Waterwise Entry Garden
Just inside the Garden’s main gate lies the lush, inviting beauty of the Waterwise Entry Garden. This planting is different from the Garden’s nine geographically planted collections because it contains an assortment of species from subtropical, desert, and Mediterranean climates.
While these drought-tolerant plants may never be found together in nature, they form a collection that grows well in the San Francisco Bay Area’s Mediterranean climate with wet winters, dry summers, and year-round moderate temperatures. It’s a great example of how you can design a magnificent landscape using plants that demand little water.
Collection Highlights
More than 170 species are assembled here, chosen for their maximum visual impact and appeal and unified by their tolerance for low-water conditions. Dynamic sculptural forms are on display—from the winter-blooming cat’s-tail aloe (Aloe castanea) to the mature specimens of several rare cycads (Encephalartos) and the strikingly beautiful yucca (Yucca rostrata) with its narrow gray-blue leaves. Spiky textures are combined with soft, flowing grasses and sedges collected from Mexico, Argentina, and California, among other regions. A muted color palette of blues and grays contrasts with pops of color that bloom year-round in shades of white, yellow, orange, and red.
Banner photo: Agave (center) and Encephalartos (long, spiky leaves) are from different continents, yet make a great visual display together.