This document provides a list of native plant species suitable for coastal sage scrub plant communities in western Los Angeles County gardens. It includes trees, shrubs, perennials, and vines, with details on each plant's scientific and common names, size, flowering season, light and soil requirements, water needs, and notes. The high-level information is that this list contains over 60 plant species well-adapted to the climate and conditions of coastal sage scrub habitats in western LA County, and provides key details about each to help homeowners select appropriate native plants for their gardens.

1. CA Native Plants for Western L.A. County Gardens – Coastal Sage Scrub Plant Community
I
Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Trees and Tree-like Large Shrubs
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
1, 2
Excellent
habitat plant
X Baccharis salicifolia
Mule Fat
To 10 ft
Pink-white/
all year
X Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon
6-10 ft +
4-6 ft w
White/Su
FS/PS/FSH
X Juglans californica
S. California
Walnut
20-40 ft ta
Green/Sp
FS/PS
X Malosma laurina
Laurel Sumac
<18 ft tall
and wide
White/Sp
FS
any
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
To 100 ft
80 ft w
Yellow/Sp
FS
Any
2-3
1, 3, 14
Long-lived
< 50 ft
White/Su
PS
any
1-2
1, 7, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
Platanus racemosa
Populus fremontii
X
Prunus ilicifolia ssp.
ilicifolia & lyonii
Fremont’s
Cottonwood
Holly-leaf and
Catalina Island
Cherries
X Quercus agrifolia
Coastal Live Oak
X Salix exigua
Narrow-leaf Willow
Salix gooddingii
Goodding’s Black
Willow
X Salix lasiolepis
Arroyo Willow
X Salix laevigata
Red Willow
10-70 f tall
40-70 w.
6-15 ft
12-15 ft.w.
To 100 ft T
8-35 ft
to 35 ft w.
10-30 ft
to 45 ft w.
X Baccharis emoryi
Any welldrained
Clays
best
FS/PS
Coarsemed.
Yellow/Sp
FS/PS
any
Yellow/Sp
FS
any
FS/PS
any
FS
any
Yellow/W-Sp
Yellow/Sp
Blue (Mexican)
Sambucus nigra ssp.
8-25+ ft
White/Sp-Su
Elderberry
cerulea
Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges)
Atriplex lentiformis ssp.
breweri
Any
Yellow/W-Sp
X
X
FS/PS
1-2 to 2-3
1-2
1
1 to 1-2
1
1-2; winter
flooding
1-2; winter
flooding
1-2; winter
flooding
1-2; winter
flooding
1, 3, 5, 7, 9,
10, 13, 14, 16,
18
1, 7, 12, 13,
14
1, 7, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16
1, 2, 18
1, 2, 3, 14
2
Berries toxic in
lg. amounts
allelopathic
Long-lived
Spreading via
roots
Needs winter
flooding
1, 2
spreads
1, 2, 3, 12, 14
‘weeping’
growth habit
FS/PS
Welldrained
1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12-14, 16, 19
Edible berries
Any incl.
alkali,
salty
1-2
1, 2, 16
Maintain size
through pruning
1, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16
Salt tolerant
Coast Quailbush/
Big Saltbush
To 8 ft tall
To 20 ft w
Green/Su
FS
Emory Baccharis
6-12 ft T
to 10 ft W
Buff-Wht/
Su-F
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
Winter
flooding
1

2. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Coyote Bush
To 8 ft
Cream/F
Bladderpod
2-6+ ft
Yellow/
Sp +
X Lycium californicum
California Boxthorn
4-12 ft tall
4-10 ft w
Wht-purple/
Sp-Su
X Lycium hassei
Catalina Boxthorn
I
Scientific Name
X Baccharis pilularis
X
X
Cleome isomeris
(Isomeris arborea)
Malacothamnus
fasciculatus
X Pluchea sericea
X
Quercus berberidifolia (Q.
dumosa)
X Rhus integrifolia
X
Ribes aureum var.
gracillimum
Chaparral Mallow
To 8 ft
To 10 ft
To 12 ft t
4-6 ft wide
Arrowweed
5-10 ft t
Scrub Oak
Lemonadeberry
Golden Currant
X * Romneya coulteri
Matilija Poppy
X Salix exigua
Narrow-leaf Willow
10-20 ft
tall & wide
2-10 ft
3-20 ft w.
To 10 ft
3-8 ft tall
spreading
6-15 ft
12-15 ft.w.
Light**
FS/PS
Soil
any
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
1-2
1, 2, 3, 5, 10,
13, 14, 16, 18
1, 3, 7, 10, 12,
13, 16
Unusual scent;
attractive
branch
FS
Welldrained
1
FS/PS
Sandy/
rocky
best
1 to 1-2
1, 6, 13, 14
Good on seabluffs
White/
FS
?sandy
1 to 1-2
1
Long dormant
season
Pink/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 5, 10, 13,
19
‘Casitas’ good
for gardens
Purple/
Sp-Su
FS
Any incl
clay
1-2 to 2-3
Yellow/
W-Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
Pink/Sp
FS/PS
any
1-2
Yellow/
W-Sp
FS/PS/ FSH
Any
1-2 to 2-3
White/Su
FS
Yellow/Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
any
1-2
1-2; winter
flooding
8, 10, 14
7, 13, 14, 19
Thicketforming; silver
foliage
Evergreen;
small leaves
1, 3, 7, 9, 10,
12, 14, 16, 18
Edible fruits
7, 12, 14
Any welldrained; Birds
eat berries
1, 3, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16, 19
1, 2, 3, 14
Spreading via
roots
Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs
3-6 ft tall
1
1, 7-10, 12, 13,
14, 16, 18
any
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 10, 12, 16
Fragrant
flowers
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 10, 16, 20
(?var)
Unusual flowers,
seedpods; silvery
foliage
Cream/Sp-F
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 10
Orange/
W-Sp
FS/PS
Sandy
X Artemisia californica
Coastal Sagebrush
X Brickellia californica
California
Bricklebush
< 4 ft tall
to 4 ft w
Buff/Su-F
FS/PS
Croton californicus var.
californicus
California Croton
1-5 ft tall
2-5 ft w
Cream/Sp-F
Croton californicus var.
tenius
California Croton
1-5 ft
Diplacus aurantiacus
ssp. aurantiacus
Bush
Monkeyflower
2-3 ft
X
X
Gold/Su
FS
Welldrained
1-2
'Canyon Gray'
Unusual
flowers,
seedpods
1, 3, 5, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16,
2

3. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
X Diplacus puniceus
Red Bush
Monkeyflower
2-3 ft &
wide
Darker
orange/Sp
PS (morning
sun OK)
Welldrained
1-2 to 2
X Encelia californica
CA Bush Sunflower
2-5 ft
Yellow/
W-Sp
FS/PS
Any welldrained
1 to 1-2
Epilobium canum
X (Zauschneria
californica)
CA Fuschia
1-3 ft
Orange/F
FS/PS
any
X Ericameria ericoides
Mock Heather
1-4 ft tall &
wide
Yellow/
Su-F
FS
Ericameria palmeri var.
pachylepis
Palmer's
Goldenbush
1-3 ft tall
2-5 ft wide
Yellow/Su-F
FS
* Eriodictyon
trichocalyx
Southern Yerba
Santa
4-6 ft
Lilac/Su
FS
X Eriogonum fasciculatum
California
Buckwheat
1-3 ft tall
3-6 ft wide
Pink/Sp-F
X Euphorbia misera
California Spurge
3-4 ft tall &
wide
Whitered/Sp
FS
sandy
1-3 ft
Yellow/Su-F
FS
Any welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 2
3-5 ft
Yellow-red/
Sp-Su
FS
Any welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
Silver Bush Lupine
3-4 ft tall &
wide
Purple/Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1-2
1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13,
16, 19 ? var
Long-leaf Bush
Lupine
To 5 ft tall
& wide
Purple/Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
Hillside Gooseberry
To 3 ft
Red-white/
W-Sp
PS/FSH
X Ribes indecorum
White Currant
To 6 ft
White/W-Sp
FS/PS
X Ribes speciosum
Fuschia-flowered
Gooseberry
3-6+ ft tall
and wide
dark pink/
W-Sp
FS/PS/FSH
X Rosa californica
California Wild
Rose
3-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w
Pink/
Sp-Su
FS/PS/FSH
I
X
Scientific Name
X Hazardia squarrosa
Lotus scoparius var.
scoparius
Lupinus albifrons var.
X
albifrons
X
X Lupinus longifolius
X
Ribes californicum var.
hesperium
Sawtooth
Goldenbush
Deer Vetch/ Deer
Broom
FS/PS
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
3, 7, 8, 10-14,
16, 20, 21, 24,
26, 28
1, 2, 3, 7, 8,
10, 13, 14, 16,
19
S. Islands; Riv.
& San Diego
Co.
1, 3, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
Tolerates
winter flooding
1 to 1-2
1, 6, 10, 16
Good for
seaside
1 to 1-2
10, 16
Lightsandy
best
1 to 1-2
10, 16
Aromatic
leaves
Any welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
13, 14, 16, 18,
19
'Dana Point' tight,
compact; ‘Bruce
Dickinson’ prostrate
Any;
sandy
best
1-2 to 2-3
1-2 to 2-3
1, 8, 13
Good winter
color
Tolerates
seaside
conditions
3, 10, 12, 13,
16
Welldrained
Welldrained
Welldrained
1-2 to 2-3
10, 12, 13 (var.
californicum)
1-2 to 2
1, 3, 12, 14
2-3;
3 in sun
1, 3, 10, 12-14,
19
any
1-2;
3 (sun)
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
Birds eat
berries
Birds eat
berries
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
3

4. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
X Salvia apiana
White Sage
3-5 ft
White/
Sp-Su
X Salvia leucophylla
Purple Sage
3- 5 ft
Lavender/Sp
X Salvia mellifera
Black Sage
3-5 ft
Butterweed
2-3 ft
Wooly Bluecurls
2-4 ft
I
X
Scientific Name
Senecio flaccidus var.
douglasii
X Trichostema lanatum
Light
purple/Sp
Yellow/
Su-F
Purple/
W-Sp
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
FS
Welldrained
1
FS/PS
Welldrained
1-2
FS
Welldrained
1-2
FS
any
1
13, 14
FS/PS
Welldrained
1
1, 3, 7, 8, 9,
10, 13, 14, 16,
18, 19
PS
FS coastal
Welldrained
2-3
1, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16
2-3 to 3
3, 5, 13, 14,
19
Notes
1, 3, 5, 9, 10,
13, 14, 16, 19
1, 3, 5, 8, 9,
10, 12, 13, 14,
16,18, 19
1, 3, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18, 19
Nice scent
difficult
Perennial Vines
Invasive; can look
weedy; ‘Anacapa
Pink’; ‘Candycane’
X Calystegia macrostegia
California Morning
Glory
To 30+ ft
White/Sp-F
X Clematis ligusticifolia
Virgin’s Bower
To 15 ft
White/Su
PS/FSH
Any
Stinking Gourd;
Calabazilla
To 20 ft
Yellow/Su
FS/PS
Sandy
best
1-2
2, 13
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 Lathyrus vestitus
Wild Sweetpea;
Canyon Pea
3-9 ft
Purplewhite/ Sp
PS/FSH
any
1-2
1, 8, 13
Western
Honeysuckle
5-18 ft
Pink/Sp-Su
PS/FSH
clay
1-2 to 2-3
3-8 ft
Cream/
Sp-Su
PS/PS/
FSH
any
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 12, 13,
14
Edible fruit
20+ ft
White/
W-Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
1
Dies back in
summer
> 25 ft
White/Su
PS
any
Cream/Su
PS
Welldrained
Cucurbita foetidissima
X
Lonicera hispidula var.
vacillans
Lonicera subspicata
X var. denudate &
subspicata
Marah macrocarpus
X Vitis girdiana
Santa Barbara &
Southern
Honeysuckles
Wild Cucumber/
Manroot
Desert Grape
1, 5, 13, 14,
19
2-3
Mugwort
2-4+ ft tall
& wide
1-2 to 2-3
3, 5, 10, 12,
14, 16, 18
Good under
trees; drought
deciduous
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
2, 3, 10, 13,
20
Perennial Groundcover Plants
X Artemisia douglasiana
Seeds edible;
bad odor when
fruits are young
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
4

5. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
CA Fuschia
1-3 ft
3-5 ft wide
Orange/F
Heerman’s Lotus
< 1 ft
Yellow/Spr-F
X Phacelia ramosissima
Branching (Strand)
Phacelia
2-4 ft tall &
wide
Lavender/
Spr-Su
X Ribes viburnifolium
Catalina Perfume
1-3 ft
X Salvia spathacea
Hummingbird Sage
I
Scientific Name
Epilobium canum
X (Zauschneria
californica)
Lotus heermannii
X Stachys albens
X Stachys bullata
Stachys rigida var.
X rigida (Stachys
ajugoides)
Verbena bracteata
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
Tolerates winter
flooding
Any
1-2 to 2-3
1, 3, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
Welldrained
1-2 to 2-3
10, 16
FS/PS
any
1 to 2-3
Pink/
PS/FSH
See note
2 to 2-3
1-3 ft
Magenta/Spr
PS/FSH
Any
1-2
1-3 ft
White/SprSu
FS/PS
Any
1-2 to 2-3
1-4 ft
Pink/Spr-Su
PS
Rigid Woodmint
(Hedgenettle)
1-2 ft
Pink/Spr-Su
FS/PS
Clay
2-3 to 3
Big Bract Verbena
½ - 2 ft
Lavender/S
U-Fa
FS
?any
2-3 to 3
California
Tarragon;
1-3 ft tall
2-3 ft w
White/F
FS/PS
Welldrained
1-2
10, 16
Indian Milkweed
Narrow-leaf
Milkweed
2-3 ft
Pink/Su
Creampink/Su
FS/PS
Sandy
1-2
13
FS/PS
Sandy
1-2
1, 3, 10, 14
Any
Whitestem
Woodmint
(Hedgenettle)
California
Woodmint
(Hedgenettle)
FS/PS
FS
Welldrained
2-3
1, 2, 10, 12,
16
1, 3, 9, 13, 14,
20
1, 3, 8, 9, 12,
13, 19
Hairs may cause
rash
Well-drained
soil
Cut back yearly
1, 3, 6, 12
1, 3, 7, 12, 14
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
1, 13
?
Herbaceous Perennials
X Artemisia dracunculus
X Asclepias eriocarpa
X Asclepias fascicularis
X Asclepias speciosa
2-3 ft
Showy Milkweed
2-3 ft tall
2-4 ft wide
Pink/Su
FS/PS
X
Astragalus trichopodus
var. lonchus
Coast Rattlepod
2 ft tall &
wide
White/WSpr
FS/PS
X
Corethrogyne
filaginifolia
Common Sand
Aster
1-4 ft tall &
wide
Violet/SprSu
FS/PS
X
Delphinium parryi ssp.
maritimum & parryi
Parry’s Blue
Larkspur
1-5 ft
Bluepurple/Spr
FS/?PS
Welldrained
Any;
sandy
best
Welldrained
1-2 to 2-3
2, 8, 19
1
Leaves - raw or
a flavoring in
soups, etc.
Needs seasonal
flooding
Tol. Flooding;
Monarch host
plant; silvery
1, 2, 13
1 to 1-2
1
1, 8, 10, 16
‘Silver Carpet’
8, 20
Good under
oaks
5

6. Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Diplacus aurantiacus
ssp. aurantiacus
Bush
Monkeyflower
2-3 ft
Orange/WSpr
FS/PS
X * Diplacus puniceus
Red Monkeyflower
2-3 ft
Red/
FS/PS
X Erigeron foliosus
Fleabane Daisy
(Aster)
2-3 ft
Lavender/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
Wand Buckwheat
3-5 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Pink/Su-F
FS
Golden Yarrow
1-3 ft
Gold-yellow/
Sp-Su
I
X
Eriogonum elongatum
var elongatum
Eriophyllum
X confertiflorum var.
confertiflorum
Erysimum capitatum
X
var. capitatum
X
X
Galium angustifolium
ssp. angustifolium
X Grindelia camporum
Western Wallflower
Narrowleaf
Bedstraw
Large Gumplant
Light**
FS/PS
Soil
Sandy
Welldrained
Welldrained
Any, incl
clay, Alk.
Sandy
best
Water
Zone+
1-2
1 to 1-2
Availability
Notes
1, 3, 5, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16,
3, 6, 8, 10,
12-4, 16, 21
Nice color for
shade
1 to 1-2
1?
1 to 1-2
1, 8, 12
Tough plant
1, 3, 6, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
Tol. moderate
salt, alkali soils
1-2
1-3 ft
1-2 ft wide
1-3 ft tall &
wide
Yellow-Or/
W-Sp
FS
Welldrained
1-2 to 2
13
White/Spr
PS
Any
1-2 to 2-3
10, 12, 14, 16
2-3 ft tall
3-5 ft wide
1-2 ft tall &
wide
Yellow/
Sp-Fa
Yellow/
Sp-Su
FS
Welldrained
FS
Any
1, 2, 6, 12, 16
Spreading
1-2 to 2-3
1, 10
Butterfly plant
1-2 to 2-3
1, 2, 6, 10, 13
(ssp. puberula)
Dies back in
summer
drought
1-2
X
Grindelia hirsutula var.
hirsutula
Hairy Gumplant
X
Horkelia cuneata ssp.
cuneata
Wedgeleaf
Horkelia
< 1 ½ ft T
2 ft wide
White/Sp-Su
FS/PS
sandy
Cliff Aster
2-4 ft tall
1-3 ft wide
White/Sp-F
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
Cliffaster
1-4 ft tall &
wide
White/Sp-F
FS/PS
Welldrained
1
10
Wishbone Plant;
CA Four O’Clock
1-3 ft tall &
wide
Pink/Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1
1, 10, 13, 14,
16
Showy Penstemon
3-4 ft
Lavenderpink/Sp-Su
Sandy or
rocky
1
1, 3, 6, 10, 13,
14, 16
1-2 ft tall
Violet/Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
2-4 ft
White/Sp
FS/PS
Any, incl.
clay
1-2 ½ ft
White/Sp-Su
FS/PS
Any, incl.
clay
Malacothrix saxatilis
var. tenuifolia
Malacothrix saxatilis
X
var. tenuifolia
Mirabilis laevis var.
X
crassifolia
Penstemon spectabilis
X
ssp. subviscosus
X
Phacelia distans
Pseudognaphalium
californicum
Pseudognaphalium
X canescens ssp.
beneolens
X
Common Phacelia;
Wild Heliotrope
California
Everlasting
Wooly Everlasting
FS
1, 10
reseeds
10
Good under
other plants
1-2
1, 2, 10, 13,
16
Sweet-scented
1-2
1, 16
Spreads; gray
foliage
1 to 1-2
6

7. I
Scientific Name
Sairocarpus
X (Antirrhinum)
coulterianus
Scrophularia californica
X
ssp. floribunda
Sidalcea malviflora ssp.
X
malviflora
X Silene laciniata
Solanum douglasii
X Solanum xanti (var. ?)
Flower/
season
Light**
Common Name
Size
Coulter’s (White)
Snapdragon
2-4 ft tall
White to
lavender/Sp
FS
CA Bee Plant
2-3 ft
Red/Spr
PS
Dwarf Checker
Mallow
To 1 ½ ft
Pinklavender/
FS/PS
Indian Pink
1-3 ft
Red/Sp-Su
2-5 ft tall
White (Douglas’)
Nightshade
Purple (Chaparral)
Nightshade
Soil
Welldrained
Water
Zone+
1
1, 5, 8, 10, 12,
13, 16
Any
2-3 to 3
1, 8, 13, 19
FS/PS
Sandy or
rocky
1-2 to
2-3
12
White/Sp-F
FS/PS
Any
1-2 to 2-3
10, 14
2-4 ft tall
Purple/SpSu
FS/PS
Any
1-2 to 2-3
1, 7, 13
7, 10, 14
California
Goldenrod
2-4 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F
FS/PS
Any
1-2 to 2-3
Solidago spectabilis
var. confinis
Southern
Goldenrod
3-6 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F
FS/PS
Any
2-3
Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals)
X
Amsinckia menziesii
var. intermedia
Common
Fiddleneck
X Calandrinia ciliata
Red Maids
X Camissonia bistorta
California Sun Cup
1-3 ft tall
< 1 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
< 1 ft tall
1-3 ft wide
1-3 ft tall &
wide
Castilleja exserta ssp.
exserta
California/Mustard
Primrose
Small Evening
Primrose
Purple Owl’s
Clover
X Centaurium venustum
Beautiful Centaury
< 1 ft tall
Chaenactis glabriuscula
X var. glabruiscula & var.
orcuttiana
Yellow Pincushion
1-3 ft tall
Camissonia californica
Camissonia micrantha
X
Notes
1, 10, 13
2-3 to 3
X Solidago californica
X
Availability
Yellow-gold/
Sp
Bright
pink/Sp
Yellow/SpSu
FS/PS
–
Berries very
poisonous
Berries very
poisonous
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
no water after flowering
Welldrained
FS
Any
FS/PS
Any
1
2-3 to 3
1-2
Yellow/Sp
FS
Welldrained
6-18 in. T
Yellow/Sp
FS
Sandy
best
1-2 ft tall
Magenta/Sp
FS
Welldrained
Magenta,
white/Sp-Su
FS
Any
1 to 1-2
FS
any
1
Yellow/Sp
10
Afternoon shade
1
1-2
1
10, 16
2, 5, 10
1, 10, 13, 16
Good for slopes
& in grasses
Good for water
gardens
‘Sun Flakes’
10, 13, 16
10
2, 5, 16 (our
ssp)
8
10, 13
7

8. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Cirsium occidentale var.
X californicum &
occidentale
Cobwebby Thistle
4-6 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
Pink/Sp-Su
X Clarkia purpurea
Purple Clarkia
2-3 ft tall
X Clarkia unguiculata
Elegant Clarkia
2-5 ft tall
Miner’s Lettuce
1 ft tall
Chinese Houses
I
Scientific Name
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
13, 19, 21
May survive
several seasons
Welldrained
1-2
FS/PS
any
1-2
FS/PS
any
1 to 2-3
White/Sp-Su
PS/FSH
any
1-2
2, 5, 10
1-2 ft tall
Purple-white
Sp-Su
PS/FSH
any
1-2
1, 5, 10, 13,
16
Doveweed; Turkey
Mullein
< 1 ft tall
2-4 ft wide
Yellow/Su
FS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
White Forget- MeNots
1-3 ft tall
White/Sp-Su
FS
Welldrained
2-3
Slender Tarweed
1-3 ft tall
Gold-yellow/
Su-F
FS
any
1 to 1-2
10, 16
Whispering Bells
1-3 ft tall
Light Yellow
FS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
13
Slender Buckwheat
1-3 ft tall
Pink/Su-F
FS
any
Coastal CA Poppy
< 1 ft tall
Yellow/Or/
Sp-F
FS/PS
Common Eucrypta
1-2 ft tall &
wide
White/Sp
Globe Gilia
1-2+ ft
X Hemizonia fasciculata
Slender Tarweed
Med/tall
X Heterotheca grandiflora
Telegraph Weed
4-5+ ft tall
X Lasthenia californica
California
Goldfields
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
Collinsia heterophylla
X
var. heterphylla
X
X Croton setigerus
Cryptantha intermedia
X
X
X
X
Deinandra (Hemizonia)
fasciculata
Emmenanthe
penduliflora
Eriogonum gracile var.
gracile
Eschscholzia californica
ssp. californica
Eucrypta
chrysanthemifolia
Gilia capitata ssp.
abrotanifolia
Lasthenia coronaria
X Linanthus dianthiflorus
Lotus hamatus
Lavender/
Sp-Su
Pink-purple/
Sp-Su
Purple-blue/
Sp
Goldyellow/Su
FS
FS/PS/ FSH
1, 2, 10, 13,
16
2, 5, 10, 13,
16
2, 10, 16
Needs drought
for seeds
Well-drained
soil
Somewhat
invasive;
stinging hairs
10
unusual
1 to 2
Welldrained
10, 16 (?var)
1, 2 many
Be sure to get
coastal ssp.
1 to 1-2
13, 16, 21
Fire follower;
fern-like foliage
1 to 1-2
5, 13
easy
10, 16
1-2
FS
Any welldrained
FS
Any
1
Yellow/Su-F
FS
Any
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 10, 16
Abundant
reseeder
< 1 ft tall
Yellow/W-Sp
FS
any
1 to 1-2
10, 13
Salt tolerant
Royal Goldenfields
< 1 ft tall
Yellow/W-Sp
FS
any
1 to 2-3
10,
Moderately salt
tolerant
Linanthus
Small-flowered
Lotus
< 1 ft tall
Purple-blue
FS
2-3
16
< 1 ft tall
Yellow/Sp
FS
any
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
10
8

9. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Lotus salsuginosus var.
salsuginosus
Lotus unifoliatus
X
(purshianus) var. unifoliatus
Short-bannered
Coastal Lotus
< 1 ft tall
Yellow/Sp
FS
Sandy
best
Spanish Lotus
2-3 ft tall
Pinkwhite/Su-F
FS
any
1-2
X Lupinus bicolor
Miniature Lupine
< 1 ft tall
Blue/white
FS/PS
any
1- 2-3
X Lupinus hirsutissimus
Stinging Lupine
1-3 ft tall
Magentapurple/Sp
FS/PS
Mojave Lupine/
Coulter’s Lupine
Arroyo (Succulent)
Lupine
1-3 ft tall &
wide
Blue/W-Sp
FS
Dwarf Lupine
1-2 ft tall
Silver Puffs
1 ft tall
Baby Blue-eyes
1-2 ft tall
Blue Toadflax
Oenothera elata ssp.
hirsutissima & hookeri
Phacelia cicutaria var.
hispida
I
Scientific Name
X Lupinus sparsiflorus
X Lupinus succulentus
Bluepurple/Sp
Red-Purple/
Sp
Yellow/SpSu
Soil
Welldrained
Welldrained
Water
Zone+
1 to 1-2
Availability
Notes
10
2, 10
2, 5, 10, 13
1
10, 13, 16
1
10,16
?easy
1, 2, 5, 8, 10,
13, 16, 18
Easy
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
FS/PS
any
1 to 2-3
FS
Any
2-3
13
Showy seed
heads
Blue/Sp-Su
PS/FSH
any
2-3
5, 10, 13, 16
easy
1-3 ft tall
Blue/Sp-Su
FS/PS
Sandy
best
2-3
16,
Hooker’s Evening
Primrose
5+ ft tall
Yellow/Su
FS
Caterpillar Phacelia
1-2 ft tall
Light Purple
FS
X Phacelia grandiflora
Large-flowered
Phacelia
1-3 ft tall
Purple/Sp
FS/PS
X Phacelia viscida
Sticky Phacelia
1-2 ft tall
BlueWhite/Sp
FS/PS
any
1-2 to
2-3
X Plantago erecta
California
(Dotseed) Plantain
< 1 ft tall
White/green
FS/PS
any
2-3
2, 16
Cream Cups
1-2 ft tall
Yellowwhite/Sp
FS/PS
Any
1 to 1-2
5, 10
Coulter's
Snapdragon
2-3 ft tall
White/Su
FS/PS
Welldrained
2-3
1, 13,
Thistle Sage
1-2 ft tall
Lavender/
Sp
FS
X Lupinus truncatus
Microseris (Uropappus)
lindleyi
Nemophila menziesii
X
var. menzeisii
Nuttallanthus/Linaria
canadensis
X
X
Platystemon
californicus
Sairocarpus
X (Antirrhinum)
coulterianus
X
X Salvia carduacea
1-3 ft tall
Light**
Welldrained
Any welldrained
Welldrained/
sandy
Sandy or
rocky
10, 13,
1-2 to 2-3
10, 16
1
Abundant
reseeders
10, 16
2 to 3
1
8, 10, 13, 16,
17, 19
Very showy
2, 8, 19
Easy, pretty
10, 13, 16
9

10. Flower/
season
Light**
X
Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Salvia columbariae var.
columbariae
Chia Sage
1-2 ft
Senecio californicus
I
California Ragwort
1-2 ft
Red Catchfly
1-2 ft tall
Red-pink/
Sp
Wand Wreathplant
Med-tall
Pale Purple/
Su
FS
Vinegar Plant
Med-tall
Purple
FS
Pin-point Clover
1-3 ft
X Silene laciniata
Stephanomeria virgata
?ssp. pleurocarpa
Trichostema
X
lanceolatum
X Trifolium gracilentum
X
Trifolium
microcephalum
X Trifolium willdenovii
Small-head Clover
Tomcat Clover
1-2 ft
Blue-purple/
Sp
Yellow/
Su-Fa
Pinkpurple/Sp
Pink-purple/
Sp-Su
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
FS
Sandy or
rocky
FS
Any
1-2
?
Welldrained
2-3
3, 12
Any
2-3
Notes
2, 19
FS/PS
FS
FS
Any welldrained
Any welldrained
Any welldrained
Pink/Sp-Su
FS/PS
Any
1 to 1-2
1
1-2 to
2-3
1-2 to
2-3
1-2 to
2-3
5, 10, 13, 16
Tolerates
seaside
conditions
10, 13,
10, 16
Pollinator plant;
edible
10, 16
10, 16, 19
Can spread
Cacti and Succulents
X Bergerocactus emoryi
Golden Snake
Cactus
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
Cylindropuntia
(Opuntia) prolifera
Coastal Cholla
4-8 ft tall
& wide
Dark
Pink/W-Sp
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
Lance-leaf Dudleya
1-2 ft tall
& wide
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
< 2 ft &
wide
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 14, 19
Bright Green
Dudleya
<1 ft tall
1 ft wide
Yellow/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 8, 9, 14, 20
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
1, 14, 20
Catalina; good
for coastal;
spines
Interesting
growth habit;
spines
1, 7, 13, 14,
15
CA Chalk Dudleya
YellowOrange/
Sp-Su
Pink-Yellow/
Sp-Su
X
X Dudleya lanceolata
Dudleya pulverulenta
(ssp. pulverulenta)
Dudleya virens ssp.
X
hassei
X
20
1, 3, 8, 12, 13,
14, 20, 24
X
Dudleya virens ssp.
insularis
Island Dudleya
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/
Sp-Su
X
Hesperoyucca (Yucca)
whipplei
Our Lord’s Candle/
Chaparral Yucca
1-3 ft
(flower to
10 ft
Cream/Sp
FS
Welldrained
1
1, 3, 8, 9, 12,
13, 14, 16, 18
Coastal Prickly Pear
To 3 ft
Yellow/W-Sp
FS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
With good
drainage
Good
groundcover
Dramtic accent
plant; edible
leaves
Dramatic accent
plant; sharp
spines
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14
X Opuntia littoralis
10

11. I
Scientific Name
X Opuntia oricola
Common Name
Chaparral Prickly
Pear
Ferns and Fern-like Plants
Size
6-8 ft tall
spreading
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+
Yellow-Or/
Sp
FS
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
Availability
Notes
1
Newberry’s Lipfern
1 ft tall &
wide
None
PS
Welldrained
1-2 to 2
? 29
Coffee Fern
1-2 ft tall &
wide
none
PS/FSH
Welldrained
1 to 1-2
19
X Pellaea mucronata
Bird’s Foot Fern
1 ft tall &
wide
none
FS/PS
Welldrained
1 tp 1-2
13
Pentagramma
X triangularis ssp. maxonii,
Goldback Ferns
< 1 ft
none
PS/FSH
Sandy,
rocky
1 to 1-2
13
CA Polypody
< 1 ft tall
spreading
none
PS/FSH
Any
1 to 1-2
6, 7, 13, 14,
19, 20
Red-skin Onion
1-1 ½ ft
White-pink/
Sp
FS/PS
Golden Stars
1-2 ft
Yellow/Sp
FS/PS
Harvest Brodiaea
1-2 ft
Purple/
Sp-Su
FS
Any, incl.
clays
1
1, 8, 20
Catalina Mariposa
Lily
1 ft tall
<1 ft wide
Whitepurple/Sp
FS
Clays
best
1
1, 8, 13, 20
Fine in grass
Wavyleaf Soap
Plant
1-2 ft tall &
wide
White/Su
FS/PS
1, 5, 8, 10, 12,
13, 19
Good under
oaks
Blue Dicks/Wild
Hyacinth
< 2 ft
Blue/Sp
FS/PS
Chocolate Lily
1-2 ft tall
Brown/Sp
FS/PS
1-2 ft
Purpleyellow/Sp
FS/PS
any
1-2 to 2-3
2-3 ft tall &
wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS/PS
Any
1-2
Cheilanthes newberryi
X
Pellaea andromedifolia
triangularis & viscosa
X
Polypodium
californicum
Bulbs and Corms
X Allium haematochiton
Bloomeria crocea var.
crocea
Brodiaea jolonensis (B.
X
terrestris)
X
X Calochortus catalinae
Chlorogalum
X pomeridianum var.
pomeridianum
Dichelostemma
X
capitatum
X
Fritillaria biflora var.
biflora
Western Blue-eyed
Grass
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)
X Sisyrinchium bellum
X Bromus carinatus
California Brome
Welldrained
Any, incl.
clays
Any;
welldrained
welldrained
Any;
best in
clay
1
1
1-2
1, 8, 10, 13,
16
1, 8, 10, 13,
16
1
1, 8, 13, 20
Fine in grass
1, 2, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
1
Good under
oaks;
containers
Good for dry
slopes
needs some
summer/fall
drought
Good under
oaks;
containers
Fine in grass
1, 3, 9, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
Cover; cultivars
‘Deborah’; ‘Luval’
‘Cucamonga’ is annual
11

12. Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
X Carex praegracilis
Clustered Field
Sedge/CA Meadow
Sedge
1-2 ft tall
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS/PS
X Carex spissa
San Diego Sedge
2-4 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS/PS/FSH
X Elymus glaucus
Blue (Western)
Wildrye
2-4 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
PS/FSH
1-3 ft tall,
wide
1-3 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
< 1 ft tall
& wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
I
Scientific Name
Elymus multisetus
X Juncus balticus
X
Juncus bufonius var
bufonius & congesta
X Leymus condensatus
X Melica imperfecta
X Nassella cernua
X Nassella lepida
X Sporobolus airoides
Big Squirreltail
Baltic Rush
Toad Rush
Giant Rye Grass
Coastal Melic
Grass
Nodding
Needlegrass
Foothill
Needlegrass
Alkali sacaton
Sod rush
FS
Annual rush
FS
1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide
Warm
season
perennial
Cool season
bunchgrass
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
Warmseason
bunchgrass
4-6 ft tall &
wide
2-3 ft tall
2-4 ft wide
Light**
Water
Zone+
Availability
Clays
best
2-3
1, 2, 4, 7, 13
Clays
best
1 to 3
1, 7, 8, 9, 10,
13
Soil
Any; not
shallow
Welldrained
Any incl.
alk./salty
Any incl.
salty
1-2 to 2-3
3, 4, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16
1-2 to 2
10, 16
2-3
1-2 to 3
Notes
Substitute for
Pampas Grass
Salt-sensitive;
coarse-looking;
re-seeds well
Showy
3, 16
10, 16
FS/PS
Any
1-2
1, 3, 9, 10, 12,
16
PS
Any
1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 19
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16
FS/PS
welldrained
best
2 to 3
2, 3, 8, 13, 16
‘Canyon Prince’
is low-growing
Salt-tolerant;
alkali fine
9/7/08
I : X = Gardening Information Sheet :(http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants.html) or at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center
* may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant
++
+
** horticultural cultivar
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)
Availability: numbers correspond to the Plant and Seed Sources List at: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/where-to-purchase-native-plants.html
12