This medium-to-large, evergreen Channel Island native tree offers fern-like leaves, peeling bark, and large, flat-topped, creamy white flower clusters in spring or summer. Flowers are attractive to pollinating insects and birds and gradually turn brown. Leaf fall from the tree provides a layer of mulch to the drip line.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Green
• Flower Color: White
• Blooming Season (s): Spring

• Size: MediumLarge

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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.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Green
• Flower Color: Yellow
• Blooming Season (s): Spring
• Fruit Color: Blue

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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.

• Water: Very Low
• Light: Full SunPartial Shade
• Soil: Sandy

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Green
• Flower Color: OrangeRedWhite
• Blooming Season (s): SpringSummer

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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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Gray Green
• Flower Color: Purple
• Blooming Season (s): SpringSummer

• Life Cycle: Perennial

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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’).

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

• Foliage: Herbaceous
• Leaf Color: Green
• Flower Color: CreamPink
• Blooming Season (s): SummerFall

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Wildlife: Pollinator Habitat

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Low-growing, Australian evergreen groundcover shrub that forms a mat about 6” high and 10’ wide with small, white flowers in the summer.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Green
• Flower Color: White
• Blooming Season (s): Summer

• Life Cycle: Perennial

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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.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Green - Dark
• Blooming Season (s): SpringSummerFallWinter

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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.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Green - Dark
• Flower Color: White
• Blooming Season (s): Summer
• Fruit Color: BlackBlue

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Evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub from China and Japan with attractive, delicate leaves that turn reddish bronze in winter and provide a light airy look. Creamy white flowers develop into red or orange berries, offering interest in winter and often throughout the year. Provide part shade in warmer locations. Many available cultivars ranging from just 1-2’ to 5-6’ tall.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: BronzeGreen -Light
• Flower Color: White
• Blooming Season (s): SpringSummerFall
• Fruit Color: Red
• Bark Color: Brown

• Size: SmallMediumLarge

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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.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Gray GreenGreen
• Flower Color: BlueLavenderWhite
• Blooming Season (s): Summer

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Size: SmallMedium

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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.

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

• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaf Color: Blue GreenGray Green
• Blooming Season (s): SpringSummerFallWinter

• Size: Small
• Function: Foliage

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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.

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

• Foliage: Deciduous
• Leaf Color: Blue Green
• Flower Color: Yellow
• Blooming Season (s): SpringSummer
• Bark Color: Green

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Size: Small
• Wildlife: Bird Habitat

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