Great Bushes and Shrubs for Your Southern California Yard

Written by Kelsey W.

One of the beautiful and essential parts of a vibrant Southern California yard is a healthy row of bushes along the wall, beside the door, or lining the sidewalk. Many plants can play the part of bush or shrub, but it’s helpful to choose bushes that actually thrive in the SoCal climate.

Some plants look lush and thick and perfect for a yard, but they’re not the best choice for the climate in Southern California. Instead, using plants well suited to the environment will result in plants better able to withstand the harsh SoCal summers.

Let’s explore some of the fun bushes and shrubs that are likely to adore living in your Southern California yard.

The California Tree Poppy is a Beautiful Statement Bush

Also known as Coulter/s Matilija, the California tree poppy is native to SoCal, growing in canyons and chaparral areas. A chaparral area is just an official way of referring to a dense area of growth; these areas are common throughout Southern California.

The plant is well suited to the mild winters and dry, hot summers common throughout the region.  Although the plant certainly has some specific places it grows throughout SoCal, it’s actually possible to grow it just about anywhere, even in the desert or right along the coast.

One of the best ways to ensure your California tree poppy is large and happy wherever you place it in your lawn is ensuring it’s planted in an area that gets full sun and where the soil is very well-draining. The California tree poppy, or “fried egg plant,” really doesn’t like sitting in wet soil.

It’s worth noting that a California tree poppy can actually grow up to ten feet tall when it’s placed in a sunny, happy area, but you can easily keep it closer to a shrub size by pruning it. The best time to prune the plant is in the fall or winter when it’s stopped producing flowers.

Growing Podocarpus is a Speedy Way to Get Bushes

It does take some time for bushes and shrubs to reach a point where they’re successful as a green wall or look filled out when planted in front of a house. If you’re mildly impatient and interested in getting your lush bushes now rather than later, a great, fast-growing option is called Podocarpus.

Another benefit of growing Podocarpus is that they’re very easy to shape as you want, so if you want some classic square bushes in front of your house, planting a few Podocarpus is the way to go. You can even shape them into topiary plants (plants shaped like animals or fun shapes).

An additional perk of these lush bushes is that their dense growth provides an excellent barrier against wind, which can help you when your home is located in a naturally windy community of SoCal like Fontana or Porter Ranch.

Growing a healthy Podocarpus means ensuring the plant gets a good amount of water in its first year to establish strong roots, as well as ensuring it does get some shade each day in areas with intense daily sun during the summer.

Bottlebrush Shrubs are a Great Statement Piece in Your Yard’

Bottlebrush shrubs or “Callistemon” are native to Australia, but they’re quite content to live in Southern California without becoming an invasive species. These striking bushes produce big red flowers that literally look like you could use them like bottle brushes, so they’re very aptly named.

The bottlebrush plant is very suited to SoCal weather because its one main weakness is being vulnerable to overwatering. With the dry climate common throughout much of the year, bottlebrush plants are right at home living in SoCal’s drought conditions.

When you select a variety of bottlebrush to plant, try to get a plant that’s classified as a compact plant/ Bottlebrush plants can actually grow to about 10 feet tall with some varieties, so using a compact version helps reduce how often you need to prune the plant.

If you’d like to keep your bottlebrush plant at a certain height or size, make sure to prune it at least once a year to keep it at your preferred height. The best time to prune bottlebrush plants is right after they flower.

Enjoy a Beautiful Salvia Plant for Many Years

Salvia plants grow very well in Southern California, with several species appearing frequently in Southern California gardens. Some native types of salvia plants for your yard include White Sage or “Salvia apiana,” black sage or “Salvia mellifera,” and Cleveland sage or “Salvia clevelandii.”

Overall, salvia plants – and there are more than 1,000 kinds around the world – grow anywhere from one to five feet tall, so they’re an excellent plant for almost any location around the average property, whether it’s along a sidewalk or right in front of the house.

Salvia is an excellent plant for Southern California because it’s quite tolerant of drought conditions and grows very well when planted in the ground where the roots can find traces of water. These plants can usually tolerate full sun all day, even in desert areas, as long as they get an occasional drink.

One thing to remember about growing salvia plants is that they grow woody stems that require pruning, which encourages regrowth each year. The best time to prune is usually in the early spring. Removal of dead stems on the plant will help it grow new, healthy green shoots.

Try Natal Plum for a Formal Hedge Look for Your Home

You’ve probably seen a natal plum hedge somewhere in your travels around Southern California, and they’re an interesting alternative to SoCal classics like wax leaf privet and Italian cypress. Natal plum, or “Carissa macrocarpa,” is capable of looking quite formal in your yard with its dark green foliage and tiny white flowers.

If your home is near the California coast, the natal plum is an excellent plant because it’s tolerant of the salty onshore winds. If you’re wondering whether the natal plum actually grows fruit you can eat, you can actually eat the fruit as long as you allow it to reach peak ripeness.

Another neat use for the natal plum is in a container, which is great if you’re living in a condo or a residence with a balcony instead of a yard. Your natal plum will provide a nice green wall and grow happily and easily in a container for many years.

The plants like sandy or loamy soil, so you should avoid putting them in soil with a lot of clay that’s too dense and compact. The plants also like at least 6 hours of direct sun a day, so try to avoid putting it in a spot that gets too much shade.

Choose an Unusual “Shrub” and Plant a Prickly Pear Cactus

You might not realize it, but prickly pear cactus actually grows into a substantial shrub, making quite a statement in your yard. If your home is located inland or you’re in search of a yard style that’s extraordinarily water-wise, the prickly pear is a really fun choice.

There are several types of prickly pears out there, and you probably want to avoid the ones that grow over 20 feet tall. It’s easy to find garden varieties that grow anywhere from two to six feet tall. When you put these plants in the ground, they only need water for part of the year – usually spring and summer – and you can ignore them the rest of the year.

Prickly pears go dormant in the winter, and they don’t need any water, especially when they’re planted in the ground. In fact, you can actually overwater them if you visit them with a watering can too often when they go dormant in the winter months.

You can safely trim or prune your prickly pear to keep it in your preferred shape by slicing complete pads off at the joint with clean, sanitized shears. Avoid cutting the pads down the middle and always try to make clean cuts. Pruning is best handled in the early spring before the active growing season begins.

Select Awesome Shrubs and Bushes at Green Thumb Nursery

Is your yard bare of any fun bushes? Would your home look more beautiful with some new shrubs? Is it time to find some new plants for your house? Visit Green Thumb Nursery for information and help choosing some new plants for your home. You’ll find everything you need to improve your yard, garden, or porch at one of the Southern California locations of Green Thumb Nursery.

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