Large, multi-trunked shrub or small tree. Can reach 15-35 feet tall and slightly wider. Silvery gray bark with green leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers. Summer deciduous, defoliating in early July and growing during wet winter and spring months. Only buckeye native to California, small trees are found in Southern regions while large shrubs are found in Northern regions.

• Water: Very Low
• Light: Full Sun
• Soil: Most Soils

Group of evergreen trees and large shrubs with attractive foliage and bark, small urn-shaped flowers, and reddish fruit. Prefer sunny locations and well-drained soil. A. ‘Marina’ (20-30’ – 15-30’) and A. unedo (strawberry tree, 15-30’ x 15-30’) are most commonly planted in California landscapes, either as multi-stemmed or single-stemmed, large shrubs or trees. While the two trees are similar in appearance, A. ‘Marina’ has cinnamon-brown shedding bark, whereas the bark of A. unedo is more brown. A. menziesii (madrone, 20-80’) is native to the west coast of North America, including the foothills of Sonoma and Marin counties. A. menziesii is less common in landscapes as it is notoriously difficult to establish.

• Water: Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

Manzanitas vary from carpet-forming groundcovers to small trees. They have varying shades of striking, reddish brown bark and can provide structure to a garden. These plants are slow growing with evergreen foliage that often has colorful new growth, small white-to-pink, urn-shaped blossoms in late winter to early spring, and then small fruits that resemble tiny apples.

Examples:

Groundcovers: A. ‘Emerald Carpet’ (1’ x 3-6’), A. ‘Pacific Mist’ (1-2’ x 5-8’).

Shrubs: A. ‘Howard McMinn’ (5-7’ x 6-10’), A. ‘John Dourley’ (3-4’ x 5-6’), A. ‘Sunset’ (3-5′ x 4-6’), A. bakeri ‘Louis Edmunds’ (4-6 x 6-8’), A. ‘Sentinel’ (6-8’ x 5’).

Trees: A. ‘Dr. Hurd’ (8-10′ x 10-15′)

• Water: Very LowLow
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

Ceanothus is a group of fast-growing, evergreen shrubs that vary from groundcovers to small trees, many of which are native to California. They provide a spectacular display of flowers in spring that will attract a multitude of pollinators. Flowers are followed by seeds that provide food for birds. The clusters of tiny flowers range from white to deep violet. Plants perform best with good drainage and minimal irrigation once established. Some do best in cooler coastal climates, but many thrive in hotter inland climates. Pay close attention to the mature size when selecting ceanothus to ensure that it has sufficient space for its natural form.

Groundcovers: C. ‘Centennial’ (1’ x 8’), C. gloriosus var. gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’ (2’ x 8’), C. griseus var. horizontalis ‘Diamond Heights’ (variegated, 1’ x 4’), C. griseus var. horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ (3’ x 12’), C. maritimus (2’ x 6’).

Shrubs: C. ‘Blue Jeans’ (6’ x 6’), C. Concha (6’ x 6’), C. ‘Dark Star’ (6’ x 8’), C. ‘Joyce Coulter’ (4’ x 12’), C. ‘Julia Phelps’ (8’ x 10’), C. cuneatus (8’ x 8’), C. thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ (4’ x 6’).

Large shrubs: C. ‘Frosty Blue’ (10’ x 12’), C. thyrsiflorus (20’ x 20’), C. t. ‘Snow Flurry’ (white flower, 20’ x 20’).

Trees: C. ‘Ray Hartman’ (15′ x 15′)

• Water: Very LowLow
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

Majestic evergreen California native oak tree that serves as a cornerstone for wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem and reaches 35-75 feet tall and 35-50 feet wide. Large, dense and broadly rounded with green, spiny margin leaves. Native along coast and coastal mountains from Northern California. Susceptible to Sudden Oak Death. Sun to part-shade, best in mild climates and young trees do best with part-shade.

• Water: Very Low
• Light: Full Sun
• Soil: Well Drained

Large California native deciduous oak tree reaches 50-90 feet tall and wide. Fast growing and one of the best local natives for large properties. Dark green lobed leaves and dark brown to pale gray, ridged bark. Not susceptible to Sudden Oak Death. Sun to part shade, good drainage. Provide food and habitat for a large variety of birds and pollinators.

• Water: Low
• Light: Full Sun
• Soil: Well Drained

Deciduous tree. Slow growing local native with blue tinted foliage. Native to dry, rocky slopes in foothills. Not susceptible to Sudden Oak Death.

• Water: Very Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

California native, evergreen shrub or small tree 8-20 feet tall and 8-15 feet wide often seen growing in Sonoma and Marin county wildlands. White flower clusters in summer attract pollinators; red berries in winter provide a splash of color and an important food source for birds. The name “Hollywood” was born from the abundance of toyon in the hills of southern California and its resemblance to European holly. The cultivar ‘Davis Gold’ has yellow berries. Sun along the coast, part shade inland, most well-drained soils

• Water: Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

Penstemons are a large group of woody or herbaceous perennials with narrow leaves and tubular flowers. Foothill penstemon is a widely known and grown California native with iridescent purple-blue flowers during spring and early summer that are attractive to hummingbirds. The cultivar known as ‘Margarita BOP’ is widely available, reliable, and garden- tolerant. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more flowers.

• Water: Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

Currants (without spines) and gooseberries (with spines) are grown for their graceful growth habit, attractive foliage, wonderful displays of pendulous flowers in winter-spring that are attractive to hummingbirds, and colorful fruit that provides a food source for birds. Most of the species listed are deciduous, going dormant in the summer months.

Examples: Some of the species suitable for California gardens, preferably with partial shade, are native to the Western United States:

• R. aureum, golden currant (5-10’ x 3-6’), deciduous with small clusters of delicate yellow flowers and sprawling habit.
• R. malvaceum, chaparral currant (4-8’ x 4-6’), deciduous with early clusters of pink flowers, a slightly vase-shaped habit, and more drought-tolerant than most species.
• R. sanguineum var. glutinosum, pink-flowering currant (5-12’ x 5-12’), deciduous with maple-like leaves, a vase-shaped habit, and long pendulous clusters of pink, reddish, or white flowers in the spring; many available cultivars such as ‘Claremont’ and ‘White Icicle’.
• R. speciosum, fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (4-8’ x 6-10’), deciduous with spiny, arching stems and bright red fuchsia-like flowers along the stems in the spring that are attractive to hummingbirds.
• R. viburnifolium, evergreen currant or Catalina perfume (2-4’ x 5-7’), evergreen groundcover that works well under oaks and can provide erosion control to slopes.

• Water: Very LowLow
• Light: Partial ShadeShade
• Soil: Well Drained

Evergreen shrub that has insignificant flowers followed by berries that age from green to red and then black. Flowers are attractive to pollinators, especially bees, and berries provide a food source for birds. Cultivars commonly sold in nurseries have differing growth habits and are often smaller than the species which grows 5-15’ tall and wide.

Examples: F. c. ‘Eve Case’ (6-8’ x 6-8’), R. c. ‘Leatherleaf’ (5-6’ x 5-6’), R. c. ‘Mound San Bruno’ (6-8’ x 6-8’) with a dense, mounding growth habit.

Note: California coffeeberry was formerly classified as Rhamnus californica and is now classified as Frangula californica.

• Water: Very LowLow
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Most Soils

Coyote Brush is a common California native shrub or groundcover. It is versatile and adaptable in a wide range of landscape applications. Its short height and spreading habit make this plant a good choice for groundcover and bank stabilization. It is also said to be fire-resistant and can tolerate recycled water. It has small, evergreen leaves and abundant white and yellow flowers. Grows well in most soil types in sun or part-sun. It is a drought-adapted plant that requires minimal summer irrigation. Flowers are inconspicuous but provide a source of pollen, nectar, and seeds for wildlife.

B. ‘Pigeon Point’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ are low growing cultivars that reach 1-2 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. They are coastal selections that need some shade inland.

• Water: Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Most Soils

Berberis is a group of groundcovers and shrubs that may sometimes be referred to as Mahonia. The California species are a group of evergreen shrubs with glossy, spiny-edged leaves and clusters of yellow flowers in spring followed by small grape-like berries attractive to birds. Barberry foliage provides a display through the year as new leaf growth is often bronzy red that gives way to green, and finally purple-red tones in the winter months.

Examples: Creeping Oregon grape (B. aquifolium var. repens, 1-3’ x 3-5’) is an excellent small-scale groundcover for lightly shaded understory locations; Nevin’s Barberry (B. nevinii, 6-8’ x 6-8’) with blue-green leaves from Southern California is a good screen plant; and California holly grape (B. pinnata, 5-7’ x 4-5’) with wavy leaves provides distinctive texture.

• Water: Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained