South bay native plants for water zone 2 3 transitions - 8-13

1

CA Native Plants for Western L.A. County Gardens – Water Zone 2-3 (moderate to regular water) Transition Areas

I Scientific Name Common Name Size

Flower/ season

Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes

Trees and Tree-like Large Shrubs

X *Acer circinatum Vine Maple 10-25 ft t and wide

Green/Sp PS/FSH Well-drained

2 6, 8, 13 Showy seed; fall color

X Acer negundo Boxelder 30-50 ft t 30 ft wide

Green/Sp FS/PS Any 2 or 2-3 1, 8, 13, 24 Dioecious; fall color (yellow)

Alnus rhombifolia White Alder 50-75 ft

tall 20-40 ft w.

Green/Sp FS/PS Any incl.

clay 2-3 to 3 3, 6, 8, 13, 14 Tol. flooding

X Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat To 10 ft Pink-white/ all year

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2 Good habitat; informal look

** Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’

‘Ray Hartman’ Ceanothus

To 20 ft t 10-15 w

Lt. blue/Sp FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 6, 9, 13

Spreading;

evergreen; good for garden

X * Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud 6-20 ft tall 10-15 ft w

Magenta/ Sp

FS/PS Any incl clay

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 8,

10, 13, 14, 16, 19

Fall color (red,

orange); edible fruit, flowers

X Cornus glabrata Brown Dogwood < 18 ft tall

to 10 ft w White/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Clay best 2-3 1, 13

** Cupressus

macrocarpa 'Citriodora'/’Goldcrest’

‘Citriodora’ Monterey Cypress

20-30 ft t 6-8 ft wide

Insig FS/PS/FSH Well-drained

2 to 2-3 6, 9, 13,

For narrow

screen; lemon scent; coastal

X *Fraxinus dipetala California Ash < 25 ft tall

Crème/Sp FS

Any well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 1, 13

Tolerates seasonal

flooding

* Fraxinus velutina Velvet Ash 30-50 ft t 20-50+ ft

w

Insig/Sp FS Any well-drained

2-3 1, 8, 13 Winter deciduous;

large size

X * Garrya fremontii Fremont’s

Silktassel 5-15 ft tall

8-10 ft w Cream/W FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2 8, 13

Tolerates some

heat

X * Garrya veatchii Canyon Silk Tassel Bush

6-15 ft tall 6-8 ft wide

Cream/ W-Sp

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2 1, 13 Evergreen; silvery

* Hesperocyparis

(Cupressus) goveniana Gowen’s Cypress

10-30+ tall

6-10 ft w Insig FS

Tolerates

clay 2 6, 8

Coastal; narrow

hedge/screen

X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean

Spray 10-20 ft

tall White/Su-Fa FS/PS

Any, incl.

clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14

Fragrant at a

distance

2


Flower/ season


X * Morella (Myrica)

californica

California Wax

Myrtle 6-30 ft t

10-20 ft w

Yellow-

white/Sp FS/PS/ FSH

Any; we;;-

drained best

2-3 to 3 3, 5, 7, 9, 13,

14, 19

Evergreen; good for

hedges; purple berries

Platanus racemosa California

sycamore 60-100 ft

Bright

pink/Sp FS

Any but high alkali

2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14 Can live to 400 yrs; no salt tolerance

X Populus balsamifera

ssp. trichocarpa Black Cottonwood

30-60 (100

ft) Yellow/Sp FS any 2-3 1, 7, 14

Grows large with abundant water

Populus fremontii Fremont’s Cottonwood

To 100 ft 80 ft w

Yellow/Sp FS Any 2-3 1, 3, 14 Long-lived

X * Prunus virginiana var. demissa

Western Chokecherry

6-25 ft tall 6-15 ft w

Cream/Sp FS/PS Any 2 to 2-3 6, 13 fruits for jelly, bird habitat

X * Ptelea crenulata CA Hoptree 10-15 ft tall & wide

White/Sp-Su PS best Well-drained

2 to 2-3 13 Excellent insect plant

X Salix exigua Narrow-leaf Willow 6-15 ft 12-15 ft.w.

Yellow/Sp FS/PS any 1-2; winter

flooding 1, 2, 3, 14

Spreading via roots

Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges)

X * Amorpha fruticosa False Indigo 6-12 ft

4-10 ft w.

Purple-brown/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 1, 6, 13, 14

Can be weedy; cultivar: ‘Dark

Lance’

X Arctostaphylos catalinae

Catalina Manzanita 6-18 ft tall 5-8 ft wide

Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 13, 14 Well-drained soil

** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard

McMinn'

‘Howard mcMinn’ (Vine Hill)

Manzanita


Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays

2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 11, 13, 14, 32

X Baccharis emoryi Emory Baccharis 6-12 ft T

to 10 ft W

Buff-Wht/

Su-F FS/PS any

2 ;

Winter flooding

1, 7, 10, 13,

14, 16 Salt tolerant

X Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush To 8 ft Cream/F FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18

X ** Baccharis pilularis

‘Pigeon Point’

Pigeon Point

Coyote Bush 6-12 ft T to 10 ft W

Buff-White/ Su-F

FS/PS any 2 to 2-3 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20

X * Calycanthus occidentalis Western Spicebush 6-12 ft tall

4-6 ft wide

Purple-

bronze/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Pref.light

deep rich 2-3 1, 13, 14

Spicy; wine-like

fragrance

X * Carpenteria californica

Bush aneneme 6-8 ft tall 6-12 ft W

White-Yellow/ Spr

PS/FSH Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14, 19

Showy, fragrant flowers

3


Flower/ season


X * Ceanothus cyaneus

San Diego/

Lakeside Ceanothus

10-15 ft t

6-10 ft w

Blue/Sp + FS/PS Many 1-2 to 2 3, 8, 20, 24

Tolerates heat;

may be short-lived (10+ yr)

x * Ceanothus integerrimus

Deerbrush 3-6+ ft t White/Sp FS/PS Any 1 to 2 3, 13, 16 Drought decid; glossy leaves

X ** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’

‘Skylark’ Ceanothus

3-6 ft t Lt blue/Sp FS/PS Any incl clay

2 1, 3, 6, 13

X

** Ceanothus

thyrsiflorus 'Snow Flurry'

‘Snowflurry’ Ceanothus

6-10 ft t 10 ft w

White/Sp FS/PS Any well-drained

2 1, 3, 6, 9, 13, 14

Dense; shrubby; fast

** Ceanothus arboreus

x thrysiflorus ‘Frosty Blue’

‘Frosty Blue’

Ceanothus 6-10 ft t

8 ft wide

Med blue/

W-Sp FS/PS

Well-drained,

sandy 2 1, 3, 6, 13

Dense; evergreen;

prune or hedge

** Ceanothus ‘Tassajara Blue’

‘Tassajara’ Ceanothus

To 8 ft t 5-8 ft w

Lt. blue/ Sp FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 1, 13 Can be hedged

* Cephalanthus occidentalis

Buttonbush 5-12 ft tall 4-8 ft wide

Cream/Sp FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 11, 13 Good for pondside

X * Frangula/Rhamnus californica

California

Coffeeberry

6-12 ft t &

wide; short cultivars

Buff/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 9, 10,

13, 14, 16, 18

'Eve Case', 'Mound San Bruno' smaller

X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean Spray

10-20 ft tall

White/ Su-Fa

FS/PS Any, incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14 Fragrant at a distance

X * Philadelphus lewisii CA Mock Orange 4-10 ft tall & wide

White/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Any, incl clays

1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13, 14, 19

Very fragrant

X Pluchea sericea Arrowweed 5-10 ft t Purple/

Sp-Su FS

Any incl

clay 1-2 to 2-3 8, 10, 14

Thicket-

forming; silver foliage

X Ribes aureum var.

gracillimum Golden Currant To 10 ft

Yellow/

W-Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 12, 14

Any well-drained; Birds eat berries

Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs

** Arctostaphylos densiflora

‘Harmony'

‘Harmony’

Manzanita 3-4 ft tall 5-6 ft wide

Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Sandy, acidic

1-2 to 2-3 6, 13 Profuse bloomer

* Arctostaphylos nummularia

Glossyleaf (Ft. Bragg) Manzanita

3-6 ft tall & wide

White/ W-Sp FS/PS

Sandy

best; acidic

2 to 2-3 8, 11, 13 Under trees near coast; containers & under pines

4


Flower/ season


* Arctostaphylos viridissima

McMinn’s (Santa Cruz) Manzanita


White/W-Sp FS/PS

Well-drained;

acidic

1-2 to 2-3

8, 11 Sprawl; light green; good under pines

X Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis 3-5 ft tall

spreading White/Su FS/PS Any 2 to 2-3 1, 2, 3, 13

Excellent

insect habitat

X Constancea (Eriophyllum) nevinii

Catalina Silverlace 3-4 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Any well-drained

1 to 2-3 1, 6, 7, 13, 14 ‘Silver Canyon’

X * Ericameria nauseosa Rabbitbush 2-5 ft tall & wide

Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 13, 16 Butterflies & other insects

X Eriogonum cinereum Ashy-leaf Buckwheat

2-5 ft Pink-wht/ Sp-F


1 to 2-3 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 16

Gray foliage

X **Eriogonum fasciculatum

‘Dana point’

California Buckwheat


Pink/Sp-F FS/PS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18,

19

Dense foliage

* Eriophyllum

staechadifolium var. depressum

Seaside Wooly

Sunflower 1-2 ft tall

2-3 ft wide Yellow/Su-F FS

Any well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 10, 16

Tolerates seaside conditions

X Euphorbia misera California Spurge 3-4 ft tall & wide

White-red/Sp

FS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13 Tolerates seaside

conditions

X Gambelia (Galvezia)

speciosa

Catalina

Snapdragon 2-4 ft tall Red/Sp + FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 7, 8, 9,

13, 14

X * Keckiella antirhinnoides Yellow Bush

Penstemon 3-8 ft tall

3-6 ft wide

Yellow/

Sp-Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2

1, 8, 10, 13,

14, 16, 22, 24

Fragrant

flowers

X Lepechinia fragrans Fragrant Pitcher

Sage 3-6 ft tall &

wide Lavender/Sp FS/PS any 1-2 to 2

1, 3, 8, 12, 13,

14 ‘El Tigre’

* Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 4-6 ft tall

to 10 ft w

Yellow/

Sp-Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 7, 18 Mulch soil

X * Mahonia (Berberis)

aquifolium Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 Edible berries

X Rhus trilobata Basket Bush; Sour

Berry; Skunkbrush 2-6 ft

Yellow-

green/Sp PS any 1-2 – 2-3

10, 13, 14, 16,

19

X Ribes californicum var.

hesperium Hillside Gooseberry To 3 ft

Red-white/

W-Sp PS/FSH

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3

10, 12, 13 (var.

californicum)

Birds eat

berries

** Ribes malvaceum

var. viridifolium 'Ortega Beauty'

Ortega Beauty

Chaparral Currant 5-7 ft tall &

wide Pink/ Sp FS/PS

Well-

drained

1-2 to

2-3 13

** Ribes malvaceum 'Barrie Coate'

Barre Coate Chaparral Currant


Dark Pink/ Sp

FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2

5


Flower/ season


** Ribes malvaceum

‘Montara Rose’

Montara Rose

Chaparral Currant 5-6 ft tall &

wide

Bright Pink/

W-Sp FS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2

X Ribes speciosum Fuschia-flowered

Gooseberry 3-6+ ft tall

and wide

dark pink/

W-Sp FS/PS/FSH

Well-

drained

2-3;

3 in sun

1, 3, 10, 12-14,

19

X * Ribes sanguineum

var. glutinosum

Red-flowering

Currant 4-10 ft Pink/Sp PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2-3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19

X Rosa californica California Wild Rose


Pink/ Sp-Su

FS/PS/FSH any 1-2;

3 (sun) 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

Rubus ursinus (ssp. ?) Pacific Blackberry 2-4 ft tall 3-10 ft w

White/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 7, 12, 13, 14

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X * Salvia munzii San Diego Sage 2-3 ft tall

3-4 ft w Blue/Su FS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 6, 8, 13,

14, 16, 17

Fragrant like

Black Sage;

‘Baja Blue’, ‘Emerald Cascade’

X Symphoricarpos albus

var. laevigatus

Common

Snowberry 3-5 ft,

spreading White/Sp PS

Clays,

loams 2-3 7, 9, 13, 19

Fruit may be toxic to humans

X Symphoricarpos mollis Snowberry 2-4 ft tall & wide

Pink/W-Sp PS/FSH any 2-3 to 3 13, 14 mulch

X * Verbena lilacina Cedros Island

Verbena 2-4 ft tall

3-5 ft wide Lilac/Sp-F FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 8, 9, 13,

14

Lovely year-round; showy flowers

Perennial Vines

X Calystegia macrostegia California Morning

Glory To 30+ ft White/Sp-F

PS FS coastal

Well-

drained 2-3

1, 8, 10, 13,

14, 16

Invasive; ‘Anacapa Pink’;

‘Candycane’

X * Calystegia purpurata

ssp. purpurata

Pacific Morning Glory

6-8 ft Wht-purple /Sp-Su

FS/PS Any 2 8 ‘Bolinas’ has pink flowers

X Clematis ligusticifolia Virgin’s Bower To 15 ft White/Su PS/FSH Any 2-3 to 3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19

X * Lonicera ciliosa Orange Honeysuckle

15-20 ft Orange/ Sp-Su

PS/FSH Any 2-3 2, 8 Not for hot gardens

X Lonicera hispidula var.

vacillans

Western

Honeysuckle 5-18 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS/FSH clay 1-2 to 2-3

1, 5, 13, 14,

19

Tolerates seasonal

flooding

X * Lonicera interrupta Chaparral Honeysuckle

8-20+ ft Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PSH Any 2 to 2-3 2 Excellent habitat plant

6


Flower/ season


X * Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 3-5 ft Yellow/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 7, 13, 19

X ** Vitis californica

‘Roger’s Red’

‘Roger’s Red’

California Grape > 20 ft White/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13

X Vitis girdiana Desert Grape > 25 ft White/Su PS any 2-3 2, 3, 10, 13, 20

Groundcover Plants: Woody or Half-woody, Evergreen

X * Arctostaphylos

edmundsii (var parvifolia)

Bronze Mat

Manzanita

1 ft tall 4-6 ft wide

Pink/Sp PS best FS coast

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 13, 14,

Slow growth; best on coast; slopes & containers fine

* Arctostaphylos

edmundsii ‘Little Sur’

‘Little Sur’

Manzanita

1-3 ft tall 6-20 ft

wide

Pink/W-Sp PS best Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 16

Red berries in summer

** Arctostaphylos

edmundsii ‘Bert Johnson’

‘Bert Johnson’ Manzanita

< 1 ft tall 6-10 ft w

Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 13, 19 Better further inland

** Arctostaphylos

edmundsii ‘Big Sur’ ‘Big Sur’ Manzanita

< 4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide

White/W-Sp FS/PS Any;

sandy ok 1-2 to 2-3 13, 14, 19, Open growth

** Arctostaphylos

edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’

‘Carmel Sur’

Manzanita

1 ft tall

to 20 ft w Pink/Sp FS/PS

Any incl.

clays 1-2 to 2-3

3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 19, 24,

32

Good for Coastal areas; fast growth

** Arctostaphylos

edmundsii ‘Danville’ ‘Danville’ Manzanita

1-2 ft tall 4-6 ft

wide

Pink/W FS/PS Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 6, 13 Med. Green leaves; good under oaks

** Arctostaphylos edmundsii ‘Sandsprite’

‘Sandsprite’ Manzanita

< 1 ft tall 4-5 ft

wide

Pink/W FS/PS Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 8, 13 Bronze leaves; good on slopes

** Arctostaphylos

edmundsii 'Weber Garden'

‘Weber Garden’

Manzanita

2-4 ft tall

3-5 ft wide

Pink/W FS/PS Any incl.

clays 1-2 to 2-3 13

** Arctostaphylos glauca ‘Canyon Blush’

‘Canyon Blush’ Manzanita


Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 11 Red new foliage; slopes;

X * Arctostaphylos

hookeri ssp franciscana

San Francisco

Manzanita

2-3 ft tall 6-8 ft

wide

Pink/W-Sp FS/

PS inland Most 2 to 2-3 6, 11, 13

Good on slopes; tough

X * Arctostaphylos

hookeri ssp. hearstiorum

Heart’s Manzanita

< 1 ft tall

3-6 ft wide

Lt pink/ W-Sp

FS/PS

Well-

drained, sandy

2 to 2-3 11, 13 Good near coast; very low

7


Flower/ season


** Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Buxifolia'

‘Buxifolia’ Manzanita

1-2 ft tall 4-6+ ft w

Lt pink/ W-Sp

FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3

11, 13 Dense w/ small leaves; good for coast

** Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Wayside'

‘Wayside’ Manzanita

3-4 ft tall

6-8 ft wide

White/Sp FS/PS Most 2 to 2-3 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 32

Good on slopes; bright green

* Arctostaphylos patula Greenleaf Manzanita

3-6 ft tall

4-8 ft wide

White/W-Sp FS/PS

Well-

drained, acidic

2 to 2-3 3, 8, 10, 13, 16

Mountain species (San Gabriels); likes snow

* *Arctostaphylos

purissima 'Vandenberg'

‘Vandenberg’

Manzanita


White/W FS/PS Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 3, 11, 13, 32

Mounding; lush leaves

X * Arctostaphylos uva-

ursi

Bearberry;

Kinnickinnick

1 ft tall

spreading Pink/Sp FS/PS

Well-

drained 2-3 1, 13

Low-growing; red berries

** Arctostaphylos uva-

ursi 'Green Supreme'

‘Green Supreme’

Bearberry

1 ft tall

5-12 ft w Pink/Sp FS/PS/FSH

Most,

incl clays 1-2 to 2-3 13, 32 Glossy green

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Pacific Mist'

‘Pacific Mist’ Bearberry

1-2 ft tall

4-5 ft wide

White/W FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 3, 8, 13 Fast; gray-green; easy


ursi ‘Point Reyes’

‘Point Reyes’

Bearberry

1 ft tall to 10 ft

Pink/Sp PS/FSH Most, incl clays

2-3 1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 16, 19

Woodsy look; long-lived


ursi ‘Radiant’ ‘Radiant’ Bearberry

<1 ft tall 8-10 ft w

Pink/W-Sp PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 19

** Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'San Bruno

Mountain'

‘San Bruno Mtn’ Bearberry

< 1 ft tall 8-10 ft w

Pink/W-Sp FS coast PS inland

Most 1-2 to 2-3 13 Moderate growth rate; vigorous, dense; hardy


ursi 'Wood's Red'

‘Wood’s Red’

Bearberry

< 1 ft tall 6-8 ft

wide

Pink/Sp FS/PS Well-drained

2 to 2-3 8 Nice, dense groundcover

** Arctostaphylos ’Emerald Carpet’

‘Emerald Carpet’ Manzanita

< 1 ft tall

3-6 ft wide

White/W-Sp PS

FS coast

Rich, sl. acid

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 11, 13, 14, 32

A. uva-ursi X A. nummularia hybrid; slopes, containers

** Arctostaphylos ‘Pacific Mist’

‘Pacific Mist’ Bearberry

1-3 ft tall

6-8 ft wide

White/Sp FS/PS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 32

Rapid growth; gray-green, mounding

Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis < 3 ft White/Su-F FS/PS Any incl.

clays 2-3 1, 13

8


Flower/ season


** Baccharis ‘Centennial’ Centennial

Baccharis


White/F Female - seeds

FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 8,

Baccharis pilularis X B.

sarathroides hybrid

** Baccharis ‘Starn’ Starn Baccharis 2-3 ft tall

5-6 ft wide

Yellow/F male

FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 8

Baccharis pilularis X B. sarathroides

hybrid

X * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium var. repens

Creeping Oregon Grape

1 ft tall < 6 ft

wide

Yellow/Sp PS/FSH Any; acidic

1-2 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 Good habitat; edible berries

** Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium ‘Compacta’

‘Compacta’ Oregon Grape

2-4 ft tall

2-4 ft wide

Yellow/Sp PS/FSH Any; acidic

1-2 to 2-3 1, 13 Good habitat; edible berries

** Ceanothus cuneatus

var. rigidus 'Snowball'

‘Snowball’

Ceanothus 4-6 ft tall

6-10 ft w White/Sp

FS (coast) / PS

Many 2 to 2-3 3, 6, 13

X * Ceanothus gloriosus Point Reyes Ceanothus

1-2 ft tall

to 8 ft wide

Lt. blue/Sp FS (coast)

/ PS

Well-

drained; sandy

2-3 3, 8 Dense foliage; holly-like

Ceanothus gloriosus

porrectus

Mt. Vision/ Inverness

Ceanothus

2-3 ft tall 5-6 ft

wide


/ PS

Well-

drained 2 to 2-3 3, 6, 8, 13

Dense foliage;

holly-like

** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’

Anchor Bay Ceanothus

< 1 ft tall

to 8 ft wide

Dk blue/Sp FS (coast)

/ PS any 1-2 to 2-3 8, 9, 19 Dense, compact

** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Heart’s Desire’

‘Heart’s Desire’ Ceanothus

1-3 ft tall

4-6 ft wide

Dk blue/ FS (coast)

/ PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 8

** Ceanothus gloriosus 'Mill's Glory'

‘Mill’s Glory’ Ceanothus

2-3 ft tall

6-8 ft wide

Med. blue/ Sp

FS/PS

Well-

drained; clay ok

1-2 to 2-3 6, 13

holly leaves;

mod. growth rate; tough

X * Ceanothus griseus horizontalis

Carmel Creeper Ceanothus


Lt. blue/Sp FS/PS Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13

** Ceanothus griseus horizontalis 'Diamond Heights'

‘Diamond Heights’

Ceanothus



/ PS Most 1-2 to 2-3 8, 13

Variegated leaf

color

** Ceanothus griseus horizontalis 'Hurricane Point'

‘Hurricane Point’ Ceanothus


Lt. blue/Sp FS/PS Any incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3

Like ‘Yankee Point’ but wider; fast

grower

9


Flower/ season


** Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’

‘Yankee Point’

Ceanothus To 3-5 ft

To 10+ ft Med. Blue/

FS (coast) / PS

Any incl.

clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13, 19

Best near coast;

fast grower

X * Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens

Creeping

Blueblossom 1-3 ft tall

6-10 ft Blue/W-Sp FS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3

3, 5, 8, 11, 13,

20 Dense foliage

** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens ‘Louis Edmunds’

‘Louis Edmunds’


6-10 ft w

Med. Blue/

Sp FS (coast)

/ PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 3, 8, 9

Much confusion

with name

** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’

‘Skylark’ Ceanothus 4-5 ft tall 4-7 ft

wide

Med Blue/Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 13, 19 Quite shade & water toleratant

** Ceanothus ‘Wheeler Canyon’

‘Wheeler Canyon’ Ceanothus

4-6 ft tall to 8 ft

wide

Dk Blue/Sp FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 9, 11, 19

Dark leaves; ?

Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus hybrid

** Ceanothus ‘Joyce Coulter’ - ? Ceanothus

papillosus var. roweanus X C. thyrsiflorus

‘Joyce Coulter’


6-12 ft w Med blue/Sp FS/PS Most 1-2 to 2-3 3, 6, 13, 24

Prune to keep

low

X * Iva hayesiana San Diego Marsh Elder

2-4 ft tall 4-6 ft

wide

Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays

1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13

X Ribes viburnifolium Catalina Perfume 1-3 ft Pink/W-Sp PS/FSH Well-

drained 2 to 2-3

1, 3, 9, 13, 14,

20

X ** Salvia mellifera ‘Terra Seca’

‘Tera Seca’ (Prostrate Black)

Sage

2 ft tall

6-8 ft wide

Light purple/Spr

FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13, 16

Dense; Good for

slopes; aromatic

** Salvia sonomensis X

? 'Dara's Choice'

‘Dara’s Choice’

Creeping Sage 1-3 ft tall

4-6 ft w

Med. Blue/

Sp PS best most 1-2 to 2-3

6, 8, 13, 14,

24 Fast; tough

** Salvia sonomensis

‘John Farmar-Bowers’

‘John Farmar-Bowers’ Creeping

Sage

1-2 ft tall 6-8 ft

wide

Yellow-

White/Sp PS best Tol. clay 1-2 to 2-3 6, 13

Fast-growing;

semi-evergreen

X * Spireae splendens Pink Meadowsweet 2-4+ ft t

2-5+ ft w Pink/Su FS/PS Most 2 to 2-3 8, 13 Butterfly nectar

Groundcover Plants: Herbaceous Perennials

X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 most Alkali soils fine

X Argentina/Potentilla anserina

Pacific Cinquefoil 1 ft tall 2-3 ft w

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Sandy 2 to 3 13 (? ssp) Seaside plant; can be weedy

10


Flower/ season


X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall & wide

Cream/Su PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18

Tolerates seasonal

flooding

X Artemisia dracunculus California

Tarragon; 1-3 ft tall

2-3 ft wide White/F FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2 10, 16

** Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver King’,

‘Silver Queen’, 'Valerie Finnis'

White Sagebrush

(Western Mugwort) cultivars

2-3 ft tall

3-4 ft wide Cream/ Sp-F FS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2 3, 8, 13, 14

Dies back in

winter

X * Boykinia rotundifolia Roundleaf Boykinia 1-2 ft tall

1 ft wide White/Su PS/FSH Most 2-3 to 3 13

Native to Santa Monica mtns;

evergreen

X * Clinopodium (Satureja) chandleri

San Miguel Savory 1-2 ft tall 2-3 ft wide

White/Sp PS/FSH Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 3, 14

minty

X Clinopodium (Satureja)

douglasii Yerba buena

< 6 in

spreading White/Sp-Su PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14

* Clinopodium

(Satureja) mimuloides

Monkeyflower

Savory 1 ft tall 2-4+ ft w

Red-Or/ Su-Fa

FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 to 3 3, 8 hummingbird plant

X

Epilobium canum

(Zauschneria californica)

CA Fuschia 1-3 ft

3-5 ft wide Orange/F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 9, 12, 13,

14, 19

Tolerates winter

flooding

** Epilobium canum (Zauschneria

californica) ‘Catalina’

Island CA Fuschia 2-3 ft tall 3-5 ft wide

Red/all year (S/F/W most)

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 13, 19

Gray foliage;

upright, shrub-like

** Epilobium canum (Zauschneria

californica) ‘Everett’s Choice’

Everett’s Choice

CA Fuschia 1 ft tall

3 ft wide

Dark Or-

red/ Spr-Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 11, 16 Low-growing

** Epilobium canum (Zauschneria CA)

‘Hurricane Point’

Hurricane Point CA

Fuschia 1 ft tall 2 ft wide

Or-red/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 8, 19 Low-growing

** Epilobium canum

(Zauschneria CA) ‘Solidarity Pink’

‘Solidarity pink’ CA

Fuschia 2-3 ft tall &

wide Pink/Su-F FS/PS Most 2 to 2-3 13

under oaks;

tolerates winter flooding

** Epilobium canum (Zauschneria CA)

‘Wayne’s Silver’

‘Wayne’s Silver’ CA Fuschia


Red/Su-F FS/PS most 2 to 2-3 13, 14

under oaks

11


Flower/ season


** Epilobium

septentrionalis ‘Select Mattole’

Humbolt County Fuschia


Or-red/Su-F FS/PS Prefers rocky

2-3 19

Low mat-like;

silvery foliage; winter dormant

X ** Erigeron glaucus

‘Bountiful’

Bountiful Seaside

Daisy < 1 ft tall

1-2 ft wide

Lavender/

Sp-Su PS best

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 8, 9,

Green foliage;

large flowers

X ** Erigeron glaucus

‘Sea Breeze’ Seaside Daisy

1 ft tall

2 ft wide

Lavernder/

Sp-Fa FS/PS/FSH

Well-

drained 1-2 to 3

1, 3, 5, 6, 7,

8, 9, 13, 14

Attractive flowers, foliage; habitat

X ** Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick'

Wayne Roderick Daisy


Lavender-blue/Sp-F

FS/ PS (hot)

Well-drained

1-2; 2-3(sun)

1, 3, 6, 8 Silvery foliage; butterfly nectar

X * Fragaria chiloensis ssp. pacifica (and

cultivars)

(Pacific) Coast Strawberry

< 1 ft spreading

White/Sp-Su PS Sandy best

1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 8, 13 Let dry between waterings;

edible fruit

X * Fragaria vesca (californica)

CA/Wood Strawberry

< 2 ft spreading

White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20 Edible fruit

X Heliotropum

curassivacum Seaside Heliotrope

< 2 ft

4-8 ft w.

White-

purple/Sp-F FS/PS

Any; alkali best

2-3 2, 10, 16

Great butterfly nectar plant;

don’t eat – toxic foliage

X

* Heuchera maxima

(incl. many cultivars & hybrids)

Island Alumroot 1- 3 ft

White/Spr

FS/PS/ FSH

Any, incl.

clays

1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 7, 8, 13,

14

X * Heuchera micrantha Crevice Alumroot 1-3 ft Pink/Spr

FS/PS/ FSH See note

2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8 Well-drained

soil

* Heuchera pilosissima Hairy Alumroot 1-2 ft tall and wide

White/Sp PS/FSH Well-drained

2 to 2-3

5, 6 N. Coast; good massed

X * Hoita orbicularis Creeping Leather-leaf


Magenta/Sp PS/FSH Well-drained

2-3 to 3 13 Nice groundcover

X * Iva hayesiana San Diego Marsh Elder


Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays

1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13

Jaumea carinosa Salty Susan < 1 ft spreading

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS 2 to 2-3 2, 13

Lotus heermannii Heerman’s Lotus < 1 ft Yellow/Spr-F FS Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 10, 16

X * Mentha arvensis Tule Mint; Wild

Mint < 1 ft

spreading Pink/Sp-Su PS Most 2 to 3 2, 6, 13

Excellent fo tea;

contain

X * Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel < 1 ft tall

2-4 ft wide Pink/Sp PS/FSH most 2-3 to 3 2, 11, 24

Nice, spreading,

woodsy

12


Flower/ season


X Phacelia ramosissima Branching (Strand)

Phacelia 2-4 ft tall &

wide

Lavender/

Spr-Su FS/PS any 1 to 2-3

1, 2, 10, 12,

16

Hairs may cause

rash

X Ribes viburnifolium Catalina Perfume 1-3 ft Pink/ PS/FSH See note 2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 20

Well-drained soil

X Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup

< 2 ft Yellow/ PS sandy 2-3 to 3 Pac Coast Seed

Very well-drained soils

X Stachys albens Whitestem Woodmint

(Hedgenettle)

1-3 ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 12

X Stachys bullata

California

Woodmint

(Hedgenettle)

1-4 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS Well-

drained 2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14

Tolerates seasonal flooding

Stachys chamissonis Coast Woodmint Magenta/ Sp-Su

13

X Stachys rigida var. rigida (Stachys

ajugoides)

Rigid Woodmint (Hedgenettle)

1-2 ft Pink/Spr-Su FS/PS Clay 2-3 to 3 1, 13

X * Symphyotrichum

chilense (Aster

chilensis)

Coast Aster 1-3 ft tall

spreading Lavender/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 1, 8, 11, 13

Good habitat plant; ‘Point St. George’

X Verbena lasiostachys California Verbena 1-4 ft Lavender/ Sp-Fa

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 10, 13, 16 No water after flowering

X * Whipplea modesta Modesty 1-3 ft tall 3-5 ft wide

White/Sp PS Any 2 to 3 8, 11, 13 Nice shade groundcover

Herbaceous Perennials

X * Agastache urticifolia Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop (Horse

Mint)

2-5 ft tall &

wide Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 2 to 2-3 6, 13, 19 Great bee plant

X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa 1 ft tall & wide

White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Any incl clay

2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16 Tolerates flooding

* Angelica hendersonii Coast Angelica 1-2 ft tall &

wide White/Sp-Su FS/PSH Most 2 8, 35

Showy; Anise Swallowtail larval food

Apocynum cannabinum Indian Hemp 1-2 ft tall

spreading White/Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 2 to 3 11, 14

X * Aquilegia formosa Western Columbine

1-2 ft Red-yellow/Su

PS/FSH Well-drained

2 to 3 1, 3, 5, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20

13


Flower/ season


X * Armeria maritima

ssp. californica

CA Sea Thrift

(Pinks) < 1 ft tall

& wide Pink/Sp PS most 2 to 3 5, 6, 8, 13, 24

Best along

coast; pretty

X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall & wide

Crème/Su PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18

Tolerates seasonal

flooding

X Asclepias speciosa Showy Milkweed 2-3 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Pink/Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 8, 19

Tol. Flooding;

Monarch host plant; silvery

* Barbarae ortherceras Wintercress 1-2 ft tall &

wide Yellow/Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 13

Leaves edible,

raw or cooked

* Boykinia occidentalis Brook Foam 1 ft tall & wide

White/Su FSH Most 2-3 to 3 13 Evergreen; woodland plant

* Boykinia rotundifolia Roundleaf Boykinia 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide

White/Su PS/FSH Most 2-3 to 3 13 Native to Santa Monica mtns;

evergreen

Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum

Fringed Willow Herb

2-5 ft tall Pink/Su-F PS any 2-3 to 3 2, 10 Can become weedy

X * Epipactis gigantea Stream (Giant) Orchid


Maroon/ PS/FSH Well-drained

2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 18 Can grow in pond/stream

X *Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy ½ ft Lavernder/ Sp-Fa

FS/PS/FSH Well-drained

2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14

Attractive flowers, foliage

X * Eriophyllum

staechadifolium

Seaside Golden

Yarrow 1-3 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Gold-yellow/

Sp-Su FS/PS Most 2 to 2-3

1, 10, 11, 13,

16, 21

** Eriophyllum

staechadifolium 'Compacta'

‘Compacta’

Seaside Golden Yarrow

1-2 ft tall

3-4 ft wide

Gold-yellow/

Sp-Su FS/PS Moat 2 to 2-3 13, 25

X Erysimum insulare ssp.

suffrutescens Dune Wallflower

1-3 ft tall

1-2 ft wide Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 10

X Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS Any 2 to 3 13, 16 Butterfly plant; can be invasive

Frankenia salina Alakali Heath 2 ft tall Magenta/ Su-F

FS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 10 Saltmarsh plant

X Galium angustifolium

ssp. angustifolium

Narrowleaf

Bedstraw

1-3 ft tall & wide

White/Spr PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 12, 14, 16

X Grindelia hirsutula var. hirsutula

Hairy Gumplant 1-2 ft tall & wide

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 10 Butterfly plant

* Horkelia californica CA Horkelia < 1 ½ ft T 2 ft wide

White/Sp-Su FS/PS most 1-2 to 2-3 5, 13 Dies back in summer

14


Flower/ season


X Horkelia cuneata ssp. cuneata

Wedgeleaf Horkelia

< 1 ½ ft T 2 ft wide

White/Sp-Su FS/PS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 6, 10, 13 (ssp. puberula)

Dies back in summer

drought

X Limonium californicum California Sea-Lavender

1-2 ft tall and wide

Purple/Su-F FS

Any;

sand to clay

2-3 to 3 10, 14, 16

Tolerates

seaside conditions

X *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall

1 ft wide Red/Sp-Su FS/PS/ FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic

X * Lobelia dunnii var.

serrata Dunn’s Lobelia

1 ft tall

1-3 ft wide Lavender/Su PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 1, 6, 8, 13 Lovely blooms

X * Lomatium californicum

California Lomatium

2-3 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS/PS Most 2 to 2-3 30

Anise

Swallowtail larval food

X Lomatium utriculatum Common

Lomatium 2-3 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS

Any, incl.

clays, alkali

2-3 to 3 2, 30

Anise

Swallowtail larval food

Lotus heermannii Wooly Lotus 1 ft tall 1-3 ft w

Yellow/Sp-F FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 10, 16

X Mimulus cardinalis Scarlet

Monkeyflower To 3 ft Red/Sp-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3

3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19

easy

Mimulus floribundus

Many-flowered

Monkeyflower 1-2 ft tall & wide

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 ?

X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower

1-5 ft Yellow/W-Sp FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16

Mimulus moschatus (var. moniliformis)

Musk Monkeyflower

1 ft tall & wide

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 8 leaves: boiled as greens

X * Mimulus primuloides

Primrosse

Monkeyflower 1-2 ft tall & wide

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 8

* Mimulus primuloides ssp. linearifolius

Monkey-Moss < 6 in. tall

spreading

Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Most 2-3 to 3 8, 13 Native to N. CA

* Monardella antonina

(now * Monardella villosa ssp. villosa)

Butterfly Bush

Monardella 1 ft tall Purple-pink/ FS/PS Most 2 or 2-3

1, 3, 6, 8, 11,

13, 19

Butterfly plant;

fragrant, teas

X * Monardella

macrantha Red Monardella

1-2 ft tall &

wide Red/Su-F PS best

Any; no

alkali 2-3

1, 6, 8, 13, 14,

19

Hummingbird plant; scented;

‘Marion Sampson’

15


Flower/ season


X * Monardella

odoratissima

Mountain

Monardella 1-2ft tall

2-3 ft wide Lilac/ Sp-Su PS best

Sandy

best 2 or 2-3

1, 3, 6, 8, 11,

13, 14, 24, 28

Minty scent;

lovely flowers

X

* Monardella villosa

ssp. villosa [formerly Monardella

subglabrata]

Cpastal Coyote Mint


Purple/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Most 2 to 3 6, 13 Heavy bloomer; minty; tea

* Monardella villosa

ssp. obispoensis

San Luis Obispo

Coyote Mint 1 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Pale violet/

Sp-Su FS/PS

Clays

fine 2 to 3 6, 13

Butterfly plant;

minty, tea

** Monardella villosa

'Russian River'

‘Russian River’

Coyote Mint 1-2 ft tall

2-3 ft wide Purple/Su PS Most 2 to 2-3 13

Butterfly plant;

minty; easy

X * Oenothera californica CA Evening Primrose


White/Sp FS/PS (best) Sandy/ rocky

2 to 2-3 10, 13, 16

Scented

flowers; silvery foliage

X * Oenothera cespitosa White (Tufted)

Evening Primrose < 1 ft tall 1-2 ft wide

White/Sp FS Well-drained

1 to 2-3 ? Musty-sweet; night-flowering

X * Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel < 1 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Pink/Sp PS/FSH most 2-3 to 3 2, 11, 24 Nice, spreading, woodsy

X Pluchea odorata ssp.

odorata

Sweetscent;

Saltmarsh Fleabane

1-3 ft tall &

wide

Lavender/

Su-F FS

Sandy

incl. Alk 2-3 2, 6, 10, 16

Tolerates seasonal flooding

X Potentilla glandulosa Sticky Cinquefoil 1-2 ft tall Yellow/ Sp-Su

PS Most 1-2 to 3 1, 6, 12, 13 Strawberry-like

X Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius

Willow Dock 2-3 ft tall & wide

Pink bract / Su

FS Well-drained

1-2 to 3 10, 13 (? var.) Seaside fine

X * Sairocarpus multiflorus

Rose Snapdragon 2-3 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Pink/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 10, 13 Hummingbird plant

X Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda

CA Bee Plant 2-3 ft Red/Spr PS Most 2-3 to 3 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16

Afternoon shade

X Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora

Dwarf Checker Mallow

To 1 ½ ft Pink-lavender/

FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 19

X * Sidalcea oregana Oregon Checkmallow


Pinks/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 to 3 13 Gorgeous flowers

* Silene californica Indian Pink 1-2 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Red/Su PS/FS Well-drained

2-3 19 difficult

X Silene laciniata Indian Pink 1-3 ft Red/Sp-Su FS/PS Sandy or rocky

1-2 to 2-3

12

Solanum americanum American Black Nightshade

2-3 ft tall White/Sp-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 13 Berries very poisonous

16


Flower/ season


Solanum douglasii White (Douglas’)

Nightshade 2-5 ft tall White/Sp-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 14

Berries very

poisonous

X Solanum xanti (var. ?) Purple (Chaparral)

Nightshade 2-4 ft tall

Purple/Sp-

Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13

Berries very

poisonous

X Solidago californica California Goldenrod

2-4 ft tall spreading

Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 7, 10, 13, 14

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X Solidago spectabilis var. confinis

Southern Goldenrod


Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X Stephanomeria blairii Blair’s Wirelettuce 2 ft tall

3 ft. wide Pink/Su-F FS/PS

Well-

drained

1-2 to

2-3 13

Good bird,

pollinator plant

X * Tellima grandiflora Fringe Cups 1-2 ft tall spreading

White-Pink/Sp

PS/FSH Most 2-3 to 3 5, 8, 11, 13

N CA native;

showy, evergreen

X * Thalictrum fendleri

var. polycarpum

Mountain

Meadowrue 3-5 ft tall

2-3 ft wide White/Su PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3

1, 3, 5, 8, 10,

12-14, 19

Pretty flowers;

woodsy looking

X Urtica dioica ssp.

holosericea Hoary Nettle


Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 10, 13, 16, 20

Wear gloves to handle; edible

X * Venegasia

carpesioides Canyon Sunflower


Yellow/Sp-F PS Any 2 to 2-3 6, 13 Long-blooming; seeds for birds

X Verbena bracteata Big Bract Verbena ½ - 2 ft Lavender/ Su-Fa

FS ?any 2-3 to 3 10

Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering for good seed production

X Cirsium occidentale var. californicum &

occidentale

Cobwebby Thistle 4-6 ft tall 1-2 ft w.

Pink/Sp-Su FS Well-drained

1-2 13, 19, 21 May survive several seasons

X * Clarkia amoena Farewell to Spring 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide

Pink-red/ FS/PS any 1-2 5, 8, 10, 16,

19 & other commercial

Lovely flowers

X Clarkia purpurea Purple Clarkia 2-3 ft tall Lavender/ Sp-Su

FS/PS any 1-2 1, 2, 10, 13, 16

X Clarkia unguiculata Elegant Clarkia 2-5 ft tall Pink-purple/

Sp-Su FS/PS any 1 to 2-3

2, 5, 10, 13,

16

Needs drought

for seeds

X Claytonia perfoliata

ssp. perfoliata Miner’s Lettuce 1 ft tall White/Sp-Su PS/FSH any 1-2 2, 5, 10

X Collinsia heterophylla

var. heterphylla Chinese Houses 1-2 ft tall

Purple-white

Sp-Su PS/FSH any 1-2

1, 5, 10, 13,

16

Well-drained

soil

17


Flower/ season


Cryptantha intermedia White Forget- Me-

Nots 1-3 ft tall White/Sp-Su FS

Well-

drained 2-3 10

X Gilia tricolor Bird’s Eye Gilia 1-2 ft tall Yellow/Blue Sp

FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 2, 5, 10, 13 Easy; fragrant

X Helenium puberulum Rosilla; Sneezeweed

1-5 ft tall 1 ft wide

Yellow-brown/ Su

FS any 2-3 to 3 2, 6, 13, 21 Edible; pollinator plant;

X Helianthus annuus Common (Annual) Sunflower

5-8 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2 2, 10 (local var.)

easy

X Heterotheca grandiflora Telegraph Weed 4-5+ ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS Any 1-2 to 2 1, 2, 10, 16 Abundant reseeder

X Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp sessiliflora

Erect Goldenaster 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide

Yellow/F FS Sandy 2 3, 8, 13, 16 (? ssp)

Dune plant

X Lasthenia californica California Goldfields

< 1 ft tall Yellow/W-Sp FS any 1 to 1-2 10, 13 Salt tolerant

Lasthenia coronaria Royal Goldenfields < 1 ft tall Yellow/W-Sp FS any 1 to 2-3 10, Moderately salt tolerant

X Lasthenia glabrata ssp.

coulteri Coulter's Goldfields < 1 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS any 1 to 2-3 5, 10

Good for water gardens; salt tolerant

X Layia platyglossa Coastal Tidy-Tips 1-2 ft tall Yellow/white/ Sp

FS any 1 to 2-3 5, 10, 13 easy

X Limnanthes douglasii Meadowfoam < 1 ft tall Yellow/white Sp

FS any 1 to 2-3 5,

X Linanthus dianthiflorus Linanthus < 1 ft tall Purple-blue FS any 2-3 16

X Lupinus bicolor Miniature Lupine < 1 ft tall Blue/white FS/PS any 1- 2-3 2, 5, 10, 13

X Lupinus excubitus var.

hallii Grape Soda Lupine

2-4 ft tall &

wide Violet/Sp FS

Well-drained/s

andy 1 to 1-2

8 (other vars.

at 3, 10, 13)

Flowers smell

like grape soda

X * Lupinus nanus ssp. latifolius

Sky Lupine 1-2 ft tall Blue/white/ Sp

FS/PS any 2-3 2, 5, 10, 13

X * Madia elegans Common Madia 1-3 ft Yellow-red/ Su-F

FS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 5, 10, 16, 19 Foliage aroma of tropical fruit

X Microseris (Uropappus) lindleyi

Silver Puffs 1 ft tall Yellow/Sp-Su

FS Any 2-3 13 Showy seed heads

X Mimulus brevipes Widethroat Yellow Monkeyflower

2-3 ft tall Yellow/W-Spr

FS/PS Sandy or rocky

1-2 to 2-3

10, 13 Many blooms

X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower

1-5 ft tall Yellow/W-Spr

FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16

18


Flower/ season


Mimulus floribundus Many-flowered

Monkeyflower 1-2 ft tall

Yellow-

Red/W-Sp FS

Well-

drained 2-3 ?

X * Mimulus parishii Parish’s

Monkeyflower 1 ft tall &

wide

Pale pink /

Sp-Su FS

Any/

sandy 2 to 3

3, 5, 8, 10-13,

16, 19, 21, 24

Desert Mtns;

pondside

X * Mimulus pictus Calico

Monkeyflower < 6 in tall

& wide

Maroon-wht/

Sp PS

Well-

drained 2 to 3 8, 19 Sierra foothills

X * Nemophila maculata Five-Spot 1 ft tall Purple-

white/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 5, 10, 13, 16

Need summer

dry for seeds

X Nemophila menziesii var. menzeisii

Baby Blue-eyes 1-2 ft tall Blue/Sp-Su PS/FSH any 2-3 5, 10, 13, 16 easy

Nicotiana quadrivalvis

var. bigelovii Indian Tobacco 1-3 ft tall White/Su FS any 2-3 10 Sweet scent

X Nuttallanthus/Linaria

canadensis Blue Toadflax 1-3 ft tall Blue/Sp-Su FS/PS

Sandy

best 2-3 16,

X Oenothera elata ssp.

hirsutissima & hookeri

Hooker’s Evening

Primrose 5+ ft tall Yellow/Su FS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 10, 16

Abundant

reseeders

X Phacelia grandiflora Large-flowered Phacelia

1-3 ft tall Purple/Sp FS/PS

Well-

drained/ sandy

2 to 3 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19

Very showy

X Phacelia parryi Parry’s Phacelia

(Fiddleneck) 1-3 ft tall

Purple-white/Sp


2-3 13, 16

X Phacelia tanacetifolia Purple fiddleneck 1-3 ft tall Purple/Sp-

Su FS/PS

Any well-

drained 2-3 to 3 5, 10, 13,

Easy, pretty,

scent, cut flower

X Phacelia viscida Sticky Phacelia 1-2 ft tall Blue-White/Sp

FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3

2, 8, 19 Easy, pretty

X Plantago erecta California

(Dotseed) Plantain < 1 ft tall White/green FS/PS any 2-3 2, 16

Plantago ovata Desert Plantain < 1 ft tall White-

green/Sp FS

Any well-

drained 2-3 10, 16 Maybe old alien

X

Sairocarpus

(Antirrhinum) coulterianus

Coulter's Snapdragon

2-3 ft tall White/Su FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 1, 13,

X Sairocarpus (Antirrhinum) nuttallianus ssp.

nuttallianus & subsessile Violet Snapdragon 2-3 ft tall Violet/Su FS/PS

Well-drained

2-3 1, 13,

X Silene laciniata Red Catchfly 1-2 ft tall Red-pink/ Sp

FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 3, 12

Tolerates

seaside conditions

19


Flower/ season


Stephanomeria virgata

?ssp. pleurocarpa Wand Wreathplant Med-tall

Pale Purple/ Su

FS Any 2-3 2, 19

X Trifolium

albopurpureum Indian Clover < 1 ft

Purple-white/Sp

FS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2-3

5, 16 Pollinator plant; edible

X Trifolium ciliolatum Tree clover 1-3 ft Pink-purple/Sp


1-2 to 2-3


X Trifolium fucatum Bull Clover/Sour Clover

1-3 ft Yellow/ FS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2-3


X Trifolium gracilentum Pin-point Clover 1-3 ft Pink-purple/Sp

FS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2-3


X Trifolium microcephalum

Small-head Clover Pink-purple/ Sp-Su

FS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2-3

10, 16

Trifolium obtusiflorum Creek (Clammy) Clover

1-2 ft tall & wide

Lavender/ Sp-Su


2 to 3 10, 16 Pollinator plant; edible

X Trifolium willdenovii Tomcat Clover 1-2 ft Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3

10, 16, 19 Can spread

Cacti and Succulents

X * Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf

Stonecrop < 1 ft tall spreading

Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2 to 3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13 San Gabriels

Ferns and Fern-like Plants

X Adiantum capillus-veneris

Common Maidenhair

1-3 ft tall & wide

none PS/FSH Well-drained

2-3 to 3 7, 8, 11, 13, 29

'Banksianum'

X Adiantum jordanii CA Maidenhair 1-3 ft & wide

none PS/FSH Well-drained

1-2 to 2 13 difficult to grow

X Dryopteris arguta Coastal Woodfern 2-3 ft tall &

wide None PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2 to 3 7, 11, 19

Lovely, soft fronds; woodsy look

Pellea andromedia

X * Polystichum munitum Western Sword Fern

3-6 ft tall & wide

None PS/FSH Rich 2-3 to 3 7, 8, 13, 14, 19, 20

Woodsy look; regal;evergreen

Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens

Hairy (Western) Bracken Fern


None FS Most incl sandy

2 or 2-3 11 Large; woodsy

Thelypteris puberula var. sonorensis

Sonoran Maidenfern


None PS/FSH Most 2-3 or 3 19 Exotic-looking

X Woodwardia fimbriata Giant Chain Fern 5-8 ft tall 3-9 ft w.

none PS/FSH Any; not alkali

2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 14, 19

Grows in seeps in wild

20


Flower/ season


Bulbs and Corms

X Iris douglasiana Douglas iris 1-2 ft Purple/Sp PS See note 1 to 2 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16

Drought tolerant if

mulched

X * Lilium pardalinum Leopard Lily 3-6 ft tall &

wide

Orange/

Sp-Su PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3

1, 8, 11, 13,

30, 31, 33

Gorgeous

flowers

* Lilium rubescens Chaparral Lily 2-4 ft tall 1-2 ft wide

Pale pink/ PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 31 Very fragrant

X * Lilium washingtonianum

Washington Lily 3-6 ft tall 2-3 ft wide

White/ Sp-Su

PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 31 Gorgeous flowers

X Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup

< 2 ft Yellow/ Sp-Su

PS sandy 1-2 to 3 1, 13 Very well-drained soils

X Sisyrinchium bellum Western Blue-eyed Grass

1-2 ft Purple-yellow/Sp

FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18

X * Sisyrinchium californicum

Yellow-eyed Grass 1-2 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS/PS Any 2 to 3 3, 5, 8, 13, 14, 20

Pond-edge plant

X Tritelia laxa incl ‘Queen Fabiola’

Ithuriel’s Spear 1-2 ft Purple/Sp FS/PS Most 1 1, 8, 13, 18, 19, 33

Lovely – garden favorite

Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)

Agrostis exarata Spike Bentgrass 1-4 ft tall Cool-seas. perennial

bunchgrass FS/PS Not alkali 1-2 to 3 10, 16

X Agrostis pallens Seashore Bentgrass; Thin

Grass

1-2 ft tall

cool-seas.

perennial bunchgrass Can mow

FS/PS Not alkali 1-2 to 2-3 4, 10, 13, 16 'Camp Pendleton'

Bothriochloa

(Andropogon) barbinodis

Cane beardgrass 2-4 ft tall 1-3 ft wide

Warm-seas. Perennial

bunchgrass FS

Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 7 Coarse-looking

X * Bouteloua gracilis Blue Gramma 1-2 ft tall

Warm-seas.

Perennial bunch/sod grass

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16

X * Calamagrostis foliosa Leafy (Mendocino) Reed Grass

1-2 ft tall & wide

cool-season bunchgrass

FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 1, 3, 8, 13 Nice foliage color

X * Calamagrostis

nutkaensis Pacific Reed Grass

3-4 ft tall &

wide

cool-season

bunchgrass FS/PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 1, 4, 5, 8, 13

Can plant

densely

21


Flower/ season


X * Carex barbarae Santa Barbara

Sedge 1-2 ft tall

to 3 ft w

Evergreen

sod sedge FS/PS Any 2 to 3 3, 8, 13, 16

May be invasive

(containerize)

* Carex nudata California Black-

flowering Sedge 1-3 ft tall

Cool-season

sod sedge PS/ FSH

Sandy 2 to 3 3, 4 Can grow in

water

X * Carex pansa (C.

praegracilis sometimes mislabled as this)

Sand Dune Sedge 1 ft tall

shear 1-2 time/ yr

Cool-season clump sedge

FS/PS Very sandy

2 to 2-3 3, 4, 6, 8

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

* Carex pellita Wooly sedge 13 San Gabriels

X Carex praegracilis Clustered Field Sedge/CA Meadow

Sedge

1-2 ft tall Cool-season, sod sedge

FS/PS Clays best

2-3 1, 2, 4, 7, 13

X Carex spissa San Diego Sedge 2-4 ft tall 2-3 ft wide

Cool-season, sod sedge

FS/PS/FSH Clays best

1 to 3 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13

Substitute for Pampas Grass

X Carex subfusca Rusty Slender Sedge

< 1 ft tall spreading

Cool-season

Evergreen sedge

FS/PS/FSH Most 2 to 3 6, 9, 11, 13

Lawn

substitute; swales

X Carex tumulicola Berkeley Sedge 2 ft tall &

wide

Cool-season,

sod sedge FS/PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3

1, 6, 7, 8, 9,

13

Cyperus eragrostis Umbrella Sedge/ Tall Flat-sedge

2-4 ft tall clumping

Warm-

season, sod sedge

FS.PS any 1-2 to 3 7, 10, 13

X * Danthonia Californica California Oatgrass 2-3 ft tall Cool-season perennial

bunchgrass FS/PS any 2 to 3 6, 8, 10

Evergreen;

tolerates walking; good for small areas

X * Deschampsia cespitosa

Tufted hairgrass 1-2 ft tall & wide

Cool-season bunchgrass

FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 4-8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18

X Deschampsia elongata Slender Hairgrass 2-4 ft tall Cool-season perennial

bunchgrass PS/ FSH any

2-3 to 3 1 – dies

back

5, 10, 13, 16 Fine-texture; very green

X

* Deschampsia

holciformis (D. cespitosa ssp.

hociformis)

Pacific Hairgrass 1-3 ft tall Cool-season perennial

bunchgrass FS any 2-3 to 3

5, 8, 10, 13, 16

Salt-tolerant

X Distichlis spicata Saltgrass 1 ft tall

spreading

Warm-seas.,

sod grass FS any 1 to 2-3

2, 3, 8, 10, 13,

14, 16

Can be mowed

X Eleocharis montevidensis var.

montevidensis

Sand Spikerush 1-2 ft tall spreading

Cool-season, sod sedge

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 9

22


Flower/ season


X Eleocharis palustris Common

Spikerush 1-2 ft tall

spreading

Cool-season,

sod sedge FS Any 1-2 to 3

1, 2, 7, 10, 13,

16

X Elymus glaucus Blue (Western) Wildrye



PS/FSH Any; not shallow

1-2 to 2-3 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16

Salt-sensitive; coarse-looking;

re-seeds well

Elymus multisetus Big Squirreltail 1-3 ft tall,

wide

Cool-season

bunchgrass FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2 10, 16 Showy

Equisetum hyemale subsp. affine

Common Horsetail 2-4 ft tall 1-6 ft w

Perennial rush

FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 4, 8 Will grow in standing water;

contain

X Equisetum laevigatum Smooth Horsetail 2-5 ft tall spreading

Perennial FS Clays best

2-3 to 3 8

Eragrostis mexicana Mexican Lovegrass 1-2 ft tall & wide

Warm season

annual FS any ?

X * Festuca californica CA Fescue <1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft wide


FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19

‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse Mountain Green', 'Serpentine Blue'

X * Festuca idahoensis Blue Bunchgrass < 1 ft tall

& wide

Cool-season

bunchgrass FS/PS any 2 to 3

1, 5, 7, 10, 13,

16, 19, 20

‘Warren Peak’,

‘Siskiyou Blue’

X * Festuca rubra Red Fescue 1-2 ft tall

spreading

Cool-season bunch/sod

grass; can mow

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 3, 5, 8, 10, 13,

16

Easy; Blue-green; ‘Molate’

‘Patrick’s Point’, ‘Jughandle’

X Hordeum brachyantherum ssp.

californicum

CA Meadow Barley 1-2 ft tall &

wide

Cool-season

bunch FS any 1-2 to 2-3

16 (other vars./ unk at

5, 10, 13)

Good for

erosion control

Hordeum depressum Dwarf (Alkali) Barley

1-2 ft tall < 1 ft wide

Cool-season annual

FS

Any incl.

alkali, salt

1-2 to 3 16 Good for erosion control

Hordeum jubatum Fox-tail Barley 1-3 ft tall

1-2 ft w.

Cool-season

bunch FS any 1-2 to 2-3 4, 10, 16 invasive

X Isolepis (Scirpus)

cernuus

Fiber Optic Grass;

Miniature Tule 1 ft tall

1-2 ft wide

Cool-season, sod rush; cut

back in winter

PS/ FSH

Sandy

best 2-3 to 3 3, 4, 13

good for pond

edges

X Juncus acutus ssp.

leopoldii Spiny Rush

2-5 ft tall &

wide

Cool-season,

sod rush FS/PS

Any incl.

alk./salty 2-3 3, 10, 14, 16

Sharp tips; good barrier plant

X Juncus balticus Baltic Rush 1-4 ft tall 1-2 ft w.

Sod rush FS Any incl. alk./salty

2-3 3, 16

23


Flower/ season


X * Juncus bolanderi Bolander’s Rush 1-2 ft tall Perennial rhizome rush

FS Any incl. salty

2-3 to 3 1, 13 Showy seedheads

X Juncus bufonius var

bufonius & congesta Toad Rush

< 1 ft tall

& wide Annual rush FS

Any incl.

salty 1-2 to 3 10, 16

X * Juncus effusus Bog/Common Rush 1-3 ft tall

& wide

Perennial

rhizome rush FS/PS

Any; sandy

best 1-2 to 3

1, 3, 4, 7, 8,

13, 14

Good around pools; ‘Quartz

Creek’

X Juncus mexicanus Mexican Rush < 1 ft tall & wide

Perennial rhizome rush

FS Any incl. salty

1-2 to 2-3 3, 10, 14, 16

X Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide

Spreading/ bunching perennial

rush

FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19

‘Carmen’s Gray’ is blue-gray

X Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall 3-8 ft wide

Spreading/

bunching perennial rush

FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 2, 14 Showy; Good for wet planter,

pondside

X Juncus xiphioides Iris-leaf rush 1 ½ ft tall spreading

Spreading rush

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16

Best in contained places if

watered

X Koeleria macrantha Prairie Junegrass 1-3 ft tall & wide


FS/PS

Any;

sandy best

1-2 to 2-3

1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19

Showy

X Poa secunda (scabrella) One-sided Bluegrass

1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide

Cool-season

perennial bunchgrass; light mow

FS/PS

well-drained

best

1-2 to 2-3

2, 10, 16

Most cultivars

are northern; fine textured; reseeds

X Sporobolus airoides Alkali sacaton 2-3 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Warm-season

bunchgrass FS/PS

well-drained

best 2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16

Salt-tolerant; alkali fine

9/7/08

I : X = Gardening Information Sheet available on-line (http://www.nbs.csudh.edu/biology/projectsound/) or at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center

* may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant ** light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade + Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;

2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn)

http://www.nbs.csudh.edu/biology/projectsound/

Education

South bay native plants for water zone 2 3 transitions - 8-13