California Native & Relatives

Perennial or Biennial Herb: CA native. Fast growing and moderately long-lived. The 3 inch fragrant flowers open in late afternoon and are borne in clusters and held atop the stems. Bloom time: summer-fall. Bloom color: yellow. Attracts bees, birds, moths, and butterflies. Height: 3-6 feet. Width: 5 feet. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate. USDA Z6-9.

Perennial: Evergreen but dies down in cold climates. Native to coastal forests from WA to CA. Vigorous selection has dark green leaves with shiny burgundy undersides. Tolerates wet conditions, deer, drought and mowing. Good woodland, rock garden & ground cover plant. Attracts butterflies. Blooms: spring-fall. Color: white w/pink veins. Size: 8-10" x 2-3'. Part shade/shade. Water: moderate/moist. USDA Z7-10.

Perennial: Evergreen but dies down in cold climates. Native to coastal forests from WA to CA. Vigorous selection has dark green leaves with shiny burgundy undersides. Tolerates wet conditions, deer, drought and mowing. Good woodland, rock garden & ground cover plant. Attracts butterflies. Blooms: spring-fall. Color: white w/pink veins. Size: 8-10" x 2-3'. Part shade/shade. Water: moderate/moist. USDA Z7-10.

Perennial: Evergreen but dies down in cold climates. Native to coastal forests from WA to CA. Vigorous selection has dark green leaves with shiny burgundy undersides. Tolerates wet conditions, deer, drought and mowing. Good woodland, rock garden & ground cover plant. Attracts butterflies. Blooms: spring-fall. Color: white w/pink veins. Size: 8-10" x 2-3'. Part shade/shade. Water: moderate/moist. USDA Z7-10.

Perennial: Evergreen. Tolerant of drought, coast, deer, gophers and fire. A seed strain from 1969 of the CA native P. heterophyllus. Border and rock garden plant with tubular flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Blooms: summer. Color: cobalt green buds open to vivid blue at maturity. Sun/part shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z8.

Perennial: Evergreen. Tolerant of drought, coast, deer, gophers and fire. Of the California native P. heterophyllus. Border and rock garden plant with tubular flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Blooms: summer. Color: intense gentian blue. Height: 18 inches. Width: 18-24 inches. Sun/part shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z8.

Perennial: Evergreen. Related to CA native P. heterophyllus. Tolerant of drought, coast, deer, gophers, and fire. Border, container, and rock garden plant with tubular flowers that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Bloom time: spring-fall. Bloom color: creamy buds open to white bells. Height: 18-30 inches. Width: 18-24 inches. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z6-10.

Perennial: California native. Tolerant of drought, coast, deer, gophers and fire. Border and rock garden plant with tubular flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Bloom time: spring-fall. Bloom color: sky blue-reddish purple. Height: 2'. Width: 3'. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate-dry. USDA Z6.

Perennial Herb: Drought tolerant once established. Native to coastal N. Calif. & Oregon. Grows in chaparral, woodland, & coastal bluffs & grassland. Attracts bees, butterflies & pollinators. A food source for the Mission blue butterfly, endangered & native to San Francisco. Blms: spring-summer. Color: lav. to white. Ht: 6-18 in. W: 12-24 in. Exp.: sun/pt shade. Water: mod. (no water once est.). Good in a dry rockery, wildlife & prairie gardens. USDA Z6-10.

Annual: California native. Deer resistant. Drought tolerant. Showy, fast grower! Produces 1" wide, upward-facing, bell-shaped blooms atop branchy red stems in spring. The deep gentian blue flowers have white anthers & make the perfect standout in front beds, borders, containers or rock gardens. One of the few wildflower seeds that can grow into a good cut flower. Ht: 6-12". Exp.: full sun. Water: mod./dry. Needs good drainage, self-sows. USDA Z3.

Perennial: Evergreen, deer, drought & fire toler. CA native. Part of Greenlee Meadow Collection. Very good lawn substitute, especially in difficult spots, can take foot traffic. Especially useful in heavy traffic areas & for erosion control. Ht: 2". Plant 2' apart for a quick, dense, creeping turf. Attracts bees, butterflies & other beneficials. Tolerates clay, sand & loamy soils. Blms: spring-fall. Blm color lav.-pk. Exp.: sun. Wtr: mod./dry. Z8.

Perennial: Evergreen, deer, drought & fire toler. CA native. Part of Greenlee Meadow Collection. Very good lawn substitute, especially in difficult spots, can take foot traffic. Especially useful in heavy traffic areas & for erosion control. Ht: 2". Plant 2' apart for a quick, dense, creeping turf. Attracts bees, butterflies & other beneficials. Tolerates clay, sand & loamy soils. Blms: spring-fall. Blm color lav.-pk. Exp.: sun. Wtr: mod./dry. Z8.

Perennial: Evergreen, deer, drought & fire toler. CA native. Part of Greenlee Meadow Collection. Very good lawn substitute, especially in difficult spots, can take foot traffic. Especially useful in heavy traffic areas & for erosion control. Ht: 2". Plant 2' apart for a quick, dense, creeping turf. Attracts bees, butterflies & other beneficials. Tolerates clay, sand & loamy soils. Blms: spring-fall. Blm color lav.-pk. Exp.: sun. Wtr: mod./dry. Z8.

Perennial: Evergreen, deer, drought & fire toler. CA native. Part of Greenlee Meadow Collection. Very good lawn substitute, especially in difficult spots, can take foot traffic. Especially useful in heavy traffic areas & for erosion control. Ht: 2". Plant 2' apart for a quick, dense, creeping turf. Attracts bees, butterflies & other beneficials. Tolerates clay, sand & loamy soils. Blms: spring-fall. Blm color lav.-pk. Exp.: sun. Wtr: mod./dry. Z8.

Fern: Evergreen, clumping habit. Deer resistant. Somewhat gopher resistant. Good for woodlands, beds, along house walls, ground cover, borders, containers and for cut foliage. Shiny dark green leathery foliage with toothed edges. Native from AK to MT & CA. Height: 2-6 feet. Exposure: shade (coastal sun is okay). Water: moist. Bog tolerant. USDA Z3-9.

Evergreen Shrub. California Native. Grows low to the ground, never exceeding 2 feet, and can reach 6 to 8 feet wide. Plant in full sun and water sparingly. A hybrid that is thought to be a cross of Salvia sonomensis or Salvia clevelandii with Salvia leucophylla. Drought tolerant.

Perennial: California native ground cover. Deer resistant. Very drought tolerant. A vigorous hybrid of Salvia sonomensis & Salvia mellifera. Mat forming w/flowers that rise about 6" above the foliage. Creeps underground, though it is easily controllable. Leaves are heavily pungent when cut or crushed. Attracts bees, butterflies & hummingbirds. Blm time: spring-summer. Blm color: lavender-blue. Ht: 18-24". Width: 4-6'. Full sun. Water: dry. Needs good drainage. USDA Z8.

Perennial: California native ground cover. Deer resistant. Very drought tolerant. A vigorous hybrid of Salvia sonomensis & Salvia mellifera. Mat forming w/flowers that rise about 6" above the foliage. Creeps underground, though it is easily controllable. Leaves are heavily pungent when cut or crushed. Attracts bees, butterflies & hummingbirds. Blm time: spring-summer. Blm color: lavender-blue. Ht: 18-24". Width: 4-6'. Full sun. Water: dry. Needs good drainage. USDA Z8.

Perennial Shrub: Drought, deer & gopher tolerant. California native (from Southern California's coastal sage scrub region). A good border plant and plant for attracting bees-they like the foliage. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Spring bloomer followed by summer dormancy-needs no sumer water. Grows in winter. Bloom color: white or pale lavender. Height: 4-5 feet. Exposure: sun. USDA Z8.

Perennial Shrub: Drought, deer & gopher tolerant. California native (from Southern California's coastal sage scrub region). A good border plant and plant for attracting bees-they like the foliage. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Spring bloomer followed by summer dormancy-needs no sumer water. Grows in winter. Bloom color: white or pale lavender. Height: 4-5 feet. Exposure: sun. USDA Z8.

Perennial Shrub: Drought, deer & gopher tolerant. California native (from Southern California's coastal sage scrub region). A good border plant and plant for attracting bees-they like the foliage. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Spring bloomer followed by summer dormancy-needs no sumer water. Grows in winter. Bloom color: white or pale lavender. Height: 4-5 feet. Exposure: sun. USDA Z8.

Perennial Shrub: Drought, deer and gopher tolerant. California native (from Southern California's coastal sage scrub region). A good border plant and plant for attracting bees-they like the foliage. Attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Spring bloomer followed by summer dormancy-needs no water in summer. Grows in winter. Bloom color: white. Height: 2-3 feet. Width: 3-4 feet. Exposure: sun. USDA Z8.

Perennial Shrub: Drought, deer and gopher tolerant. California native (from Southern California's coastal sage scrub region). A good border plant and plant for attracting bees-they like the foliage. Attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Spring bloomer followed by summer dormancy-needs no water in summer. Grows in winter. Bloom color: white. Height: 2-3 feet. Width: 3-4 feet. Exposure: sun. USDA Z8.

Shrub: Evergreen. CA native. Tolerant of drought, deer & gophers. Good border plant. Fragrant dark blue flowers are held in ball-like clusters over fragrant gray green leaves, which are good for tea. More compact & upright than the species. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Blooms: spring-summer. 3-4'. Exposure: sun. Water: dry. USDA Z8.

Shrub: Evergreen. CA native. Tolerant of drought, deer & gophers. Good border plant. Fragrant dark blue flowers are held in ball-like clusters over fragrant gray green leaves, which are good for tea. More compact & upright than the species. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Blooms: spring-summer. 3-4'. Exposure: sun. Water: dry. USDA Z8.