GOING WILD WITH NATIVES: How About Native Plants In Containers And Dry Swales?
- k-england
- Jul 1
- 6 min read
By Susan Lewitt, for Let’s Talk Plants! July 2025.
How About Native Plants in Containers and Dry Swales?
(You may have noticed that there is now a fresh new article in “Going Wild with Natives” about native plants every month... but why? Because with the changing climate, the need to protect our vulnerable native plants, and their vital contribution to biodiversity, is even greater. And having native plants in your garden is one of many ways that you can help.)
Do you have large areas of just concrete or gravel, or even artificial grass? These areas, especially the artificial grass, can make your home too warm in the summer when you really need it to be cooler. If you are unwilling, or unable to get rid of these areas, container plants might be a reasonable option to add more life and color to these areas that are part of your home.
Some of these plants will also work in dry swales.
“A swale is a shallow, gently sloped channel designed to slow, capture, and filter stormwater.”
If you need water to drain quickly, and soak into the ground, a dry swale is the goal. To see a really nice example of this, I hope you are able to visit Bird Park at 28th Street and Thorn.
“Container gardening and swales mimic the natural rocky outcrops that help these native plants thrive. Be sure to water deeply and use a water meter to ensure plants are getting enough hydration! From a year-round interest, to a seasonal colorful pop of flowers, containers and swales are front and center in the garden while being easy to maintain. As the plants age, they will reduce the soil, so be sure to repot with well-draining cactus and succulent mix to bring the plant back up to the top of the pot. Place all pots on a slight angle to ensure drainage.” (WWW.CNPS.ORG)
As you choose container plants, check the requirements for each. Many container plants will do well with the above-described soil, but some have different needs. Ask at the nursery where you purchase these plants for their specific requirements.
There are many native plants suited for containers and dry swales. On Calscape, there are 224 California plants found naturally in San Diego that are suitable for container gardens. At least 99 of those are usually available at local nurseries. This article highlights a few of those species which will be pleasing additions to your yard and garden. For all 99 go to: https://www.calscape.org/search?plant=&orderBy=&location_name=San%20Diego%20County%2C%20CA%2C%20USA&lat=33.0933809&lng=-116.6081653&page=1&perPage=60&range=50&common_uses%5B%5D=Containers&height_from=&height_to=&width_from=&width_to=
RED MONARDELLA, Monardella macrantha, a perennial herb, has beautiful fragrant red flowers in the summer, and fall and does well with a once-a-month summer watering, when established in the ground with medium draining soil. It occurs in chaparral, and yellow pine forest, getting up to 12 inches tall, and 2 feet wide. A related perennial herb, WILLOWY MONARDELLA, Monardella viminea, has fragrant pink and lavender flowers during the summer, but needs watering twice a month in the summer once established. Fast draining soil is best for this plant. Willowy Monardella occurs in coastal sage scrub. Both species may be in full sun to partial shade. Both like growing with Scrub Oak, Quercus spp. and Red Monardella does well with narrowleaf milkweed and other native plants.
SAN DIEGO BARRELCACTUS, Ferocactus viridescens, is a rare species that is worth having as a container plant in your garden. It occurs naturally in Southern California and Baja California. This includes plant communities of Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Valley Grasslands. Unfortunately, due to development and fragmentation, a good portion of its habitat has been reduced. It should be placed in full sun and watered once a month in the summer once it is established. And you won’t have to be concerned about repotting it frequently because its growth rate is slow, reaching a maximum size of about 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide. In the springtime. after a good rain, you may see flowers of red, yellow, green, and pink. The flowers will be followed by yellow or red fruit. This succulent supports butterflies and caterpillars. Beware of the thorns if you have young children.
Many DUDLEYAS work well in containers. Those species include Fingertips, Dudleya edulis, Lanceleaf Liveforever, Dudleya lanceolata, Chalk Dudleya, Dudleya pulverulenta, Coast Dudleya, Dudleya caespitosa, which is limited in San Diego, and Sticky Dudleya, Dudleya viscida. Coastal Dudleya, Chalk dudleya, and Fingertip Dudleya may be grouped together in dish gardens as their requirements overlap. All three do well in full sun with fast draining soil and a once-a-month summer watering once established. Lanceleaf Liveforever does well in almost any kind of soil drainage, and should not be watered in the summer, once established. In the spring and summer, you will get to enjoy a variety of colors from these Dudleyas including cream, yellow, pink, orange, and red. Chalk, Lanceleaf Liveforever, and Fingertips Dudleyas make good companions for various native cactus species. All these Dudleyas support caterpillars, butterflies, hummingbirds and other birds. Some specific visiting pollinators to most of these Dudleyas include the Sonoran Blue, the Moss Elfin and the Orange Torttrix.
PALMER'S INDIAN MALLOW, Abutilon palmeri, is a rare species that occurs around the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, as well as in Mexico. It occurs in Creosote Bush Scrub Communities mainly on east facing slopes. Of course, in a planter, it most likely will not reach its full potential size of 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Its orange and yellow flowers which occur in the spring may have a slight fragrance. Palmer’s Indian Mallow needs full sun, and a once-a-month summer watering once established in fast draining soil. When in the ground, other natives that it does well to be near include Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata, Desert Lavender, Condea emoryi, Desert Agave, Agave deserti, Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens, Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa, Desert Scrub Oak, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, Yucca species, and various cactus species. Wildlife supported by this species includes bats, caterpillars, and butterflies.
TALL OREGON GRAPE, Berberis aquifolium, and DWARF MAHONIA, Berberis aquifolium var. repens, both occur in Chaparral, Red Fir Forest, and Yellow Pine Forest communities, but Tall Oregon Grape is more widespread and can also be found in Douglas Fir Forests. Despite the name, they are not grapes. Dwarf Mahonia is in a more limited range east of San Diego. Tall Oregon Grape does okay in full sun and they both tolerate partial to deep shade. Both plants are very drought tolerant but may be given a once-a-month summer watering once established. This will keep them looking more vibrant. Fast draining soil works for Dwarf Mahonia, while Tall Oregon Grape needs medium draining soil. Their leaves may be green and red and their flowers bloom in the winter and spring showing off their bright yellow. The flowers are followed by berries of blue. While Dwarf Mahonia supports bats, birds, bees, caterpillars, and butterflies, they both appeal to several attractively patterned moths including the Orange Tortix Moth, the Barberry Geometer, and the Fall Webworm.
The watering requirements are for plants established in the ground. As potted plants, they may dry out more quickly and need more frequent watering. Also, for a full list of companion plants and more details see Calscape: https://www.calscape.org/
Looking for gardens for the 2026 California Native Plant Society Garden Tour:
"We would love to feature your native garden on the tour! We’re looking for inspiring gardens located south of I-8 and west of SR-125) to be featured in the 2026 CNPS San Diego Native Garden Tour, happening April 11 & 12, 2026."
The communities are: Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Paradise Hills, National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Imperial Beach, Otay Ranch, and East Lake.
To find out more about participating, go to: https://cnpssd.org/2026-garden-tour/
If you are reading this article before July 6, you still have time to see the beautiful gardens at the county fair including the California Native Plant Society’s exhibit. And by the way, the CNPS-SD exhibit earned 9 awards because of the hard work of our dedicated volunteers.
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