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
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
White Coast Ceanothus, Ceanothus verrucosus
Shrub, evergreen. White flowers w/black center from January through April. Tolerates minimal trimming. 4 to 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide. Water once per month once established. Draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 30°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
Bladderpod, Cleomella arborea
Shrub, evergreen. Yellow flowers then large pods of seeds from November through June. Supports hummingbirds. Native to southern California. Bank stabilizer. Deer resistant. Very low water. Draining soil. 2 to 7 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Full sun. Hardy to 0°F
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
Bush Monkey Flower, Diplacus aurantiacus
Shrub, evergreen. Orange, red, yellow flowers March through August. Locally native. Supports hummingbirds, birds, native bees, and 1 to 7 butterflies. Deer resistant. 4 to 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Low water. Draining soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Calico Monkey Flower, Diplacus pictus
Annual. White flowers with dramatic purple markings March through May. Supports hummingbirds, birds and native bees. Good in containers. Native around Bakersfield. 1 to 16 inches tall. Regular water. Fast draining soil. Full sun.
Red Bush Monkey Flower, Diplacus puniceus
Shrub, summer semi-deciduous. Red or orange flowers from March through August. Good in containers. Deer resistant. Attracts hummingbirds and bees. 1 to 2 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Low water. Draining soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat, Eriogonum arborescens
Shrub, evergreen. Pink/white flowers in April turn brown by October. Supports birds and native bees. Bank stabilizer. Very low water. Adapts to soil. Full sun. Hardy 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
Red Buckwheat, Eriogonum grande var. rubesens
Perennial, evergreen. Rare. Rose red flowers from April through October. Deer resistant. Native to Catalina Islands. Supports birds and native bees. Good for containers and groundcover. Deadhead for more flowers. 6 to 18 inches tall by 3 feet wide. Very low water. Clay or loam soil. Full sun. Hardy to 20°F
Common Wooly Sunflower, Eriophyllum lanatum
Perennial, summer semi-deciduous. Yellow flowers May through August. Locally native. Supports native bees. 1 to 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Very low water. Adapts to soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to -15°F
Scarlet Monkeyflower, Erythranthe cardinalis
Perennial. Red/orange flowers March through May. Native in moist areas. Supports hummingbirds, birds and native bees. Good in containers or by water features. 2 to 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Moderate to high water, keep moist. Part/full sun. Hardy to -34°F
Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa
Shrub, summer semi-deciduous. Purple, pink, white flowers May through June. Native to Mojave Desert. Supports 2 butterflies. Good in containers. 3 to 7 feet tall x 8 feet wide. Low to moderate water. Fast draining soil. Full/part sun. Hardy to -5°F
California Fescue, Festuca californica
Grass, evergreen. Fast growing in clumps. Very small yellow flowers February through April. Locally native in hills. Lawn alternative. Easy to grow. 1 to 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Very low water. Clay or loam soil. Full/part sun. Hardy to 30°F
Woodland Strawberry, Fragaria vesca
Perennial. White flowers from February through May. Edible fruits. Locally native in cool areas. Supports birds and 1 to 42 butterflies. Good in containers. Groundcover. 1 to 12 inches tall by 3 feet wide. Full/part shade. Hardy to -5°F
Flannel Bush, Fremontodendron californicum
Shrub, evergreen. Yellow/orange flowers May through June. Native in Santa Cruz mountains. Supports 1 to 3 butterflies. Hard pruning can kill this plant. 6 to 20 feet tall x 20 feet wide. Low water. Fast draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 30°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
Globe Gilia, Gilia capitata
Annual. Blue-lavender flowers February through April. Locally native. Supports native bees & 1 to 5 butterflies. 4 to 36 inches tall. Very low water. Draining soil. Full sun
Great Valley Gum Plant, Grindelia 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
Sunflower, Helianthus annuus
Annual. Orange/yellow flowers with brown centers June through Oct. Supports birds, native bees, and 9 to 28 butterflies. 5 to 10 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Low water. Full sun
Smooth Tidy Tips, Layia chrysanthemoides
Annual. Yellow flower with white tips from March through June. 18 inches tall. Water in spring. Prefers heavy soil. Full sun
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
Common 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
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
Dark Pink Lupine, Lupinus microcarpus v. densiflorus
Annual. Pink to purple flowers from May through June. Locally native. Supports birds, native bees and 2 to 53 butterflies. 4 to 31 inches tall by 1 foot wide. Moderate water. Fast draining soil. Full 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
Arroyo Lupine, Lupinus succulentus
Annual. Blue, lavender, white flowers from February through May. Locally native in hills. Supports birds, native bees, and 1 to 51 butterflies. 2 to 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Moderate water. Clay soil. Full/part 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.
Chaparral Mallow, Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Shrub, evergreen. Pink flowers from April through July. Supports hummingbirds, birds, and 3 to 4 butterflies. 3 to 16 feet tall by 10 feet wide. Low water once established. Draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens
Grass, evergreen. Yellow/cream flowers from May through June. Supports birds. Native in Central Valley. Bank stabilizer. Deer sleep on this, not eat it. Cut back in fall to keep shape and size. 4 to 5 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Full 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
Hollyleaf Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia
Tree, evergreen. Cream flowers from February to April. Edible cherries are tart with very large pits. Locally native in hills. Support 4 to140 butterflies. Bank stabilizer. 30 to 49 feet tall by 20 feet wide (can prune to a smaller size). Low water. Part/full sun. Hardy to 15°F
Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis
Tree/shrub, evergreen. Yellow, cream flowers from May through June. Supports birds and 14 to 165 butterflies. Locally native. Bank stabilizer. 30 to 90 feet tall by 30 to 60 feet wide. Low/very low water. Part/full sun. Hardy to -15°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
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
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