List of California native plants that can be used for teas and other beverages.

1. 1
CA Native Plants for Western L.A. County Gardens – Plants for Teas and Beverages
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
Trees and Tree-like Large Shrubs
* Arbutus menziesii Madrona
40-75+ tall
To 50 ft w
White/W-Sp FS/PS (best)
Well-
drained
2 13
Red berries for tea;
acid soils
* Arctostaphylos
species
Large Manzanita
species
For more see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/arctostaphylos-manzanitas-1111
Fruits for cider-like
beverage
X
* Celtis reticulata/ C.
laevigata var. reticulata
Netleaf hackberry
10-30 ft t.
20-30 ft w.
Green/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3
5, 8, 10, 16,
19, 30, 31, 45
Fruits; tea,
syrup
X * Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud
6-20 ft tall
10-15 ft w
Magenta/
Sp
FS/PS
Any incl
clay
1-2 to 2-3
1, 3, 5, 6, 8,
10, 13, 14, 16,
19
Fruit, flowers
for tea
X
* Prunus virginiana var.
demissa
Western
Chokecherry
6-25 ft tall
6-15 ft w
Cream/Sp FS/PS Any 2 to 2-3 6, 13 fruits for syrup
X Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
Catalina Island
Cherry
< 50 ft White/Su FS/PS any 1-2
1, 7, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
fruits for syrup
X
Sambucus nigra ssp.
cerulea
Blue (Mexican)
Elderberry
8-25+ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12-14, 16, 19
Berries dried
(tea); syrup
Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges)
* Arctostaphylos
species
Medium-size
Manzanita species
For more see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/arctostaphylos-manzanitas-1111
Fruits for cider-like
beverage
X Cornus sericea Redosier dogwood
10-25 ft
tall & wide
White/Sp PS Any 2 to 3 8, 11, 13, 20 Flowers, tea
Mahonia (Berberis)
fremontii
Fremont Barberrry
5-10 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/Sp FS/PS Most 2 13
Berries for tea,
syrup
X
Mahonia (Berberis)
nevinii
Nevin’s Barberry
3-8+ ft tall
6-12 ft w
Yellow/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 1, 7, 13, 14
Berries for tea,
syrup
X
Prunus ilicifolia ssp.
ilicifolia
Holly-leaf Cherry
10-15 ft t
8-10 ft w
White/Su FS/PS any 1-2
1, 7, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
Berries for
syrup
X Rhus integrifolia Lemonadeberry
2-10 ft
3-20 ft w.
Pink/Sp FS/PS any 1-2
1, 3, 7, 9, 10,
12, 14, 16, 18
Fruits-
lemonade-like
X Rhus ovata Sugar Bush
8-12 ft
6-15 ft w.
Pink/Sp FS/PS any 1-2
1, 3, 9, 10,
12-14, 16, 19
Fruits-
lemonade-like
X
Ribes aureum var.
gracillimum
Golden Currant To 10 ft
Yellow/
W-Sp
FS/PS/ FSH Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 12, 14
Berries for tea,
syrup
Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs
X
* Arctostaphylos
species
smaller Manzanita
species
For more see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/arctostaphylos-manzanitas-1111
Fruits for cider-like
beverage

2. 2
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X
* Berberis (Mahonia)
aquifolium
Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3
1, 7, 8, 9, 13,
14
Fruits for tea,
syrup
*Berberis (Mahonia)
nervosa
Cascade barberry
< 2 ft tall
2-4 ft w.
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH any 2 to 3 8
Fruits for tea,
syrup
X Lepechinia fragrans
Fragrant Pitcher
Sage
3-6 ft tall &
wide
Lavender/Sp FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 12, 13,
14
‘El Tigre’;
leaves
X Rhus trilobata
Basket Bush; Sour
Berry; Skunkbrush
2-6 ft
Yellow-
green/Sp
PS any 1-2
10, 13, 14, 16,
19
Berries for tea,
syrup
X
Ribes californicum var.
hesperium
Hillside Gooseberry To 3 ft
Red-white/
W-Sp
PS/FSH
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3
10, 12, 13 (var.
californicum)
Berries for tea,
syrup
X Ribes indecorum White Currant To 6 ft White/W-Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2 1, 3, 12, 14
Berries for tea,
syrup
X Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant 5-8 ft Pink/W-Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 3, 13, 14, 19
Berries for tea,
syrup
** Ribes malvaceum
var. viridifolium 'Ortega
Beauty'
Ortega Beauty
Chaparral Currant
5-7 ft tall &
wide
Pink/ Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to
2-3
13
Berries for tea,
syrup
X Ribes speciosum
Fuschia-flowered
Gooseberry
3-6+ ft tall
and wide
dark pink/
W-Sp
FS/PS/FSH
Well-
drained
2-3;
3 in sun
1, 3, 10, 12-14,
19
Berries for tea,
syrup
X
* Ribes sanguineum
var. glutinosum
Red-flowering
Currant
4-10 ft Pink/Sp PS/FSH
Well-
drained
2-3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19
Berries for tea,
syrup
X Rosa californica
California Wild
Rose
3-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w
Pink/
Sp-Su
FS/PS/FSH any
1-2;
3 (sun)
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
Berries for tea,
syrup
X *Rosa minutifolia Baja rose
4-6 ft tall
4-5 ft w.
Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 8
Berries for tea,
syrup
X *Rubus parviflorus
Western
thimbleberry
3-6 ft tall
spreading
White/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 8
Berries for tea,
syrup
X Rubus ursinus (ssp. ?) Pacific Blackberry
2-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w
White/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 7, 12, 13, 14
Berries for tea,
syrup
*Vaccinium ovatum
California
huckleberry
3-5+ ft tall
& w
Pink/W-Spr PS
Drained
pH 4-5
2-3 5, 8, 11, 37
Berries for tea,
syrup
Perennial Vines
X * Lonicera ciliosa
Orange
Honeysuckle
15-20 ft
Orange/ Sp-
Su
PS/FSH Any 2-3 2, 8
Berries for
syrup
X
Lonicera hispidula var.
vacillans
Western
Honeysuckle
5-18 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS/FSH clay 1-2 to 2-3
1, 5, 13, 14,
19
Berries for
syrup
X * Lonicera interrupta
Chaparral
Honeysuckle
8-20+ ft
Yellow/
Sp-Su
FS/PSH Any 2 to 2-3 2
Berries for
syrup

3. 3
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X
Lonicera subspicata
var. denudate &
subspicata
Santa Barbara &
Southern
Honeysuckles
3-8 ft
Cream/
Sp-Su
PS/PS/
FSH
any 1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 12, 13,
14
Berries for
syrup
X
** Vitis californica
‘Roger’s Red’
‘Roger’s Red’
California Grape
> 20 ft White/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13
Fruits for juice,
tea, syrup
X Vitis girdiana Desert Grape > 25 ft White/Su PS any 2-3
2, 3, 10, 13,
20
Fruits for juice,
tea, syrup
Groundcover Plants: Woody or Half-woody, Evergreen
X
* Arctostaphylos
species
Groundcover
Manzanitas
For more see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/arctostaphylos-manzanitas-1111
Fruits for cider-like
beverage
** Berberis (Mahonia)
aquifolium ‘Compacta’
‘Compacta’ Oregon
Grape
2-4 ft tall
2-4 ft
wide
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH
Any;
acidic
1-2 to 2-3 1, 13
Fruits for tea,
syrup
X
* Berberis (Mahonia)
repens
Creeping Oregon
Grape
1 ft tall
< 6 ft
wide
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH
Any;
acidic
1-2 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14
Fruits for tea,
syrup
Groundcover Plants: Herbaceous Perennials
X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3 most Alkali soils fine
X
* Clinopodium (Satureja)
chandleri
San Miguel Savory
1-2 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
White/Sp PS/FSH
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3 3, 14 Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X
Clinopodium (Satureja)
douglasii
Yerba buena
< 6 in
spreading
White/Sp-Su PS/FSH
Well-
drained
2-3 to 3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
* Clinopodium
(Satureja) mimuloides
Monkeyflower
Savory
1 ft tall
2-4+ ft w
Red-Or/
Su-Fa
FS/PS
Well-
drained
2-3 to 3 3, 8
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X
* Fragaria chiloensis
ssp. pacifica (and
cultivars)
(Pacific) Coast
Strawberry
< 1 ft
spreading
White/Sp-Su PS
Sandy
best
1-2 to
2-3
1, 3, 8, 13
Fruits, leaves
(tea); fruits for
syrup
X
* Fragaria vesca
(californica)
CA/Wood
Strawberry
< 2 ft
spreading
White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20
Fruits, leaves
(tea); fruits for
syrup
X * Mentha arvensis
Tule Mint; Wild
Mint
< 1 ft
spreading
Pink/Sp-Su PS Most 2 to 3 2, 6, 13
Excellent fo tea;
contain
X
*Pycnanthemum
californicum
Mountain mint
1-3 ft tall
spreading
White/Sp-Su PS Most 2-3 to 3 1, 6, 8, 13, 14
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage 1-3 ft Magenta/Spr PS/FSH Any 1-2 to 2
1, 3, 8, 9, 12,
13, 19
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas

4. 4
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
Herbaceous Perennials
X * Agastache urticifolia
Nettleleaf Giant
Hyssop (Horse
Mint)
2-5 ft tall &
wide
Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained
2 to 2-3 6, 13, 19
Dried flowers,
leaves (tea)
* Monardella antonina
(now * Monardella
villosa ssp. villosa)
Butterfly Bush
Monardella
1 ft tall Purple-pink/ FS/PS Most 2 or 2-3
1, 3, 6, 8, 11,
13, 19
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X * Monardella crispa
Waveyleaf Dune
Mint/Crisp
Monardella
1-2 ft tall
3-4 ft wide
Purple-
pink/Su-F
FS/PS
Sandy
best
2 6, 11, 13, 14
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X
* Monardella
macrantha
Red Monardella
1-2 ft tall &
wide
Red/Su-F PS best
Any; no
alkali
2-3
1, 6, 8, 13, 14,
19
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X
* Monardella
odoratissima
Mountain
Monardella
1-2ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Lilac/ Sp-Su PS best
Sandy
best
2 or 2-3
1, 3, 6, 8, 11,
13, 14, 24, 28
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X
* Monardella villosa
ssp. villosa [formerly
Monardella subglabrata]
Coastal Coyote
Mint
1 ft tall
3-5 ft wide
Purple/
Sp-Su
FS/PS Most 2 to 3 6, 13
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X
* Monardella villosa ssp
villosa [ssp. subserrata]
Coyote Mint
1 ft
3-5 ft wide
Pink/Sp-Su PS
Well-
drained
1-2
1, 3, 8, 13, 14,
19
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
* Monardella villosa
ssp. obispoensis
San Luis Obispo
Coyote Mint
1 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Pale violet/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
Clays
fine
2 to 3 6, 13
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
** Monardella villosa
'Russian River'
‘Russian River’
Coyote Mint
1-2 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Purple/Su PS Most 2 to 2-3
1, 3, 8, 13, 14,
19
Leaves ;
fragrant, teas
X Solidago californica
California
Goldenrod
2-4 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3
2, 7, 10, 13,
14
Dried flowers,
leaves (tea)
X
Solidago spectabilis
var. confinis
Southern
Goldenrod
3-6 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10
Dried flowers,
leaves (tea)
1/28/15
I : X = Gardening Information Sheet available on-line (http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html)
* may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant
** light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade
+
Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;
2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn)