Native, water wise and California friendly plants are not only attractive and water wise, they also restore biodiversity by providing habitat, attracting beneficial insects, birds and butterflies. There are many reasons to consider a shift in landscaping practices, from water intensive lawns, often requiring pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, to plants well adapted to our lovely Mediterranean coastal climate.
By drawing on the rich native plant life of Southern California, we can design and create enchanting gardens that are multi functional, practical, supportive of the regions biodiversity and adapted to our climate.
Native plants and California friendly plants typically require little maintenance. . 50-60% of our potable water consumption is used for landscape irrigation. Converting turf grass to climate appropriate landscaping is a true win-win saving time, money, energy and water!
The City of Huntington Beach receives on average 14 inches of rainfall per year. A 1,000 square feet turf lawn requires at least 22,500 gallons of water per year, whereas the equivalent area planted with water wise plants only requires 7,500 gallons, or less!
If you are interested in learning more about native plants and the vibrant wildlife they attract, we warmly recommend a visit to the Shipley Nature Center, located in Central Park, Huntington Beach. The 17 acre nature center offer nature trails and thematic gardens demonstrating a wide variety of California native plants. Thanks to the hard work of enthusiastic volunteers, the Shipley Nature Center has evolved into a beautiful and inspiring sanctuary.
Yet another wonderful resource for gardening and native plants in Huntington Beach is the California Native Garden at Golden West College. A garden sized sanctuary for natives, wildlife and humans alike, it's a place to enjoy and learn about our natural environment.