Ranunculus sceleratus is a species of buttercup known by the common names cursed buttercup and celery-leaved buttercup. It is native to North America and Eurasia, where it grows in wet and moist habitat, including ponds and streambanks. It is an annual herb growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves have small blades each deeply lobed or divided into usually three leaflets. They are borne on long petioles. The flower has three to five yellow petals a few millimeters long and reflexed sepals. The fruit is an achene borne in a cluster of several.

Rhamnus crocea is a species of buckthorn (Rhamnaceae). It is endemic to western North America. This evergreen shrub is typically one to two meters in height. R. crocea typically occurs in chaparral and several other vegetation communities below 3,000 ft. The flowers are not showy; this species is planted for the berries. You may need more than one plant to ensure pollination. It is spiny so consider where you place it. The leaves are small, round, dark green on top and brown or yellow on the underside. The berries and small spheres, bright red.

Hollyleaf Redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia) is an evergreen native shrub that grows in the foothills and mountains of southern and central California, the Sierra foothills, and the foothills west of Sacremento Valley. It primarily grows at elevations from 500 to 6600 feet. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Rhamnus crocea but is now considered a separate species. Their ranges overlap considerably, and they resemble each other superficially.

This plant is reasonable to grow if properly sited. Plant in part shade or full sun on rocky slopes, or at least with plenty of rocks surrounding it. It seems to prefer part shade in the drier parts of its range.

It can tolerate summer water up to 1x per month. However once established, it's usually happiest without any supplementary water, but in a spot where it can run its roots over to an irrigated area or a place with a little more natural moisture, such as a creek or rain gully. The flowers are inconspicuous; the plant is grown primarily for its springtime bright and shiny red berries. These berries are an important food source for birds.

This plant has small leaves with sharp points along their edges, resembling small holly leaves (thus its common name). These leaves give this plant significant deer resistance. This shrub is quite versatile in garden landscapes, from wildlife habitat to erosion control to hedges and barriers.

In optimal conditions, Hollyleaf Redberry can grow from a 1-gallon container to 3 feet tall in two years.

Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) is a shrub in the Anacardiaceae (Cashew) family; it has several other common names, including lemonade sumac. It was formerly classified as Rhus trilobata; some sources still refer to it that way. 

It is native to western North America. It occurs in many parts of California, including the northern Coast Ranges, Sierra foothills, and southern coastal mountains. It can be found from deserts to mountain peaks up to about 7,000 feet in elevation.

The pale yellow flowers are followed by a red, fleshy drupe that has a sticky coating, similar to lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia). This species closely resembles other members of the genus that have leaves with three "leaflets" ("trifoliate" leaves), including poison oak. People with sensitivity to poison oak should use caution around fragrant sumac.

The shape of the leaflets and the habit of the shrub make this species, like some other Rhus species, resemble small-leafed oaks (Quercus). The plant is deciduous and exhibits good fall color.

Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It tends to grow slowly at first, then fast to 10 feet to 30 feet tall. Its form is upright  but it  can sprawl. However, it takes pruning very well and may be pruned, or sheared as a hedge, at any time of year.  The ;eaves are leathery, with a waxy appearance above and a paler tone below. The pink flowers, which appear from February to May, are small but noticeable. The fruit is dark red, block-shaped and sticky, and has a tart flavor which gives the plant its name. 

Lemonade berry is great for slopes. It is easy to grow and very hardy, becoming nearly indestructible once established. At that point it will stay green and healthy-looking year round without any supplementary summer water. It prefers sun or part sun and well-draining soil. 

Lemonade berry is very closely related to Sugar Bush. A good rule of thumb for landscaping applications is within 5-10 miles of the coast, lemonade berry is a better choice. More inland, sugar bush does better.

This is an important wildlife plant. The berries are a significant food source for birds and small mammals, and the thick sprawling form provides excellent animal shelter.  It hosts almost a dozen species of butterfly and moth. 

Golden currant is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub with golden spring blooms. The flowers and fruit of this fragrant and attractive shrub make the golden currant a valuable wildlife plant. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are attracted to the golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. The fruit is an important food source for many bird species as well as small mammals like squirrels and chipmunks. The berries are also used in pies, preserves, and other dishes.

Golden currant is very easy to grow and spreads readily, making it a good choice for revegetation, hedging, and groundcover applications. It grows best in moist conditions and benefits from partial shade, irrigation, and mulching in drier areas. On the coast, it prefers full sun. Inland, it prefers part shade and does best when surrounded by mulch, and grows well under oaks and in mixed chaparral. Once established, golden currant needs no special care.

Ribes aureum var gracillimum, known by the common name Golden Currant, is a species of small to medium-sized deciduous shrub that grows 3-6 feet tall. It's native to the coast and foothill regions of California, growing most commonly in the southern foothills of the Transverse Range, and more rarely in the coastal ranges as far as the Mendocino National Forest. It blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers, often with a pronounced fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. The flowers attract hummingbirds and monarch butterflies. Leaves are green, shaped similarly to gooseberry leaves, turning red in autumn. The plant is deciduous from late December to early February. The shrub produces berries about half an inch in diameter from an early age. Ripe fruits, amber yellow to black in color, are tasty, and attract a wide range of birds.

While Golden Currants are fairly drought tolerant once mature, they grow best in areas with somewhat more ground water, such as the bottom of slopes, near creeks or canyon bottoms, or near irrigated areas. On the coast, they prefer full sun, and inland, part shade. They do best when surrounded by mulch, and grow well under oak trees and in mixed chaparral. When Golden Currants are thriving, they self-seed and spread out from the original plant and can serve as a groundcover.

Hillside Gooseberry (Ribes californicum) is an easy to grow native shrub. Hillside Gooseberry tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from sea level to nearly 6,000 feet. It will reach 4 to 8 feet high and 2 to 6 feet wide. The dangling flowers, which appear in spring, are pink, purple or yellow. The branches bear spines, so keep this in mind when deciding the planting location.

This plant will grow in part-shade, in sandy or rocky soil, and requires little water once established.

The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and the berries make it a valuable wildlife plant, especially to birds. It hosts several butterfly species, including the Tailed Copper, Hoary Comma and Oreas Comma.

Hillside Gooseberry (Ribes californicum var. californicum) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open places, at elevations from 0-3300 feet.

Ribes cereum is a species of currant known by the common names wax currant (R. c. var. pedicellare is known as whisky currant). It is native to western North America, including British Columbia, Alberta, and much of the western United States, from Washington, Oregon, and California east as far as the western Dakotas and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Ribes cereum grows in several types of habitat, including mountain forests in alpine climates, sagebrush, and woodlands. It can grow in many types of soils, including sandy soils and soil made of clay substrates, serpentine soils, and lava beds. This is a spreading or erect shrub growing 20 centimeters (8 inches) to 2 meters (80 inches) tall. It is aromatic, with a "spicy" scent. The stems are fuzzy and often very glandular, and lack spines and prickles. The leaves are somewhat rounded and divided into shallow lobes which are toothed along the edges. The leaves are hairless to quite hairy, and usually studded with visible resin glands, particularly around the edges. The inflorescence is a clustered raceme of 2 to 9 flowers. The small flower is tubular with the white to pink sepals curling open at the tips to form a corolla-like structure. Inside there are minute white or pinkish petals, five stamens, and a two protruding green styles. The fruit is a rather tasteless red berry up to a centimeter (0. 4 inch) wide, with a characteristically long, dried flower remnant at the end.


One of it's former common names (S**** currant) is considered derogatory as a slur used against Native women.

Wax Currant (Ribes cereum var. cereum) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 4900-13100 feet.

Ribes divaricatum is a species of currant known by several common names, including spreading gooseberry, coast black gooseberry, and wild gooseberry. It is native to the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. It is a shrub sometimes reaching 3 meters in height with woody branches with one to three thick brown thorns at leaf nodes. The leaves are generally palmate in shape and edged with teeth. The blades are up to 6 centimeters long and borne on petioles. The flower cluster is a small cluster of hanging flowers, each with reflexed purple-tinted green sepals and smaller, lighter petals encircling long, protruding stamens. The fruit is a berry up to a centimeter wide which is black when ripe. It is similar to Ribes lacustre and Ribes lobbi, but the former has smaller, reddish to maroon flowers and the latter has reddish flowers that resemble those of fuchsias and sticky leaves. The fruit was food for a number of Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest, and other parts of the plant, especially the bark, was used for medicinal purposes.

Ribes malvaceum, called "chaparral currant", is a member of the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry family). It is endemic to California. It occurs below 1500 meter in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest ranging from Baja California to the San Francisco Bay area and inner Northern Coastal Ranges. Less than 2 meters tall, this perennial shrub lacks the characteristic nodal spines which are demonstrated on the stems of many other members in the genus Ribes. The leaf blades (20-50 millimeter) are densely hairy and double toothed. Bright pink flowers produce edible purple berries.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Ribes malvaceum var. malvaceum. Dancing Tassels is a beautiful summer deciduous shrub for shady areas. Growing to 6 feet tall, this vase shaped shrub has soft green lobed leaves and peeling red-brown bark. The small, pinkish white flowers are jammed together on pendulous, chandelier-like 4 inch clusters. Dancing Tassels was selected for use in the garden by the Rancho santa Ana Botanical Garden because it sports the longest flower clusters of the species. It is originally from Bryce Canyon on san Clemente Island. Chaparral Currant blooms earlier in winter than the Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), providing hummingbirds an outstanding nectar source in late fall and early winter. It is also more sun and drought tolerant than R. Sanguineum. After its long flowering period, Dancing Tassels produces dark blue fruits that appeal to a large variety of songbirds and human jelly makers. Tailed Copper butterflies also use it as a larval plant. In coastal areas plant in full sun or part shade, inland it needs filtered shade. It is not finicky about soil type, but it needs good drainage. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden on san Clemente Island by Bart O' Brien and Tom Hayduk of Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

This is one of two recognized varieties of Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum). The other is var. viridifolium. Both are known by the same common name. Their ranges are somewhat different but overlapping. Var. Malvaceum is found primarily in the central Coast Ranges from Tehama County to Orange County. Var. viridifolium is found along the coast from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County and northern Baja. For further details see the entry for Ribes malvaceum.

Ribes malvaceum (Montara Rose), Chaparral Currant
Description
Ribes malvaceum, called "chaparral currant", is a member of the gooseberry family. It is endemic to California. This selection from Montara Mountain grows 4 to 6 ft. tall and has deep pink flowers clusters in the spring that produce edible purple berries. It can handle part shade to full sun, and is one of the earliest ribes to start blooming -- often in late winter. Popular with hummingbirds.

Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium) is a summer-deciduous shrub that native to southern and central California, growing primarily in the transverse range mountains and upper peninsular range mountains.

It grows quickly to about 6 feet in height, with beautiful red to light pink flowers in the winter that attract hummingbirds. It can handle some summer water (1-2x per month), and a wide variety of soil types. It prefers part shade or full shade.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Ribes quercetorum is a species of currant known by the common names rock gooseberry, oak gooseberry and oakwoods gooseberry. It is native to the mountains and hills of California from the San Francisco Bay Area south into Baja California and east into Arizona. Ribes quercetorum grows in woodlands, chaparral, and dry desert slopes and canyons. It is a spreading shrub producing arching stems up to 1. 5 meters (5 feet)long, the nodes along the stems bearing 1 to 3 spines each up to 1. 5 centimeters (0. 6 inch) long. The lightly hairy, glandular leaves are up to 3 centimeters (1. 2 inches) long and are divided into a few lobes which are toothed or lobed at their tips. The inflorescence is a raceme of 2 or 3 small flowers. Each flower has five reflexed yellow sepals around a tube-shaped ring of smaller cream-colored petals. The fruit is an spherical, edible black berry just under a centimeter (0. 4 inch) in diameter.

Sierra Gooseberry (Ribes roezlii) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 5 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are dark green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-9200 feet.

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a stunning fast-growing native shrub for shady areas. It grows upright with a vase shape, 6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide. Its dangling tassel-like flowers are dark pink to red and emerge in winter through spring. With its broad bright green leaves, it is useful as a background plant under oaks or other trees. The fruit is a dark purple oval berry.

Red Flowering Currant will grow in rocky and acidic soil and prefers good drainage. Near the coast it is flexible as to water and exposure. Inland it prefers more water and shade.

Hummingbirds love the flowers and the plant hosts several butterfly species. Birds love the seeds.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection from the pacific Northwest.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Fuchsia flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum) is a deciduous shrub in the Gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). It has small, dark green, glossy leaves and thorns along the branches. The beautiful fuchsia-red flowers hang down in abundance from the branches throughout the bush. The tube-shaped flowers with their protruding stamens and stigmas look a little like red-dressed ballerinas dancing in a line.

The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. Birds and other small mammals enjoy eating the berries. The numerous thorns make it unpalatable for deer. Fuchsia flowered gooseberries naturally grow in Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, and shady Woodlands. It prefers growing in the shade of oaks or larger shrubs, in seasonally moist locations. In the garden, plant it behind evergreen perennials or low shrubs, to hide the bare stems in summer. Site it away from walkways to avoid getting scratched by the thorns. The long-blooming, spectacular flowers make this shrub worth the months of bare stems and thorns. 

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Ribes velutinum is a species of currant known by the common name desert gooseberry. It is native to the western United States (Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, California, and Arizona), where it grows in many types of habitat, including sagebrush, woodlands, and pine forests. Ribes velutinum var. goodingii (Gooding's gooseberry) is confined to the states of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California. Ribes velutinum is a spreading shrub with a thick, arching, multibranched stem growing up to 2 meters (80 inches) long. Nodes along the stems are armed with spines which may reach 2 centimeters (0. 8 inch) in length. These are spines, not prickles, as they are derived from leaf material rather than from the plant epidermis (skin). The thick, leathery leaves have generally rounded blades divided shallowly into three or five lobes and dotted with glandular hairs. The small blades are borne on petioles. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or raceme of up to four flowers. Each small flower is a tube of white or yellowish sepals with smaller, similarly colored petals inside. The fruit is an edible berry one half to one centimeter (0. 2-0. 4 inch) wide which ripens yellow, then reddish or purple.

Rigiopappus is a genus of North American plants in the aster tribe within the sunflower family. It is closely related to genus Pentachaeta. The only known species is Rigiopappus leptocladus, sometimes known as wireweed. It is an annual plant sending up slender stems terminating in small daisylike yellow flowers. It is native to the western United States (California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho).

New Mexican Locust (or New Mexico, Southwest, Desert, Pink, or Rose Locust), Robinia neomexicana, is a shrub or small tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to the southwestern United States (southeastern California and southernmost Utah east through Arizona and New Mexico to west Texas) and adjoining northern Mexico. In California it is uncommon below 1500 meter (5000 feet) in canyons in pinyon-juniper country. Farther east, it is typically found between 1200 and 2600 meters (4000 and 8500 feet) along streams, in the bottoms of valleys, and on the sides of canyons. It grows to 5-10 meter tall (rarely to 15 meter) with bristly shoots. The leaves are 10-15 centimeter long, pinnate with 7-15 leaflets; they have a pair of sharp, reddish-brown thorns at the base. The flowers are showy and white or pink, produced in spring or early summer in dense racemes 5-10 centimeter long that hang from the branches near the ends. The fruits are brown bean-like pods with bristles like those on the shoots.

Rorippa curvisiliqua is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name curvepod yellowcress. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Wyoming, where it can be found in various types of moist and wet habitat, including lakeshores and riverbanks, meadows, roadsides, and mudflats. Rorippa curvisiliqua is an annual or biennial herb which can be quite variable in appearance. It produces prostrate to erect stems up to half a meter long. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and have blades which may be smooth-edged or divided into lobes of varying shapes. The inflorescence is an elongated raceme occupying the top portion of the stem containing many tiny yellow flowers just a few millimeters long. The fruit is a silique which is variable in size and shape but generally contains many minute seeds. This species has been divided into a number of varieties, but some authorities doubt that this division is valid or useful.

Rorippa palustris is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family. It is widespread and native to parts of Africa, and much of Asia, Europe and Eurasia, North America and the Caribbean. It can also be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species and a common weed, for example, in Australia and South America. It is an adaptable plant which grows in many types of damp, wet, and aquatic habitat. It may be an annual, biennial, or perennial plant, and is variable in appearance as well. It produces an erect stem, sometimes with branches, attaining a maximum height of just over one meter. The leaves are up to 30 centimeters long and have toothed to deeply lobed edges. The inflorescence is a raceme of mustardlike flowers with spoon-shaped yellow petals each a few millimeters in length. The fruit is a dehiscent and smoothly valved silicle, up to a centimeter long, and containing anywhere from 20 to 90 minute seeds. Rorippa palustris is native to, or naturalized across much of the globe.

With charming open-faced blooms in shades of pink that range from near-white to magenta, the California Wildrose (Rosa californica), a native rose species, adds beauty to any garden or landscape. Its fragrant flowers bloom abundantly through spring and summer. The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. In fall, it produces deep red rose hips that provide food for birds.

California Wildrose is easy to grow. It can tolerate low-water conditions but benefits from supplemental irrigation, especially during summer. It grows in different soil types, although it does best in moist, loamy soil. This shrub can form large thickets, making it a good choice for barrier planting. Pruning is not necessary when it has room to grow. Otherwise, light shaping keeps it from overgrowing small spaces.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection introduced by suncrest Nurseries.

Also known as the baldhip or dwarf rose, the wood rose is a woodland shrub that grows best in shady or sun-dappled areas. Delicate, fragrant blooms in shades of pink and lavender are flat and open-faced. The stems are covered in long, straight spines and vibrant green leaves.

The flowers attract butterflies and bees. After blooming, the hips are a food source for birds. The wood rose is a good plant selection for a waterwise dry shade garden. It is drought tolerant and has low water requirements.

Woods' Rose (Rosa woodsii) is a native shrub that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in mountainous areas including the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges. It is fast growing and long-lived, grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are pink, striking and very fragrant, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 3500-11500 feet. It has straight sharp thorns.

Woods' Rose needs moisture, but once established can be watered once a month in the summer. It tolerates clay but does best in moist loamy soil. Because of the spines and its tendency to sprawl, it can be pruned annually in winter.

Birds are attracted to the fruits, and Woods? Rose hosts a number of butterflies & moths, a likely total of 58.

Woods' Rose (Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 3500-11500 feet.

Woods' Rose (Rosa woodsii var. glabrata) is a native shrub that grows in southern California. It tends to grow at elevations from 3500-11500 feet.

Tehachapi Rose (Rosa woodsii var. gratissima) is a native shrub that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 3500-11500 feet.

Rotala ramosior is a species of flowering plant in the loosestrife family known by the common name lowland rotala. This aquatic or semiaquatic plant is native to North America, where it grows in lakes, streams, and irrigation ditches. The branching stems of the plant grow to about 40 cm long. Leaves are decussate, arranged oppositely in perpendicular pairs along the stems. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped to oval and up to 5 cm long. Flowers occur singly in leaf axils. Each has triangular sepals with long, narrow appendages and usually four tiny white petals in shades of pink to white. This plant is sometimes grown in aquaria.

California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), also known as Pacific Blackberry, is a valuable wildlife plant. The fruit is a favorite of many species of birds and mammals, including black bear. (Ursinus is Latin for bear.) The sweet berries are also edible to humans, although they should be picked with care, as the stems are very prickly. The berries can be eaten raw or cooked. The spreading habit of this shrub provides cover for a wide variety of birds and small mammals. In the wild, deer, rabbits, and other animals eat new shoots and foliage.

California Blackberry is easy to grow in the garden. It tolerates a range of soil types and sun exposures, including shady sites under trees and tall shrubs. It can grow in nutrient-poor soil but does require a moderate to high amount of water to thrive, especially in summer. This shrub can spread up to 6 ft in width, making it a useful groundcover plant. As with harvesting fruit, care should be taken when weeding and pruning. For safety, it's best to plant California Blackberry away from walkways and other high-traffic areas.

Rumex salicifolius is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common names willow dock and willow-leaved dock. It is native to much of western North America and it can be found in parts of Europe as an introduced species and a roadside weed. It is an extremely variable plant which is generally divided into many varieties, some of which may actually be specimens of other species. In general, it is a perennial herb producing a slender stem which is prostrate and spreading or erect, growing up to about 90 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves are up to about 13 centimeters long and can be most any shape. The inflorescence is an interrupted series of clusters of flowers, with up to 20 in each cluster, each flower hanging from a pedicel. The flower has usually six tepals, the inner three of which are largest and usually have central tubercles. The Zuni people use the mexicanus variety medicinally. A strong infusion of the root is made and given to women by their husbands to help them to become pregnant. The ground root, or an infusion of it, is taken also for sore throat, especially by sword swallowers.

Rupertia physodes is a species of legume known by the common names California tea and forest scurfpea. It is native to western North America. It is a small perennial bush with deep, woody roots. It bears dull green hairy, slightly hairy, tea-shaped leaves, bunches of light yellow tubular pea flowers, and tiny hairy orange pods containing reddish seeds.

Sabulina douglasii is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name Douglas' stitchwort. It is native to the chaparral and oak woodlands in much of California, southern Oregon, and parts of Arizona. It is an annual herb growing to a maximum height of 30 centimeters with a slender green or purplish stem which sometimes has thin branches. The threadlike, curling leaves may be up to 4 centimeters long but are under a millimeter wide. The small flower has five white petals each a few millimeters long and smaller, ribbed sepals.

Salix breweri is a species of willow known by the common name Brewer's willow. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in the serpentine soils of the Coast Ranges in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a riparian shrub growing one to four meters in height. The yellowish or reddish brown stems are lightly hairy in texture, the small twigs coated in velvety fibers. The leaves are generally lance-shaped, smooth-edged or gently toothed, and partially rolled under along the edges. The leaves are hairy, with the lower surfaces often quite woolly. Mature leaves may be 14 centimeters long or more. The inflorescence is a catkin which develops before the plant produces leaves. The catkins are up to 5 or 6 centimeters long, the female ones lengthening further as the fruits develop.

Salix exigua (Sandbar Willow) is a deciduous shrub reaching 13 to 23 feet in height. The leaves are narrow, green, to grayish with silky white hairs when young. The flowers emerge as yellow or white catkins in late spring, after the leaves appear. The fruit is a cluster of capsules, each containing numerous minute seeds embedded in shiny white silk.

Like most willows, Sandbar Willow it is moisture-loving. It will tolerate a variety of soils and poor drainage. It grows in full sun and spreads by shoots to form dense colonies so it will eventually spread to occupy any wet soil that it can reach. Use with other wetland trees, shrubs and grasses.

It is host to a wide variety of pollinators, including butterflies, moths, and some gall-forming wasps. Some birds, such as the Least Bell's Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, prefer to nest in large, dense willow thickets.

Salix exigua var. exigua is a native tree or shrub that grows in northern California.

Sandbar Willow (Salix hindsiana) is a native tree or shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-5500 feet.

Goodding's Black Willow (Salix gooddingii) is a common native tree that grows throughout the state in wetland areas. It has a moderate growth rate and is moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 15-40 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the early spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in streamsides, at elevations from sea level to 2,000 feet. It performs in a wide variety of locations, from the south coast to the central valley and perennial streams in desert areas. It tolerates some alkalinity and salinity as well as generally poor water quality. Due to its size and water requirements, this is not a common garden tree but is useful in restoration projects, bioswales, and other constructed wetlands. Like other willows it is an important wildlife plant.

Red willow (Salix laevigata) is a fast-growing native tree commonly found along creeks and wetlands throughout California, from sea level to 5,000 feet. It thrives in consistently moist areas and is often used for erosion control, restoration projects, and bioswales.

This mostly deciduous tree has flexible reddish twigs, shiny green leaves with pale undersides, and yellow catkins in spring. Female trees produce cottony seeds that are dispersed by wind. Its variable form includes multiple twisting trunks that often sprawl along creek beds before growing upright.

Red willow is an important habitat tree, providing food for butterflies like the Western tiger swallowtail, mourning cloak, Lorquin’s admiral, and hairstreaks. While not typically used in residential gardens, it is an excellent choice for wetland landscapes

Salix lasiandra is a native willow tree that grows in virtually every county of the state in wetland-riparian areas. It is a suckering willow that will extend its roots and spread into any area that has sufficient moisture. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of Salix lucida, and some sources may still refer to it by that name. There are two recognized Varieties: Var. lasiandra is widespread. Var. caudata (Shining Willow) is less common and restricted to the Sierras and northward. Like all willows, this species prefers alluvial soils with plenty of water. It is not often seen in residential gardens but is useful in restoration projects, bioswales, and other consistently wet areas.

Yellow Willow (Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra) is a native tree that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is fast growing and short-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 53 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from 0-8000 feet.