Native Plants

California native plants have evolved to be well adapted to our dry summer/wet winter climate, plus they support native birds and insects. They are generally water-wise choices for landscaping.

Remember, though, that California contains a wide variety of growing conditions, from sandy deserts to moist creek sides. Some plants are broadly adaptable while others have specific soil, water, or sun requirements. For gardening success, try to select plants whose growing requirements best match your landscape's conditions.

Please understand that some varieties may sell out quickly or not be available due to germination difficulties.

Native plant list

Early Onion, Allium praecox

Perennial, summer deciduous. Flowers pink w/ purple vein in March–May. 2–3' tall and wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers heavy soil. Part sun

One Leaf Onion, Allium unifolium

Perennial, summer deciduous. Flowers lavender, pink, yellow, white, purple in May–June. 1–2' tall x 1" wide. Low/no water once established. Prefers heavy soil. Hardy to 10°F. Full/part sun.

Narrowleaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis

Perennial, winter deciduous. White or lavender flowers in June–Sept. Hosts monarch & queen butterflies and birds. 2–3' tall x 1' wide. Water 2/month once established. Hardy to 5°F. Full/part sun

Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa

Perennial, winter deciduous. White or pink flower in June–July. Very easy to grow. 4–6' tall x 4' wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Hardy to -5°F. Full sun

Owl's Clover, Castilleja exserta

Annual, hemiparasite of native grasses. Lavender, pink, purple or white flowers in March–June. 18" tall x 12" wide. Very low water once established. Prefers draining soil. Hardy to 15°F. Full sun

Hairy Ceanothus, Ceanothus oliganthus

Shrub, evergreen. Flowers blue, purple in March–May. Attracts birds, butterflies & native bees. 10' tall x 12' wide. Water 1/month once established. Hardy to 15°F. Full sun.

Chinese Houses, Collinsia heterophylla

Annual. Blue, lavender or purple flowers in Feb–April. Attracts butterflies & native bees. Very easy to grow. 4–18" tall x 4" wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers rich soil. Part/full sun

California Sand Aster, Corethrogyne filaginofolia

Perennial, evergreen. Pink, purple or white flowers in June–Oct. 1–3' tall x 1–6' wide. Water 1/week once established. Hardy to 5°F. Full/part sun

San Bernadino Larkspur, Delphinium parryi

Perennial, summer deciduous. Blue flowers in Apr–June. Attracts hummingbirds & native bees. 2–4' tall. Hardy to 27°F. Full/part sun

Sticky Monkey Flower, Diplacus aurantiacus

Perennial, evergreen. Orange flowers in March–Aug. Attracts hummingbirds, birds & native bees. 4–5' tall x 5' wide. Water 1/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Hardy to 15°F. Part/full sun.

Red Bush Monkey Flower, Diplacus puniceus

Shrub, summer semi–deciduous. Red or orange flowers in March–Aug. 1–2' tall x 2–3' wide. Water 1/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Hardy to 15°F. Part/full sun

Bottle-Brush Grass, Elymus californica

Grass. Large nodding bottle-brush-like spikes in May–Aug. Wide strap-like leaves. Rare, endemic to central CA coast. Zone 9. Deer resistant. 3–7' tall. Regular water once established. Prefers loamy soil. Hardy to 20°F. Full/part sun

Coffee Berry, Frangula californica

Shrub, evergreen. Very small white flowers in Jun–Aug. Edible berries. Attracts birds, native bees & butterflies. Very easy to grow. 6–15' tall x 5–15' wide. Water 2/month once established. Hardy to 10°F. Full/part sun

Gum Plant, Grindelia camporum

Perennial. Yellow flowers in April–Oct. Attracts butterflies. Very easy to grow. 2–6' tall x 3' wide. Water 1/month once established. Hardy to 15°F. Full sun

Island Alum Root, Heuchera maxima

Perennial, evergreen. Pink or white flowers in Feb–May. Attracts hummingbirds. 1–2' tall x 2' wide. Water 3/month once established. Hardy to 12°F. Full/part sun

Common Rush, Juncus patens

Grass, evergreen. Flowers red, brown. Deer resistant. Seeds in June–Oct. 1–3' tall x 3' wide. Water 1/month once established. Hardy to 15°F. Full sun

Smooth Tidy Tips, Layia chrysanthemoides

Annual. Yellow flower w/white tips in March–June. 18" tall. Water in spring. Prefers heavy soil. Full sun

Coastal Tidy Tips, Layia platyglossa

Annual. 2" white tipped yellow flowers in Feb–May. Nectar for checkerspot butterflies. 6–24" tall and wide. Water 3/month once established. Prefers clay or loamy soil. Hardy to -5°F. Full sun

Silver Lupine, Lupinus albifrons

Shrub, evergreen. Blue–violet flowers in April–July. Very easy to grow. 3–5' tall x 2–3' wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Hardy to -10°F. Full sun

Sky Lupine, Lupinus nanus

Annual. Bright blue flowers in March–May. Glossy leaves. Attracts birds & native bees. 4–24" tall x 12" wide. Water 2/month once established. Full sun

Five Spot, Nemophila maculata

Annual. White flowers with blue or purple spots in Feb–Apr in Sierra foothills. Excellent for pollinators. 6–12" tall x 12" wide. Keep moist. Prefers fast draining soil. Full/part sun

Baby Blue Eyes, Nemophila menziesii

Annual. Blue flowers with white center in March–July. 6" tall x 5" wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full/part sun

Showy Penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis

Perennial, evergreen. Flowers blue, pink, purple in April–June. Attracts birds, hummingbirds & native bees. 2–4' tall x 3–4' wide. Water 1/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Hardy to 0°F. Full sun

Lacy Phacelia, Phacelia tanacetifolia

Annual. Blue to lavender 1/2" flowers w/clover scent in dense spikes in March–May. Finely cut leaves. CA to Mexico. Attracts pollinators. 2–4' tall x 1.5' wide. Water 1/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun

Creamcups, Platystemon californicus

Annual. White flowers in March–May. Found in masses with baby blue eyes & meadowfoam. Attracts native bees. 8–12" tall x 6" wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun

Buttercup, Ranunculus californicus

Perennial, summer dormant. Yellow flowers in Feb–May. Attracts native bees. 6–25" tall x 6" wide. No water once established. Hardy to 10°F. Part/full sun

Thimbleberry, Rubus Parviflorus

Shrub, winter deciduous. White-pink flowers in March–May. Red raspberry-like fruit, sweet & tart, edible. Found in moist shady woodland. Zones 3–10. Prickly. 4–8' tall x spreading. Water 1/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Part sun

White Sage, Salvia apiana

Shrub. Aromatic bluish-white floliage. Tall white flower stalks Apr–July. Deer resistant. 3–5' tall x 3–8' wide. Water 1/month once established. Hardy to 0°F. Full sun

Chia, Salvia columbariae

Annual. Blue-purple flowers in March–July. Edible seeds. Found in dry, hot, sunny areas. 4–15" tall x 12" wide. Water 2/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun

Rose Sage Salvia pachyphylla

Dense 4" spikes of blue-violet flowers in July–Sept. Attracts hummingbirds, birds & native bees.1–3' tall x 2–3’ wide. No/low water once established. Hardy to 30°F. Full/part sun

Purple Needlegrass, Stipa pulchra

Bunch grass, evergreen. Flowers cream, green purple, red in March–May. Very easy to grow. CA state grass. 3' tall x 1.5' wide. Water 1/month once established. Hardy to 5°F. Full sun

Pacific Aster, Symphyotrichum chilense

Perennial, winter deciduous. Pale lilac daisy-like flowers in July-Aug, deadhead for more. Can copice in winter. Fast growing. Deer resistant. Attracts bees, birds & butterflies (nectar). Very easy care. Spreads by rhizomes. 1–3' tall x 3' wide. Water 2/month once established. Hardy to 5°F. Part/full sun

Tom Cat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii

Annual. Lavender & white flowers in April–May. Attracts native bees. Very easy to grow. Water 2/month once established. Tolerates clay soil. Full sun

San Diego Sunflower, Viguiera laciniata (Bahiopsis laciniata)

Perennial, evergreen. Yellow flowers in Feb–June. Very easy to grow. Attracts butterflies & bees. Prune after flowering. 1–3' tall x 3–4' wide. Water 1/month once established. Hardy to 30°F. Full sun

Top of page