Solving Runoff Problems

Importance of Watershed

A watershed is a land area that drains rain and other water into a creek, river, lake, wetland, or groundwater aquifer. Water from your neighborhood also enters the watershed through the storm drain system and flows directly to local creeks without any treatment. It often is contaminated by pollutants that can be toxic to fish, wildlife, and people.

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Common name:Howard McMinn Manzanita
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn

This shrub is highly appreciated for its dense show of small, pale pink, urn-shaped flowers that bloom in winter. The mahogany-red to brown bark (which peels beautifully) is the major attraction. Evergreen foliage is light green and densely covers the shrub. It is hardy, tolerating sandy and clay soil, but prefers well draining soil. It slowly reaches 4'-6' tall and 6' wide.

Common name:Silver Lace Society Garlic
Botanical name:Tulbaghia violacea 'Silver Lace'

This evergreen perennial has white-margined, thin strap-like leaves and rosy-lavender-pink flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Foliage has a garlic odor when bruised. Plant in full sun and give moderate amount of water. This plant reaches 1'-3' tall and 1'-2' wide.

Common name:Lamb's Ear
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina

This tiny shrub will grow less than 1' tall and has medium-size, greyish-green leaves with blue and lavender flowers that bloom in the spring. This shrub is grown more for its velvety leaves than the flowers. It is drought tolerant once it's established. Be careful not to overwater.

Common name:Dwarf Karo
Botanical name:Pittosporum crassifolium 'Compactum'

Pittosporum crassifolium 'Nana' is an evergreen shrub. Can reach 2'-3' high with multiple colors of green in the foliage. Because of this quality, the plant is both an excellent foundation planting and accent plant.

Common name:Pacific Coast Irises
Botanical name:Iris Pacific Coast Hybrid

These Irises are 6"-18" tall and have clumps of grass-like foliage. The flowers are 3"-4" across, good cut flowers, and vary from white, yellow, lavender, purple, blue, and reddish purple.