Important northern California native habitat plant that is the sole larval food source for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly. This deciduous vine grows naturally along stream banks and in woodlands and performs well under native oaks. Dutchman’s pipevine is relatively slow-growing and takes a few years to establish. Pendulous pipe-shaped flowers bloom in early spring, followed by soft, bright green, heart-shaped leaves. Best grown as a groundcover to provide protection for pipevine swallowtail larvae but will also twine up other plants and structures. The real show comes in late spring as larvae feed on the plant and grow into spectacular horned, black caterpillars with red spots!

• Water: Low
• Light: Partial ShadeShade
• Soil: Most Soils

Large group of plants that includes annuals, perennials, and shrubs grown for fine, soft-textured, aromatic, gray-green foliage. Flowers are inconspicuous but provide a source of pollen, nectar, and seeds for wildlife. Shrubby varieties can be cut back to maintain a more tidy and compact appearance. Excellent choice for adding silver aromatic foliage in the garden.

Examples: A. californica (2-4’ tall x 4-5’ wide, California native, gray-green fine foliage), A. douglasiana (2-5′ tall and spreading by rhizomes, California native, good addition to rain gardens), A. ‘Powis Castle’ (2-3’ tall x 4-6’ wide, Mediterranean hybrid with silvery foliage).

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

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′)

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• 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

Iris are a large and diverse group of perennials that grow from either bulbs or rhizomes. The California native Douglas iris and cultivars known as Pacific Coast Hybrids are an excellent choice for summer-dry gardens and understory plantings. Fall rain brings new growth in the form of thin, upright leaves, followed in late winter to early spring by the first blossoms. Douglas iris commonly ranges in color from lavender to purple, but cultivars are available in a range of colors including white and yellow. Established plantings can be lifted and divided after the first significant fall rain and either replanted or put into containers to share with others.

• Water: Low
• Light: Partial ShadeShade
• Soil: Most Soils

Coyote Mint is a compact perennial or sub-shrub with aromatic foliage and a sprawling habit. Dense heads of purple flowers form in spring-to-summer that are attractive to butterflies and other insects. The low-growth habit of coyote mint makes it an excellent choice for the front of a border, along the edge of a path, or beneath larger shrubs such as manzanita or ceanothus. Monardella villosa spp. franciscana ‘Russian River’ and Monardella villosa spp. villosa ‘Mark West’ are available selections from Sonoma County.

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

Salvias are a huge group of more than 900 species that include annuals, perennials, and shrubs adapted to a variety of climates and have varying water requirements. Salvias are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and are generally ignored by deer. Sages that are native to California are generally drought-tolerant, prefer full sun, and little to no fertilizer. Annual pruning in late summer or fall generally helps to keep plants tidy and healthy.

CA native sages:

• S. apiana, white sage (3-4’ x 4-6’), silvery-white, aromatic leaves with tall flower spikes of white flowers, popular for honey production and in bundles as a natural incense.
• S. ‘Bee’s Bliss’, (1-2’ x 6-8’), superb, light gray groundcover with light purple flowers on long spikes; damp conditions can cause mildew which will clear with warm weather and sunny conditions.
• S. clevelandii, Cleveland sage (3-5’ x 3-5’), medium-sized shrub for hot, dry locations known for pleasant fragrance and deep blue whorls of flowers; popular cultivars include S. c. ‘Allen Chickering’, S. c. ‘Pozo Blue’, and S. c. ‘Winnifred Gilman’.
• S. leucophylla, purple sage, includes plants with both an upright growth habit, such as S. l. ‘Amethyst Bluff’ (3-5’ x 3-5’) and others with a sprawling form, such as S. l. ‘Point Sal’ (2-3’ x 6’), both of which are from Santa Barbara county.
• S. sonomaensis, Sonoma sage (1-2’ x 3-4’), groundcover that prefers light shade and will not tolerate damp conditions; cultivars include S. s. ‘Dara’s Choice’.
• S. spathacaea, Hummingbird Sage (1-2’ tall and 4-5 feet wide), herbaceous groundcover that grows well in dry shade or part-sun and spreads slowly by underground rhizomes; large leaves have a wonderful fruity fragrance. Pink to dark rose flowers from late winter into summer. It is drought tolerant and can survive without summer irrigation once established. Some supplemental water will keep the foliage green.
• S. mellifera, black sage (6′ x 10′), evergreen shrub that grows well in full sun and well drained soils. Dark green leaves with pale purple flowers in late spring and early summer.

Non-native low-water use sages:

• S. chamaedryoides, germander sage (2-3’)
• S. greggii, autumn sage (1-4’ x 1-4’)
• S. leucantha, Mexican bush sage (3-4’ x 3-6’)
• S. microphylla, littleleaf sage (3-4’ x 3-6’)
• S. officinalis, garden sage (1-3’ x 1-3’)

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• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Well Drained

Fast-growing shrubs and small trees for sun or part shade that attract pollinators from far and wide to large clusters of cream flowers in spring, followed by berries in summer that provide food to many types of birds. Fruit can also be used for culinary purposes. While naturally fairly wild-looking, elderberries can handle being cut back to the ground in the winter or pruned to maintain size and shape. Drought tolerant but can tolerate seasonal moisture, good choice for rain gardens.

Examples:

• Blue elderberry (S. mexicana [nigra] spp. caerulea, 8-25’) is native from Oregon to Baja California and beyond.
• Black elderberry (S. nigra, 20-30’) is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and is available in nurseries in the form of many named cultivars. Cut leaf black elderberry (S. n. ‘Black Lace’, 8’ x 8’) has intense dark, fine foliage. Cut leaf elderberry (S. n. ‘Laciniata’, 10’ x 10’) has green leaves, and variegated black elderberry (S. n. ‘Marginata’, 6-12’) has variegated leaves.

• Water: Low
• 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
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• Soil: Most Soils

California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) is a beautiful native perennial groundcover to sub-shrub of the California foothills and coastal areas. It is a perennial plant, notable for the many bright red flowers in summer and autumn. They tend to go dormant in the winter, which is a good time to prune the old foliage to encourage new growth in spring. Easy to grow, will do best and flower most profusely in full sun. It can spread by seed and by rhizomes. Great for attracting hummingbirds. This plant is on several fire-resistant plant lists, including FireSafe Marin and County of San Diego.

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• Soil: Well Drained

Group of flowering perennials mostly native to North America. Two species are commonly grown in California gardens. Beach aster (E. glaucus, 12” x 2′) is native to coastal California and Oregon and has purple flowers with yellow centers from spring into summer. Santa Barbara daisy (E. karvinskianus, 10-18” x 2-3’) has white and pink flowers with yellow centers. This plant can self-sow aggressively but is easily pulled.

Examples: E. g. ‘Wayne Roderick’ has deep purple flowers. E. g. ‘White Lights’ is a white- flowering form from Sonoma County.

• Water: Low
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• Soil: Most Soils

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.

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• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Most Soils

A native, perennial, deciduous shrub with dark green leaves divided into coarsely toothed leaflets. Rose to pink colored flowers containing yellow seeds and grows abundantly in moist soils. Natural habitat for birds and pollinator insects. Easy to grow, it can tolerate low-water conditions but benefits from some supplemental irrigation, especially during summer.

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