University of California, Davis

The University of California Davis Arboretum will install an automatic irrigation system and implement a new irrigation regimen to improve environmental conditions for its Southwest U.S./Mexican collection of 333 living plant specimens. Not only will the project improve the health and longevity of the collection and thus benefit those who use the plants for teaching, research, or recreation, but it will also help preserve biodiversity in the wild. This collection is a repository of documented genetic material that can be used for research, teaching, and ecological restoration. The collection is also important as a resource for gardeners who wish to use native plants in California's Central Valley, where temperature extremes, drought, high winds, and poor water quality create environments to which these plants are well suited.