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

Yellow Blooms and Year-Round Beauty

Compact Oregon Grape

partnered with
UC Master Gardeners
of Placer County

Compact Oregon Grape

(Berberis aquifolium 'Compacta' or Mahonia aquifolium 'Compacta')

By Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Digs Gardening

As its name implies, this garden-friendly evergreen shrub stays smaller than the native Oregon grape, nicknamed for its blue-black berry clusters. A favorite of birds, those summer berries are nontoxic to dogs and cats. In spring, bees love its bright yellow blooms. Attractive spiny foliage resembles holly and is deer-resistant.

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

Bloom: Masses of yellow flowers in spring.

Water needs: Moderate to low; irrigate every other week once established. Cut back to monthly summer irrigation once established.

Sun and soil: Prefers shade in hot valley locations. Tolerates almost any soil type but prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil with mulch.

Size: 2-feet tall and 3- to 5-feet wide; can be used as a ground cover or lawn alternative. It can also be pruned into a short hedge.

Maintenance: Prune to shape and limit size so mature plants don't touch. Remove dead material around the base of the plant and prune in spring after flowering to reduce plant size to keep Oregon Grape fire-smart.

Availability: In the Sacramento area, find Compact Oregon Grape at Cornflower Farms (https://www.cornflowerfarms.com) in Elk Grove or Devil Mountain Nursery (https://devilmountainnursery.com) in Clements. This native shrub also can be ordered from nurseries that carry plants from wholesaler Monrovia Nursery (https://www.monrovia.com).

Bonus plants: Compact Oregon Grape loves a spot in the dappled shade under native oaks. It grows well with other dry shade lovers such as rhododendron, mountain laurel, and viburnum.

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