Water conservation is an essential consideration when designing and managing Sonoma and Marin County landscapes. Our area enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by wet winters and long, dry summers with little rainfall. Plants that are suited or adapted to local conditions not only use less water but generally grow more successfully and robustly, with fewer insect and disease problems. They ultimately create a healthier, more beautiful and more sustainable landscape.
Below is a hand selected plant list for Sonoma and Marin counties that displays mostly native species that will thrive in our climate. You can search, filter and save specific plants to your plant list and also print plant cards.
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California Native
Oregon Grape, Berberry
Mahonia [Berberis] spp -
California Native
Sticky Monkey Flower
Mimulus aurantiacus and hybrids -
California Native
Coyote Mint
Monardella villosa -
California Native
Muhly Grass, Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia spp -
Prostrate Myoporum
Myoporum parvifolium -
African Boxwood
Myrsine africana -
Common Myrtle
Myrtus communis -
Catmint, Catnip
Nepeta spp -
Swan Hill Olive
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' -
California Native
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida (Cercidium floridum) -
California Native
Little Leaf Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla (Cercidium) -
California Native
Blue Foothill Penstemon, California Penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus


Oregon Grape, Berberry
Mahonia [Berberis] spp
CA Native, Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
Yellow
flowers
Oregon Grape, Berberry
Mahonia [Berberis] spp
CA Native, Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
Yellow
flowers
Some barberries may be referred to either as Berberis or 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: Oregon grape (M. repens, 1-3’ x 2-3’) is an excellent small-scale groundcover for lightly shaded understory locations; Nevin mahonia (M. nevinii, 6-8’ x 6-8’) with blue-green leaves from Southern California is a good screen plant; and California holly grape (M. pinnata, 4-6’ x 4-6’) with wavy leaves provides distinctive texture.


Sticky Monkey Flower
Mimulus aurantiacus and hybrids
CA Native, Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Very Low
Sandy
Look:
Green
leaves
Orange
flowers
Red
flowers
White
flowers
Sticky Monkey Flower
Mimulus aurantiacus and hybrids
CA Native, Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Very Low
Sandy
Look:
Green
leaves
Orange
flowers
Red
flowers
White
flowers
The orange, tubular flowers of sticky monkey flower can be enjoyed in many locations throughout Sonoma and Marin counties in spring and summer, a testament to how well this plant is adapted to hot and dry conditions. The slightly sticky leaves benefit from light pinching and pruning to maintain an attractive appearance and support for the beautiful flowers. Many hybrids provide color variation. Do not confuse this plant with the red-flowered scarlet monkey flower (Mimulus cardinalis), an herbaceous riparian plant that requires regular water to thrive.


Coyote Mint
Monardella villosa
CA Native
Care:
Full Sun
Very Low
Most Soils
Look:
Gray Green
leaves
Purple
flowers
Coyote Mint
Monardella villosa
CA Native
Care:
Full Sun
Very Low
Most Soils
Look:
Gray Green
leaves
Purple
flowers
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.


Muhly Grass, Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia spp
CA Native, Grass
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
Cream
flowers
Pink
flowers
Muhly Grass, Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia spp
CA Native, Grass
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
Cream
flowers
Pink
flowers
Large, showy, clumping, warm-season grasses native to the Southern United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. Can be grown in masses but require sufficient space for the mature size and form to develop. Arching plumes of flowers on long stalks provide significant ornamental value to these low-maintenance and drought-tolerant grasses.
Examples: Pink muhly (M. capillaris, 2-3′ x 2-3’) with feathery pink flowers; pine muhly (M. dubia, 2-3’ x 2-3’) with light purple flowers; Lindheimer muhly (M. lindheimeri, 3-5’ x 4-5’) with creamy yellow flowers that provide a pronounced display; and the California native deer grass (M. rigens, 3’ x 3-4’).


Prostrate Myoporum
Myoporum parvifolium
Ground Cover
Care:
Full Sun
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
White
flowers
Prostrate Myoporum
Myoporum parvifolium
Ground Cover
Care:
Full Sun
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
White
flowers
Low-growing, Australian evergreen groundcover shrub that forms a mat about 6” high and 10’ wide with small, white flowers in the summer.


African Boxwood
Myrsine africana
Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green - Dark
leaves
African Boxwood
Myrsine africana
Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green - Dark
leaves
Dense, evergreen shrub with small leaves that will eventually grow to 4-6’ high and wide. Boxwood is commonly clipped as a small hedge, topiary, or kept in a container.


Common Myrtle
Myrtus communis
Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green - Dark
leaves
White
flowers
Common Myrtle
Myrtus communis
Shrub
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green - Dark
leaves
White
flowers
Mediterranean evergreen shrub with fine-textured, aromatic foliage that withstands shearing and makes a good informal hedge or screen. Several available cultivars provide different growth and foliage characteristics.


Catmint, Catnip
Nepeta spp
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Most Soils
Look:
Medium
size
Small
size
Gray Green
leaves
Green
leaves
Blue
flowers
Lavender
flowers
White
flowers
Catmint, Catnip
Nepeta spp
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Most Soils
Look:
Medium
size
Small
size
Gray Green
leaves
Green
leaves
Blue
flowers
Lavender
flowers
White
flowers
Low-growing, flowering perennial from the mint family that produces many spikes of lavender flowers in the summer that are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Soft, gray-green, aromatic foliage is attractive to cats. Nepeta species seed freely and may become invasive. Nepeta x faassenii is a sterile hybrid that is widely available and grows well in Northern California gardens. Available cultivars have flowers ranging from deep blue to white.


Swan Hill Olive
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill'
Shrub, Tree
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Very Low
Well Drained
Look:
Small
size
Blue Green
leaves
Gray Green
leaves
Swan Hill Olive
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill'
Shrub, Tree
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Very Low
Well Drained
Look:
Small
size
Blue Green
leaves
Gray Green
leaves
Classic, slow-growing Mediterranean evergreen tree with willow-like foliage that can be grown as a standard or multi-trunk. Trunks of younger trees are generally smooth and become more gnarled as they age. Pollen is highly allergenic to many people, and fruit and seeds can be messy and even invasive. Seeds can be spread by birds and mammals and have become invasive in parts of southern California and the Central Valley. Low-flowering and non-fruiting cultivars are available.
Examples: O. e. ‘Bonita’ (25-30’ x 25-30’) is nearly fruitless; O. e. ‘Franz Fruitless’ (25-30’ x 25-30’) produces no pollen and nearly no fruit; O. e. ‘Little Ollie’ (6-8’ x 6-8’) is a dwarf non-fruiting hybrid with dense foliage; O. e. ‘Majestic Beauty’ (25’ x 20’) only develops small amounts of fruit; O. e. ‘Swan Hill’ (25-30’ x 25-30’) is a non-fruiting olive free of airborne pollen.


Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida (Cercidium floridum)
CA Native, Tree
Care:
Full Sun
Very Low
Well Drained
Look:
Small
size
Blue Green
leaves
Yellow
flowers
Green
bark
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida (Cercidium floridum)
CA Native, Tree
Care:
Full Sun
Very Low
Well Drained
Look:
Small
size
Blue Green
leaves
Yellow
flowers
Green
bark
Wide canopy with greenish bark and pale yellow flowers. Has thorns and little pruning is needed. Leaves drop during extreme heat and will not survive extended frost. Attracts birds and creates a stable habitat for them.


Little Leaf Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla (Cercidium)
CA Native, Tree
Care:
Full Sun
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Small
size
Yellow
flowers
Green
bark
Little Leaf Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla (Cercidium)
CA Native, Tree
Care:
Full Sun
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Small
size
Yellow
flowers
Green
bark
Wide canopy with greenish bark and pale yellow flowers. Leaves drop during extreme heat and will not survive in extended frost. High pest tolerance. Little pruning needed.


Blue Foothill Penstemon, California Penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
CA Native
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
Blue
flowers
Blue Foothill Penstemon, California Penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
CA Native
Care:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Low
Well Drained
Look:
Green
leaves
Blue
flowers
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.