Water-Wise & Fire-Smart

PCWA is pleased to partner with the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County to highlight Water-Wise, Fire-Smart flowers, shrubs, and trees that are well-suited to Placer County's environment and available at local nurseries.

You can learn more about Fire-Smart landscaping on our Fire-Smart, Water-Wise Landscaping page.

Featured Plant of the Month

A Beautiful Native Alternative to a Thirsty Lawn

Pigeon Point Coyote Brush

partnered with
UC Master Gardeners
of Placer County

Photo credit: James Steakley

Pigeon Point Coyote Brush

(Baccharis pilularis ssp. pilularis 'Pigeon Point')

By Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Digs Gardening

Call it "coyote brush" or "coyote bush," this evergreen native shrub can cover a lot of ground — fast. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, the Pigeon Point cultivar stays more compact. As a low-maintenance lawn alternative, it forms an attractive mat of small green leaves with a flush of white flowers in fall. Prune yearly to remove dead foliage and maintain separation between plants to support a fire-smart landscape.

See it in person: The new Fire-Smart Demonstration Garden at South Placer Fire District's Station 18 in Loomis features Pigeon Point coyote brush, along with other water-wise and fire-smart suggestions.

Bloom: Small white flowers in fall; provides late-season nectar for pollinators.

Water needs: Low; irrigate monthly once established. Requires almost no summer irrigation after the first year.

Sun and soil: Prefers full to partial sun. Tolerates almost any soil type; this cultivar is also salt-tolerant.

Size: 1- to 3-feet tall and 6- to 12-feet wide; can be used as a ground cover or lawn alternative. It's important to space plants at least 8 feet apart so they don't grow over each other and mound.

Maintenance: Prune annually to remove dead material and maintain separation between plants. Avoid allowing mature shrubs to grow together; spacing is important in fire-smart landscapes.

Availability: In the Sacramento area, find Pigeon Point coyote brush at the Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery (www.fairoaksblvdnursery.com) in Sacramento or Devil Mountain Nursery (https://devilmountainnursery.com) in Clements.

Bonus plants: Pigeon Point coyote brush thrives with other low-water chaparral natives such as California lilac (Ceanothus), toyon, black or white sage, or California buckwheat.

Previously Featured Plants

Click on any of the dropdown(s) below to see previously featured plants. Note that all plants are water-wise, but not all are fire-smart.

partnered with
UC Master Gardeners
of Placer County