This document provides a month-by-month list of native plants from Southern and Northern California that provide colorful foliage, flowers, fruits, or seed heads throughout the year. It includes trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, annuals, bulbs, and grasses. Many plants bloom for extended periods, from 2-4 months after their starting month. Sowing some annuals at 2-week intervals provides continuous blooms into the summer months. The document aims to help gardeners achieve year-round color displays using native California flora.

1. Year-round Color Using Native S. California Plants (and a few others from northern CA)
Mo.
Trees/large shrubs
Smaller shrubs/sub-shrubs/vines
Jan
Heteromeles arbutifolia (berries – red)
* Hyptis emoryi (fl – lavender)
Ribes species (fl – pink to white)
Xylococcus bicolor (fl – pink)
Feb
Arctostaphylos species (fl – pink)
* Berberis (Mahonia) spp (fl – yellow)
* Ceanothus cyanus & hybr (fl – blue)
Cleome isomeris (fl – yellow)
* Garrya elliptica (fl – white)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (berries – red)
Rhus integrifolia & ovata (fl – pink)
Ribes aureum (fl – yellow)
Ribes species (fl – pink to white)
* Calliandra californica (fl – red)
Dendromecon rigida (fl – yellow)
Encelia californica (fl – yellow)**
* Viguiera laciniata (fl – yellow)**
Mar
Bacharis salicifolia (fl – cream)**
Ceanothus griseum hybr (flower – blue)
* Cercis occidentalis (fl - magenta)
Cleome isomeris (fl – yellow)
Dendromecon harfordii (fl – yellow)**
* Fremontodendron species (fl – yellow)
* Garrya (other than elliptica) (fl – white)
* Hyptis emoryi (fl – lavender)
Lavatera assurgentiflora (fl – magenta)**
Malacothamnus clementinus (fl – pink)**
Prunus ilicifolia (fl – white)
Rhus integrifolia & ovata (fl – pink)
Rhus trilobata (fl – yellow)
* Calliandra californica (fl – red)
Camissonia cheiranthifolia (fl – yellow)
Dendromecon rigida (fl – yellow)
Diplacus puniceus (fl – maroon)
Encelia californica (fl – yellow)**
* Encelia farinosa (fl – yellow)
Gambelia (Galvezia) speciosa (fl –red)
Lepechinia fragrans (fl – lilac)
Lupinus (bush species) (fl – purple)
Salvia leucophylla (fl – purple)
* Verbena lilacina (fl – purple)**
Arctostaphylos species (fl – pink)
* Rosa minutiflora (fl – pink)
Perennials/annuals/
bulbs/grasses
Gnaphalium bicolor (fl-white-yellow)
Melica imperfecta (fl/seed – brown)
Dichelostemma capitatum (fl – purple)
Erysimum species (fl – yellow)
Eschscholzia californica (fl– Y/Or)**
Fritillaria biflora (fl – brown)
Iris douglasiana (fl – white to purple)
Layia platyglossa (fl – yellow-white)
Linanthus dianthiflorus (fl - pink)
Paeonia californica (fl – maroon)
Allium haematochiton (fl – white)
Dichelostemma capitatum (fl – purple)
Erysimum species (fl – yellow)
Eschscholzia californica (fl– Y/Or)**
Gilia capitata (fl – purple)**
Iris douglasiana (fl – white to purple)
*Heuchera species (fl – pink)
Lasthenia species (fl – yellow)
Lupinus (annuals) (fl – purples)
Mimulus guttatus (fl – yellow)**
Sisyrinchium bellum (fl – purple)
Stachys species (fl – white to pink)

2. Mo.
Apr
May
Trees/large shrubs
Carpenteria californica (fl – white)
Cleome isomeris (fl – yellow)
Malacothamnus fasciculatus (fl – pink)**
Carpenteria californica (fl – white)
Ceanothus ‘Frosty Blue’ (fl – blue)
Fremontia ‘El Dorado Gold’ (fl – yellow)
Mahonia nevinii (fl – yellow)
Sambucus nigra ssp cerulea (fl – cream)**
Smaller shrubs/sub-shrubs/vines
Perennials/annuals/
bulbs/grasses
Calystegia macrostegia (fl – pink)
Camissonia cheiranthifolia (fl – yellow)
Constancea (Eriophyllum) nevinii (Fl – yellow)**
Coreopsis species (fl – yellow)
Dendromecon rigida (fl – yellow)
Diplacus aurantiacus (fl – salmon)
Diplacus puniceus (fl – maroon)
Encelia californica (fl – yellow)
* Encelia farinosa (fl – yellow)
Gambelia (Galvezia) speciosa (fl – red)
* Keckiella antirrhinoides (fl – yellow)
Lupinus albifrons (fl – purple)
Malacothamnus clementinus (fl – pink)
*Perityle incana (fl – yellow)
Salvia leucophylla (fl – purple)
Trichostema lanatum (fl – blue-purple)
* Venegasia carpesioides (fl – yellow)**
*Allium unifolium (fl – lavender)
* Aristida purpurea (fl – purple grass)
Bloomeria crocea (fl – yellow)
Camissonia species (fl – yellow)
Clarkia species (fl – purples/pinks)***
Dichelostemma capitatum (fl – purple)
Erigeron ‘Arthur Menzies’ (fl – purple)**
Gilia species (fl – purples)***
Iris douglasiana (fl – white to purple)
*Heuchera species (fl – pink)
Layia platyglossa (fl – yellow-white)
* Leptodactylon californicum (fl – pink)
Lupinus (annuals) (fl – purples)
Malacothrix saxatilis (fl – white-purple)**
*Mentzelia lindleyi (fl – yellow)
Nemophila menziesii (fl – blue)
Platystemon californicus (fl – crème)
Salvia (annuals) (fl – purple)
Sidalcea malviflora (fl – magenta)
Sisyrinchium bellum (fl – purple)
Stachys species (fl – white to pink)
Trifolium species (fl – pink-purple)
Calystegia macrostegia (fl – pink)
Clematis ligusticifolia (fl – cream)**
Coreopsis species (fl – yellow)
Diplacus aurantiacus (fl – salmon)
Diplacus puniceus (fl – maroon)
Eriogonum fasciculatum (fl – pink)**
Lathyrus vestitus (fl – purple)
Lonicera species (fl – pink)**
* Salvia clevelandii (fl – purple)**
Salvia leucophylla (fl – purple)
Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense (fl – lilac)**
Achillea millefolium (fl – white, other)**
*Aquilegia formosa (fl – pink-yellow)
Argentina egedii (fl – yellow)**
Collinsia heterophylla (fl – purple)
Dudleya species (fl – yellow to pink)
*Mentzelia lindleyi (fl – yellow)
Mimulus cardinalis (fl – red-orange)**
Phacelia species (fl – blues to pinks)
Potentilla glandulosa (fl – yellow)
Sisyrinchium californicum (fl – yellow)
Trifolium species (fl – pink-purple)
Triteleia laxa (fl – purple-blue)

3. Mo.
Jun
Jul
Aug
Trees/large shrubs
* Berberis (Mahonia) spp (berry – blue)**
Cercocarpus spp (seed plumes – silver)
Comarostaphylis diversifolia (fl – white)
Eriogonum giganteum (fl – pink)
Holodiscus discolor (fl – white)**
Malosma laurina (fl – white)
Philadelphus lewisii (fl – white)
* Rhamnus spp (berry – red-blue)**
Rhus integrifolia & ovata (berry – red)**
* Romneya coulteri (fl – white-yellow)
Rosa californica (fl – pink)
Aesculus californica (fl – pink)
Calycanthus occidentalis (fl – dark red)
Eriogonum giganteum (fl – pink)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (fl – white)
Holodiscus discolor (fl – white)
Lyonothamnus spp (fl – white)
Malosma laurina (fl – white)
* Morella (Myrica) californica (berry – purple)
Prunus ilicifolia (fruit – red-purple)
Rosa californica (fl – pink)
* Chilopsis linearis (fl – pink)
Clematis spp (seed plumes – silver)
Eriogonum giganteum (seed – rust)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (fl – white)
* Rhamnus species (berries – red to black)
Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea (berries – blue)**
Smaller shrubs/sub-shrubs/vines
Cactus species (fl – yellow to orange)
* Abutilon palmeri (fl – yellow)
Grindelia species (fl – yellow)
Eriogonum spp (fl – pink-white)
Keckiella cordifolia (fl – red-orange)
Lobelia cardinalis (fl – red)**
*Monardella species (fl – pink/lavender)
Oenothera species (fl – white or yellow)
Penstemon species (fl – purples)
Perityle incana (fl – yellow)
Senecio flaccidus (fl – yellow)**
Trichostema lanatum (fl – purple)**
* Abutilon palmeri (fl – yellow)**
Clematis ligusticifolia (fl – white)
Eriogonum spp (fl – pink-white)
Grindelia species (fl – yellow)
*Monardella species (fl – pink/lavender)
Oenothera species (fl – white or yellow)
Penstemon species (fl – purples)
Solanum speces (fl – purple)
Ericameria ericoides (fl – yellow)
Eriogonum species (seed heads – rust brown)
* Eriophyllum staechadifolium (fl – yellow)
Pluchea odorata – (fl – pink-lavender)
Oenothera elata (fl – yellow)
Penstemon species (fl – purples)
Perennials/annuals/
bulbs/grasses
Asclepias species (fl – pinks)
Brodiaea species (fl – purple)
*Erigeron species (fl – purple-yellow)
Helianthus annuus (fl – yellow)
Limonium californicum (fl – purple)
Linanthus species (fl – pinks)
*Madia elegans (fl – yellow-red)
Phacelia species (fl – blues to pinks)
Potentilla glandulosa (fl – yellow)
Silene laciniata (fl – red)
* Sphaeralcea ambigua (fl – pink/purple)
Trichostema lanciolatum (fl – purple)**
Trifolium species (fl – pink-purple)
Asclepias species (fl – pinks)
Cirsium occidentale (fl – purple)
Corethrogyne filaginifolia (fl – purple)
*Erigeron species (fl – purple-yellow)
Euthamia occidentalis (fl – yellow)**
Helianthus annuus (fl – yellow)
*Madia elegans (fl – yellow-red)
Solidago species (fl – yellow)
* Sphaeralcea ambigua (fl – pink/purple)
Centromadia species (fl – yellow)
Cirsium occidentale (fl – purple)
Helianthus annuus (fl – yellow)
Solidago species (fl – yellow)

4. Mo.
Trees/large shrubs
Smaller shrubs/sub-shrubs/vines
Sep
Comarostaphylis diversifolia (berries – red)
Eriogonum giganteum (seed – rust)
* Forestiera pubescens (fruit – purple)**
* Rhamnus species (berries – red to black)**
Rosa californica (fruit - red)**
* Chrysothamnus nauseosus (fl – yellow)
Ericameria ericoides (fl – yellow)
Eriogonum species (seed heads – rust brown)
Hazardia squarrosa (fl – yellow)
Isocoma menziesii (fl – yellow)
Vitis girdiana (grapes – dark purple)
Oct
Baccharis emoryi (fl – buff)
Baccharis pilularis (fl – buff)
Ceanothus species (fl – blue)
Brickellia californica (fl – buff)
Diplacus species (fl – salmon to red)
Epilobium canum (fl – orange-red)
Salvia clevelandii (fl – purple)
Verbena lilacena (fl – lilac)**
Nov
*Acer circinatum (leaves –red or yellow)
* Cercis occidentalis (leaves – red/yellow)
Dendromecon spp (fl – yellow)**
Lyonothamnus floribundus (leaves – orange)
Rhus trilobata (leaves – yellow)
* Ribes sanguineum (fl – pink)
Epilobium canum (fl – orange)
Trichostema lanatum (fl – purple)**
* Vitis californica (grapes; leaves – red)
Dec
* Acer negundo (leaves – yellow)
* Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium (leaves – red)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (berries – red)**
Lyonothamnus floribundus (leaves – orange)
Ribes aureum (leaves – red)
Ribes malvaceum (fl – pale pink)
* Ribes sanguineum (fl – pink)
Perennials/annuals/
bulbs/grasses
Helianthus annuus (fl – yellow)
Heterotheca grandiflora (fl – yellow)
Solidago species (fl – yellow)
Arctostaphylos groundcovers (fl – pink)
Cneoridium dumosum (fl – pink-yellow)
11/16/2010
** = long bloom period (at least 2-4 months after starting month)
*** = sow at 2-week intervals for bloom into summer
Key : fl = flowers