CSLB C-27 Landscaping ContractorPlanting and LandscapingEasy
A landscape contractor is planning a new planting bed in a client's backyard. The client desires a vibrant, low-maintenance display that thrives in full sun and attracts pollinators. Which of the following plant selections would best meet these criteria in a typical California inland climate zone?
- ACamellia japonica, Rhododendron indicum, and Azalea mollis
- BSalvia leucantha, Lavandula angustifolia, and Gaillardia grandiflora
- CHostas, Ferns, and Impatiens walleriana
- DJapanese Maple, Dogwood, and Hydrangea macrophylla
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Salvia leucantha, Lavandula angustifolia, and Gaillardia grandiflora
Salvia, Lavender, and Gaillardia are all excellent choices for full sun, low water use once established, and are known to attract pollinators, fitting the client's request for a vibrant, low-maintenance display in California's inland climate.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. These plants prefer shade or partial shade and acidic soil, and generally require more water than desired for a low-maintenance, full-sun bed in California.
- C. These plants are shade-loving and require consistent moisture, making them unsuitable for a full-sun, low-maintenance planting in California.
- D. These plants prefer partial shade to full sun depending on the species, but generally require more consistent moisture and may not be considered 'low-maintenance' or 'drought-tolerant' enough for the specified conditions.
Pollinator-Friendly, Drought-Tolerant Plants
Plants that attract beneficial insects (pollinators) and require minimal water once established, ideal for low-maintenance, ecologically sound landscapes in arid or semi-arid regions.
- Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- Thrives in full sun conditions.
- Requires low to moderate water after establishment.
- Examples include Salvia, Lavender, Gaillardia, California Poppy, and certain native wildflowers.
Memory trick: Sunny, Sips, Swarms: Choose plants that love sun, don't drink much, and bring the bees!