The Okanagan Xeriscape Association
Welcome
You have just opened the door to a whole new way of looking at your landscape, whether that’s the yard around a house; the landscaping around your condo; the entrance to your business; or the welcome to a new home or subdivision you’ve built.
The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is a registered charity founded in 2009 to help people Garden with Nature, conserving water and energy in the process, but creating beauty.
Join us.
Support us.
Enjoy our website and extensive plant database of waterwise plants.
Come to a class or workshop.
Visit our Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens in Kelowna and West Kelowna.
Learn while volunteering. Ask questions of our experts.
By learning more about xeriscape, you are learning how to create colourful, attractive outdoor spaces while minimizing your use of water—a resource that’s in short supply in the arid Okanagan climate, as well as elsewhere.
That means you save money on water, but at the same time, when you employ xeriscape principles you also save money on pesticides because you’re growing plants that suit their natural environment so they are less vulnerable to insects and diseases.
Plant of the Month- January
European Mountain Ash, ‘Sorbus aucuparia’
Whether you’re looking to add colour, attract wildlife, or enhance your garden with minimal effort, European Mountain Ash, ‘Sorbus aucuparia’ makes an excellent choice. This tree offers four seasons of interest and is especially invaluable during winter months when so much of the landscape features a drab palate of browns and greys.
Its ability to thrive in diverse conditions and its low maintenance requirements make it a favourite among gardeners and landscapers alike.
Although the common name includes the word ‘Ash’ referring to their Ash-like leaves, ‘Sorbus aucuparia’ is actually a member of the rose family. Native to both Europe and Asia, this tree has been widely planted in North America as an ornamental and has even naturalized in some regions of the northern U.S. and Canada.
Mountain Ash trees reach 20-40 feet tall by 8-20 feet wide making them an excellent shade tree for smaller garden spaces and, as it is hardy in zones 3-6, appropriate for planting throughout the Okanagan Valley and even up into the villages of nearby ski hills. ‘Sorbus aucuparia’ prefers a full-sun location for optimal flower and fruit production but is also happy in a part-shade location.
This tree produces white flowers in May followed by bright red berries in the fall which persist into winter. The fall leaf colour ranges substantially from yellow to reddish-purple, creating an attractive contrast to the brilliant berries. Depending on the cultivar, the berries can be bright red, orange, or salmon-coloured and regardless of their colour, serve as vital winter food for various birds.
As with many of those in the rose family, fire blight, ‘Eewinia amylovara’, can pose a significant threat and should be monitored regularly as early detection is paramount to success when it comes to the survival of your ‘Sorbus aucuparia’.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Consider an OXA Membership
Purchase or renew your 2025 OXA membership before March 14th and your name will be entered in a draw for a $50 gift certificate for new plants at the Spring OXA Plant Sale in early May!
The cost of 2025 OXA membership is as follows:–
$35 for individuals, $55 for families, $20 for students
Your support means the world to us.
Full-day Workshop for horticulture professionals
February 28, 2025
OXA is excited to present this full-day workshop on Creating Climate-Resilient Landscapes based on Xeriscape Principles.
Sigire Kendrick will kick the day off with an early morning session on the Principles of Xeriscape, and then Anna Warwick-Sears, executive-director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, will launch the main part of the day.
Our impressive line-up of speakers will include: Shauna Burnell (Waterkind), Dennis Craig (Kelowna Fire Department – FireSmart), Gordon Hiebert (Cabin), Ashlee Hignell (FoxgloveNursery), Mario Lanthier (Crop Health Advising & Research), Robert Hogue (Pegasus Horticulture), Stephanie Aitken (Urban Systems)
This event is not restricted to industry professionals – anyone with a keen interest in Creating Climate-Resilient Landscapes is welcome to buy a ticket. More information to come!
Do you follow us?
If not, you really should check us out! Our social media pages are super informative and fabulous to follow especially for current events and seasonal information on everything xeriscape. Sharon Spring, OXA Vice President and Director of Social Media, does incredible and passionate work in creating content to promote OXA and xeriscape.
Follow us and take a good poke around through previous posts for gorgeous photos and great content.
Our Blog
Our new blog, On The Dry Side, is an opportunity to share information on how to garden with nature while conserving water in the Okanagan Valley.
As a group blog and forum, we welcome your contributions and comments and hope to create a blossoming community of xeriscape gardeners as well as a valuable archive of articles.
Learn
About Xeriscape
What is xeriscape and why it is perfect for the Okanagan environment? Learn how you can start conserving water in your own landscape.
7 Principles of Xeriscape
Xeriscape Classes
Get Inspired
The UnH2O Garden
A complete guide to each of our UnH2O Demonstration Garden themed beds– a 4,000 square foot garden, planted in 2010, which includes six theme areas to illustrate xeriscape possibilities. (See the Get Inspired tab in our main menu)
Xeriscape Stories
Our Xeriscape Garden Stories include photographs and stories showing xeriscape in action right here in several gardens in the Okanagan including winners from our 2011 and 2013 Xeriscape Garden Contests.
Resources
Informative resources, including an extensive list of the best books on xeriscape for our climate, links to websites, and a directory of xeriscape gardens to visit in the Okanagan, including our UnH2O and Spirit Square Garden.
We would like to thank the Okanagan Basin Water Board and Okanagan WaterWise for their support and funding
Did you know?
- There is LESS water available per person in the Okanagan than anywhere else in Canada
- The Okanagan has one of the highest rates of water use per person in Canada
- The 2nd largest use of water in the Okanagan is for watering our household lawns & gardens
Here’s a reminder to check out the Make Water Work website to make your pledge to reduce water waste.
You will also find valuable information such as these useful PDF publications–
Make Water Works Tip Sheet and Make Water Works Plant Collection
Xeriscape is a very effective way to make water work.
