Effective spring 2010
Here are the 26 varieties of plants that
we have currently available. We
are propagating other varieties, so please call for availability. We are
located in a residential area, so please email us tarweed@tarweednativeplants.com or call
Joanne at 626.705.8993 to arrange for an appointment and for our location.
Achillea ‘Moonshine’ (Moonshine
Yarrow):
Plant
Type: Perennial
Light: Full
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Summer
Natural Habitat:
Garden Usage: Borders, cut flowers, hummingbirds
Moonshine yarrow is a hybrid that grows 18” x 24” wide. It is a wonderful garden perennial that
is highly adaptable in its soil and water needs. The distinctive silver-gray foliage is a fine backdrop
for the lemon-yellow flower clusters that keep coming all summer. Makes
excellent cut and dried flowers.
Cut back in the winter to keep the plant tidy.
Achillea roseum
(Rosy yarrow):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen herbaceous
perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Occasional to moderate
Bloom Season: Late spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Many plant communities, especially grasslands below 11,000 feet
Garden Usage: Attracts butterflies, birds, bees for habitat garden, meadow garden, perennial border
Rosy yarrow has feather-like leaves, which are aromatic and soft to the touch. Midsummer blooming perennial with rosy pink flowers in flat heads 5" across. Showy, tough and drought-tolerant. Lacy low-growing foliage. Rosy yarrow requires on a sunny site and modest water for success in most California gardens. It a perennial border, it offers bright spring and summer flowers that serve well in both fresh and dried arrangements. Mixed with other perennials, such as purple needle grass, dune sedge, or blue-eyed grass, it can form the foundation of a meadow garden. Yarrow also makes a good addition to a habitat garden; it foliage provides winter forage for birds, and its spring flowers attract butterflies and bees. It requires little maintenance and deadheading will lengthen the flowering season.
Aquilegia formosa
(Western columbine):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen perennial
Light: Sun to shade
Soil: Adaptable; heavy and rich preferred
Water: Moderate to regular
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Moist places in woodlands below 9000 feet
Garden Usage: Mixed borders, shady corners of garden, containers, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
Western columbine is a long-lived perennial in favorable sites. They are widely grown and appreciated for their brightly colored flowers, rosettes of delicately divided leaves, and ability to attract hummingbirds. The hummingbirds help to pollinate the plant. Western columbine grows easily in most gardens. It requires ample water to thrive, but generally will not survive in soggy or waterlogged soils. Plants may reach 2 to 4 feet in height and are 1 to 2 feet across. Western columbine is a beautiful companion for other partial-shade-loving plants, including coffeeberry, giant chain fern, island alum root, Douglas iris, hummingbird sage, and currants.
Armeria maritima (Sea Pink or Sea Thrift): 
Plant Type: Perennial
Light: Full
sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water:
Moderate to drought tolerant
Natural Habitat: Coastal and mountain
areas in the Northern Hemisphere.
Garden Usage: Borders,
rock gardens
Sea Pink grows 8” to 10” tall and 12” wide in a mounded shape. It produces pink flowers April through May that make great cut flowers. Plant Armeria Sea Pink in full sun in well drained soil. Sea Pink is not picky about soil type and will perform well in most soils. Armeria maritima is very drought tolerant. An excellent choice for rock gardens. You can divide it in the spring after it is well established. Although Sea Pink is not native to California, it does well in our Mediterranean climate.
Artemesia californica ‘Montara’ (Montara
California sagebrush):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable, except poorly drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Natural Habitat: Coastal scrub and chaparral below 2500 ft
Garden Usage: Groundcover, fragrant, mass plantings
Montara California sagebrush produces pleasing mounds of fragrant foliage about 2 ft tall and 3 to 5 ft wide. This makes a nice groundcover with its silvery contrasting leaves.
Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’
(Pigeon Point coyote brush):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom season: Fall
Garden Usage: groundcover, hillsides
Pigeon Point coyote brush is a cultivar and makes an
excellent groundcover. It
typically grows 2 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It grows rapidly and can be pruned if needed.
Ceanothus ‘Centennial’
Plant
Type: Evergreen groundcover
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring
Garden Usage: Groundcover
Ceanothus ‘ Centennial’ is a low, spreading selection
with creeping stems 8 to 12 inches high.
Its small round leaves have a wavy, polished green surface, with cobalt
blue flowers concentrated in tight clusters. Along the coast, “Centennial’ is best with full sun, but
requires some shade inland.
Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Pt.
Reyes’:
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Sun
to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable:
well-drained preferred
Water: Drought
tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring
Garden Usage: Borders, hillsides, groundcover
Point Reyes ceanothus is
typically low growing or creeping and usually reaches less than 4 feet in
height; it may spread much wider, requiring pruning in smaller gardens. Lavender blue to blue flowers are
produced in small, short-stalked clusters from early to midspring. It loves coastal gardens, but will
tolerate interior conditions if some shade and additional water are provided.
Cercocarpus betuloides
(Mountain Mahogany):
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub or small tree
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Natural Habitat: Dry rocky areas on slopes in chaparral and woodlands below 6000 feet
Garden Usage: Upright shrub for narrow planting area, good screen
Mountain Mahogany is a great choice for gardens that need
upright shrubs for a narrow planting area, such as a side yard. Its rigid, silver-barked trunks carry
short branches of small, deeply pleated, dark green leaves. It grows 10 to 15 feet tall, but can
easily be kept pruned to 6 feet wide or less. Although its flowers are not particularly showy, they
produce feather-like seed that decorate the plant with 1 to 2 inch long curled
plume covered with stiff white hairs.
The only care this fast-growing plant occasionally needs is a thinning
of unwanted trunks or branches; cut them back to the ground to promote a fresh
and light appearance. With
judicious fall pruning, mountain mahogany can be trained into a multi-trunked
small tree.
Clinopodium douglasii (Yerba Buena):
Plant
Type: Perennial groundcover
Light: Partial to full shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Water regularly
Bloom season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Native to US
Garden Usage: Groundcover in shady areas, aromatic
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium
douglasii), translated “good herb,” is a native plant in the mint family
here in the U.S., with similar mint cousins bearing the same name further down
in the more tropical climes in this hemisphere. In fact, San Francisco was
originally called Yerba Buena (it grew well there) until the name was
changed in the mid-1800s. The plant takes the form of a sprawling, mat-forming
perennial, and is especially abundant close to the coast.
Dudleya pulverulenta: (Chalk dudleya)
Plant Type: Succulent
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to infrequent: avoid watering in summer
Bloom Season: May - July
Natural Habitat: Rocky, clay, or sandy sites in coastal scrub, chaparral, mixed-evergreen forests, and deserts
Garden Usage: Rock garden, rock walls
Succulent with one to two foot basal rosette from which a 1 1/2 ft. spike of vivid red flowers appear in May – July. Native from about Northern San Luis Obispo county south along coast. They grow at best in part shade on rock shelves for good drainage. Plant rosette at angle so water will drain off the crown and you have a good rock garden plant. Try several nestled in the crevices of a rock wall for a dramatic look. The red flowers contrast handsomely with the white stalks. Be sure to leave dry during the summer.
Encelia californica
(Bush sunflower):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring and fall
Natural Habitat: Coastal scrub below 1600 feet
Garden Usage: Hillsides, habitat gardens, butterfly gardens
Bush sunflower is a garden stalwart that blooms profusely for months on end. It is best adapted to southern California gardens, where it typically produces flowers prolifically in spring and again in autumn. Few flowers are produced during hot, dry summer months. Pruned garden specimens may reach 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It attracts numerous bees, butterflies, and other insects. California sunflower is an excellent choice for use on hillsides and for erosion control. Plant it at the base of any of the medium to large shrub forms of ceanothus or with Cleveland sage and its hybrids to create a brilliant blue and yellow floral palette. Cut it back hard annually in winter after it flowers. Makes great cut flower!
Epilobium canum
(California fuchsia):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen subshrubs
and herbaceous perennials
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Late summer to fall
Natural Habitat: Sunny dry slopes and rocky areas in many plant communities below 10,000 feet
Garden Usage: Casual informal gardens, slopes, rock gardens, attracts hummingbirds
California fuchsias wait until late summer and fall to produce their abundant blooms. The southern migration of hummingbirds coincides with the start of their blooming period. The plant usually grows 1 to 3 feet in height and 1 to 3 feet wide, but can spread even further. Vigorous and easily grown, California fuchsias are readily used in gardens, but most should be placed with care to avoid overwhelming small or delicate plants. They are stunning when planted on slight slopes among boulders, emerging from stones or gravel in dry streambeds, against rock walls, or in rock gardens. Placed with similarly late-blooming natives, such as Silver Carpet California aster, California buckwheat, or California sunflower, these plants provide spirited color and contrast.
Eriogonum cinereum (Ashy leaf buckwheat):
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring/Summer
Natural Habitat and Range: Steep slopes, canyons, coastal bluffs; Los Angeles County to
Santa Barbara County.
Perennial shrub to 4
ft., (usually 2 ft.) whitish pink clusters on grey foliage, a plant for erosion
control in dry coastal areas, but also thrives inland. The floral display lasts for months,
and the color often intensifies to a deeper pink before fading to rosy tan. Use it along with other buckwheats to achieve a blooming season that spans nine
months. Also looks good in a
perennial border with red-flowered buckwheat, golden yarrow, coastal manzanitas or ceanothus, and
colorful monkeyflowers. This plant also does well and looks great in a container,
just make sure it is large enough and well-drained.
Eriogonum giganteum (St. Catherine’s Lace):
Plant
Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Full to part sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: May to December
Natural Habitat: Channel Islands
Garden Usage:
Background shrub
Saint Catherine's Lace is our largest species of Buckwheat
growing to 4 feet. In summer and fall this buckwheat provides a show of large,
spreading clusters of creamy-white flowers which form a canopy over the pale
gray foliage. The flowers take on a rusty hue as they age, and remain on the
plant until the first hard rains, or can be removed earlier and used in
arrangements.
Eriogonum grande ‘rubescens’
(Red-flowered buckwheat):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Coastal bluffs and rocky slopes in coastal scrub and grasslands below 700 feet
Garden Usage: Rock gardens, perennial borders, containers
Red-flowered buckwheat has silvery-gray foliage which contrasts with its frothy pink to cherry red flowers on 10 inch stalks. It likes sunny, well-0drained sites and flowers from spring to summer, forming 2 foot mounds. Plant it tucked between rocks or in a perennial border. It also works well in well-drained containers. Companions well with saffron buckwheat, purple sage, golden yarrow, seaside daisy, clarkias, and dudleyas. If plants become leggy, prune them back to lateral buds, or let volunteer seedlings take over.
Eriogonum latifolium (Coast or chalk buckwheat):
Plant Type: Perennial groundcover
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Natural habitat: Coastal bluffs
Garden Usage: Groundcover,
border plant, butterfly and habitat garden
Gray foliage and a low spreading form make this perennial an
attractive small-scale groundcover or border plant. Foliage is topped in summer
with creamy white flowers about an inch across. Easy to grow
in most gardens. This is a local native found on coastal bluffs with
Iris, Monkeyflower, Sage, Seaside Daisy, and Yarrow.
Eriogonum parvifolium (Cliff buckwheat):
Plant
Type: Perennial subshrub
Light: Partial shade to sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom season: Midsummer until fall
Natural habitat: Coastal bluffs from Monterey to San Diego
Garden Usage: Butterfly and habitat gardens
This shrubby perennial will grow 2' high and wide. It is
covered with small balls of white to pink flowers from midsummer until fall.
Drought and clay tolerant, this buckwheat prefers full sun. The cliff buckwheat
is native to coastal bluffs from Monterey County south. The buckwheats
are very important butterfly plants and one of the pillars of their communities.
The flowers, leaves and seeds are all used by all the smaller animals. When
planted inland it may need occasional water. It is easy to grow, and will self
sow readily. To keep foliage dense, cut back after flowering.
Eriogonum ursinum (Bear Valley
buckwheat):
Plant Type: Perennial subshrub
Light: Sun to part shade
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Garden Usage: Habitat garden, attracts butterflies
Native to the middle elevations of the N. Sierras, full sun most areas, afternoon shade in desert areas, water 1/week until established then water 1/month or so, needs good drainage, has white or yellow flowers on flat foliage, excellent groundcover. The buckwheats are very important butterfly plants and one of the pillars of their communities. The flowers, leaves and seeds are all used by all the smaller animals.
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis
(Palmer’s goldenbush):
Plant Type: Shrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought
tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: August
to December
Natural Habitat: Coastal
sage scrub, dry chaparral
Garden Usage: Hillsides,
slopes
Palmer’s goldenbush
is a mounding evergreen shrub, and can grow to 5 ft in height and 5 ft
wide. During summer it assumes a
white coloring, and in late summer yellow flowers bloom through December.
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
(Golden yarrow):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Good drainage
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Garden Usage: Dry borders
A perennial, 1-2 ft., bright yellow flowers in early summer, does best with full sun, a little summer water, and good drainage. It is an ideal drought tolerant native for dry borders, where its fine texture complements grasses, wildflowers, penstemons, and bold-leaved shrubs. It also makes an attractive cut flower. Retain its compact habit by deadheading or pruning plants down to 3 to 4 inches.
Festuca californica
(California fescue):
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring/Summer
Natural Habitat: Broadly distributed throughout California
Garden Usage: Dry creek beds, rock gardens, edging, groundcover
California
fescue is a truly beautiful, mid-sized bunch grass native to California
(including San Francisco) & Oregon. It has graceful, fountain-like,
blue-green foliage, grows 2’ tall and is evergreen along the coast. The yellow
showy flower stalks can rise another 2’ above the foliage. A most excellent
groundcover for slopes, it’s easily grown in a variety of soils & grows
well in both sun & part shade. Drought tolerant, though
it looks better with some summer water. It’s good under oaks and deer resistant!
Galvezia speciosa ‘Firecracker’(Island
Bush 
Snapdragon):
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Natural Habitat: Rocky canyons and bluffs in coastal scrub below 3000 ft.
Garden Usage: Attracts hummingbirds, bright red flowers, easy to grow, adaptable in the garden.
Firecracker reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and about 3 feet wide, has softly pubescent leaves, and is more erect and compact than island snapdragon. With its bright red flowers, island bush snapdragon is one of the most ornamental plants. It is very adaptable and easy to grow and benefits from regular pinching to encourage a busy habit. You can prune it in late winter.
Grindelia camporum (Gum
plant):
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous
perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Natural Habitat: Dunes, marshes, and bluffs in coastal scrub below 700 ft
Garden Usage: Meadow gardens, mixed borders, cut flowers
Gum plant blooms from spring well into summer, with 2 inch wide bright yellow heads. The plant is 1 to 3 ft tall. Use gum plant in a meadow garden with other perennials. It is complementary when planted with Douglas iris, blue-eyed grass, sagebrush, and seaside daisy. Makes a great cut flower!
Heliantatrichon sempervirens (Blue oat grass):
Plant Type: Grass
Light: Full sun or
light shade
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Occasional to
moderate
Bloom Season: Summer
Garden Usage: Use as
an accent
Blue oat grass is native to the
western Mediterranean. This bunch
grass is about 1 foot tall. It is
a great accent plant because of its blue color. Partner it with penstemons, artemesia, and black-eyed Susan.
Hesperoyucca whipplei
(Yucca):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant
Natural Habitat: Slopes in chaparral and coastal scrub below 8000 feet
Garden Usage: South-facing slopes, boulders, against a wall, beware of sharp-tipped leaves
This yucca, also known as Our Lord’s Candle, is best suited for making a bold statement and is also at home in a diversity of garden styles. It produces a stemless cluster of long, rigid leaves which end in a sharp point. The leaves are gray-green and finely saw-toothed. The stiff leaves and the ultimate size of the plant must be taken into account when placing Our Lord’s Candle in your garden. Eliminate problem weeds well in advance of planting and add a deep gravel or rock mulch around the plant to assist with weed suppression. It is a perfect companion for boulders, or along a wall.
Heterotheca
sessiliflora ‘San Bruno Mountain’ (San Bruno Mountain Golden Aster):
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous
perennial
Light: Sun to partial-shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring through fall
Natural Habitat: Coastal dunes and headlands in coastal scrub below 1500 feet
Garden Usage: Groundcover, rock gardens, mixed borders, attracts birds
A 1 – 2 foot perennial that makes an excellent groundcover or in a rock garden. Native to much of Calif. up into the mountains. San Bruno Mountain golden aster is the best of the golden asters for California gardens. It produces abundant ½-inch-wide golden yellow flowers from spring through fall. Their massed effect gives this plant its charm. Use San Bruno Mountain golden aster at the front of mixed or perennial borders, in rock gardens, or in sand. It combines well with other small, sun-loving plants, such as David’s Choice sandhill sagebrush, seaside daisy, foothill penstemon, blue-eyed grass, blue witches, and native irises. For best garden appearance, this cultivar requires regular deadheading. Some gardeners leave the mature seedheads to attract birds. You can clean up and rejuvenate the plant in late fall by cutting it back to 2-inch-long stubs with a string trimmer. This plant has no pests or diseases, matures fast and easy to grow.
Heuchera pilosissima
(Alumroot):
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Occasional to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Rocky outcrops and woodlands below 1500 feet
Garden Usage: Under deciduous trees, planted in masses, woodland garden or border
A larger alumroot, forming clumps to 2 feet wide. Sturdy panicles with 16 inch tall with
showy pink-white flowers in late spring.
The leaves are attractive in all seasons. They bloom particularly well when they are located under
deciduous trees, where they receive full sun in winter and partial shade during
hot summer months. They are ideal for a woodland garden and will stand some
drought, but look best with garden conditions.
Juncus patens (Common rush):
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
Light: Sun
to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water:
Moderate to drought tolerant
Natural Habitat: Marshy
places
Garden Usage: Recommended for marshes, pond edges, or wetlands. Good background accent plant. Highly recommended in container.
Common rush prefer wet or moist areas and full sun, but once
established, they are remarkably tolerant of drought and shade. They typically form dense clumps of
rigid, upright to slightly arching stems from 1 to 2 feet tall. It gradually spreads to form large
colonies over time, but its growth rate is primarily dependent upon the amount
of water it receives. Rush’s
strong vertical growth habit effectively contrasts with the rounded forms of
western columbine, alum root, and any of the low-growing species of ceanothus. It makes
an excellent container plants, and its flowering stems work well as access in
floral arrangements.
Lessingia filaginifolia
‘Silver Carpet’ (Dune aster):
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous
perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable, well-drained preferred
Water: Infrequent to occasional
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Natural Habitat: Species occurs in coastal scrub, oak woodlands, and grasslands up to 7800 feet throughout much of California
Garden Usage: Attracts butterflies, groundcover, meadow garden, perennial border
Gardeners eager to attract butterflies will want this perennial, which provides food for both larval and adult stages. This plant is lackluster in pots, but once in the ground it becomes an attractive ground-hugging mat 4 to 8 feet wide. The 1-inch-wide daisy-like flowers have a central yellow disk surrounded by petals of lavender-pink. The pastel blossoms and soft leaves are a welcome addition to the perennial border or meadow garden, or used to tone down the warm colors of summer-flowering California fuchsias and goldenrods or to complement other silver, blue, or gray-leaved plants in a cool-color scheme. It makes an effective groundcover in the front of a border or spilling over a wall. Lilac verbena or bright yellow shrubby monkeyflower are pleasing partners. It’s easy to grow and requires only light pruning around the perimeter to help maintain its dense habit.
Mimulus guttatus
(Common Monkeyflower):
Plant Type: Evergreen to nearly
deciduous subshrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral, woodland and forest edged below 5000 feet
Garden Usage: Small
drifts, mixed borders, containers, attracts hummingbirds
Mimulus guttatus,
also known as Common or Seep Monkeyflower, is an
annual to sometimes perennial that grows in seeps, springs or along creeks. Useful along the edges of ponds or fountains. Very floriferous for months in spring-summer. Seep monkey
flower is well liked by hummingbirds, disliked by deer. If Seep monkey flower
goes dry and disappears, it will usually come back, although perhaps a nearby
location, during the next year.
Don’t be surprised if it pops up in a different location!
Mimulus puniceus
(Red monkeyflower):
Plant Type: Evergreen to nearly
deciduous subshrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral, woodland
Garden Usage: small drifts, mixed borders, containers, attracts hummingbirds
Red monkeyflower is an 18 in. to 3 ft. with numerous red tubular flowers. It is a California native that is drought tolerant. Attracts hummingbirds.
Muhlenbergia rigens
(Deer grass):
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial grass
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to moderate
Natural Habitat: Dry or moist places in many plant communities below 7000 feet; widespread in California
Garden Usage: Plant with large boulders, adds contrast, ok in large containers
Deer grass is the most cherished species in California’s
vast selection of grasses. Established plants resemble gigantic pincushions and
may reach 5 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Single specimens of deer grass are dramatic, and large
drifts are stunning, but crowded plants look pinched, so be sure to allow
enough space when planting. Plant
deer grass with large boulders and coarse-textured foliage for maximum
contrast. Showy milkweed, Saint
Catherine’s lace and Pigeon Point coyote brush are excellent companions. Deer grass maintains it striking
appearance throughout the year, and is truly one of the most carefree and
easy-to-grow native grasses. During
fall, you can use a string trimmer to cut the entire clump down to 3 to 4
inches, and it will come back beautifully season after season.
Penstemon centranthifolius (Scarlet Bugler):
Plant
Type: Perennial
Light: Full sun
Soil: Good drainage
Water: Drought tolerant
Natural Habitat: Dry open or wooded places, chaparral, oak
woodland
Garden Usage: Rock gardens, attracts hummingbirds
Penstemon centranthifolius is a
one to two foot perennial with a 2-4' spike of one to two inch red flowers in
April-July. Native to dry slopes in the coast ranges
and Southern Sierras up to 6500'. Give this Penstemon full sun. Very drought tolerant. Excellent in rock
gardens. Needs good drainage with very little organic matter. Heavily
used by Hummingbirds.
Penstemon heterophyllus
‘Margarita BOP’:
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Light: Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to fall
Natural Habitat: Dry places in grasslands, chaparral, and woodland forest clearings below 5000 feet
Garden Usage: Rock gardens, foreground of mixed borders, containers
Reliant and garden tolerant, ‘Margarita BOP’ is a hybrid of Penstemon heterophyllus or Foothill penstemon. What set this clone apart is its disease resistance and staying power. It bloom profusely for several months with 1 foot spikes of blue to purple flowers, blooming as early as March and continuing into fall if the plant is pruned occasionally. Margarita BOP penstemon is beautifully combined with native grasses as well as perennials such as Wooly Daisy, monkeyflowers, California poppy, and saffron or red-flowered buckwheat. It also makes a nice container specimen.
Penstemon ‘Midnight’ (Beard Tongue):
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Light: Sun to part
shade
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought
tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season:
Spring to fall
Garden Usage:
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
From
the large dark colored flowers and healthy deep green foliage this long lived
cultivars is sure to please. It is an evergreen perennial or sub-shrub to 3
feet tall with purple tinged stems heavily clothed with 4 inch long lance
shaped dark green leaves with slight dentations towards the tips. The large
trumpet-shaped bluish purple flowers are 1” long by 1” wide with a lavender throat lavender striped in purple. The flowers appear in a succession of
flowering peaks from late spring until fall. The flowers attract hummingbirds
and butterflies. Plant in full sun along the coast and provide some light shade
inland. Tolerates and even thrive in poor soils and alkaline conditions but
requires relatively good drainage. Can survive very dry conditions in cooler
coastal gardens but looks better with occasional irrigation and requires it in
hotter locations. Pinch plants after the first bloom to promote a quick
re-bloom and cut back hard in winter to encourage a new flush of dense growth
in spring.
Penstemon spectabilis
(Showy penstemon):
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous
perennial
Light: Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to fall
Natural Habitat: Dry, gravelly slopes and washes in chaparral, coastal scrub, and oak woodlands below 6500 feet
Garden Usage: Mixed borders, massed, containers
This southern California penstemon lives up to its common name. When in bloom it can reach 3 to 4 feet tall, and each flower stalk bears upwards of 100, 1-inch-long blossoms, creating a regal display of blue, pink, lilac, lavender-purple, violet, or white. This floral performance can last from spring to fall. Just one specimen can serve as a focal point in a mixed border, but for maximum effect plant several as a ribbon running through a bed, complemented by sages and ceanothus.
Phlomis fruiticosa
(Jerusalem Sage):
Plant
Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Full Sun
Soil: Normal, sandy, clay
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Late spring, early summer
Natural Habitat: Mediterranean climate
Garden Usage: Accent, border, containers, cut flower
Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem Sage) is native to the Mediterranean region. This is a large, multi-stemmed, broad shrub growing to about 4'x 4' with large (2-3 inch long) lance-shaped, soft woolly gray leaves that are white beneath, and 1 inch long, bright lemon yellow woolly flower whorls that appear on erect stems spring through summer. Plant in full sun to light shade. Drought tolerant and cold tolerant to at least 23 degrees F. This plant is attractive to butterflies and birds.
Potentilla glandulosa (Sticky
Cinquefoil):
Plant Type: Perennial
Light: Part shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Moderate
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Garden Usage: Woodland garden, shaded areas
Sticky Cinquefoil is a one to two foot tall perennial with creamy, yellow flowers. It has soft leaves and red stems. It is found along the coast of California and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The flowers of Sticky Cinquefoil last longer in part shade with moderate water, but this perennial grows well in full sun with regular water. Potentilla glandulosa is a good companion to Sidalcea malvaeflora, Muhlenbergia rigens, Sisyrinchium bellum, and Zauschneria californica (Epilobium canum).
Ribes aureum
(Golden Currant):
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Bloom Season: Mid winter
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Natural Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral and woodlands below 2500 ft.
Garden Usage: Broad shrub, deciduous, attracts birds, plant with toyon, coffeeberry, coast live oak, ceanothus
Golden currant is a broad, sprawling shrub reaching as much as 10 ft tall. Clusters of yellow flowers form in midwinter and develop a reddish cast as they fade. They have bright glossy green leaves that offer early season color. The translucent yellow-orange or black berries attract birds, and seedlings are common as a result. Keep it pruned to avoid rangy thickets.
Rosa californica (California Wild Rose):
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Sun to
partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought
tolerant to moderate
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Garden Usage:
Wildlife gardens, barrier plantings, hedgerows
Rosa californica,
the California Wild Rose, is an attractive native California shrub that can
eventually form large spiney thickets from suckering
roots. It has compound dark green leaves (to 7 leaflets) and beautiful 1 1/2
wide fragrant bright pink flowers that open from long pointed buds. Flowering
commences here in late April and continues on through mid summer. In the cooler
bay area blooming can begin as late as June. Flowering is followed by bright
red hips to 1/2 inch in diameter. In fall there are often both flowers and hips
on display. Although native to cool shaded canyons this plant thrives and
blooms better in full sun when given adequate water. Combine California Wild Rose with other deciduous or
evergreen plants, such as pink-flowering currant, coffeeberry,
western azalea, giant chain fern.
Prune native roses to the ground in late summer or fall.
Rudbeckia hirta
(Black-eyed Susan):
Plant Type: Perennial
Light: Fun sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Average to drought tolerant
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Natural Habitat: Dry meadows, prairies, open woods
Garden Usage: Meadow or prairie gardens, attracts butterflies and bees
Surely one of the most cheerful and popular of the native wildflowers, black-ehyed Susan is a must in the meadow or prairie garden. It grows from 1 – 3 feet, and flowers summer to fall. It survives in tough conditions – in sandy or gravelly, nutrient-poor soil and long periods of drought. You can divide mature plants in early spring or in the fall after the bloom season. Good companions include purple coneflowers, ascleopias atuberosa (butterfly weed) and salvias. Its nectar attracts butterflies and bees.
Salvia
apiana (White sage):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Dry slopes and flats in coastal scrub chaparral, and some woodlands and forest below 4500 feet
Garden Usage: Hillsides, focal points, fragrance
White sage has something for everyone. Gardeners treasure this strikingly handsome shrub for its bold foliage, dramatic floral display, and powerful scent. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet across. In spring it sends up flower stalks that easily add another 2 to 4 feet in height. The lavender-tinged white flowers are clustered in interrupted spikes and the broad silvery white leaves are 3 to 4 inches long, with an incredibly pungent scent. An exceptionally drought-tolerant plant, white sage doesn’t need summer water and if over-watered in summer it may not survive. It makes an arresting focal point in a border and can be massed on slopes to help curb erosion. Prune the flower stalks back to the most robust new buds to keep the plant from becoming leggy. Combine it with other sages, buckwheats, penstemons, ceanothus, and California fuchsias. Bees produce a delicate and flavorful honey from its flowers.
Salvia
clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’ (Cleveland sage):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen shrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Late spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Dry slopes in coastal scrub and chaparral below 300 feet
Garden Usage: Attracts hummingbirds, containers, herb gardens, dry border, fragrant
Evergreen shrub with flowers lavender to blue. This Cleveland sage is native to dry slopes San Diego County. It likes sun and perfect drainage. The gray-green leaves have intense fragrance. The stalks of purple-blue flowers are spectacular during the blooming cycle, but also distinctive after the bloom when the seed pods turn a dark rusty brown. The Salvias are great hummingbird plants. Plant them in the hottest, driest, fastest-draining site available. They can be used as a focal point in a decorative pot, herb garden, or in a dry border as a low hedge. Try planting Cleveland sage in front of island bush poppy and behind red-flowered buckwheat, foothill or royal penstemon, and groundcover manzanitas. You can trim it back after fall for new spring growth.
Salvia greggii
‘Flame’ (Autumn sage ‘Flame’):
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable to well-drained
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Garden Usage: Habitat garden, attracts hummingbirds
Grows to 2-3 feet in height and 2 feet wide. A hummingbird magnet, they can't resist
the red flowers and return to the plant many times each day for more nectar.
This plant does best with full sun and well drained soil. Wait until spring to
cut back to emerging new growth.
Deer resistant.
Salvia leucophylla
(Purple sage):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen shrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Common on dry, open hills and slopes in coastal scrub and chaparral below 2000 feet
Garden Usage: Sunny steep slopes, desert themed gardens, attracts hummingbirds, bumblebees, and wasps
Purple sage is a showy silver-leaved shrub with pungent fragrance and light-purple flowers in dramatic spikes. It forms neat mounds 5' tall and 6' wide. Sages take full sun and are drought tolerant, although you can encourage blooming by giving them extra water, but be sure to let the ground dry out between watering and be careful not to give too much summer water. In California, the sages are visited by hummingbirds, bumblebees, wasps and bees. If you want to keep the sage neat, you can prune it, but wait until it is not flowering. Also makes an excellent low hedge.
Salvia
leucophylla hybrid: (Purple sage hybrid):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable; well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Dry slopes and flats in coastal scrub chaparral, and some woodlands and forest below 4500 feet
Garden Usage: Hillsides, focal points, fragrance
This variety is a
very special hybrid of white and purple sage grown by our good friend Tom. Its leaves have the appearance of a
white sage but the flowers are light purple. As with all sages, it’s important not to over water once
they are established. This has an
incredible scent!
Salvia
leucophylla ‘Pt. Sal’: (Purple
Sage ‘Pt. Sal’)
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen shrub
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Common on dry, open hills and slopes in coastal scrub and chaparral below 2000 feet
Garden Usage: Groundcover,
mixed borders
Salvia Point Sal is a hybrid of purple sage. It is a gray to silver, drought tolerant ground cover that generally grows 3-4 foot across and 1 to 2 feet tall and lavender flower from May to July. Plant in dry mixed borders, it blends well with almost any color. Lightly prune this long-lived species after it flower to maintain vigor and a pleasing form. The dried stalks look well in flower arrangements and have a pleasing scent.
Salvia
mellifera ‘Terra Seca’
(Black sage ‘Terra Seca’):
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous
perennial groundcover
Light: Sun
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant
Bloom Season: Spring to summer
Natural Habitat: Coastal scrub and chaparral
Garden Usage: Groundcover, rock gardens
‘Terra Seca’ is variety of black sage and grows roughly 2 feet tall by 8 or more feet wide. It makes an excellent ground cover; durable and easy to grow. It’s blooms are small stocks with white flowers.
Salvia
spathacea
(Hummingbird sage)
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Late winter to summer
Natural Habitat: Shady or open grassy slopes in coastal scrub, chaparral, and woodlands below 2500 feet
Garden Usage: Groundcover, attracts hummingbirds, containers
Hummingbird sage is one of the few herbaceous groundcovers that grow well in dry shade. It is easy to cultivate and has fabulous flowers and an intensely fruity fragrance. This first-rate sage satisfies on all counts and truly lives up to its common name by attracting hummingbirds to your garden. The only red-flowered native sage, it begins to bloom in late winter and continues into summer, with stalks 1 to 3 feet tall. It is a reliable groundcover, spreading by rhizomes. Cut the sprint flower stalks to the ground when they are no longer attractive to avoid leggy stalks that might flop over in the following year. Hummingbird sage looks good in decorative pots and mixes well with plants that won’t be smothered by its large leaves, such as coarse or dense bunchgrasses, irises, manzanitas, and cofeeberries. Insects and diseases are a minor concern. Plants occasionally get a mild case of powdery mildew that usually clears up quickly, especially if plants are cut back to the ground.
Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-eyed grass):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen to deciduous herbaceous perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Infrequent to moderate
Bloom Season: January - June
Natural Habitat: Widespread in many plant communities below 6000 feet
Garden Usage: Meadows, grassland gardens, mixed borders, containers
Blue-eyed grass belongs to the Iris family. A 1 foot tall perennial with 1 inch blue flowers blooming from Jan.-June. It has small, iris-like leaves. It likes full sun and garden water. It also can become very drought tolerant and is summer dormant, which can be delayed with summer irrigation. Blue-eyed grass is useful in meadow and grassland gardens as well as mixed borders. Good companion plants include seaside daisy and dune sedge. Also does well in containers mixed with annual wildflowers or mass it with purple needlegrass and checker-bloom in an informal border. It grows in sand to clay, coastal bluffs to interior grasslands. Cut plants to the ground to remove dried summer foliage. Disease and pest free. You can also divide this plant easily if it becomes too bulky.
Sisyrinchium californicum
(Yellow-eyed grass):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen to deciduous herbaceous perennial
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Infrequent to moderate
Bloom Season: January - June
Natural Habitat: Widespread in many plant communities below 6000 feet
Garden Usage: Meadows, grassland gardens, mixed borders, containers
Yellow-eyed grass is found in moist coastal areas, growing 6 inches to 2 feet tall. It has chalky green leaves and bright yellow spring flowers. Yellow-eyed grass is an excellent choice for sun or partial shade in wet, poorly drained areas or regularly watered gardens. Nice as edging or next to a water feature or water faucet for maximum bloom. Foliage darkens in fall & should be cut back. Looks great partnered with blue-eyed grass.
Sphaeralcea ambigua
(Globe Mallow):
Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub
Light: Sun
Soil: adaptable: well-drained preferred
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Natural Habitat: Dry rocky places in desert scrub and desert woodland below 7500 feet
Garden Usage: Desert gardens, dry borders
Mallow is a garden favorite for all the right reasons: it is easy to grow, has showy distinctive flowers, and blooms for months at a time. If grown in warm areas and with summer irrigation , in often blooms nearly year-round. A 2 foot perennial with many one inch orange flowers on a two to three foot spike with gray almost fuzzy foliage. Desert Hollyhock is another name for the flower spikes that can occur most of the year here. Desert Mallow needs sun and good air flow. Use as a specimen in a dry border or massed in a desert-themed garden. It is an excellent choice to combine with desert lavender, incienso, beavertail cactus, and Shaw agave. Prune it back to 3 to 6 inch long stubs after it blooms. Occasionally it will produce welcome volunteer seedlings.
Thalictrum fendleri (Western Meadow Rue):
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial
Light: Sun to shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Drought tolerant to occasional
Bloom Season: Spring
Natural Habitat: Common in forests and woodlands below 3000 ft.
Garden Usage: Under oaks, woodland gardens
Western meadow rue has fine-textured foliage and is easily mistaken for western columbine. The green or blue-green leaves are divided in many segments, giving the foliage a delicate, fern-like appearance. Adding to this effect are the tiny unisexual flowers, which are showy by virtue of their sheer numbers. The flowers appear at the tops of 2 to 5 ft stalks. It thrives in the dry understory of trees, especially coast live oaks and also accepts a fair amount of summer water. Meadow rue goes dormant in late summer, and the foliage may turn a pleasing mosaic of soft yellow, tan, and brown. Group several together for best effect. Partner it with western columbine, coffeeberry, coral bells, fens, and grasses. Prune it annually to remove the dried flower stalks and leaves. This plant will self-sow very easily.
Vitus californica ‘Rogers Red’
(California Wild Grape):
Plant Type: Deciduous vine
Light: Sun to part shade
Soil: Adaptable
Water: Occasional
Bloom Season: Fall color
Natural Habitat: Northern and Southern California
Garden Usage: Cover fences, arbors, trellises or
groundcover
Selected by Roger Raiche at the U.C. Berkeley Botanic Garden, this cultivar
is now thought to be a natural hybrid between the native Vitis
californica and the European wine grape, Vitis vinifera.
A vigorous vine growing 3-6 feet per year, it turns flaming red in the fall
before losing its leaves. Also sets fruit profusely, with only occasional
water. While tasty, the grapes are seedy, making it better for birds than
people. We have not found it to be messy, hanging onto the grapes until they
are raisins, then picked off by birds.