Modules:

Design or redesign a landscape

Estimate the water needs of landscape plants

Determining a factor for landscape plants other than turfgrass, part 2: Observation-based approach

Assigning a species factor, KS

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Table 8. Observation-based species factor (KS) for selected agave, cacti, succulents, and yucca in Southern California*

  Factor (KS) for South Coast Factor (KS) for South Inland
Name of Plant Source 1** Source 2*** Source 1** Source 2***
Aeonium (Canary Island rose) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Agave species (agave) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Aloe arborescens (aloe) 0–0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Beaucarnea recurvata (bottle palm), a.k.a. Nolina recurvata 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Cereus peruvianus (Peruvian apple, Peruvian apple cactus) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Cordyline australis (dracaena palm, New Zealand cabbage tree) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25–0.50 0.40–0.60
Cotyledon species (cotyledon) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Crassula species (jade plant) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Dasylirion species (desert spoon) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Dracaena draco (dragon tree) 0.25 0–0.10 0.25–0.50 0.10–0.30
Dudleya species (live forever) 0–0.25 0–0.10 0.25 0.10–0.30
Echeveria (hens and chickens) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca) 0.25 0–0.10 0.25 0.10–0.30
Kalanchoe species 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.3
Nolina species (bear grass) 0.25 0–0.10 0.25 0–0.10
Opuntia species (prickly pear, cholla) 0.25 0–0.10 0.25 0–0.10
Portulacaria afra (elephant's food) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30
Yucca afoifolia (Spanish bayonet) 0.25 0.10–0.30 0.25 0.10–0.30

* Observation-based estimated percentages of the reference evapotranspiration, expressed as fractions

** Adapted from Perry 1992

*** Adapted from Costello and Jones 1999

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