The Natural Zone should only be planted with dry habitat shrubs and “reforestation” native trees. Trees should be adequetly spaced a minimum of 20’ apart trunk to trunk. Irrigation is to be conducted by hand or by bubbler only, and should be turned off permanantly once plants are established (typically 2 years). Infrequent deep watering encourages the growth of taproots and is preferable to frequent surface watering to achieve removal from irrigation. Keep in mind defensible space guidelines when planning and maintaining your landscape.

Natural Zone Trees

Abies concolor
White fir

Calocedrus decurrens
California Insence-cedar

Pinus coulteri
Coulter pine

Pinus jeffrey
Jeffrey pine

Pinus lambertiana
Sugar pine

Pinus ponderosa
Ponderosa pine

Pseudotsuga macrocarpa
Big cone Douglas fir

Quercus chrysolepis
Canyon live oak

Quercus kelloggii
California black oak

Quercus wislizenii
Interior Live Oak 

Natural Zone Shrubs

Arctostaphylos glauca
Big-berry manzanita

Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' *
Manzanita

Atriplex canescens *
Four-wing saltbush

Atriplex hymenelytra
Desert holly

Atriplex lentiformis
Quail bush

Atriplex lentiformis breweri
Brewer saltbush

Ceanothus ‘Sierra Blue’
Ceanothus

Ceanothus leucodermis
Mountain lilac

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus *
Blue blossom

Cercis occidentalis *
Western redbud

Cercocarpus ledifolius
Curl-leaf mountain mahagony

Eriogonum fasciculatum
California buckwheat

Fallugia paradoxa
Apache plume

Holodiscus microphyllus
Ocean spray

Mahonia aquifolium * 
Oregon grape

Rhamnus californica * 
Coffeeberry

Rhus trilobata *
Basket sumac

Ribes aureum
Golden currant

Ribes nevadense
Mountain Pink

Ribes roezlii
Sierra gooseberry

Rubus leucodermis
Western raspberry

Umbellularia californica *
California bay, Oregon myrtle

The Improved Zone should be planned carefully so that plants with like water needs are on the same irrigation station. Infrequent deep watering encourages the growth of taproots and is preferable to frequent surface watering to achieve removal from irrigation. Keep in mind defensible space guidelines when planning and maintaining your landscape.

Improved Zone Ground Cover, Vines and Accents