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 Fire-Smart Shrub That Birds Love

Eve Case Coffeeberry

partnered with
UC Master Gardeners
of Placer County

Eve Case Coffeeberry

(Frangula californica 'Eve Case')

By Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Digs Gardening

Feed the birds while growing a handsome fire-resistant hedge. California coffeeberry, a hardy native shrub with natural fire resistance, offers dense dark green foliage and pretty dark red branches. Its berries turn red, purple, and finally, espresso black — attracting songbirds. Coffeeberry is a larval host for swallowtail butterflies.

See it in person: The new Fire-Smart Demonstration Garden at South Placer Fire District's Station 18 in Loomis features 'Eve Case' California coffeeberry along with other water-wise and fire-smart suggestions.

Bloom: Greenish flowers in spring are inconspicuous, but support pollinators.

Water needs: Moderate to low; irrigate up to twice a month. Reduce to monthly summer irrigation once established. Must have good drainage.

Sun and soil: Prefers light shade but will tolerate full sun. Grows best in rocky, nutrient-poor soils, but will tolerate clay; highly tolerant of acidic soils.

Size: Up to 6 feet tall and wide. Grows well in pots. In a fire-smart landscape, plant them where they can reach their full size at maturity without being overcrowded.

Maintenance: Use small thinning cuts and tip pruning to establish structure and control form. Do not use heading cuts.

Availability: In the greater Sacramento area, find 'Eve Case' California coffeeberry at Mother Natives (www.mothernatives.com) in Sacramento and Cornflower Farms (https://www.cornflowerfarms.com) in Elk Grove. It's also available at the UC Davis Arboretum's Teaching Nursery (https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu).

Bonus plants: California coffeeberry grows best in the light shade of a large evergreen, oak or elderberry, another woodland favorite.

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