The snowberry bush is an adaptable California native that enjoys moist or dry shade and most well-drained soils. It will also do well in cool sun. It can grow 3-6 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Its spring and summer blooms of bell-shaped pinkish-white flowers attract pollinators, while its fall and winter white snowberries will feed the birds. The berries are mildly toxic to humans, cats, and dogs but safe for most other animals.

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

Large, multi-trunked shrub or small tree. 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: Well Drained

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

Groundcovers: A. ‘Emerald Carpet’ (1’ x 3-6’), A. ‘Pacific Mist’ (2-3’ x 6-8’), A. nummularia ‘Bear Belly’ (1’ x 3’), A. uva ursi ‘Radiant’ (6” x 4-6’), A. uva ursi ‘Wood’s Compct’ (1’ x 3’).

Shrubs: A. ‘Howard McMinn’ (5-7’ x 6-10’), A. ‘John Dourly’ (3-4’ x 5-6’), A. ‘Lester Rowntree’ (8-10’ x 10-15’), A. ‘Sunset‘ (5-7’), A. bakeri ‘Louis Edmunds’ (8-10’), A. manzanita ‘Sentinel’ (6-8’ x 5’), A. hookeri ‘Wayside’ (3′ x 8′).

Trees: A. manzanita ‘Dr. Hurd’ (10-15′)

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

Colony-forming, herbaceous perennials with several species providing important habitat and larval food sources for the monarch butterfly while attracting a diverse array of insects.

California milkweeds remain dormant during the colder months. Stems that emerge in April or May bear clusters of small, star-like flowers in summer followed by silky-tailed seeds that are dispersed by wind. A. fascicularis (narrow-leaved milkweed, 1-3’) is the preferred food source for monarch larvae. A. speciosa (showy milkweed, 2-4’) has larger, soft foliage, showier flower clusters, and is also a food source for monarch larvae. A. cordifolia (heart leaf milkweed, 1-2′) has heart-shaped leaves and is also a food source for monarch larvae.

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

Group of highly variable, semi-evergreen subshrubs and herbaceous perennials distributed over a wide geographic area, including California. Epilobiums bloom in late summer with tubular flowers providing a food source for hummingbirds migrating south and are also attractive to bees and butterflies. Epilobiums range from low-growing groundcovers to upright plants of several feet. Flower colors include orange-red, white, pink, and salmon. Most can be pruned back in late autumn to maintain a more compact form and be rejuvenated for the following year.

Low-growing examples: E. ‘Schieffelin’s Choice’; E. canum ‘Calistoga’, a selection from Phil Van Soelen from California Flora Nursery from the Palisades east of Calistoga; E. canum ‘Cloverdale’, a selection from U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum from along the Russian River north of Cloverdale with exceptionally orange flowers; E. c. ‘Everett’s Choice’, E. c. ‘Summer Snow’ with white flowers, and E. septentrionale ‘Select Mattole’, a somewhat redder flowering selection that is more shade-tolerant.

Upright examples: E. c. ‘Bowman’s Hybrid’ (2-3’), E. c. ‘Catalina’ (3-4’), E. c. ‘Liz’s Choice’ (3’) selected by Milo Baker Chapter CNPS Fellow Liz Parsons, E. c. ‘Marin Pink’ (2’) with pink flowers.

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

Group of succulent perennials with a characteristic rosette shape and chalky appearance that are mostly native to central and southern California where they grow on rocky outcroppings and coastal cliffs. Provide these plants with good drainage and afternoon shade in hotter areas. Larger forms can provide a striking accent plant in summer-dry gardens. Plant dudleyas at a slight angle to help water drain away.

Examples: giant chalk dudleya (D. brittonii, 12-18”), sand lettuce (D. caespitosa, up to 8”), bluff lettuce (D. farinosa, 4”, forms small colonies), chalk liveforever (D. pulverulenta, up to 2’).

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

This native shrub has aromatic, softly hairy, lance-shaped to oval, gray-green to yellowish green leaves. Its flowers, which bloom in spring, are white with a lavendar tint. It grows 3-8 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide. If kept dry, it may drop leaves in the summer. It prefers sun along the coast but light shade inland and thrives in most well-drained soils.

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

This California native plant is extremely attractive to bees, but also helps hummingbirds, butterflies, and wasps. It grows well in dry shade and well-drained soils, including heavy clay. It grows to 3-5 feet tall and less than a foot wide. In moist soils it will form large colonies, but it can also successfully be grown in a pot. Bee Plant flowers are small enough that you might miss them upon first glance, but when backlight by the sun, they look like tiny red jewels. Best incorporated as part of a perennial border, typically near the back as it is a taller plant.

• Water: Low
• Light: Partial ShadeShade
• Soil: Well Drained

Popular group of annuals, perennials, and shrubs with distinctive divided leaves that are common throughout the western United States, including California. Pea-like flowers are displayed on spikes and are attractive to bees and other pollinators. Most native lupines are purple-flowered, while some are yellow. Provide full sun and good drainage and watch out for slugs and snails.

Examples: Silver bush lupine (L. albifrons, 3-4’ x 3-4’), prostate lupine (L. albifrons var. collinus, 12-18” x 12-18”), coastal bush lupine (L. arboreus) available with either blue or yellow flowers but can be invasive in some north coastal dunes, and blue-and-white lupine (L. bicolor) a low-growing, annual wildflower.

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

This unique shrub is native to dry coastal areas from Southern Oregon through California. Its catkins of gray-green flowers bloom in January or February. It can grow 12 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide, but may also be cut back to grow against a wall. It takes partial shade to cool sun and does well in most well-drained soils.

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

This fast-growing shrub is native to the Channel and Guadalupe islands of California and Mexico. It can grow to 3-4 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide and will bloom nearly yearround in good conditions. It prefers full sun and will produce more flowers if it is placed there, but will also thrive in part shade. ‘Firecracker’ is a compact selection. ‘Bocarosa’ has bright green leaves and masses of red flowers. Will grow well in a container. Cut back in late winter to renew. May be offered as Galvezia.

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

The California state flower, the California poppy, is a persistent native wildflower. It is best to plant seeds in fall when the rain begins. Once established, the poppy will reseed and spread across your yard. It is great for bees, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators as well as being deer resistant. Poppies prefer well-drained soils but can tolerate most soils including clay.

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