Events Calendar > Spring Garden Fair
California native plants have evolved to be well adapted to our dry summer/wet winter climate, and they support native birds and insects. They are generally water-wise choices for landscaping.
Remember 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
California Buckeye, Aesculus californica
Shrub/small tree, summer deciduous. Showy white flower spikes in spring, toxic fruits. 15 to 25 feet tall, 25 to 40 feet wide. Very low water. Full/part sun. Hardy to -5°F
Dutchman's Pipe, Aristolochia californica
Perennial vine, winter deciduous. Cream with purple stripe flowers from January through April. Deer resistant. 1 to 20 feet tall, spreading. Water about once per month. Slow draining soil. Part sun. Hardy to 25°F
Coast Sagebrush, Artemisia californica
Perennial, evergreen. Adapts to various soils. Fragrant grey foliage. 1 to 8 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide. Water one per month once established. Full sun. Hardy to 20°F
Narrowleaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis
Perennial, winter deciduous. White or lavender flowers from June through September. Hosts monarch and queen butterflies and birds. 2 to 3 feet tall by 1 foot wide. Water twice per month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 5°F
Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa
Perennial, winter deciduous. White or pink flowers from June through July. Very easy to grow. Hosts Monarch butterflies. 4 to 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to -5°F
Owl's Clover, Castilleja exserta
Annual, hemiparasite of native grasses. Lavender, pink, purple, or white flowers from March through June. Being grown in the same pot with Purple Needlegrass. 18 inches tall by 12 inches wide. Very low water once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Farewell to Spring, Clarkia amoena
Annual. Lavender, pink, purple-red flowers June through August. Good in containers. Deer resistant. Supports bees, butterflies. 2 to 3 feet tall by 6 to 12 inches wide. Full sun
Purple Clarkia, Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera
Annual. Lavender flowers from April through July. Good in containers. Attracts pollinators. 3 feet tall by 1 foot wide. Full sun
Ruby Chalice Clarkia, Clarkia rubicunda
Annual. Pink, red, or purple flowers from May through August. Endemic. Deer resistant. Good in containers. Attracts pollinators. 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Full sun
Mountain Garland, Clarkia unguiculata
Annual. White flowers from June through September. 1 to 3 feet tall by 1 foot wide. Full sun
Chinese Houses, Collinsia heterophylla
Annual. Blue, lavender, or purple flowers from February through April. Attracts butterflies and native bees. Very easy to grow. 4 to 18 inches tall by 4 inches wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers rich soil. Part/full sun
San Bernadino Larkspur, Delphinium parryi
Perennial, summer deciduous. Blue flowers in April through June. Attracts hummingbirds and native bees. Grows 2 to 4 feet tall. Full/part sun. Hardy to 27°F
Red Bush Monkey Flower, Diplacus puniceus
Shrub, summer semi-deciduous. Red or orange flowers in March through August. 1 to 2 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Water once per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Panicled Willow Herb, Epilobium brachycarpum
Annual. Purple flowers July through October. Low water. Attracts hummingbirds and other birds. Good in containers. Grows 8 to 60 inches tall. Adapts to soil. Full/part sun.
California Fuchsia, Epilobium canum
Perennial, winter semi-deciduous. Summer flowering native bears red flowers from August through October. Low/very low water. Attracts hummingbirds. 3 to 18 inches tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Full/part sun. Hardy to 5 to 10°F
California Buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum
Shrub, evergreen. Yellow, cream, pink, white flowers from April through September. Supports birds, bees, caterpillars, and pollinators. 1 to 7 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Water once per month once established. Likes loam. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Nude Buckwheat, Eriogonum nudum
Shrub, summer semi-deciduous. Pink flowers from May through August. 6 to 12 inches tall by 4 to 7 inches wide. Water a maximum of once per month once established. Adapts to soil. Full sun. Hardy to -10°F
Sulphur Buckwheat, Eriogonum umbellatum
Perennial, evergreen. Yellow flowers from August through October. Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies. 4 to 84 inches tall by 5 feet wide. Water a maximum of 3 times per month. Draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 0°F
Golden Yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum
Shrub, winter deciduous. Yellow flowers from February through August. Very low/low water. Water a maximum of 2 times per month once established. Tolerates clay. 2 feet tall and wide. Full sun. Hardy to 5°F
Coffeeberry, Frangula californica
Shrub, evergreen. Cream flowers from June through August, edible berries. Supports butterflies. 6 to 15 feet tall and wide. Water twice per month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 10°F
California Gilia, Gilia achilleifolia
Annual. Blue or lavender flowers from February through April. Attracts bees and butterflies. Grows 2 to 28 inches tall. Full sun and full shade
California Gilia, White, Gilia achilleifolia
Annual. Erect white flowers from February through April. Supports bees, caterpillars, and pollinators. Grows 2 to 28 inches tall. Full sun or full shade
Great Valley Gum Plant, Grindelia camporum v. camporum
Perennial. Yellow daisy-like flowers from April through October. Supports butterflies. Water once per month once established. 2 to 6 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Island Alum Root, Heuchera maxima
Perennial, evergreen. Pink or white flowers from February through May. Attracts hummingbirds. 1 to 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Water 3 times per month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 12°F
Iris Canyon Snow, Iris douglasiana
Perennial, evergreen. Large white flowers with yellow spots in spring. Tolerates a variety of soils. 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Low water. Full sun to shade. Hardy to 0°F
Munz Iris, Iris munzii
Perennial, evergreen. Pale lavender flowers in spring. Endemic. Deer resistant. 1 to 2 feet tall, spreading. Low water. Full/part sun. Hardy to 15°F
Woodland Layia, Layia gaillardiodes
Annual. Yellow flowers from April through May. Attracts bees and butterflies. Endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area. 3 feet tall. Full sun
Coastal Tidy Tips, Layia platyglossa
Annual. 2-inch, white-tipped, yellow flowers from February through May. Nectar for checkerspot butterflies. 6 to 24 inches tall and wide. Water 3 times per month once established. Prefers clay or loamy soil. Full sun
Douglas’ Meadowfoam, Limnanthes douglasii ssp rosea
Annual. White flowers from March through May. Found in masses with baby blue eyes and meadowfoam. Attracts native bees. 8 to 12 inches tall by 6 inches wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun
Silver Bush Lupine, Lupinus albifrons
Shrub, evergreen. Blue-violet flowers from April through July. Very easy to grow. 3 to 5 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to -10°F
Chick Lupine, Lupinus microcarpus
Annual. Yellow/pink/purple flowers from May through June. Attracts birds, bees, and pollinators. 4 to 31 inches tall by 1 foot wide. Moderate water. Draining soil. Full/part sun
Sky Lupine, Lupinus nanus
Annual. Bright blue flowers from March through May. Glossy leaves. Attracts birds and native bees. 4 to 24 inches tall by 12 inches wide. Water twice per month once established. Full sun
Rodeo Rose Lupine, Lupinus succulentus ‘Rodeo Rose’
Annual. Selected native variety. Pink flowers from February through May. 2 to 3 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide. Moderate water. Adapts to soil. Full/part sun.
Bush Monkey Flower, Mimulus aurantiacus
Perennial, evergreen. Orange flowers from March through August. Attracts hummingbirds, birds, and native bees. 4 to 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Water once per month once established. Prefers well-draining soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Lewis’ Monkey Flower, Mimulus lewisii
Perennial, winter dormant. Pink flowers June through August. Good in containers. Supports pollinators. 1 to 3 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide. Regular water. Draining soil. Part sun. Hardy to 20°F
Five Spot, Nemophila maculata
Annual. White flowers with blue or purple spots from February through April in the Sierra foothills. Excellent for pollinators. 6 to 12 inches tall by 12 inches wide. Keep moist. Prefers fast draining soil. Full/part sun
Baby Blue Eyes, Nemophila menziesii
Annual. Blue flowers with a white center from March through July. 6 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full/part sun
Yellow Evening Primrose Oenothera elata
Perennial. Yellow/orange flowers from June through September. 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Water once or twice per month once established. Full/part sun
Bladderpod, Peritoma arborea
Shrub, evergreen. Yellow flowers from November through June. Attracts hummingbirds. Deer resistant. Low/very low water. Draining soil. 2 to 7 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Full sun. Hardy to 0°F
Lacy Phacelia, Phacelia tanacetifolia
Annual. Blue to lavender ½ inch flowers with a clover scent in dense spikes from March through May. Finely cut leaves. California to Mexico. Attracts pollinators. 2 to 4 feet tall by 1½ feet wide. Water once per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun
Dotseed Plantain, Plantago erecta
Annual. Needle-like leaves, with brown and white flowers from March through April. Host for Bay Checkerspot Butterfly. Grows 2 to 10 inches tall. Very low water. Full/part sun
Creamcups, Platystemon californicus
Annual. White flowers from March through May. Found in masses with baby blue eyes and meadowfoam. Attracts native bees. 8 to 12 inches tall by 6 inches wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun
Catalina Island Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
Tree, evergreen. White or cream flowers from May through June. Edible cherries with large pits. Attracts pollinators. 25 to 40 feet tall by 20 feet wide. Water twice per month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 10 to 20°F
White Sage, Salvia apiana
Shrub. Aromatic bluish-white foliage. Tall white flower stalks from April through July. Deer resistant. 3 to 5 feet tall by 3 to 8 feet wide. Water once per month once established. Full sun. Hardy to 0°F
Chia, Salvia columbariae
Annual. Blue-purple flowers from March through July. Edible seeds. Found in dry, hot, sunny areas. 4 to 15 inches tall by 12 inches wide. Water twice per month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full sun
Hummingbird Sage, Salvia spathacea
Perennial, evergreen. Pink or red flower stalks from February through July. 1 to 3 feet tall, spreads via underground runners. Very low water. Variety of soils. Full/part sun. Hardy to 0°F
Purple Needlegrass, Stipa pulchra
Bunch grass, evergreen. Cream, green, and purple-red needle flowers from March through May. Very easy to grow. Califonia state grass. 3 feet tall by 1½ feet wide. Water once per month once established. Full sun. Hardy to 5°F
California/Pacific Aster, Symphyotrichum chilense
Perennial, winter deciduous. Pale lilac daisy-like flowers in July-August, deadhead for more. Can copice in winter. Fast growing. Deer resistant. Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies. Very easy care. Spreads by rhizomes. 1 to 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Water twice per month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 5°F
Vinegarweed, Trichostema lanceolatum
Annual. Green, purple, and blue flowers from August through October. 3 feet tall. Low water. Full sun
Tom Cat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii
Annual. Lavender and white flowers from April through May. Attracts native bees. Very easy to grow. Low, spreading, reseeds. Water twice per month once established. Tolerates clay soil. Full sun