Even while conserving water, you can have an attractive yard. A water-wise garden means less watering, less weeding, and less fertilizing. That leaves more time for enjoying your yard and more savings on water bills. Many plants that are native to Calgary are appropriate for low water-use gardening. Ask at your local garden centre about native plants and introduced species that will thrive in Calgary's climate.
To get you started, Donna Balzer, a Calgary based author and gardener, provides the following water-wise plant recommendations for local gardens.
Annuals
| Common Name |
Latin Name |
| African Daisy **** |
Dimorphotheca sinuata |
| Cornflower **** |
Centaurea cyanus |
| Corn Poppy **** |
Papaver rhoeas |
| Dusty miller **** |
Artemisia stelleriana |
| Echeveria **** |
Echeveria cvs. |
| Geranium **** |
Pelargonium x hortatum |
| Ice plant **** |
Mesembryanthemum cvs. |
| Lavatera **** |
Lavatera trimestris |
| Marigold **** |
Tagetes spp |
| Mexican Hair ** |
Grass Stipa tenuissima |
| New Zealand Flax ** |
Phormium tenax |
| Pot marigold **** |
Calendula officinalis |
| Portulaca **** |
Portulaca grandiflora |
| Salvia **** |
Salvia farinaceae |
| Sweet Alyssum **** |
Lobularia maritime |
| Venidium ** |
Arctotis x hybrida |
| Zinnia **** |
Zinnia elegans |
Perennials
| Common Name |
Latin Name |
| Alpine Aster **** |
Aster alpinus |
| Alpine Lady's **** |
Mantle Alchemilla alpina |
| Aubrieta **** |
Aubrieta x cultorum |
| Blanketflower *** |
Gaillardia aristata |
| Bergenia **** |
Bergenia cvs. |
| Blue Flax *** |
Linum perenne 'Saphyr' |
| Carnations/Pinks **** |
Dianthus spp |
| Cone Flower **** |
Echinaceae purpurea cvs |
| Daylilies **** |
Hemerocallis cvs. |
| Globe Thistle **** |
Echinops ritro |
| Goldenrod *** |
Solidago 'Lemore' |
| Liatris **** |
Liatris spicata |
| Mountain Bluet **** |
Centaurea montana |
| Pasque Flower **** |
Pulsatilla vulgaris |
| Prairie Crocus * |
Pulsatilla patens |
| Peony **** |
Paeonia cvs. |
| Perennial Alyssum **** |
Aurinia saxatilis |
| Primula *** |
Primula auricula |
| Red Fox Veronica **** |
Veronica incana 'Red Fox' |
| Sea Holly **** |
Eryngium alpinum |
| Sea lavender *** |
Limonium latifolium |
| Sedum/Stonecrop **** |
Sedum spp. |
| Silver Mound Artemisia **** |
Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' |
| Snow in summer **** |
Cerastium tomentosum |
| Solidaster *** |
x Solidaster luteus |
| Russian Sage *** |
Perovskia atriplicifolia |
| Variegated Iris **** |
Iris pallida 'Variegata' |
| Veronica **** |
Veronica austriaca ssp. teucrium |
| Yucca ** |
Yucca glauca |
| Adam's Needle Yucca **** |
Yucca filamentosa |
Groundcovers
| Common Name |
Latin Name |
| Bearberry ** |
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
| Cliff green *** |
Paxistima canbyi |
| Dwarf Fleeceflower *** |
Polygonum affine |
| Lamb's ears **** |
Stachys byzantina |
| Pussy-toes ** |
Antennaria dioica. |
| Sedum **** |
Sedum kamtschaticum |
| Snowdrop Windflower *** |
Anemone sylvestris |
| Silver Brocade Artemisia **** |
Artemisia ''Silver Brocade' |
| Red Thyme **** |
Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus' |
| Wooly Thyme **** |
Thymus pseudolanuginosus |
Ornamental Grass
| Common Name |
Latin Name |
| Blue Fescue **** |
Festuca glauca |
| Blue bunch Fescue ** |
Festuca idahoensis |
| Blue oat Grass *** |
Helictotrichon sempervirens |
| Deschampsia ** |
Deschampsia caespitosa |
| Karl Foerster Reed Grass *** |
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' |
| Variegated Reed Grass *** |
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' |
* hard to find new cultivate or only available from seed
** available only from specialty growers
*** available from a some mail order or local growers
**** available everywhere
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