About EMWD's Demonstration Garden

EMWD has saved water and reduced landscaping maintenance costs by retrofitting its landscaping, which included the creation of a demonstration garden. As part of EMWD’s efforts to maximize water supplies – including recycled water supplies – EMWD completed the third and final phase of its Landscaping Retrofit project with the completion of its demonstration garden in 2009.  The garden replaces 7 acres of traditional landscaping that included 6 acres of turf grass.

EMWD’s demonstration garden was designed to showcases WaterWise landscaping and irrigation while serving as an educational space and landscape model for the community.  The WaterWise demonstration garden features California friendly plants, synthetic turf, and water-efficient irrigation systems such as drip lines and smart controllers.

EMWD’s WaterWise demonstration garden is located at its headquarters at 2270 Trumble Road in Perris, California.

The garden is open to the public during EMWD business hours, with self-guided tour materials available in the Main Office.  In addition, guided tours may be scheduled by contacting EMWD’s Public and Governmental Affairs Department at 951.928.3777 ext. 3430.

Trees, Shrubs, and Hardscapes

All of the trees, plants, and hardscape materials were selected to provide year-round color and for compatibility with the existing soil type. The garden uses recycled water for all irrigation.

Shrubs

	Image	Name	Details
01		Rockrose  Cistus Purpureus	Size: 4’ high x 4’ wide Flower: Purple   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
02		Japanese Privet  Ligustrum Japonicum	Size: 10’ high x 8’ wide Flower: Creamy White   Bloom: Spring-Summer Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
03		“Iceberg” Floribunda Rose  Rosa Spp	Size:  4-6’ high x 3-5’ wide Flower: White   Bloom: Year-round Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: N/A
04		“Midnight” Mexican Bush Sage  Salvia Leucantha	Size:  3-4’ high x 2-3’ wide Flower: Dark Purple   Bloom: Summer-Fall  Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
05		Blue Chalk Sticks  Senecio Vitalis ‘Serpents’	Size: 1′ high x 1’ wide Flower: White    Bloom: Summer Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
06		Coral Fountain  Russelia Equisetiformis	Size: 5’ high x 5’ wide Flower: Red   Bloom: Spring-Summer Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Butterflies and hummingbirds
07		Shrub Rose  Sevillan, Rosa	Size:  3-4’ high x 3-4’ wide Flower: Red   Bloom: Spring-Fall Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: N/A
08		Gopher Plant  Euphorbia Lathyris	Size:  2-3’ high x 3-4’ wide Flower: Yellow   Bloom: Spring-Summer Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: N/A
09		Yellow Bells  Tecoma Stans	Size: 25’ high x 10-25’ wide Flower: Yellow   Bloom: Spring-Winter Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
10		India Hawthorn  Rhaphiolepis Indica	Size:  4-5’ high x 5-6’ wide Flower: Light Pink   Bloom: Spring-Fall Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
11		Little John  Dwarf Callistemon	Size: 3’ high x 3’ wide Flower: Red   Bloom: Spring-Fall Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
12		Red Yucca  Hesperaloe Parviflora	Size:  3-4’ high x 3-4’ wide Flower: Red   Bloom: Spring-Fall Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
13		Rosemary  Westringia ‘Wynyabbie’ Gem	Size:  3-4’ high x 4-5’ wide Flower: lavender   Bloom: Year-round Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
14		Sea Lavender  Limonium Carolinianum	Size: 3’ high x 2’ wide Flower: Purple   Bloom: Year-round Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
15		Firethorn  Pyracantha	Size: 12’ high x 12’ wide Flower: White   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
16		Thompson Seedless Grapes  Sultanina	Size: height varies x 20-25’ wide Flower: Grapes   Bloom: Ripen Aug-Sept Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: N/A
17		Red Kangaroo Paw  Anigozanthos	Size:  1-2’ high x 1-2’ wide Flower: Red   Bloom: Spring-Fall Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
18		Texas Ranger  Leucophyllum Frutescens	Size:  6-8’ high x 6-8’ wide Flower: Purple   Bloom: Summer-Fall  Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
19		Red Hot Poker  Kniphofia	Size: 3’ high x 3’ wide Flower: Red, Orange   Bloom: Summer Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
20		Deer Grass  Muhlenbergia Rigens	Size: 4’ high x 4’ wide Flower: Yellow/Purple   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Butterflies
21		Pink Muhly  Muhlenbergia Capillaris	Size: 3’ high x 3’ wide Flower: Pink   Bloom: Fall Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: N/A
22		California Holly  Toyon	Size:  6-10’ high x 6-10’ wide Flower: White    Bloom: Summer Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees and butterflies

Trees

	Photo	Name	Details
A		Shoestring Acacia Acacia Stenophylla	Size: 20-30’ high x 10-20’ wide Flower: Yellow   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: N/A
B		Red River Gum Eucalyptus Camaldulensis	Size: 98’ high x 65’ wide Flower: White/Yellow   Bloom: Spring-Summer Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Hummingbirds
C		Arizona Ash Fraxinus Veluntina	Size: 30-50’ high x 40’ wide Flower: N/A    Bloom: Spring-Summer Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Butterflies
D		Olive Olea Europaea	Size: 20-30’ high x 15-25’ wide Flower: White   Bloom: Spring-Summer Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees
E		Dwarf Tea Tree Leptospermum Laevigatum ‘Reevesii’	Size: 4’ high x 4’ wide Flower: White   Bloom: Winter Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
F		Coast Live Oak Quercus Agrifolia	Size: 40-60’ high x 40-50’ wide Flower: Yellow   Bloom: Winter-Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Butterflies
G		Western Redbud Cercis Occidentalis	Size: 15’ high x 10’ wide Flower: Purple   Bloom: Winter-Spring Needs: Full sun, medium water  Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
H		Eastern Redbud Cercis Occidentalis	Size: 15’ high x 10’ wide Flower: Purple   Bloom: Winter-Spring Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
J		Cork Oak Quercus Suber	Size: 70’ high x 70’ wide Flower: Brown   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Butterflies
K		Purple Plum Prunus Cerasifera	Size: 15-25’ high x 15-25’ wide Flower: Pink   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
L		Citrus Rutaceae	Size: 15-20’ high x 15-20’ wide Flower: White   Bloom: Spring Needs: Full sun, medium water Attracts: Bees and butterflies
M		Sycamore Platanus Racemosa	Size: 30-80’ high x 20-50’ wide Flower: Brown   Bloom: Winter-Spring Needs: Full sun, low water Attracts: Butterflies

Hardscape

	Photo	Material	Specifications
I		River Rock	Granite River Cobble
II		Crushed Rock	Desert Spice
III		Boulder	Navajo Boulders
IV		Compacted Dirt Path	Decomposed Granite
V		Walkway Edging	Poured Concrete
VI		Concrete and Paver Patio	Stamped and Permeable
VII		Bark Mulch	Cedar Wood Brushed Mulch
VIII		Artificial Turf	Synthetic Fibers with Infill

Self-Guided Walking Tour

Save water and reduce maintenance.   EMWD’s Demo Garden showcases delightful WaterWise landscaping and irrigation. 

Download EMWD’s Demo Garden Walking Tour Guide (PDF)

Landscaping Retrofit Project

Retrofitting the existing landscaping has reduced maintenance costs and has significantly lowered water use.

EMWD’s demonstration garden was partially funded with donations from Synthetic Landscape America, Toro, Rainbird, and Irrometer.

The Landscaping Retrofit project began in 2005 with a goal to reduce water consumption by 75 percent. That goal was achieved after the first two phases were completed.

In the first two phases, EMWD parking lots, materials yard, and streetscapes were retrofitted to reduce turf grass, increase water-efficient ground cover, increase hardscape, and implement water-efficient irrigation systems.