Right Plant, Right Place

Because Sonoma County lies in a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, good garden sense tells us to choose plants that grow best in these conditions. Many species from the four other Mediterranean climate regions worldwide grow successfully in Sonoma County. Better yet, however, to help support our local fauna and attract beneficial insects, it’s wise to choose California native plants that have a long history of thriving here.

Address Water Concerns, Microclimate, Sun and Shade, Soil Quality

The WUCOLS list (Water Use Classification of Landscape Species) classifies water needs of ornamental plants in California. (See link below.)
- Group plants together depending on their water needs; place the most arid, or low-to-no-water-use plants, farthest out on your property; and use separate irrigation valves for each group.
Understand the microclimate where you live in Sonoma County—coastal marine, coastal cool, or coastal warm—to select species that will thrive where you live.
- To avoid struggling to keep a plant smaller than it naturally wants to be, select a smaller or dwarf variety.
Choose a site that meets the shade or sun requirements of plants selected--full sun means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day; part sun or part shade means 3-6 hours of direct sun a day, with part sun being closer to 5-6 hours and part shade closer to 3-4 hours.
For vegetables, full sun means 8-10 hours of direct sun a day.
By siting a plant where light requirements are not being met, it will become stressed, less productive, and susceptible to pests and disease.

Soil Quality

Some plants, particularly Mediterranean and California natives, crave poor soil and will not thrive in soils rich in nutrients. Check requirements before planting.

Additional Information

The WUCOLS list prepared by The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in conjunction with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) can be found at https://ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS/
Garden Sense Plant List
California Native Plants
Sonoma Microclimates
https://plantright.org/