This is a 2013 presentation for conservation professionals.

1. WaterWise
Gardening
A Conservation
Gardening
Approach
Linda R McMahan
OSU Extension Service
linda.mcmahan@oregonstate.edu
Photographs by the author unless noted.

2. What is
WaterWise?
Waterwise gardening
is a style that uses
drought resistant
plants to create
landscapes that
require minimal
irrigation once
established.
Penstemon, Nasturtium, and Santolinum
species
Other Names: Xeriscaping,
Water-Efficient Landscapes,
WaterSense, Drought Tolerant

3. Why
WaterWise?
R. St. Hilaire et.al,
HORTSCIENCE
43(7):2081–2092.
2008.
• “Although water used to
irrigate the residential urban
landscape will vary according
to factors such as landscape
type, management practices,
and region, landscape
irrigation can vary from 40%
to 70% of household use of
water. So, the efficient use
of irrigation water in urban
landscapes must be the
primary focus of water
conservation.”

4. Why WaterWise?
From: http://www.clackamasproviders.org/water-
efficient-plants/

5. What WaterWise
is Not!
Not boring.
Not all desert
plants.
Not “Zero-
scaping.”
Not maintenance-
free.
Private garden featuring waterwise plants and
sustainable gardening techniques such as permeable
paths, mulch, and recyled wood.

6. Objectives
 Conserve water-reduce
runoff of chemicals and
nutrients.
Create sustainable
gardens that are lower
maintenance.
 Use non-invasive species.
 Focus on prairie plants,
native plants, certain
plants native to the US,
and others known to be
drought resistant. Anaphalis margaritacea, pearly everlasting,
native to Oregon’s west side and Northeast
mountains.

7. Objectives
Use appropriate
techniques like
mulching and zoning –
planting species with
similar requirements
together for efficiancy.
Include all layers of
growth—trees, shrubs,
herbaceous plants,
and ground cover.
A tub containing herbs and marigolds is a
form of zoning.

8. Management
- Plant Choice -
Choosing the right
plants is key to
creating a Waterwise
garden.
Example is a Spanish
lavender from the
Mediterranean.

9. Management
- Plant Choice -
Plants native to
Oregon
Plants native to
Mediteranean
climates
Selected succulents
Herbs
Bulbs
North American trees
and prairie plants
Others that are
drought-hardy
Linum sp., blue flax

10. Plants
Native to Oregon
 Usually incorporates
native plants considered
to be “garden-worthy”.
 Focuses on native
prairie plants and
flowering shrubs.
 Avoids or limits moist
woodland plants,
wetland plants, or those
requiring special
conditions for growth.
Fall color--Ribes aureum, golden currant,
native to Oregon’s eastside.

11. How to I Know the
Distribution?
I consult the Oregon
Flora Project, housed at
Oregon State University.
This site provides
correct and current
scientific names,
generates maps of plant
distribution, has a
photo database.
Ribes aureum var. aureum
www.oregonflora.org

12. More Native
Plants
 “Native” of course
depends on where
you are from if you
want to use only
local natives.
Amelanchier alnifolia, service berry, native to many
regions on Oregon’s westside and some regions on
Oregon’s eastside. Different varieties are found on
different sides of the Cascade Mountains.

13. More Native
Plants - Trees
 Choices include
many native trees.
 Trees provide
shade, shelter,
wildlife food and
garden interest.
Arbutus menziesii, madrone,
restricted to Oregon’s west
side.
Rhamnus purshiana,
cascara, native to
western Oregon and
NE mountains

14. More Native
Plants - Shrubs
 Flowering shrubs
make seasonal
counterpoints.
 Both flowering and
fruit bearing stages
provide beneficial
wildlife support.
 Shrubs are at eye
level and a
“medium” layer of
interest.
Symphoricarpos albus,
snowberry, native to
Oregon’s west side and
mountains on Oregon’s
eastside.
Philadelphus lewisii, western mock
orange, throughout Oregon, but in
generally more moist locations east
of the Cascades.

15. More Native
Plants - Perennials
 Perennials fit well into
borders, both sunny
and shady.
 Many have brilliant
bursts of color.
 Perennials add interest
and help protect from
soil compaction.
Eriophyllum lanatum,
Oregon sunshine,
grows statewide, but
different varieties are
found in different
portions of the state.
Sidalcea campestris,
restricted to
Willamette Valley in
Oregon.

16. More Native
Plants -
Groundcovers
 Groundcovers are
valuable parts of a
landscape.
 Groundcovers
provide habitat for
amphibians and
insects.
 Groundcovers
protect the soil
from erosion and
compaction.
Viola glabella,
stream violet,
native to Oregon’s
west side and
northeast
mountains.
Oxalis oregana,
wood sorrel, found
on Oregon’s west
side.

17. North American
Prairie Plants
Plants from prairies of
North America are
excellent choices for
waterwise landscapes,
and tend to be
noninvasive in Oregon.
Gaillardia species, or blanket flower, can be
annual or perennial. One species Gallardia
pulchella occurs on Oregon’s eastside.

18. More Prairie
Plants
Sunflowers are bred or selected from annual
species of Helianthus annuus, native to NA
prairies. Wild Helianthus annuus are found
in parts of Oregon. Also shown is Rudbeckia
hirta, black-eyed Susan, Helianthus ‘Lemon
Queen’ and Echinacea purpurea, purple
coneflower.

19. Other NA Plants,
Focus on Trees and
Shrubs
 Plants Native to
North America
show fewer
invasive tendencies
in Oregon
 Many of our
standard landscape
trees such as sugar
maple come from
North America
Nyssa sylvatica,
sassafras,
Eastern North
America.
Magnolia grandiflora,
southern magnolia, from SE
US. Wikipedia.org author:
DavetheMage.

20. Plants from the
Mediterranean
Many species of Cistus, or rockrose, shown
on right. Santolina, lavendar cotton and
dusty miller Jacobaea, shown on the left .


21. Bulbs
 Crocus, tulips,
daffodils, and many
others.
They survive dry
periods by becoming
dormant.

22. Herbs
 Many are from
Mediterranean regions
of the world.
Perennial herbs such
as sage, rosemary, and
lavender so well in our
climate with little
supplemental water.

23. Certain
Succulents
Hardy succulents are
perfect for the
waterwise approach.
Shown here are
Echeveria, several
native Sedum (S.
spathulifolium and S.
oreganum), and
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’.

24. Others
Ginkgo biloba,
maidenhair tree,
native to China
and known from
the fossil record in
Oregon
See “List of WaterWise
Plants at:
http://extension.orego
nstate.edu/yamhill/eco
-gardening/waterwise-
gardening or posted
online at
Slideshare.net
Epilobium canum,
California fuschia, a
“near-native”
perennial for most of
Oregon, but found
naturally in SW
Oregon.

25. Landscape
Examples
Front Office
Landscape, OSU
Extension Service,
Yamhill County in
McMinnville at 2050
Lafayette Ave NE.
Plants include
Campsis radicans vine
(native to NA) and
Mediterranean plants
like lavender, Cistus,
and Santolina.

26. Landscape
Examples
Newberg Library
WaterWise
Demonstration.
Award-winning garden
is in the parking lot as
you proceed south on
99W.
Parking islands receive
no supplemental
irrigation.
Techniques are
explained for the
public.

27. Landscape
Examples
More from Newberg
Library WaterWise
Demonstration
Garden.
Bryan, shown here,
was an OSU Master
Gardener who
envisioned the
project. He is now
with Chehalem Parks
and Recreation.

28. Landscape
Examples
Private Garden in hills
west of McMinnville,
OR.
Relatively “young”
garden also designed
to be deer-resistant.
Includes some natives
but relies heavily on
plants from the
Mediterranean.

29. Landscape
Examples
Private Garden in
McMinnville, OR.
Recently redesigned
border to be more
water efficient.
Includes water-
efficient “herb-lawn”,
succulents, Oregon
iris, and other shrubs
and perennial plants.

30. Landscape
Examples
Private garden in
Corvallis, OR.
Rental property, so
minimal effort desired.
Includes natives and
plants of prairie or
Mediterranean origin.
Oregon sunshine,
Douglas aster,
nasturtium,
blanketflower,
penstemons, Helianthus
cultivars.

31. Management
- Irrigation -
Irrigation methods are
chosen to reduce water
use and be site-specific.
They include hand
watering, drip systems,
small pop-up sprayers,
automated links to
weather stations, and
soaker hoses.
Irrigation of some kind is
necessary for plant
establishment in most
cases.

32. Management
- Zoning -
Zoning is a practice of
grouping plants together
depending upon their
characteristics, into zones.
Example: plants requiring
full sun but minimal water,
only in July-September.
Each zone will receive a
different water delivery.
A plant pot can be a
“zone” for high water use
plants.

33. Management
- Water -
Simple things like parking
pavers can create a
permeable surface to
avoid water runoff from a
garden.
Other examples include
permeable concrete,
gravel or bark paths, rain
water harvesting, even
bioswales or rain gardens.
Parking pavers at the Newberg Library
garden.

34. Management
- Other Methods-
Mulch and groundcovers
reduce weeding, need for
irrigation and protect soil
from compaction.
One innovative form of
“mulching” is to plant
plants very close to each
so the cannopy can
protect the soil and
exclude most of the
sunlight to reduce weed
growth.
An example from the Newberg Library
garden.

35. Management
- Making the Change -
Change practices gradually
rather than all at once. It
takes time.
Consider minimizing or
eliminating lawn, or using
a lawn alternative like an
“herb lawn”.
Do research before you
begin-hardiness, water
and light requirements,
etc.
Double check plant list for
invasive potential.
An example from the Newberg Library
garden.

36. Resources
• Plants. Waterwise list for
Oregon developed by a team
and general website at
http://extension.oregonstate.
edu/yamhill/eco-gardening
• Plants and Methods.
Xeriscaping in Central and
Eastern Oregon.
http://extension.oregonstate.
edu/deschutes/sites/default/
files/xeri-all_1.pdf
• Plants and Methods. Online
noncredit classes at Oregon
State University,
https://pne.oregonstate.edu/
catalog
Know where to go
when you need
information.

37. Resources
• Plants. Slideshare.net. Search
for presentations and
materials by Linda McMahan.
• WaterSense, a Program of the
Environmental Protection
Agency:
http://www.epa.gov/watersen
se/
• Water Efficient Landscape
Booklet, EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/WaterSe
nse/docs/water-
efficient_landscaping_508.pdf
Know where to go
when you need
information.

38. Resources
• Brochure City of Portland:
http://www.portlandoregon
.gov/water/article/268757
• Website – Water Efficient
Plants for the Willamette
Valley:
http://www.clackamasprovi
ders.org/water-efficient-
plants/ note: some plants
listed are “moderate use”
and may require careful
zoning to conserve overall
water.
Know where to go
when you need
information.

39. Thank you
Copyright Linda R. McMahan, Oregon State University Extension Service, 2013.
Presentation may be used freely for educational purposes with credit to the
author and Oregon State University. Please contact the author for other uses.