Gas exchange and leaf growth analysis were used in conjunction to determine leaf-construction and maintenance costs in three co-occurring shrubs of the California chaparral, one evergreen, Heteromeles arbutifolia , and two drought deciduous species, Lepechinia calycina , and Diplacus aurantiacus . The construction costs per unit of leaf weight were similar among the three species and very close to values reported for other evergreens but considerably higher than leaf construction costs for other deciduous or herbaceous plants. Maintenance costs per unit of leaf weight were significantly greater in one deciduous species, L. calycina , than in the evergreen. Maintenance costs for all species were in the range reported for herbaceous species and considerably above those reported for other evergreens.