Plants That Thrive in West Coast Gardens
Best for the West, that includes shrubs, perennials, and annuals that can handle the heat and dryness of the west coast climate.
Plants That Thrive in West Coast Gardens
• Best for the West Annuals • Best for the West Perennials • Best for the West Shrubs
One of the most important pieces of information for a gardener is knowing your USDA Zone. That zone is a great starting point to tell you what plants can grow in your garden and how they should survive the winter. One thing I have learned, however, is that notall zones are created equal. My Zone 9 in Northern California is vastly different than Tampa, Florida’s Zone 9. My summer is hot and dry, and I cannot even remember what the word “humidity” means. Counter that to my friends in Florida, who also are in Zone 9, but they get rain on a regular basis. When it’s not raining, the humidity is so high it can feel like you are swimming instead of walking through your garden.
There is lots of information to be found about gardening in the heat with humidity. Take for example “The Garden Guy” Norman Winter, who is a southern gardening specialist. He has a wealth of information about growing plants down south, and if you live there, check him out. But what about those of us on the west coast?
The west coast has a varied climate, with coastal areas, deserts, and mountains that affect the weather with micro-climate conditions. While it is difficult to generalize about all western climates, most of us have long, hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Humidity is exceptionally low, and we can have intense winds that can dry out our plants.
When shopping for plants, the most important thing to know is your climate zone. But knowing if the plant thrives in the West Coast climate is even more valuable. That's why I put together a plant list from Proven Winners® called Best for the West, that includes shrubs, perennials, and annuals that can handle the heat and dryness of the west coast climate. I was inspired to create this list based on my own gardening experience in California, as well as recommendations from local arboretums and garden centers.
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If you have had trouble growing a big leaf hydrangea, try an oak leaf hydrangea such as Gatsby Pink®, which needs only half the water of a big leaf hydrangea. Other plants that thrive in our hot, dry summers include the Whirlwind® Scaevola series and the colorful Superbenas®. And of course, no garden in the west coast is complete without Proven Winners® Denim N' Lace Russian sage.
Yes, our weather is hot and dry, but that does not mean we cannot have plants that survive in our climate but can thrive in it.
Check out the Best for the West plant list on the Proven Winners® website to use as a guide for planning your garden next season.
• Best for the West Annuals
• Best for the West Perennials
• Best for the West Shrubs
