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 Garden in 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.
We would love you to join us! Find out more.
Fall Xeriscape Class
With this year’s hot, dry summer serving as a perfect example of why there’s a need for more drought-tolerant landscaping, the Okanagan Xeriscape Association is offering a one-hour online Fall xeriscape class. The class will be followed by a question period for participants to learn more or clarify points.
Presenting the class will be Master Gardener and xeriscape specialist, Sigrie Kendrick, who is the OXA Executive Director.
She will include an explanation of the Seven Principles of Xeriscape, along with a discussion of topics such as: design and planning a xeric landscape, soil amendments, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, the use of mulches, maintenance of the xeriscape garden, and selecting appropriate plants.
This class will provide a good grounding in xeriscape for those interested in creating colourful, attractive, drought-tolerant landscapes.
Date: September 28, 2021
Time: 6– 7 pm
Fee: OXA Members $30 | Non-members $35
Registration: Xeriscape Classes page
Plant of the Month-
September
Zauschneria californica
California Fuchsia
Zauschneria californica, commonly known as California Fuchsia or Hummingbird Trumpet, is currently putting on a stunning show in the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.
This vigorous perennial ground cover is native to the dry slopes of Western North America and is hardy in zones 5-9. Zauschneria californica features masses of tubular-shaped blooms in a fiery shade of orange and, as the common name suggests, are a favorite with hummingbirds.
Growing 6-8 inches tall with a spread of approximately 2 feet, this perennial is unfazed by poor, dry soil and drought. This herbaceous perennial can be grown in either a full sun or part sun location but will not tolerate wet, poorly drained sites. Zauschneria is ideal for planting on slopes for erosion control thereby mimicking its natural preference for quickly draining soil.
This is a long-blooming perennial starting in July and blooming through September. Deer tend to show little interest in Zauschneria, yet few plants are better for attracting hummingbirds to your garden. Additionally this perennial is included on many lists of fire-resistant plants throughout California, a growing consideration here in British Columbia.
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
Xeriscape Stories
Resources
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. Xeriscape is a very effective way to make water work.
