California buckwheat (Eriogonum grande rubescens) stays low to the ground.

With Northern California in yet another year of drought, we gardeners need to take this new reality into account in our choice of plants. There will always be room for a variety of floriferous annuals that may take some regular water, but when we consider the foundation plants and longer-lived perennials, we need to move the element of drought tolerance more to the foreground of our thinking. And while it’s natural to immediately think of succulents, there are many other water-wise choices that will add beauty to the garden.

Candelabra aloe is a striking presence.

These three groups of plants are a terrific way to add an architectural element to a drought-tolerant garden. Aloes come in every size, some with soft spines and some sharp, with leaf colors that span green hues from pale to bright and grayish to bluish. Many feature clusters of tubular orange flowers much sought after by hummingbirds. Popular choices include the stately Coral aloe (A. striata), the Candelabra aloe (A. arborescens), the Fan aloe (A. plicatilis) and the curling rows of the Spiral aloe (A. polyphylla).

Yuccas (Century plant) tend to have more strap-like leaves and many more that are spiny. They are famous for their huge spikes of alabaster white flowers, some that can tower 20 feet or more. Noteworthy specimens include Soapweed yucca (Y. glauca), Beaked yucca (Y. rostrata), Adam’s Needle (Y. filamentosa) and the shimmering blue Our Lord’s Candle (Y. whipplei).

There are many ornamental agaves to choose from but here are three I especially like. The Octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana) is noteworthy for its twisting fleshy leaves that on mature plants look like octopus arms. Whale’s tongue agave (A. ovatifolia) on the other hand has a classic agave form, with pretty bluish-gray leaves in a sturdy lotus shape. And for something different, try the soft-leaved Foxtail agave (A. attenuata). Its broad leaves, in colors that range from glaucous green to a pale yellow, form a spilling fountain shape.

Echinacea, Helenium and Gaillardia: These three perennials share upturned and round centers that are rich in nectar and are favorites for bees and butterflies. Echinacea’s colors range from pink to yellow to orange while Heleniums and Gaillardias feature golds and reds. All three are tough, drought-tolerant perennials, sun lovers and long blooming. Perennial Coreopsis is tenacious and floriferous, putting out a seemingly endless parade of yellow or orange flowers.

Mimulus, Eriogonum and Epilobium: These three California native perennials share not only a water-wise habit but are some of the best pollinator plants for our Northern California gardens. Each has its own charms. The colorful Mimulus, known as Sticky Monkey Flower, offers an endless variation on pale orange, white, yellow and red tones. California buckwheat (Eriogonum) stays low and has white, pink or yellow flowers much beloved by bees. Its seeds are a source of nutrition for a variety of songbirds. California fuchsia (Epilobium) is perfect for a low, cascading ground cover, and its pink or red tubular flowers are a favorite source of nectar for hummers. These natives need almost no summer water, giving them an A grade on the water-wise scale.

Ceanothus, also known as California lilac, has beautiful purple flowers.

Four shrubs highlight this section. Salvia flowers cover the color spectrum but are notable for their array of purple blooms. Varieties such as Mexican sage, Cleveland sage, Gentian sage and Salvia Amistad all feature blue or purple flowers and all are hummingbird favorites. California lilac (Ceanothus), Pride of Madeira (Echium) and native verbena (Verbena lilacina) all feature purple flowers. Salvia and ceanothus are tough, stingy-on-water shrubs that are ideal as foundation plants for sunny beds or areas that will get little attention. Our native Verbena looks delicate but its 3 feet-by-3-feet form and endless supply of flowers belie its toughness. And don’t forget lavender and rosemary, both near the top of bees’ favorite plants. Lastly, ground morning glory (Convolvulus sabatius) is my go-to ground cover that will make do with very little water once established and is useful for helping to stabilize hills that suffer soil erosion.

Rock purslane, a.k.a.Calandrinia spectabilis, offers bright pink flowers.

Two natives lead this list, with yarrow (Achillea) and milkweed (Asclepias speciosa/fascicularis) providing soft pink flowers. Both are deer-proof and easy to grow. Yarrow is a versatile evergreen perennial while the milkweeds are host plants for our Monarch butterfly. (Note that milkweed contains toxins that can sometimes be harmful to animals or humans.) Two Malva family members — rockrose (Cistus) and Cape Mallow (Anisodontea) are terrific drought-tolerant shrubs, 3 to 8 feet tall, with pretty pink flowers. Four best-in-class performers — carnation (Dianthus), African daisy (Osteospermum and Arctotis) and trailing lantana — are perfect choices for water-wise ground covers. They offer a variety of pink and magenta colors to liven up any sunny bed. Lastly, the succulent rock purslane (Calandrinia spectabilis) offers buckets of bright magenta flowers on tall stems for the better part of the year, all with barely a drop of water.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified a common name for Ceanothus. It is known as California lilac. This story has also been updated with information about milkweed.

Earl Nickel is an Oakland nurseryman and freelance writer. Email: food@sfchronicle.com