storer Garden

Is your garden sizzling? Succulents can take the heat, even in midsummer! See examples of succulents of all sizes in the UC Davis Arboretum's Ruth Risdon Storer Garden — one of our popular low-water demonstration gardens — and learn how to grow them in your home garden.

Spring Surprises in the Garden

Take a guided tour to explore succulents, perennials and more in the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden, one of our popular low-water demonstration gardens. Parking on weekends is available at no charge along Garrod Drive near the Gazebo or in nearby Visitor Parking Lot 55.

Image of Ria de Grassi's lawn-free front yard in which she incorporated many of the plants she purchased at the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery plant sales.

Garden Maintenance Tips with Nursery Manager Taylor Lewis

Wed, October 04, 2017

Community Engagement

Watch our Facebook Live video about how to maintain your garden, featuring a variety of plants we typically have available at our plant sales.

Left: buckeye caterpillar (photo by Ria De Grassi); Right: detail of firecracker plant (photo by Thai Jasmine CC BY-NC 2.0)

New butterfly larva host plant identified in California

Wed, September 20, 2017

Environmental Education

Citizen scientist Ria de Grassi confirms discovery of a new larval host plant for buckeye butterflies.

Image of Sid and Randy England's lawn-free front yard planted with California natives to attract beneficial wildlife.

Life after lawn advice: plant California natives to support beneficial wildlife

Fri, June 16, 2017

Environmental Education

Avid birders Randy Beaton and Sid England required a low-maintenance garden that takes care of itself much of the time. They also wanted to create a front yard that would support native creatures and what better way than by using native California plants.

Who cares about low-water landscapes now?

Mon, May 08, 2017

Environmental Education

by Katie Hetrick
Special to the Davis Enterprise

Life After Lawn Advice: Learn by Doing

Tue, February 28, 2017

Environmental Education

Mona and Frank Demasi

Many succulents are well adapted to low-water landscapes because their thickened leaves store water, providing them the ability to survive dry, hot climates. Softer leaved succulents like Echeveria prefer shade in our region while the larger, cold-hardy Agave and Aloe species do well in full sun.

Life after lawn advice: Shop the Arboretum plant sales

Fri, September 09, 2016

Environmental Education

Ria takes the commitment to water savings seriously; first renovating her backyard two years ago, and last fall tackling her front yard. Birch trees and high-water turf were removed. Now this east-facing front yard features subtly sloped areas behind two curved walls. This additional hardscape creates a structure for spreading mats of white lantana and red verbena whose long-lasting blooms add color and attract a variety of butterflies.