1 
CA Native Plants for Western L.A. County – Plants for Clay Soils 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Trees and Tree-like Large Shrubs 
* Acer negundo var. californicum 
Boxelder 
To 40 ft tall & wide 
White/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clay 
2 to 3 
1, 8, 13, 14, 24 
Fast-growing 
* Aesculus californica 
CA Buckeye 
12-30+ ft tall & w 
White/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
1 
1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14 
* Alnus rhombifolia 
White Alder 
50-75 ft tall 
20-40 ft w. 
Green/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clay 
2-3 to 3 
3, 6, 8, 13, 14 
Tol. flooding 
X 
Baccharis salicifolia 
Mule Fat 
To 10 ft 
Pink-white/ 
all year 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 2 
** Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ 
‘Ray Hartman’ Ceanothus 
To 20 ft t 
10-15 w 
Lt. blue/Sp 
FS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 6, 9, 13 
Spreading; evergreen; good for garden 
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 
Fall color (red, orange); edible fruit, flowers 
X 
Cercocarpus montanus var. blancheae/ C. alnifolius/ C. betuloides var. blancheae 
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany 
6-12 ft tall 
4 ft. wide 
Yellow- white/Sp 
FS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
1, 7, 13 
Hedge; evergreen; upright form 
* Cercocarpus minutiflorus 
San Diego Mountain Mahogany 
8-12 ft tall 
8-10 ft w 
Yellow- white/Sp 
FS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
3, 8, 14, 21 
Hedge; evergreen; upright form 
X 
Cornus glabrata 
Brown Dogwood 
< 18 ft tall 
to 10 ft w 
White/Sp 
FS/PS/ FSH 
Clay best 
2-3 
1, 13 
* Cupressus forbesii 
Tecate Cypress 
20-30 ft tall 
6-8 ft wide 
Insig 
FS 
Any well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
6, 8, 14, 24 
Hedge (to 12 ft); fast growth; neat-looking 
X 
* Forestiera neomexicana (pubescens) 
Desert Olive 
8-15 ft t 
8 ft wide 
Yellow/Sp 
FS 
Any well- drained 
1-2 to 2 
6, 8 
Berries for birds; gray- green foliage 
X 
* Garrya elliptica 
Coastal Silktassel 
12 ft tall & wide 
Cream/W 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
3, 8, 14 
Good under oaks; ‘James Roof’ 
X 
Heteromeles arbutifolia 
Toyon 
6-10 ft + 
4-6 ft w 
White/Su 
FS/PS/FSH 
Any well- drained 
1-2 
1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 
Berries toxic in lg. amounts 
X 
* Holodiscus discolor 
Creambush; Ocean Spray 
10-20 ft tall 
White/Su-Fa 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clays 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 5, 13, 14 
Fragrant at a distance
2 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Juglans californica 
S. California Walnut 
20-40 ft ta 
Green/Sp 
FS/PS 
Clays best 
1 
1, 7, 12, 13, 14 
allelopathic 
X 
Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp. glabrata & assurgentiflora 
Island (Rose) Mallow 
8-12 ft tall & wide 
Magenta/ 
yr round 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1 
1, 2, 13 
X 
Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius & floribundus 
Catalina Ironwood 
To 50 ft t 
15-30 ft w 
White- yellow/ Sp- Su 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
1-2 
1, 3, 7, 9, 13, 14 
Evergreen 
X 
Malosma laurina 
Laurel Sumac 
<18 ft tall and wide 
White/Sp 
FS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 
X 
* Morella (Myrica) californica 
California Wax Myrtle 
6-30 ft t 
10-20 ft w 
Yellow- white/Sp 
FS/PS/ FSH 
Any; well- drained best 
2-3 to 3 
3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 14, 19 
Evergreen; good for hedges; purple berries 
* Pinus torreyana 
Torrey Pine 
40-60 ft t 
30-50 ft w 
Insignif/ 
Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 13, 14, 20 
Pine scent 
Platanus racemosa 
California sycamore 
60-100 ft 
Bright pink/Sp 
FS 
Any but high alkali 
2-3 
1, 3, 7, 12, 14 
Can live to 400 yrs; no salt tolerance 
X 
Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa 
Black Cottonwood 
30-60 (100 ft) 
Yellow/Sp 
FS 
any 
2-3 
1, 7, 14 
Grows large with abundant water 
Populus fremontii 
Fremont’s Cottonwood 
To 100 ft 
80 ft w 
Yellow/Sp 
FS 
Any 
2-3 
1, 3, 14 
Long-lived 
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 jelly, bird habitat 
X 
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia & lyonii 
Holly-leaf and Catalina Island Cherries 
< 50 ft 
White/Su 
PS 
any 
1-2 
1, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19 
X 
Quercus agrifolia 
Coastal Live Oak 
10-70 f tall 
40-70 w. 
Yellow/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Coarse- med. 
1 
1, 2, 18 
Long-lived 
X 
Salix laevigata 
Red Willow 
10-30 ft 
to 45 ft w. 
Yellow/Sp 
FS 
any 
1-2; winter flooding 
1, 2, 3, 12, 14 
‘weeping’ growth habit 
Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra 
Pacific (Shining) Willow 
20-40 ft T 
Yellow/Sp 
FS 
any 
2-3 to 3 
1, 7, 13, 14 
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 
Edible berries
3 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges) 
X 
* Amelanchier alnifolia 
Western Serviceberry 
8-15 ft tall 
6-12 ft w 
White/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any; well- drained 
1-2 to 2-3 
6, 8, 10, 13 
Ripe berries make sweet jelly/sauce 
** Arctostaphylos bakeri ssp. bakeri 'Louis Edmunds' 
‘Louis Edmunds’ (Sepentine) Manzanita 
5-8 ft tall 
8 ft wide 
Pink/Sp 
FS 
Clay fine 
1-2 to 2 
6, 13, 24 
Nice flowers; maroon branches 
** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' 
‘Sentinel’ (Vine Hill) Manzanita 
4-8 ft tall 
6-10 ft w 
Pink/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clays 
2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 13, 14 
** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel' 
‘Sentinel’ (Vine Hill) Manzanita 
5-8 ft tall 
3-7 ft wide 
Pink/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained incl sand 
1-2 
6, 8, 13, 
Good for birds, butterflies; open growth 
** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony' 
‘Harmony’ Manzanita 
5-8 ft tall 
6-10 ft w 
Pink/W-Sp 
FS coast/ 
PS inland 
Any, incl. clays 
1 to 1-2 
1, 13 
Good bloomer; hardy 
X 
Baccharis pilularis 
Coyote Bush 
To 8 ft 
Cream/F 
FS/PS 
any 
1-2 
1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 
X 
** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’ 
Pigeon Point Coyote Bush 
6-12 ft T 
to 10 ft W 
Buff-White/ Su-F 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
Winter flooding 
1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20 
X 
Baccharis plummerae subsp. plummerae 
Plummer's Baccharis 
< 7 ft tall 
Buff-Wht/ 
Su-F 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
Winter flooding 
? 
X 
* Calycanthus occidentalis 
Western Spicebush 
6-12 ft tall 
4-6 ft wide 
Purple- bronze/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Pref.light deep rich 
2-3 
1, 13, 14 
Spicy; wine-like fragrance 
** Ceanothus ‘Concha’ Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus X C. impressus 
‘Concha’ Ceanothus 
4-6 ft. tall & wide 
Dark Blue/ Sp 
FS/PS 
Most 
1-2 to 2 
3, 6, 8, 9, 14, 24, 
Alkali & garden tolerant 
** Ceanothus impressus x papillosus ‘Dark Star’ 
‘Dark Star’ Ceanothus 
6-8 ft high 
5-8 ft wide 
Dk blue/ W- Sp 
FS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 24 
Hedge; best nearer coast 
X 
** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ 
‘Skylark’ Ceanothus 
3-6 ft t 
Lt blue/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any incl clay 
2 
1, 3, 6, 13 
X 
** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Snow Flurry' 
‘Snowflurry’ Ceanothus 
6-10 ft t 
10 ft w 
White/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
2 
1, 3, 6, 9, 13, 14 
Dense; shrubby; fast 
** Ceanothus arboreus x thrysiflorus ‘Frosty Blue’ 
‘Frosty Blue’ Ceanothus 
6-10 ft t 
8 ft wide 
Med blue/ 
W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained, sandy 
2 
1, 3, 6, 13 
Dense; evergreen; prune or hedge
4 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
** Ceaonothus ‘Julia Phelps’ 
‘Julia Phelps’ Ceanothus 
4-8 ft tall 
7-9 ft wide 
Dk. Blue/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 6, 13, 
Dense; evergreen 
** Ceanothus ‘Blue Jeans’ 
‘Blue Jeans’ Ceanothus 
6 ft tall & wide 
Lavender/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2 
3, 6, 
X 
Dendromecon harfordii 
Channel Island Tree Poppy 
8 ft tall 
4 ft wide 
Yellow/W-Sp 
FS 
Any well- drained 
1-2 
1, 9, 13, 14, 19 
Showy; blue- green foliage 
X 
* Holodiscus discolor 
Creambush; Ocean Spray 
10-20 ft tall 
White/ 
Su-Fa 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clays 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 5, 13, 14 
Fragrant at a distance 
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 
Edible berries; good bird habitat 
X 
Malacothamnus fasciculatus 
Chaparral Mallow 
To 12 ft t 
4-6 ft wide 
Pink/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 5, 10, 13, 19 
‘Casitas’ good for gardens 
X 
* Philadelphus lewisii 
CA Mock Orange 
4-10 ft tall & wide 
White/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Any, incl clays 
2-3 
1, 7, 13, 14, 19 
Very fragrant 
X 
* Rhamnus californica 
California Coffeeberry 
6-12 ft t & wide; short cultivars 
Buff/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 
'Eve Case', 'Mound San Bruno' smaller 
X 
* Rhamnus crocea 
Redberry Buckthorn 
3-6 ft tall 
6 ft wide 
Yellow/Sp 
FS/PS/ FSH 
Any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 20 
Pretty fruits; birds 
X 
* Rhamnus ilicifolia 
Holly-leaf Redberry 
12 ft tall 
5-6 ft w 
Yellow/Sp 
FS/PS/ FSH 
Any 
1-2 to 2 
1, 10, 12-14, 20, 21 
Nice hedge plant’ holly-like leaves 
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 
Edible fruits 
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 
Any well- drained; Birds eat berries 
X 
Salix exigua 
Narrow-leaf Willow 
6-15 ft 
12-15 ft.w. 
Yellow/Sp 
FS/PS 
any 
1-2; winter flooding 
1, 2, 3, 14 
Spreading via roots Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs 
Adenostoma fasciculatum 
Chamise 
3-10 ft tall 
3-6 ft wide 
White/Sp-Su 
FS 
any 
1-2 
1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 
* Arctostaphylos edmundsii 
Little Sur Manzanita 
2-5 ft tall 
4-6 ft w 
Pink/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
well- drained 
1-2 to 2 
1, 3, 8, 13, 14 
Cultivars: ‘Greensphere’ 
* Arctostaphylos hookeri 
Hooker’s Manzanita 
2-5 ft tall 
4-6 ft w 
Pink/W-Sp 
FS 
well- drained 
1-2 to 2 
1, 3, 13 
Cultivars ‘Sunset’, ‘Wayside’, ‘Ken Taylor’ 
X 
Artemisia californica 
Coastal Sagebrush 
3-6 ft tall 
Gold/Su 
FS 
Well- drained 
1 
1, 7-10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 
'Canyon Gray'
5 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Baccharis emoryi 
Emory Baccharis 
6-12 ft T 
to 10 ft W 
Buff-Wht/ Su-F 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
Winter flooding 
1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16 
Salt tolerant 
X 
** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point Dwarf’ 
Dwarf Pigeon Point Coyote Bush 
6-12 ft T 
to 10 ft W 
Buff-Wht/ Su-F 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
Winter flooding 
1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24 
X 
* Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium 
Oregon Grape 
< 6 ft 
Yellow/Sp 
PS 
any 
2-3 to 3 
1, 7, 9, 13, 14 
Incl. ‘Golden Abundance’, ‘Ken Hartman’ 
* Chrysothamnus nauseosus 
Rabbitbush 
2-5 ft tall & wide 
Yellow/Su-F 
FS 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
7, 10, 13, 16 
Insect-eaters 
X 
Dendromecon rigida 
Bush Poppy 
4-8 ft tall 
4-6 ft wide 
Yellow/ 
Sp-Su 
FS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16 
Keep clay soils quite dry 
X 
Diplacus aurantiacus ssp. aurantiacus 
Bush Monkeyflower 
2-3 ft 
Orange/ 
W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Sandy 
1-2 
1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 
X 
Encelia californica 
CA Bush Sunflower 
2-5 ft 
Yellow/ 
W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 
Good winter color 
X 
Epilobium canum (Zauschneria californica) 
CA Fuschia 
1-3 ft 
Orange/F 
FS/PS 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19 
Tolerates winter flooding 
X 
* Eriogonum crocatum 
Conejo Buckwheat 
1 ft tall 
1-3 ft wide 
Yellow/Sp- Su 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 19 
X 
Eriogonum fasciculatum 
California Buckwheat 
1-3 ft tall 
3-6 ft wide 
Pink/Sp-F 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19 
'Dana Point' tight, compact; ‘Bruce Dickinson’ - prostrate 
X 
Eriogonum giganteum vars. formosum, giganteum 
St. Catherine’s Lace 
3-6 ft 
Pink-white/ 
Su 
FS/PS 
Any well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19 
Don’t plant near native buckwheats 
X 
Eriogonum parvifolium 
Coastal Buckwheat 
2-4 ft 
Pink-creme/ 
Su + 
FS/PS/ 
FSH 
Any well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 16 
X 
Grindelia camporum var. bracteosa 
Bracted Gumplant 
2-4 ft tall 
2-3 ft wide 
Yellow/Su 
Fs 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 2, 6, 12, 16 
Tolerates salty, alkali soils 
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’ 
X 
Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons 
Silver Bush Lupine 
3-4 ft tall & wide 
Purple/Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19 ? var 
X 
Malacothamnus clementinus 
San Clemente Is. Bush Mallow 
2-4 ft tall 
to 8 ft wide 
Light pink/ Sp 
FS 
Any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 13
6 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Rhus trilobata 
Basket Bush; Sour Berry; Skunkbrush 
2-6 ft 
Yellow- green/Sp 
PS 
any 
1-2 
10, 13, 14, 16, 19 
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) 
Birds eat berries 
X 
Ribes indecorum 
White Currant 
To 6 ft 
White/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2 
1, 3, 12, 14 
Birds eat berries 
X 
Ribes malvaceum 
Chaparral Currant 
5-8 ft 
Pink/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
3, 13, 14, 19 
Birds eat berries 
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 
X 
* Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum 
Red-flowering Currant 
4-10 ft 
Pink/Sp 
PS/FSH 
Well- drained 
2-3 
3, 5, 13, 14, 19 
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 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
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 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
Salvia brandegeei ‘Pacific Blue’ 
‘Pacific Blue’ Sage 
3-4 ft tall 
4-6 ft wide 
Med. Blue/ 
W-Sp 
FS 
Any 
1-2 
3, 13 
X 
* Salvia clevelandii 
Fragrant (Chaparral) Sage 
2-5 ft 
Purple/lav. 
Sp-Su 
FS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 
Cultivars: ‘Betsy Clebsch’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Winifred Gilman’, 
X 
Salvia leucophylla 
Purple Sage 
3- 5 ft 
Lavender/Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16,18, 19 
Nice scent 
X 
Salvia mellifera 
Black Sage 
3-5 ft 
Light purple/Sp 
FS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
1, 3, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19 
X 
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus 
Common Snowberry 
3-5 ft, spreading 
White/Sp 
PS 
Clays, loams 
2-3 
7, 9, 13, 19 
Fruit may be toxic to humans 
X 
Symphoricarpos mollis 
Snowberry 
2-4 ft tall & wide 
Pink/W-Sp 
PS/FSH 
any 
2-3 to 3 
13, 14 
mulch 
X 
Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea 
Hoary Nettle 
3-6 ft tall 
spreading 
Pink/Sp-F 
PS 
Rich soils ok 
2-3 
1, 10, 13, 16 
Serious allergy on contact 
* Viguiera laciniata 
San Diego Sunflower 
1-2 ft tall 
1-3 ft wide 
Yellow/Sp 
FS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16
7 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Perennial Vines 
X 
Calystegia macrostegia 
California Morning 
Glory 
To 30+ ft 
White/Sp-F 
PS 
FS coastal 
Well- drained 
2-3 
1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16 
Invasive; can look weedy; ‘Anacapa Pink’; ‘Candycane’ 
X 
* Clematis lasiantha 
Chaparral Clematis 
8-20 ft vine 
White/Sp- Su; sep. m/f plants 
FS (top) 
PS (roots) 
any 
1-2 to 2 
1, 6, 8, 13 
Winter decid.; tolerates flooding 
X 
Clematis ligusticifolia 
Virgin’s Bower 
To 15 ft 
White/Su 
PS/FSH 
Any 
2-3 to 3 
3, 5, 13, 14, 19 
X 
Keckiella cordifolia 
Climbing Penstemon 
3-4 ft 
Red-Or/ 
Sp-Su 
PS/PS/ 
FSH 
any 
1-2 
1, 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14 
X 
Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans 
Western Honeysuckle 
5-18 ft 
Pink/Sp-Su 
PS/FSH 
clay 
2-3 
1, 5, 13, 14, 19 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
X 
* Lonicera involucrata 
Twinberry 
3-5 ft 
Yellow/Su 
PS/FSH 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
3, 7, 13, 19 
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 
Edible fruit 
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 
X 
Vitis girdiana 
Desert Grape 
> 25 ft 
White/Su 
PS 
any 
2-3 
2, 3, 10, 13, 20 
Perennial Groundcover Plants 
X 
Achillea millefolia 
Yarrow 
1-2 ft 
White/Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2-3 
most 
Alkali soils fine 
* Adenostema fasciculatum var. prostratum 
Prostrate Chamise 
< 2 ft 
3-4 ft wide 
Cream/Su 
FS 
Any incl. clays 
1 to 1-2 
1, 13, 14 
‘Nicolas’ 
X 
** Arctostaphylos edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’ 
Carmel Sur Manzanita 
1 ft tall 
to 20 ft w 
Pink/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clays 
1-2 to 2-3 
3, 6, 13, 19 
Good for Coastal areas; fast growth 
** Arctostaphylos hookeri ‘Monterey Carpet’ 
Monterey Carpet Manzanita 
1 ft high 
5+ ft wide 
White/Sp 
PS 
Sandy best 
1-2 
1, 3, 6, 13 
** Arctostaphylos hookeri X A. pajaroensis ‘Sunset’ 
‘Sunset’ Manzanita 
3-4 ft tall 
4-6 ft wide 
Pink/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 9, 13, 
Tolerates heat; compact
8 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
** Arctostaphylos uva- ursi ‘Point Reyes’ 
Point Reyes Manzanita 
<1 ft tall 
to 10 ft 
Pink/Sp 
PS 
Well- drained 
2-3 
1, 3, 8, 13, 16, 19 
** Arctostaphylos ‘John Dourley’ 
John Dourly Manzanita 
2-3 ft tall 
to 8 ft wide 
Pink/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 16, 19 
X 
Artemisia douglasiana 
Mugwort 
2-4+ ft tall & wide 
Cream/Su 
PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2-3 
3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 
Tolerates flooding 
** Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver King’, ‘Silver Queen’, 'Valerie Finnis' 
White Sagebrush (Western Mugwort) cultivars 
2-3 ft tall 
3-4 ft wide 
Cream/ Sp-F 
FS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2 
3, 8, 13, 14 
Dies back in winter 
X 
**Artemisia pycnocephala ‘David’s Choice’) 
Beach Sagewort / Sandhill Sage 
1-2 ft. tall 
2-4 ft wide 
Yellow/Su 
FS/PS 
Sandy best 
1-2 
1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18 
‘ 
** Aster chilensis ‘Point St. George’ 
Point St. George Coast Aster 
1-3 ft tall 
spreading 
Lavender/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 3 
1, 8, 11, 13 
Good habitat plant 
Baccharis douglasii 
Marsh Baccharis 
< 3 ft 
White/Su-F 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clays 
2-3 
1, 13 
** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’ 
Pigeon Point Dwarf Coyote Bush 
2 ft tall 
6-8 ft wide 
White-gold/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clays 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 16 
Light green leaves; good for coastal region 
** Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks 2’ 
Twin Peaks Dwarf Coyote Bush 
1-3 ft tall 
to 10 ft w 
White/F 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clays 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 8, 13 
Small dark leaves; can shear to size 
* Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium var. 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 
Good habitat; edible berries 
** 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 
Good habitat; edible berries 
** Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ 
Dark Star Ceanothus 
To 6+ ft 
To 6 ft 
Dk. Blue/ 
W-Sp 
FS 
Well- drained 
- to +/- 
1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 19 
C. impressus X papillosus 
* Ceanothus gloriosus 
Point Reyes Ceanothus 
1-2 ft tall 
to 8 ft wide 
Lt. blue/Sp 
FS (coast) 
/ PS 
Well- drained; sandy 
2-3 
3 
Dense foliage; holly-like 
** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’ 
Anchor Bay Ceanothus 
< 1 ft tall 
to 8 ft wide 
Dk blue/Sp 
FS (coast) 
/ PS 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
8, 9, 19 
Dense, compact 
** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Heart’s Desire’ 
Heart’s Desire Ceanothus 
1-3 ft tall 
4-6 ft wide 
Dk blue/ 
FS (coast) 
/ PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
8 
X 
* Ceanothus griseus horizontalis 
Carmel Creeper Ceanothus 
1-3 ft tall 
5-15 ft w 
Lt. blue/ 
FS/PS 
Any incl. clays 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 8, 13 
** Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ 
Yankee Point Ceanothus 
To 4-5 ft 
To 10 ft 
Med. Blue/ 
FS (coast) 
/ PS 
Any incl. clays 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 8, 13, 19 
Best near coast; fast grower
9 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
** Ceanothus griseus 'Kurt Zadnik' 
Kurt Zadnick Ceanothus 
3-4 ft 
8-10 ft 
Dk purple/ 
FS 
Any 
1-2 to 2 
13 
More reliable than ‘Yankee Point’ 
* Ceanothus hearstiorum 
Hearst’s Ceanothus 
1 ft tall 
6-8 ft wide 
Blue/W-Sp 
PS 
Any incl clays 
1 to 1-2 
3, 7, 8, 16, 19 
Sticky; mat- like; best near coast 
** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ 
Skylark Ceanothus 
4-5 ft tall 
4-7 ft wide 
Med Blue/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clays 
1-2 to 2-3 
6, 8, 13, 19 
Quite shade & water toleratant 
** Ceanothus ‘Wheeler Canyon’ 
Wheeler Canyon Ceanothus 
4-6 ft tall 
to 8 ft wide 
Dk Blue/Sp 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2-3 
6, 8, 9, 11, 19 
Dark leaves; ? Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus hybrid 
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 
minty 
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 
X 
Epilobium canum (Zauschneria californica) including all cultivars 
CA Fuschia 
1-3 ft 
3-5 ft wide 
Orange/F 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19 
Tolerates winter flooding 
X 
** Erigeron glaucus ‘Bountiful’ 
Bountiful Seaside Daisy 
< 1 ft tall 
1-2 ft wide 
Lavender/ 
Sp-Su 
PS best 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2-3 
8, 9, 
Green foliage; large flowers 
X 
** Erigeron glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’ 
Seaside Daisy 
1 ft tall 
2 ft wide 
Lavernder/ 
Sp-Fa 
FS/PS/FSH 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 3 
1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14 
Attractive flowers, foliage; habitat 
X 
** Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick' 
Wayne Roderick Daisy 
< 1 ft tall 
2-3 ft wide 
Lavender- blue/Sp-F 
FS/ 
PS (hot) 
Well- drained 
1-2; 
2-3(sun) 
1, 3, 6, 8 
Silvery foliage; butterfly nectar 
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 
Let dry between waterings; edible fruit 
* Fragaria vesca (californica) 
CA/Wood Strawberry 
< 2 ft 
spreading 
White/Su 
PS/FSH 
any 
1-2 to 3 
1, 13, 20 
Edible fruit 
X 
* Heuchera maxima (incl. many cultivars & hybrids) 
Island Alumroot 
1- 3 ft 
White/Spr 
PS/PS/ FSH 
Any, incl. clays 
1-2 to 
2-3 
1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14 
X 
* Heuchera micrantha 
Crevice Alumroot 
1-3 ft 
Pink/Spr 
PS/PS/ FSH 
See note 
2-3 to 3 
1, 3, 8 
Well-drained soil 
X 
* Iva hayesiana 
San Diego Marsh Elder 
2-4 ft tall 
4-6 ft wide 
Yellow/Su 
FS/PS/ FSH 
Any, incl. clays 
1 to 2-3 
1, 3, 8, 13
10 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Malacothamnus clementinus 
San Clemente Is. Bush Mallow 
2-4 ft tall 
to 8 ft wide 
Light pink/Spr 
FS 
Any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 8, 13 
X 
** Monardella villosa ‘Russian River’ 
Coyote Mint 
1-2 ft tall 
1-2 ft wide 
Pink/Spr-Su 
PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 19 
X 
Ribes viburnifolium 
Catalina Perfume 
1-3 ft 
Pink/ 
PS/FSH 
Well- drained best 
2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 20 
X 
Ranunculus californicus 
California Buttercup 
< 2 ft 
Yellow/ 
PS 
sandy 
2-3 to 3 
Pac Coast Seed 
Very well- drained soils 
X 
* Salvia clevelandii ‘Compacta’ 
Compact Fragrant (Chaparral) Sage 
3 ft tall & wide 
Lavender/ 
Spr-Su 
FS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
? 
Showy 
X 
Salvia leucophylla ‘Point Sal’ & ‘Point Sal Spreader’ 
Point Sal Sage 
2-3 ft tall 
8-10 ft w 
Pink-violet/ Spr-Su 
FS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 8, 9, 13, 19 
Dense, evergreen; fast- growing; aromatic 
* Salvia sonomensis 
Creeping Sage 
1-2 ft tall 
3-8 ft wide 
Med. Blue/ Sp 
PS best 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
3, 8, 13, 14 
Silver-green foliage; inland; ‘Mrs. Beard’ 
X 
Salvia spathacea 
Hummingbird Sage 
1-3 ft 
Magenta/Spr 
PS/FSH 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19 
Cut back yearly 
Stachys albens 
Whitestem Woodmint (Hedgenettle) 
1-3 ft 
White/Spr- Su 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 6, 12 
X 
Stachys bullata 
California Woodmint (Hedgenettle) 
1-4 ft 
Pink/Spr-Su 
PS 
Well- drained 
2-3 
1, 3, 7, 12, 14 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
X 
Stachys rigida var. rigida (Stachys ajugoides) 
Rigid Woodmint (Hedgenettle) 
1-2 ft 
Pink/Spr-Su 
FS/PS 
Clay 
2-3 to 3 
1, 13 
Herbaceous Perennials 
X 
Anemopsis californica 
Yerba Mansa 
1 ft tall & wide 
White/Sp-Su 
PS/FSH 
Any incl clay 
2 to 3 
3, 10, 14, 16 
Tolerates flooding 
X 
* Antirrhinum multiflorum 
Rose Snapdragon 
2-3 ft tall & wide 
Pink/Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 
2-3 
10, 13 
Showy flowers 
X 
* Aquilegia formosa 
Western Columbine 
1-2 ft 
Red- yellow/Su 
PS/FSH 
Well- drained 
2 to 3 
1, 3, 5, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20 
X 
Artemisia douglasiana 
Mugwort 
2-4+ ft tall & wide 
Crème/Su 
PS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2-3 
3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 
Tolerates seasonal flooding
11 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Asclepias fascicularis 
Narrow-leaf Milkweed 
2-3 ft 
Cream- pink/Su 
FS/PS 
Sandy 
1-2 
1, 3, 10, 14 
Needs seasonal flooding 
X 
Asclepias speciosa 
Showy Milkweed 
2-3 ft tall 
2-4 ft wide 
Pink/Su 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
2, 8, 19 
Tol. Flooding; Monarch host plant; silvery 
X 
Diplacus aurantiacus ssp. aurantiacus 
Bush Monkeyflower 
2-3 ft 
Orange/W- Spr 
FS/PS 
Sandy 
1-2 
1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 
Diplacus (Mimulus) linearis 
Chaparral Bush Monkey Flower 
2-3 ft tall 
1-2 ft wide 
Yellow/W- Spr 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
3, 10, 13 
X 
*Erigeron glaucus 
Seaside Daisy 
½ ft 
Lavernder/ 
Sp-Fa 
FS/PS/FSH 
Well- drained 
2-3 
1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14 
Attractive flowers, foliage 
X 
* Eriogonum grande var. rubescens 
Red Buckwheat 
1-2 ft tall 
2-4 ft wide 
Red-pink/ 
Su-F 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 5, 7, 8, 14 
Tol. moderate salt, alkali soils 
Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum 
Western Wallflower 
1-3 ft 
1-2 ft wide 
Yellow-Or/ 
W-Sp 
FS 
Well- drained 
1-2 to 2 
13 
X 
Erysimum insulare ssp. suffrutescens 
Dune Wallflower 
1-3 ft tall 
1-2 ft wide 
Yellow/W-Sp 
FS/PS 
Sandy 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 2, 10 
Euthamia occidentalis 
Western Goldenrod 
3-6 ft tall 
Yellow/Su-F 
FS 
Any 
2 to 3 
13, 16 
Butterfly plant; can be invasive 
X 
Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 
Narrowleaf Bedstraw 
1-3 ft tall & wide 
White/Spr 
PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
10, 12, 14, 16 
X 
Grindelia camporum 
Large Gumplant 
2-3 ft tall 
3-5 ft wide 
Yellow/ 
Sp-Fa 
FS 
Well- drained 
1-2 
1, 2, 6, 12, 16 
Spreading 
Grindelia hirsutula var. hirsutula 
Hairy Gumplant 
1-2 ft tall & wide 
Yellow/ 
Sp-Su 
FS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 10 
Butterfly plant 
Heracleum lanatum 
Cow Parsnip 
4-5 ft tall 
3-4 ft wide 
White/Sp 
PS 
Any 
2 to 3 
1, 5, 8, 13 
Butterfly plant; showy flowers 
*Lobelia dunnii var. serrata 
Dunn’s Lobelia 
1 ft tall 
1-3 ft wide 
Blue/Su-Fa 
PS 
Well- drained 
2-3 to 3 
1, 6, 8, 13 
Toxic 
*Lobelia cardinalis 
Cardinal Flower 
1-2 ft tall 
1 ft wide 
Red/Sp-Su 
FS/PS/ FSH 
any 
2-3 to 3 
3, 8, 13, 19 
Toxic 
X 
Mimulus cardinalis 
Scarlet Monkeyflower 
To 3 ft 
Red/Sp-Fa 
FS/PS 
any 
2-3 to 3 
3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19 
easy 
X 
Mimulus guttatus 
Seep Monkeyflower 
1-5 ft 
Yellow/W-Sp 
FS 
Any 
2-3 to 3 
1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 
Mimulus moschatus (var. moniliformis) 
Musk Monkeyflower 
1 ft tall & wide 
Yellow/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
any 
2-3 to 3 
8 
leaves: boiled as greens
12 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
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 
Hummingbird plant; scented; 
‘Marion Sampson’ 
X 
* Monardella villosa (ssp. subserrata) 
Coyote Mint 
1 ft 
Pink/Sp-Su 
PS 
Well- drained soil best 
1-2 
1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 19 
* Penstemon centranthifolius 
Scarlet Bugler 
1-3 ft 
OR-Red/ 
Sp-Su 
FS 
Well- drained 
1 
1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 
May be difficult 
X 
Penstemon heterophyllus 
Foothill Penstemon 
1-2 ft 
Purple/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
sandy 
1 to 1-2 
14 
Keep clay soils quite dry; many blooms 
* Penstemon laetus 
Gay Penstemon 
1-3 ft 
Lavender/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Any 
1 to 1-2 
1, 13 
Keep clay soils quite dry 
X 
Pseudognaphalium californicum 
California Everlasting 
2-4 ft 
White/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clay 
1-2 
1, 2, 10, 13, 16 
Sweet-scented foliage 
X 
Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens 
Wooly Everlasting 
1-2 ½ ft 
White/Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clay 
1-2 
1, 16 
Spreads; gray foliage 
X 
Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda 
CA Bee Plant 
2-3 ft 
Red/Spr 
PS 
Any 
2-3 to 3 
1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 
Afternoon shade 
X 
Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora 
Dwarf Checker Mallow 
To 1 ½ ft 
Pink- lavender/ 
FS/PS 
Any 
2-3 to 3 
1, 8, 13, 19 
Solanum americanum 
American Black Nightshade 
2-3 ft tall 
White/Sp-F 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 13 
Berries very poisonous 
Solanum douglasii 
White (Douglas’) Nightshade 
2-5 ft tall 
White/Sp-F 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
10, 14 
Berries very poisonous 
Solanum xanti 
Purple (Chaparral) Nightshade 
2-4 ft tall 
Purple/Sp- Su 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 7, 13 
Berries very poisonous 
X 
Solidago californica 
California Goldenrod 
2-4 ft tall 
spreading 
Yellow/Su-F 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
7, 10, 14 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
Solidago spectabilis var. confinis 
Southern Goldenrod 
3-6 ft tall 
spreading 
Yellow/Su-F 
FS/PS 
Any 
2-3 
10 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
* Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum 
Mountain Meadowrue 
3-5 ft tall 
2-3 ft wide 
White/Su 
PS/FSH 
Well- drained 
2-3 to 3 
1, 3, 8, 10, 12-14, 19 
Well-drained soils 
X 
Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea 
Hoary Nettle 
4-6 ft tall 
spreading 
Green/Su 
FS/PS 
Any 
2 to 2-3 
10, 16 
Invasive; skin allergies
13 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering 
Nearly all CA annual wildflowers do fine in heavy clay soils. Cacti and Succulents 
X 
Dudleya lanceolata 
Lance-leaf Dudleya 
1-2 ft tall & wide 
Yellow- Orange/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 7, 13, 14, 15 
Dudleya pulverulenta (ssp. pulverulenta) 
CA Chalk Dudleya 
< 2 ft & wide 
Pink-Yellow/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 3, 14, 19 
With good drainage 
Dudleya virens ssp. Hassei & insularis 
Bright Green Dudleya 
1-2 ft tall & wide 
Orange/ 
Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
1 to 1-2 
1, 7, 13, 14 
X 
* Sedum spathulifolium 
Broadleaf Stonecrop 
< 1 ft tall 
spreading 
Yellow/Su-F 
FS/PS 
Any 
2 to 3 
1, 3, 6, 8, 13 
San Gabriels Ferns and Fern-like Plants 
Adiantum capillus- veneris 
Common Maidenhair 
1-3 ft tall & wide 
none 
PS/FSH 
Well- drained 
2-3 to 3 
7, 13 
X 
Polypodium californicum 
CA Polypody 
< 1 ft tall 
spreading 
none 
PS/FSH 
Any 
1 to 1-2 
6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20 
Good under oaks; containers 
Woodwardia fimbriata 
Giant Chain Fern 
5-6 ft tall 
3-9 ft wide 
none 
PS/FSH 
Any; not alkali 
2-3 to 3 
3, 8, 13, 14, 19 
Grows in seeps in wild Bulbs and Corms 
X 
Bloomeria crocea var. crocea 
Golden Stars 
1-2 ft 
Yellow/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any, incl. clays 
1 
1, 8, 10, 13, 16 
Fine in grass 
X 
Brodiaea jolonensis (B. terrestris) 
Harvest Brodiaea 
1-2 ft 
Purple/ 
Sp-Su 
FS 
Any, incl. clays 
1 
1, 8, 20 
X 
Calochortus albus 
White Fairy Lantern 
1 ft tall 
<1 ft wide 
White-pink/ Sp-Su 
FS/PS 
Clays best 
1 
1, 8, 13, 19, 20 
X 
Calochortus catalinae 
Catalina Mariposa Lily 
1 ft tall 
<1 ft wide 
White- purple/Sp 
FS 
Clays best 
1 
1, 8, 13, 20 
Fine in grass 
X 
Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum 
Wavyleaf Soap Plant 
1-2 ft tall & wide 
White/Su 
FS/PS 
Any; well- drained 
1-2 
1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 19 
Good under oaks 
X 
Dichelostemma capitatum 
Blue Dicks/Wild Hyacinth 
< 2 ft 
Blue/Sp 
FS/PS 
well- drained 
1 
1, 2, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 
X 
Fritillaria biflora var. biflora 
Chocolate Lily 
1-2 ft tall 
Brown/Sp 
FS/PS 
Any; best in clay 
1 
1, 8, 13, 20 
Fine in grass
14 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Iris douglasiana 
Douglas iris 
1-2 ft 
Purple/Sp 
PS 
Any 
1 to 2 
1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16 
Drought tolerant if mulched 
X 
Ranunculus californicus 
California Buttercup 
< 2 ft 
Yellow/ 
Sp-Su 
PS 
sandy 
1-2 to 3 
1, 13 
Very well- drained soils 
X 
Sisyrinchium bellum 
Western Blue-eyed Grass 
1-2 ft 
Purple- yellow/Sp 
FS/PS 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 3, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges) 
X 
* Bouteloua gracilis 
Blue Gramma 
1-2 ft tall 
Warm-seas. Perennial bunch/sod 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 to 2-3 
2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16 
X 
Bromus carinatus 
California Brome 
2-3 ft tall & wide 
Perennial bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
5, 10, 13, 14, 16 
Cover; cultivars ‘Deborah’; ‘Luval’ 
X 
* Calamagrostis foliosa 
Leafy (Mendocino) Reed Grass 
1-2 ft tall & wide 
cool-season bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
2-3 
1, 3, 8, 13 
Nice foliage color 
X 
* Calamagrostis nutkaensis 
Pacific Reed Grass 
3-4 ft tall & wide 
cool-season bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
Well- drained 
2-3 to 3 
1, 4, 5, 8, 13 
Can plant densely 
X 
* Carex barbarae 
Santa Barbara Sedge 
1-2 ft tall 
to 3 ft w 
Evergreen sod sedge 
FS/PS 
Any 
2 to 3 
3, 8, 13, 16 
May be invasive (containerize) 
X 
Carex praegracilis 
Clustered Field Sedge/CA Meadow Sedge 
1-2 ft tall 
Cool-season, sod sedge 
FS/PS 
Clays best 
2-3 
1, 2, 4, 7, 13 
X 
* Carex spissa 
San Diego Sedge 
2-4 ft tall 
2-3 ft wide 
Cool-season, sod sedge 
FS/PS/FSH 
Clays best 
1 to 3 
1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 
Substitute for Pampas Grass 
X 
Carex tumulicola 
Berkeley Sedge 
2 ft tall & wide 
Cool-season, sod sedge 
FS/PS/FSH 
any 
1-2 to 3 
1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 
Cyperus eragrostis 
Umbrella Sedge/ Tall Flat-sedge 
2-4 ft tall 
clumping 
Warm- season, sod sedge 
FS.PS 
any 
1-2 to 3 
7, 10, 13 
Cyperus odoratus 
Fragrant Flat- sedge 
1-3 ft tall 
Warm-seas., annual sedge 
FS/PS 
any 
1-2 to 3 
? 
X 
* Danthonia Californica 
California Oatgrass 
2-3 ft tall 
Cool-season perennial bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
any 
2 to 3 
6, 8, 10 
Evergreen; tolerates walking; good for small areas 
X 
* Deschampsia holciformis (D. cespitosa ssp. hociformis) 
Pacific Hairgrass 
1-3 ft tall 
Cool-season perennial bunchgrass 
FS 
any 
2-3 to 3 
5, 8, 10, 13, 16 
Salt-tolerant
15 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Eleocharis palustris 
Common Spikerush 
1-2 ft tall 
spreading 
Cool-season, sod sedge 
FS 
Any 
1-2 to 3 
1, 2, 7, 10, 13, 16 
X 
Elymus glaucus 
Blue (Western) Wildrye 
2-4 ft tall 
1-2 ft wide 
Cool-season bunchgrass 
PS/FSH 
Any; not shallow 
1-2 to 2-3 
3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16 
Salt-sensitive; coarse-looking; re-seeds well 
Equisetum hyemale subsp. affine 
Common Horsetail 
2-4 ft tall 
1-6 ft w 
Perennial rush 
FS/PS 
Any 
2-3 to 3 
2, 3, 4, 8 
Will grow in standing water; contain 
X 
Equisetum laevigatum 
Smooth Horsetail 
2-5 ft tall 
spreading 
Perennial 
FS 
Clays best 
2-3 to 3 
8 
X 
* Festuca californica 
CA Fescue 
<1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft wide 
Cool-season bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 
‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse Mountain Green', 'Serpentine Blue' 
X 
* Festuca idahoensis 
Blue Bunchgrass 
< 1 ft tall & wide 
Cool-season bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
any 
2 to 3 
1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20 
‘Siskiyou Blue’ is best for clay 
X 
Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum 
CA Meadow Barley 
1-2 ft tall & wide 
Cool-season bunch 
FS 
any 
1-2 to 2-3 
16 (other vars./ unk at 5, 10, 13) 
Good for erosion control 
X 
* Juncus effusus Bog/Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide Perennial rhizome rush FS/PS Any; sandy best 1-2 to 3 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14 
Good around pools; ‘Quartz Creek’ 
X 
Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide Spreading/ bunching perennial rush FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19 
‘Carmen’s Gray’ is blue-gray 
X 
Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall 3-8 ft wide Spreading/ bunching perennial rush FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14 
Showy; Good for wet planter, pondside 
X 
Juncus xiphioides Iris-leaf rush 1 ½ ft tall spreading Spreading rush FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16 
Best in contained places if watered 
X 
** Leymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’ 
Giant Rye Grass 
4-6 ft tall & wide 
Warm season perennial 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 9, 10, 12, 16 
‘Canyon Prince’ is low-growing 
X 
Leymus triticoides 
Creeping Wild Rye 
< 3 ft tall 
spreading 
Cool-season perennial sod-grass; light mow 
FS/PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 5, 10, 14, 16 
Great vernal swale; cultivars ‘Yolo’, ‘Rio’, ‘Gray Dawn’
16 
I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 
X 
Melica imperfecta 
Coastal Melic Grass 
1-2 ft tall 
1 ft wide 
Cool season bunchgrass 
PS 
Any 
1-2 
1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19 
X 
* Muhlenbergia rigens 
Deergrass 
2-4 ft tall & wide 
Perennial bunchgrass 
FS 
Any 
1-2 
3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 
Tolerates seasonal flooding 
X 
Nassella cernua 
Nodding Needlegrass 
2-3 ft tall & wide 
Perennial bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
5, 10, 13, 14, 16 
X 
Nassella lepida 
Foothill Needlegrass 
2-3 ft tall & wide 
Perennial bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16 
X 
* Nassella pulchra 
Purple Needlegrass 
2-3 ft tall & wide 
Perennial bunchgrass 
FS/PS 
any 
1 to 1-2 
3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 
3/12/2011 
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)

Clay soils 3-11

  • 1.
    1 CA NativePlants for Western L.A. County – Plants for Clay Soils I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Trees and Tree-like Large Shrubs * Acer negundo var. californicum Boxelder To 40 ft tall & wide White/Sp FS/PS Any incl. clay 2 to 3 1, 8, 13, 14, 24 Fast-growing * Aesculus californica CA Buckeye 12-30+ ft tall & w White/ Sp-Su FS/PS Any well- drained 1 1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14 * Alnus rhombifolia White Alder 50-75 ft tall 20-40 ft w. Green/Sp FS/PS Any incl. clay 2-3 to 3 3, 6, 8, 13, 14 Tol. flooding X Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat To 10 ft Pink-white/ all year FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2 ** Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ ‘Ray Hartman’ Ceanothus To 20 ft t 10-15 w Lt. blue/Sp FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 6, 9, 13 Spreading; evergreen; good for garden 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 Fall color (red, orange); edible fruit, flowers X Cercocarpus montanus var. blancheae/ C. alnifolius/ C. betuloides var. blancheae Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany 6-12 ft tall 4 ft. wide Yellow- white/Sp FS Well- drained 1-2 1, 7, 13 Hedge; evergreen; upright form * Cercocarpus minutiflorus San Diego Mountain Mahogany 8-12 ft tall 8-10 ft w Yellow- white/Sp FS Well- drained 1-2 3, 8, 14, 21 Hedge; evergreen; upright form X Cornus glabrata Brown Dogwood < 18 ft tall to 10 ft w White/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Clay best 2-3 1, 13 * Cupressus forbesii Tecate Cypress 20-30 ft tall 6-8 ft wide Insig FS Any well- drained 1 to 1-2 6, 8, 14, 24 Hedge (to 12 ft); fast growth; neat-looking X * Forestiera neomexicana (pubescens) Desert Olive 8-15 ft t 8 ft wide Yellow/Sp FS Any well- drained 1-2 to 2 6, 8 Berries for birds; gray- green foliage X * Garrya elliptica Coastal Silktassel 12 ft tall & wide Cream/W FS/PS Any well- drained 1 to 1-2 3, 8, 14 Good under oaks; ‘James Roof’ X Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon 6-10 ft + 4-6 ft w White/Su FS/PS/FSH Any well- drained 1-2 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 Berries toxic in lg. amounts X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean Spray 10-20 ft tall White/Su-Fa FS/PS Any, incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14 Fragrant at a distance
  • 2.
    2 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Juglans californica S. California Walnut 20-40 ft ta Green/Sp FS/PS Clays best 1 1, 7, 12, 13, 14 allelopathic X Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp. glabrata & assurgentiflora Island (Rose) Mallow 8-12 ft tall & wide Magenta/ yr round FS/PS Well- drained 1 1, 2, 13 X Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius & floribundus Catalina Ironwood To 50 ft t 15-30 ft w White- yellow/ Sp- Su FS/PS Any well- drained 1-2 1, 3, 7, 9, 13, 14 Evergreen X Malosma laurina Laurel Sumac <18 ft tall and wide White/Sp FS any 1 to 1-2 1, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 X * Morella (Myrica) californica California Wax Myrtle 6-30 ft t 10-20 ft w Yellow- white/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any; well- drained best 2-3 to 3 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 14, 19 Evergreen; good for hedges; purple berries * Pinus torreyana Torrey Pine 40-60 ft t 30-50 ft w Insignif/ Sp FS/PS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 13, 14, 20 Pine scent Platanus racemosa California sycamore 60-100 ft Bright pink/Sp FS Any but high alkali 2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14 Can live to 400 yrs; no salt tolerance X Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa Black Cottonwood 30-60 (100 ft) Yellow/Sp FS any 2-3 1, 7, 14 Grows large with abundant water Populus fremontii Fremont’s Cottonwood To 100 ft 80 ft w Yellow/Sp FS Any 2-3 1, 3, 14 Long-lived 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 jelly, bird habitat X Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia & lyonii Holly-leaf and Catalina Island Cherries < 50 ft White/Su PS any 1-2 1, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19 X Quercus agrifolia Coastal Live Oak 10-70 f tall 40-70 w. Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Coarse- med. 1 1, 2, 18 Long-lived X Salix laevigata Red Willow 10-30 ft to 45 ft w. Yellow/Sp FS any 1-2; winter flooding 1, 2, 3, 12, 14 ‘weeping’ growth habit Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra Pacific (Shining) Willow 20-40 ft T Yellow/Sp FS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 13, 14 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 Edible berries
  • 3.
    3 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges) X * Amelanchier alnifolia Western Serviceberry 8-15 ft tall 6-12 ft w White/Sp FS/PS Any; well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 10, 13 Ripe berries make sweet jelly/sauce ** Arctostaphylos bakeri ssp. bakeri 'Louis Edmunds' ‘Louis Edmunds’ (Sepentine) Manzanita 5-8 ft tall 8 ft wide Pink/Sp FS Clay fine 1-2 to 2 6, 13, 24 Nice flowers; maroon branches ** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' ‘Sentinel’ (Vine Hill) Manzanita 4-8 ft tall 6-10 ft w Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays 2 to 2-3 1, 3, 13, 14 ** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel' ‘Sentinel’ (Vine Hill) Manzanita 5-8 ft tall 3-7 ft wide Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Well- drained incl sand 1-2 6, 8, 13, Good for birds, butterflies; open growth ** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony' ‘Harmony’ Manzanita 5-8 ft tall 6-10 ft w Pink/W-Sp FS coast/ PS inland Any, incl. clays 1 to 1-2 1, 13 Good bloomer; hardy X Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush To 8 ft Cream/F FS/PS any 1-2 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 X ** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’ Pigeon Point Coyote Bush 6-12 ft T to 10 ft W Buff-White/ Su-F FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter flooding 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20 X Baccharis plummerae subsp. plummerae Plummer's Baccharis < 7 ft tall Buff-Wht/ Su-F FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter flooding ? X * Calycanthus occidentalis Western Spicebush 6-12 ft tall 4-6 ft wide Purple- bronze/ Sp-Su FS/PS Pref.light deep rich 2-3 1, 13, 14 Spicy; wine-like fragrance ** Ceanothus ‘Concha’ Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus X C. impressus ‘Concha’ Ceanothus 4-6 ft. tall & wide Dark Blue/ Sp FS/PS Most 1-2 to 2 3, 6, 8, 9, 14, 24, Alkali & garden tolerant ** Ceanothus impressus x papillosus ‘Dark Star’ ‘Dark Star’ Ceanothus 6-8 ft high 5-8 ft wide Dk blue/ W- Sp FS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 24 Hedge; best nearer coast X ** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ ‘Skylark’ Ceanothus 3-6 ft t Lt blue/Sp FS/PS Any incl clay 2 1, 3, 6, 13 X ** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Snow Flurry' ‘Snowflurry’ Ceanothus 6-10 ft t 10 ft w White/Sp FS/PS Any well- drained 2 1, 3, 6, 9, 13, 14 Dense; shrubby; fast ** Ceanothus arboreus x thrysiflorus ‘Frosty Blue’ ‘Frosty Blue’ Ceanothus 6-10 ft t 8 ft wide Med blue/ W-Sp FS/PS Well- drained, sandy 2 1, 3, 6, 13 Dense; evergreen; prune or hedge
  • 4.
    4 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes ** Ceaonothus ‘Julia Phelps’ ‘Julia Phelps’ Ceanothus 4-8 ft tall 7-9 ft wide Dk. Blue/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 6, 13, Dense; evergreen ** Ceanothus ‘Blue Jeans’ ‘Blue Jeans’ Ceanothus 6 ft tall & wide Lavender/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2 3, 6, X Dendromecon harfordii Channel Island Tree Poppy 8 ft tall 4 ft wide Yellow/W-Sp FS Any well- drained 1-2 1, 9, 13, 14, 19 Showy; blue- green foliage X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean Spray 10-20 ft tall White/ Su-Fa FS/PS Any, incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14 Fragrant at a distance 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 Edible berries; good bird habitat X Malacothamnus fasciculatus Chaparral Mallow To 12 ft t 4-6 ft wide Pink/ Sp-Su FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 13, 19 ‘Casitas’ good for gardens X * Philadelphus lewisii CA Mock Orange 4-10 ft tall & wide White/ Sp-Su FS/PS Any, incl clays 2-3 1, 7, 13, 14, 19 Very fragrant X * Rhamnus californica California Coffeeberry 6-12 ft t & wide; short cultivars Buff/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 'Eve Case', 'Mound San Bruno' smaller X * Rhamnus crocea Redberry Buckthorn 3-6 ft tall 6 ft wide Yellow/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 20 Pretty fruits; birds X * Rhamnus ilicifolia Holly-leaf Redberry 12 ft tall 5-6 ft w Yellow/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any 1-2 to 2 1, 10, 12-14, 20, 21 Nice hedge plant’ holly-like leaves 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 Edible fruits 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 Any well- drained; Birds eat berries X Salix exigua Narrow-leaf Willow 6-15 ft 12-15 ft.w. Yellow/Sp FS/PS any 1-2; winter flooding 1, 2, 3, 14 Spreading via roots Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs Adenostoma fasciculatum Chamise 3-10 ft tall 3-6 ft wide White/Sp-Su FS any 1-2 1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 * Arctostaphylos edmundsii Little Sur Manzanita 2-5 ft tall 4-6 ft w Pink/W-Sp FS/PS well- drained 1-2 to 2 1, 3, 8, 13, 14 Cultivars: ‘Greensphere’ * Arctostaphylos hookeri Hooker’s Manzanita 2-5 ft tall 4-6 ft w Pink/W-Sp FS well- drained 1-2 to 2 1, 3, 13 Cultivars ‘Sunset’, ‘Wayside’, ‘Ken Taylor’ X Artemisia californica Coastal Sagebrush 3-6 ft tall Gold/Su FS Well- drained 1 1, 7-10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 'Canyon Gray'
  • 5.
    5 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Baccharis emoryi Emory Baccharis 6-12 ft T to 10 ft W Buff-Wht/ Su-F FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter flooding 1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16 Salt tolerant X ** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point Dwarf’ Dwarf Pigeon Point Coyote Bush 6-12 ft T to 10 ft W Buff-Wht/ Su-F FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter flooding 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24 X * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 Incl. ‘Golden Abundance’, ‘Ken Hartman’ * Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rabbitbush 2-5 ft tall & wide Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 13, 16 Insect-eaters X Dendromecon rigida Bush Poppy 4-8 ft tall 4-6 ft wide Yellow/ Sp-Su FS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16 Keep clay soils quite dry X Diplacus aurantiacus ssp. aurantiacus Bush Monkeyflower 2-3 ft Orange/ W-Sp FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, X Encelia californica CA Bush Sunflower 2-5 ft Yellow/ W-Sp FS/PS Any well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 Good winter color X Epilobium canum (Zauschneria californica) CA Fuschia 1-3 ft Orange/F FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19 Tolerates winter flooding X * Eriogonum crocatum Conejo Buckwheat 1 ft tall 1-3 ft wide Yellow/Sp- Su FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 19 X Eriogonum fasciculatum California Buckwheat 1-3 ft tall 3-6 ft wide Pink/Sp-F FS/PS Any well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19 'Dana Point' tight, compact; ‘Bruce Dickinson’ - prostrate X Eriogonum giganteum vars. formosum, giganteum St. Catherine’s Lace 3-6 ft Pink-white/ Su FS/PS Any well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19 Don’t plant near native buckwheats X Eriogonum parvifolium Coastal Buckwheat 2-4 ft Pink-creme/ Su + FS/PS/ FSH Any well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 16 X Grindelia camporum var. bracteosa Bracted Gumplant 2-4 ft tall 2-3 ft wide Yellow/Su Fs Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 2, 6, 12, 16 Tolerates salty, alkali soils 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’ X Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons Silver Bush Lupine 3-4 ft tall & wide Purple/Sp FS/PS Well- drained 1-2 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19 ? var X Malacothamnus clementinus San Clemente Is. Bush Mallow 2-4 ft tall to 8 ft wide Light pink/ Sp FS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 13
  • 6.
    6 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Rhus trilobata Basket Bush; Sour Berry; Skunkbrush 2-6 ft Yellow- green/Sp PS any 1-2 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 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) Birds eat berries X Ribes indecorum White Currant To 6 ft White/W-Sp FS/PS Well- drained 1-2 to 2 1, 3, 12, 14 Birds eat berries X Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant 5-8 ft Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Well- drained 1-2 3, 13, 14, 19 Birds eat berries 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 X * Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum Red-flowering Currant 4-10 ft Pink/Sp PS/FSH Well- drained 2-3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19 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 Tolerates seasonal flooding 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 Tolerates seasonal flooding Salvia brandegeei ‘Pacific Blue’ ‘Pacific Blue’ Sage 3-4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide Med. Blue/ W-Sp FS Any 1-2 3, 13 X * Salvia clevelandii Fragrant (Chaparral) Sage 2-5 ft Purple/lav. Sp-Su FS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 Cultivars: ‘Betsy Clebsch’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Winifred Gilman’, X Salvia leucophylla Purple Sage 3- 5 ft Lavender/Sp FS/PS Well- drained 1-2 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16,18, 19 Nice scent X Salvia mellifera Black Sage 3-5 ft Light purple/Sp FS Well- drained 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19 X Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Common Snowberry 3-5 ft, spreading White/Sp PS Clays, loams 2-3 7, 9, 13, 19 Fruit may be toxic to humans X Symphoricarpos mollis Snowberry 2-4 ft tall & wide Pink/W-Sp PS/FSH any 2-3 to 3 13, 14 mulch X Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea Hoary Nettle 3-6 ft tall spreading Pink/Sp-F PS Rich soils ok 2-3 1, 10, 13, 16 Serious allergy on contact * Viguiera laciniata San Diego Sunflower 1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft wide Yellow/Sp FS any 1 to 1-2 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16
  • 7.
    7 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Perennial Vines X Calystegia macrostegia California Morning Glory To 30+ ft White/Sp-F PS FS coastal Well- drained 2-3 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16 Invasive; can look weedy; ‘Anacapa Pink’; ‘Candycane’ X * Clematis lasiantha Chaparral Clematis 8-20 ft vine White/Sp- Su; sep. m/f plants FS (top) PS (roots) any 1-2 to 2 1, 6, 8, 13 Winter decid.; tolerates flooding X Clematis ligusticifolia Virgin’s Bower To 15 ft White/Su PS/FSH Any 2-3 to 3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19 X Keckiella cordifolia Climbing Penstemon 3-4 ft Red-Or/ Sp-Su PS/PS/ FSH any 1-2 1, 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14 X Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans Western Honeysuckle 5-18 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS/FSH clay 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14, 19 Tolerates seasonal flooding X * Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 3-5 ft Yellow/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 7, 13, 19 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 Edible fruit 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 X Vitis girdiana Desert Grape > 25 ft White/Su PS any 2-3 2, 3, 10, 13, 20 Perennial Groundcover Plants X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 most Alkali soils fine * Adenostema fasciculatum var. prostratum Prostrate Chamise < 2 ft 3-4 ft wide Cream/Su FS Any incl. clays 1 to 1-2 1, 13, 14 ‘Nicolas’ X ** Arctostaphylos edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’ Carmel Sur Manzanita 1 ft tall to 20 ft w Pink/Sp FS/PS Any incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 3, 6, 13, 19 Good for Coastal areas; fast growth ** Arctostaphylos hookeri ‘Monterey Carpet’ Monterey Carpet Manzanita 1 ft high 5+ ft wide White/Sp PS Sandy best 1-2 1, 3, 6, 13 ** Arctostaphylos hookeri X A. pajaroensis ‘Sunset’ ‘Sunset’ Manzanita 3-4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide Pink/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 13, Tolerates heat; compact
  • 8.
    8 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X ** Arctostaphylos uva- ursi ‘Point Reyes’ Point Reyes Manzanita <1 ft tall to 10 ft Pink/Sp PS Well- drained 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13, 16, 19 ** Arctostaphylos ‘John Dourley’ John Dourly Manzanita 2-3 ft tall to 8 ft wide Pink/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 16, 19 X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall & wide Cream/Su PS Well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Tolerates flooding ** Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver King’, ‘Silver Queen’, 'Valerie Finnis' White Sagebrush (Western Mugwort) cultivars 2-3 ft tall 3-4 ft wide Cream/ Sp-F FS Well- drained 1-2 to 2 3, 8, 13, 14 Dies back in winter X **Artemisia pycnocephala ‘David’s Choice’) Beach Sagewort / Sandhill Sage 1-2 ft. tall 2-4 ft wide Yellow/Su FS/PS Sandy best 1-2 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18 ‘ ** Aster chilensis ‘Point St. George’ Point St. George Coast Aster 1-3 ft tall spreading Lavender/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 1, 8, 11, 13 Good habitat plant Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis < 3 ft White/Su-F FS/PS Any incl. clays 2-3 1, 13 ** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’ Pigeon Point Dwarf Coyote Bush 2 ft tall 6-8 ft wide White-gold/ Sp-Su FS/PS Any incl. clays 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 16 Light green leaves; good for coastal region ** Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks 2’ Twin Peaks Dwarf Coyote Bush 1-3 ft tall to 10 ft w White/F FS/PS Any incl. clays 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 13 Small dark leaves; can shear to size * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium var. 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 Good habitat; edible berries ** 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 Good habitat; edible berries ** Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ Dark Star Ceanothus To 6+ ft To 6 ft Dk. Blue/ W-Sp FS Well- drained - to +/- 1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 19 C. impressus X papillosus * Ceanothus gloriosus Point Reyes Ceanothus 1-2 ft tall to 8 ft wide Lt. blue/Sp FS (coast) / PS Well- drained; sandy 2-3 3 Dense foliage; holly-like ** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’ Anchor Bay Ceanothus < 1 ft tall to 8 ft wide Dk blue/Sp FS (coast) / PS any 1-2 to 2-3 8, 9, 19 Dense, compact ** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Heart’s Desire’ Heart’s Desire Ceanothus 1-3 ft tall 4-6 ft wide Dk blue/ FS (coast) / PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 8 X * Ceanothus griseus horizontalis Carmel Creeper Ceanothus 1-3 ft tall 5-15 ft w Lt. blue/ FS/PS Any incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13 ** Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ Yankee Point Ceanothus To 4-5 ft To 10 ft Med. Blue/ FS (coast) / PS Any incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13, 19 Best near coast; fast grower
  • 9.
    9 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes ** Ceanothus griseus 'Kurt Zadnik' Kurt Zadnick Ceanothus 3-4 ft 8-10 ft Dk purple/ FS Any 1-2 to 2 13 More reliable than ‘Yankee Point’ * Ceanothus hearstiorum Hearst’s Ceanothus 1 ft tall 6-8 ft wide Blue/W-Sp PS Any incl clays 1 to 1-2 3, 7, 8, 16, 19 Sticky; mat- like; best near coast ** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ Skylark Ceanothus 4-5 ft tall 4-7 ft wide Med Blue/Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 13, 19 Quite shade & water toleratant ** Ceanothus ‘Wheeler Canyon’ Wheeler Canyon Ceanothus 4-6 ft tall to 8 ft wide Dk Blue/Sp FS/PS Well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 9, 11, 19 Dark leaves; ? Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus hybrid 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 minty 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 X Epilobium canum (Zauschneria californica) including all cultivars CA Fuschia 1-3 ft 3-5 ft wide Orange/F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19 Tolerates winter flooding X ** Erigeron glaucus ‘Bountiful’ Bountiful Seaside Daisy < 1 ft tall 1-2 ft wide Lavender/ Sp-Su PS best Well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 8, 9, Green foliage; large flowers X ** Erigeron glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’ Seaside Daisy 1 ft tall 2 ft wide Lavernder/ Sp-Fa FS/PS/FSH Well- drained 1-2 to 3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14 Attractive flowers, foliage; habitat X ** Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick' Wayne Roderick Daisy < 1 ft tall 2-3 ft wide Lavender- blue/Sp-F FS/ PS (hot) Well- drained 1-2; 2-3(sun) 1, 3, 6, 8 Silvery foliage; butterfly nectar 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 Let dry between waterings; edible fruit * Fragaria vesca (californica) CA/Wood Strawberry < 2 ft spreading White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20 Edible fruit X * Heuchera maxima (incl. many cultivars & hybrids) Island Alumroot 1- 3 ft White/Spr PS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14 X * Heuchera micrantha Crevice Alumroot 1-3 ft Pink/Spr PS/PS/ FSH See note 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8 Well-drained soil X * Iva hayesiana San Diego Marsh Elder 2-4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays 1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
  • 10.
    10 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Malacothamnus clementinus San Clemente Is. Bush Mallow 2-4 ft tall to 8 ft wide Light pink/Spr FS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 8, 13 X ** Monardella villosa ‘Russian River’ Coyote Mint 1-2 ft tall 1-2 ft wide Pink/Spr-Su PS Well- drained 1-2 1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 19 X Ribes viburnifolium Catalina Perfume 1-3 ft Pink/ PS/FSH Well- drained best 2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 20 X Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup < 2 ft Yellow/ PS sandy 2-3 to 3 Pac Coast Seed Very well- drained soils X * Salvia clevelandii ‘Compacta’ Compact Fragrant (Chaparral) Sage 3 ft tall & wide Lavender/ Spr-Su FS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 ? Showy X Salvia leucophylla ‘Point Sal’ & ‘Point Sal Spreader’ Point Sal Sage 2-3 ft tall 8-10 ft w Pink-violet/ Spr-Su FS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, 19 Dense, evergreen; fast- growing; aromatic * Salvia sonomensis Creeping Sage 1-2 ft tall 3-8 ft wide Med. Blue/ Sp PS best Well- drained 1 to 1-2 3, 8, 13, 14 Silver-green foliage; inland; ‘Mrs. Beard’ X Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage 1-3 ft Magenta/Spr PS/FSH Any 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19 Cut back yearly Stachys albens Whitestem Woodmint (Hedgenettle) 1-3 ft White/Spr- Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 12 X Stachys bullata California Woodmint (Hedgenettle) 1-4 ft Pink/Spr-Su PS Well- drained 2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14 Tolerates seasonal flooding X Stachys rigida var. rigida (Stachys ajugoides) Rigid Woodmint (Hedgenettle) 1-2 ft Pink/Spr-Su FS/PS Clay 2-3 to 3 1, 13 Herbaceous Perennials X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa 1 ft tall & wide White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Any incl clay 2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16 Tolerates flooding X * Antirrhinum multiflorum Rose Snapdragon 2-3 ft tall & wide Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 13 Showy flowers X * Aquilegia formosa Western Columbine 1-2 ft Red- yellow/Su PS/FSH Well- drained 2 to 3 1, 3, 5, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20 X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall & wide Crème/Su PS Well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Tolerates seasonal flooding
  • 11.
    11 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Asclepias fascicularis Narrow-leaf Milkweed 2-3 ft Cream- pink/Su FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 10, 14 Needs seasonal flooding X Asclepias speciosa Showy Milkweed 2-3 ft tall 2-4 ft wide Pink/Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 8, 19 Tol. Flooding; Monarch host plant; silvery X Diplacus aurantiacus ssp. aurantiacus Bush Monkeyflower 2-3 ft Orange/W- Spr FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, Diplacus (Mimulus) linearis Chaparral Bush Monkey Flower 2-3 ft tall 1-2 ft wide Yellow/W- Spr FS/PS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 3, 10, 13 X *Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy ½ ft Lavernder/ Sp-Fa FS/PS/FSH Well- drained 2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14 Attractive flowers, foliage X * Eriogonum grande var. rubescens Red Buckwheat 1-2 ft tall 2-4 ft wide Red-pink/ Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 5, 7, 8, 14 Tol. moderate salt, alkali soils Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum Western Wallflower 1-3 ft 1-2 ft wide Yellow-Or/ W-Sp FS Well- drained 1-2 to 2 13 X Erysimum insulare ssp. suffrutescens Dune Wallflower 1-3 ft tall 1-2 ft wide Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 10 Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS Any 2 to 3 13, 16 Butterfly plant; can be invasive X Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium Narrowleaf Bedstraw 1-3 ft tall & wide White/Spr PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 12, 14, 16 X Grindelia camporum Large Gumplant 2-3 ft tall 3-5 ft wide Yellow/ Sp-Fa FS Well- drained 1-2 1, 2, 6, 12, 16 Spreading Grindelia hirsutula var. hirsutula Hairy Gumplant 1-2 ft tall & wide Yellow/ Sp-Su FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 10 Butterfly plant Heracleum lanatum Cow Parsnip 4-5 ft tall 3-4 ft wide White/Sp PS Any 2 to 3 1, 5, 8, 13 Butterfly plant; showy flowers *Lobelia dunnii var. serrata Dunn’s Lobelia 1 ft tall 1-3 ft wide Blue/Su-Fa PS Well- drained 2-3 to 3 1, 6, 8, 13 Toxic *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide Red/Sp-Su FS/PS/ FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic X Mimulus cardinalis Scarlet Monkeyflower To 3 ft Red/Sp-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19 easy X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower 1-5 ft Yellow/W-Sp FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 Mimulus moschatus (var. moniliformis) Musk Monkeyflower 1 ft tall & wide Yellow/ Sp-Su FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 8 leaves: boiled as greens
  • 12.
    12 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes 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 Hummingbird plant; scented; ‘Marion Sampson’ X * Monardella villosa (ssp. subserrata) Coyote Mint 1 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS Well- drained soil best 1-2 1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 19 * Penstemon centranthifolius Scarlet Bugler 1-3 ft OR-Red/ Sp-Su FS Well- drained 1 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 May be difficult X Penstemon heterophyllus Foothill Penstemon 1-2 ft Purple/ Sp-Su FS/PS sandy 1 to 1-2 14 Keep clay soils quite dry; many blooms * Penstemon laetus Gay Penstemon 1-3 ft Lavender/ Sp-Su FS/PS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 13 Keep clay soils quite dry X Pseudognaphalium californicum California Everlasting 2-4 ft White/Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clay 1-2 1, 2, 10, 13, 16 Sweet-scented foliage X Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens Wooly Everlasting 1-2 ½ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Any, incl. clay 1-2 1, 16 Spreads; gray foliage X Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda CA Bee Plant 2-3 ft Red/Spr PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 Afternoon shade X Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora Dwarf Checker Mallow To 1 ½ ft Pink- lavender/ FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 19 Solanum americanum American Black Nightshade 2-3 ft tall White/Sp-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 13 Berries very poisonous Solanum douglasii White (Douglas’) Nightshade 2-5 ft tall White/Sp-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 14 Berries very poisonous Solanum xanti Purple (Chaparral) Nightshade 2-4 ft tall Purple/Sp- Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13 Berries very poisonous X Solidago californica California Goldenrod 2-4 ft tall spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 14 Tolerates seasonal flooding Solidago spectabilis var. confinis Southern Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10 Tolerates seasonal flooding * Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum Mountain Meadowrue 3-5 ft tall 2-3 ft wide White/Su PS/FSH Well- drained 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 10, 12-14, 19 Well-drained soils X Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea Hoary Nettle 4-6 ft tall spreading Green/Su FS/PS Any 2 to 2-3 10, 16 Invasive; skin allergies
  • 13.
    13 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering Nearly all CA annual wildflowers do fine in heavy clay soils. Cacti and Succulents X Dudleya lanceolata Lance-leaf Dudleya 1-2 ft tall & wide Yellow- Orange/ Sp-Su FS/PS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 7, 13, 14, 15 Dudleya pulverulenta (ssp. pulverulenta) CA Chalk Dudleya < 2 ft & wide Pink-Yellow/ Sp-Su FS/PS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 14, 19 With good drainage Dudleya virens ssp. Hassei & insularis Bright Green Dudleya 1-2 ft tall & wide Orange/ Sp-Su FS/PS Well- drained 1 to 1-2 1, 7, 13, 14 X * Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf Stonecrop < 1 ft tall spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2 to 3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13 San Gabriels Ferns and Fern-like Plants Adiantum capillus- veneris Common Maidenhair 1-3 ft tall & wide none PS/FSH Well- drained 2-3 to 3 7, 13 X Polypodium californicum CA Polypody < 1 ft tall spreading none PS/FSH Any 1 to 1-2 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20 Good under oaks; containers Woodwardia fimbriata Giant Chain Fern 5-6 ft tall 3-9 ft wide none PS/FSH Any; not alkali 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 14, 19 Grows in seeps in wild Bulbs and Corms X Bloomeria crocea var. crocea Golden Stars 1-2 ft Yellow/Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays 1 1, 8, 10, 13, 16 Fine in grass X Brodiaea jolonensis (B. terrestris) Harvest Brodiaea 1-2 ft Purple/ Sp-Su FS Any, incl. clays 1 1, 8, 20 X Calochortus albus White Fairy Lantern 1 ft tall <1 ft wide White-pink/ Sp-Su FS/PS Clays best 1 1, 8, 13, 19, 20 X Calochortus catalinae Catalina Mariposa Lily 1 ft tall <1 ft wide White- purple/Sp FS Clays best 1 1, 8, 13, 20 Fine in grass X Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum Wavyleaf Soap Plant 1-2 ft tall & wide White/Su FS/PS Any; well- drained 1-2 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 19 Good under oaks X Dichelostemma capitatum Blue Dicks/Wild Hyacinth < 2 ft Blue/Sp FS/PS well- drained 1 1, 2, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 X Fritillaria biflora var. biflora Chocolate Lily 1-2 ft tall Brown/Sp FS/PS Any; best in clay 1 1, 8, 13, 20 Fine in grass
  • 14.
    14 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Iris douglasiana Douglas iris 1-2 ft Purple/Sp PS Any 1 to 2 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16 Drought tolerant if mulched X Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup < 2 ft Yellow/ Sp-Su PS sandy 1-2 to 3 1, 13 Very well- drained soils X Sisyrinchium bellum Western Blue-eyed Grass 1-2 ft Purple- yellow/Sp FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18 Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges) X * Bouteloua gracilis Blue Gramma 1-2 ft tall Warm-seas. Perennial bunch/sod FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16 X Bromus carinatus California Brome 2-3 ft tall & wide Perennial bunchgrass FS/PS Any 1-2 5, 10, 13, 14, 16 Cover; cultivars ‘Deborah’; ‘Luval’ X * Calamagrostis foliosa Leafy (Mendocino) Reed Grass 1-2 ft tall & wide cool-season bunchgrass FS/PS Well- drained 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13 Nice foliage color X * Calamagrostis nutkaensis Pacific Reed Grass 3-4 ft tall & wide cool-season bunchgrass FS/PS Well- drained 2-3 to 3 1, 4, 5, 8, 13 Can plant densely X * Carex barbarae Santa Barbara Sedge 1-2 ft tall to 3 ft w Evergreen sod sedge FS/PS Any 2 to 3 3, 8, 13, 16 May be invasive (containerize) X Carex praegracilis Clustered Field Sedge/CA Meadow Sedge 1-2 ft tall Cool-season, sod sedge FS/PS Clays best 2-3 1, 2, 4, 7, 13 X * Carex spissa San Diego Sedge 2-4 ft tall 2-3 ft wide Cool-season, sod sedge FS/PS/FSH Clays best 1 to 3 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 Substitute for Pampas Grass X Carex tumulicola Berkeley Sedge 2 ft tall & wide Cool-season, sod sedge FS/PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 Cyperus eragrostis Umbrella Sedge/ Tall Flat-sedge 2-4 ft tall clumping Warm- season, sod sedge FS.PS any 1-2 to 3 7, 10, 13 Cyperus odoratus Fragrant Flat- sedge 1-3 ft tall Warm-seas., annual sedge FS/PS any 1-2 to 3 ? X * Danthonia Californica California Oatgrass 2-3 ft tall Cool-season perennial bunchgrass FS/PS any 2 to 3 6, 8, 10 Evergreen; tolerates walking; good for small areas X * Deschampsia holciformis (D. cespitosa ssp. hociformis) Pacific Hairgrass 1-3 ft tall Cool-season perennial bunchgrass FS any 2-3 to 3 5, 8, 10, 13, 16 Salt-tolerant
  • 15.
    15 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Eleocharis palustris Common Spikerush 1-2 ft tall spreading Cool-season, sod sedge FS Any 1-2 to 3 1, 2, 7, 10, 13, 16 X Elymus glaucus Blue (Western) Wildrye 2-4 ft tall 1-2 ft wide Cool-season bunchgrass PS/FSH Any; not shallow 1-2 to 2-3 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16 Salt-sensitive; coarse-looking; re-seeds well Equisetum hyemale subsp. affine Common Horsetail 2-4 ft tall 1-6 ft w Perennial rush FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 4, 8 Will grow in standing water; contain X Equisetum laevigatum Smooth Horsetail 2-5 ft tall spreading Perennial FS Clays best 2-3 to 3 8 X * Festuca californica CA Fescue <1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft wide Cool-season bunchgrass FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19 ‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse Mountain Green', 'Serpentine Blue' X * Festuca idahoensis Blue Bunchgrass < 1 ft tall & wide Cool-season bunchgrass FS/PS any 2 to 3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20 ‘Siskiyou Blue’ is best for clay X Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum CA Meadow Barley 1-2 ft tall & wide Cool-season bunch FS any 1-2 to 2-3 16 (other vars./ unk at 5, 10, 13) Good for erosion control X * Juncus effusus Bog/Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide Perennial rhizome rush FS/PS Any; sandy best 1-2 to 3 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14 Good around pools; ‘Quartz Creek’ X Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide Spreading/ bunching perennial rush FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19 ‘Carmen’s Gray’ is blue-gray X Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall 3-8 ft wide Spreading/ bunching perennial rush FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14 Showy; Good for wet planter, pondside X Juncus xiphioides Iris-leaf rush 1 ½ ft tall spreading Spreading rush FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16 Best in contained places if watered X ** Leymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’ Giant Rye Grass 4-6 ft tall & wide Warm season perennial FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 10, 12, 16 ‘Canyon Prince’ is low-growing X Leymus triticoides Creeping Wild Rye < 3 ft tall spreading Cool-season perennial sod-grass; light mow FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 14, 16 Great vernal swale; cultivars ‘Yolo’, ‘Rio’, ‘Gray Dawn’
  • 16.
    16 I ScientificName Common Name Size Flower/ season Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes X Melica imperfecta Coastal Melic Grass 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide Cool season bunchgrass PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19 X * Muhlenbergia rigens Deergrass 2-4 ft tall & wide Perennial bunchgrass FS Any 1-2 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 Tolerates seasonal flooding X Nassella cernua Nodding Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall & wide Perennial bunchgrass FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 5, 10, 13, 14, 16 X Nassella lepida Foothill Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall & wide Perennial bunchgrass FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16 X * Nassella pulchra Purple Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall & wide Perennial bunchgrass FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 3/12/2011 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)