Lupinus truncatus is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family known by the common name Collared Annual Lupine. It is native to the coastal mountain ranges and canyons of Baja California and California as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area. It grows in slope habitat such as chaparral and woodland, including areas that have recently burned. This is an annual herb growing no more than half a meter tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 8 narrow linear leaflets measuring 2 to 4 centimeters in length and just a few millimeters wide. The leaflets usually have truncate tips, or tips that appear sharply cut off and squared, the characteristic that gives the plant its species name. The flower cluster is a raceme of widely-spaced flowers each roughly a centimeter long. The flower is magenta or reddish purple in color with a yellowish or magenta patch on its banner. The fruit is a hairy legume pod about 3 centimeters long and half a centimeter wide.

Lycium californicum is a sprawling shrub in the Solanaceae (Nightshade) family known by the common names California boxthorn and California desert-thorn. This plant is native to the coast of southern California, including the Channel Islands, from Los Angeles County into northern Baja California, as well as nearby Arizona. This slightly thorny shrub has thick, fleshy, bulbous green leaves and bell-shaped white flowers with purple streaks or spots. It bears bright red shiny berries 3 to 6 millimeters in diameter which are edible and taste like tomatoes. There are numerous relatives in the Lycium genus that are primarily desert plants, but this species is strictly coastal. In the wild it goes completely leafless in summer and appears dead. However, it responds very rapidly to rain and will even leaf out in response to a summer shower. If given continuous garden water it can remain evergreen.

Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus) is a native tree that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Channel Islands region. It tends to grow in rocky slopes, at elevations from 100-1600 feet. Lyonothamnus is endemic to the Channel Islands of California, where it grows in the chaparral and oak woodlands of the rocky coastal canyons.

This is a tree growing up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall with peeling reddish gray or brown bark. The evergreen leaves are shiny, dark green with lighter undersides, and borne on short petioles. The two subspecies have leaves of different leaf shapes. Ssp. asplenifolius (Santa Cruz Island Ironwood) has incised, fern-like leaves and is the more commonly available in horticultural form. Ssp. floribundus (Catalina Island Ironwood) has smooth, undivided leaves and is seldom seen in gardens. The inflorescence of both is a cluster of woolly white flowers with many short, whiskery stamens. The fruit is a pair of hard follicles.

Santa Cruz Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius) is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to the Channel Islands, growing on rocky slopes in chaparral and oak woodlands at elevations from 100-1600 feet. It is known for its attractive, peeling reddish-gray bark and shiny, dark green leaves with lighter undersides. The leaves of this subspecies are fern-like, incised, and distinctive compared to the smooth, undivided leaves of the Catalina Island ironwood (L.f. ssp. floribundus), which is rarely seen in horticulture.

In summer, this tree produces clusters of woolly white flowers, which turn orange-rust as they age, providing year-round visual interest. Santa Cruz Island ironwood is commonly found in native plant nurseries and is often used as a specimen or feature tree in gardens.

The tree's wildlife value is significant, as it attracts a range of pollinators with its showy flowers. Birds are also known to be attracted to the hard, follicle-shaped fruits. This ironwood is well-suited for Mediterranean-style landscapes, providing shelter and food for various species.

The cheerful yellow and red flowers of the Spring Madia brighten up the landscape and attract bees and butterflies to the garden. Birds enjoy the seeds after blooming. Spring Madia is an annual wildflower in the sunflower family. This plant is also known as tarweed because of its scent, which is pleasant and reminiscent of pineapple.

The flowers bloom from summer to fall. They look their best in the morning and curl up in the afternoon. Spring Madia does well in open, sunny places. It is an easy-to-grow, low-moisture plant that adapts to different soil types.

Malacothamnus densiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name few-rayed bushmallow. It is native to the Peninsular Ranges of southern California and northern Baja California, where it is a member of the chaparral plant community. This is a shrub with a slender, multibranched stem approaching two meters in maximum height. It is coated in thin to dense yellowish or tan hairs. The thick to leathery leaves are oval in shape, a few centimeters long, and sometimes divided into lobes. The flower cluster is a spikelike cluster of many pale pink flowers with oval or somewhat triangular petals each up to a centimeter long. Flowers appears in abundance in the spring and early summer.



The plant is tough and easy to grow, and extremely drought tolerant. It can handle most soil types as long as they are well draining. In nature it seems to grow best on dry gentle slopes. Avoid summer significant amounts of direct summer water, though it can tolerate a light sprinkling once a month. Does well in full sun or part shade.

Chaparral Mallow is an attractive evergreen shrub with pale pink flowers that grow on branching, elongated clusters. In full bloom, one plant can have thousands of flowers. It is attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other small birds.

This plant has a fast growth rate and can reach up to 16 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It is a good choice for bank stabilization and erosion control in larger spaces. In smaller gardens, pruning can help keep it under control.

Malacothamnus fremontii is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name unfurled bushmallow (after its flowers that dry unfurled). Malacothamnus fremontii is endemic to northern and central California. It is found growing in chaparral and woodlands in several mountain ranges and their foothills. Two varieties are currently recognized, Ml fremontii var. fremontii and M. fremontii var. exfibulosus (formerly Malacothamnus helleri). Malacothamnus fremontii is a stiff, erect shrub with a branching stem reaching 0. 5-2 metres (1. 6-6. 6 ft) in height. It is coated densely in white fibers, appearing feltlike. The hairy oval or rounded lobed leaves are several centimeters long. The inflorescence is an elongated cluster of many pale purple flowers with hairy petals each up to a centimeter long.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Malacothamnus jonesii is a rare species of flowering plant in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family known by the common name Jones' Bushmallow. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodland of the Coast Ranges in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties where it has three recognized varieties: M. jonesii var. jonesii, M. jonesii var gracilis (formerly M. gracilis), and M. jonesii var. niveus (formerly M. niveus). This is an erect shrub with a slender branching stem reaching two meters or more in height. It is coated densely in velvety white hairs, appearing feltlike. The thin, gray-green leaves are several centimeters long. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of a few pale pink flowers with narrow petals each under a centimeter long.

Malacothamnus lucanus is a species of flowering plant in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family known by the common names Santa Lucia bushmallow and Arroyo Seco bushmallow. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodland of the Central Coast and adjacent Coast Ranges of Monterey County.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selection of Malacothamnus lucianus from the Santa Lucia Mountains introduced by suncrest Nurseries. Formerly Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus.

Tolerates almost any soil type. A selection introduced by suncrest Nurseries.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Hybrid between Malva pacifica (Lavatera venosa - from Baja CA) and Malva (Lavatera) assurgentiflora.

Tolerates almost any soil type. May be a cultivar of Malva (Lavatera) assurgentiflora.

Hybrid of Malva venetus and Malva assurgentiflora. Tolerates almost any soil type. Hybrid of Malva (Lavatera) venosa & Malva (Lavatera) assurgentifolia
Introduced by Tree of Life.

Malva rosa (Lavatera assurgentiflora) is a mallow with showy flowers that look like small hibiscus flowers. They bloom much of the year. Each flower has five dark-veined deep pink petals.  It is a perennial or shrub in the mallow family, native primarily to the Channel Islands. 

Malva rosa attracts many species of butterfly.

This plant can handle summer irrigation, up to every other week, as long as the soil is well drained. You should prune branches back annually to maintain a compact form.  

Melica californica, known by the common name California Melicgrass, is a species in the Poaceae (Grass) family. It is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitats, from mountain forests to open grassland at sea level. In California it is found primarily in the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills.

California Melicgrass is a perennial grass, generally with rhizomes, producing a dense cluster of stems up to about 4 ft. (1.3 meters) in maximum height. The flower cluster is a narrow series of purple-banded green spikelets. The flower clusters are attractive even after this grass has gone dormant in late summer or fall. In cultivation it performs best in part shade with low to moderate water.

Melica imperfecta is a species in the Poaceae (Grass) family known by the common names California Melic, Small Flower Melic and Little California Melic. It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California, where it grows in chaparral, woodlands, and other dry areas. In California it is found primarily in the central and southern portions of the state, along the coast, in the coastal mountain ranges, and in the foothills of the Sierras. It is a perennial bunchgrass growing up to 1.2 meters in maximum height. The flower cluster is a narrow or spreading series of attractive spikelets which are green in color with areas of purple. With supplemental water it will remain evergreen; otherwise it is summer dormant. It greens up early with fall/winter rain.

Melica torreyana is a species of grass known by the common name Torrey's Melicgrass. There are numerous species in the genus Melica that are native to different parts of the state. This species is endemic to California, where it grows in chaparral, grassland, and other hillside and mountain habitats in the central Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills. It is a perennial grass with dense clumps of stems up to a meter long but often less. The flower cluster is a narrow panicle of small spikelets each under a centimeter long. It does not have a rhizome, and propagation is by seeds, which resemble grains of rice. Near the coast it can tolerate full sun, inland it needs part shade. In the fog belt or with supplemental water it will stay evergeen. It is tolerant of both poor soil and garden conditions, making it useful for gardens in the central part of the state. For other regions, see other species of Melica.

Mentzelia lindleyi, (Lindley's blazingstar, Evening Star, or Blazing Star) is an annual wildflower in the Loasaceae family. This family is comprised mainly of tropical species with only a few genera in California. Mentzelia lindleyi is found in the coast ranges of California and scattered locations elsewhere including Arizona, at elevations below 4,000 ft. It is a plant 1-2 feet tall with large, bright 5-petal flowers that resemble Dogwood or Flannelbush, although both are in different families. Flowers are up to 3 in. in diameter and contain numerous stamen. Individual plants can produce many flowers which open in the afternoon. It develops a taproot but is said to do well in containers.

Desert wishbone bush (Mirabilis laevis) is a low-growing, drought-tolerant shrub in the Four O'Clock family (Nyctaginaceae). This species, recently redefined, now includes several varieties previously classified as separate species, such as the well-known California chaparral plant Mirabilis californica. There are currently five recognized varieties, all found in the southern half of California.

This trailing shrub reaches about one foot in height and spreads up to eight feet wide, making it an excellent choice for ground cover in native gardens. Its bright pink to magenta flowers bloom in spring, opening in the morning and afternoon before closing during the heat of the day. After flowering, the plant enters summer dormancy, losing its leaves until cooler weather returns.

Desert wishbone bush thrives in full to part sun and well-draining soils. It is highly drought-tolerant and grows quickly once established. The plant also supports biodiversity, hosting up to seven species of butterflies and moths, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly landscapes.

California Four O'Clock (Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia) is a common native perennial herb that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Central Coast, the South Coast Range and South Coast regions. It tends to grow in grassy places, at elevations from 0-3300 feet. The plant form is dense and mounding, producing a large number of small brightly colored flowers ranging from pink to purple. The plant sometimes goes deciduous in the summer, leaving only winding white twigs until the next rainy season. It may retain some foliage in shady locations and with occasional summer water. It is sometimes difficult to establish, but once established it require little or no attention. It spreads by runners and readily reseeds in native plant gardens.

Monardella linoides is a species of flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) known by the common names flaxleaf monardella and narrow leaf monardella. It is native to southern California and adjacent sections of Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California, where it grows in many types of habitat from desert flats to subalpine forests. It is a gray-green perennial herb producing a slender erect stem up to about 50 centimeters in maximum height. The linear to oval leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long and coated in grayish hairs. The flower cluster is a head of several flowers blooming in a cup of pale whitish or pink-tinged papery leafs 2 or 3 centimeters wide. The flowers are just over a centimeter long and light purple in color. There are several subspecies of this plant. One closely related separate species called Monardella viminea (willowy monardella), is a rare plant limited to northern Baja California and parts of San Diego, California. It is treated as a federally listed endangered species in the United States. All are low growing, highly aromatic herbs that like afternoon shade, look great in a rock garden and also do well in containers.

Monardella macrantha is a species of flowering plant in the Laminaceae (Mint) family known by the common name Red Monardella. It is native to coastal mountain ranges of southern California and Baja California, at elevations from 2,000 ft. to over 7,500 ft. It grows in several habitat types, including chaparral, woodland, and forest. It is a perennial herb forming a low tuft of slender stems lined with thick, shiny green leaves up to 3 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a head of several tubular flowers blooming in a cup of red-tinged green leaves up to 4 centimeters wide. The clustered flowers are bright red to yellowish in color, sometimes exceeding 4 centimeters in length with narrow lobed mouths. It has a reputation for being somewhat difficult to get established and short-lived, but the showy flowers and fragrance make it worth the effort.

Coyote Mint is a spreading subshrub distinguished by its fragrant mint-scented foliage and delicate lavender flowers. During the summer blooming season, the flowers are attractive to bees and especially butterflies. The 'Russian River' cultivar is a popular nursery selection.

Coyote mint does best in well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant, but bloom and foliage quality improve with some summer irrigation, particularly inland. Light pruning helps maintain a neat appearance.

In traditional medicine, the leaves are made into a tea that treats upset stomach and other ailments.

Monardella antonina is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name San Antonio Hills monardella. It is endemic to California, where its two subspecies are restricted to narrow sections of the Central Coast Ranges. The distribution of ssp. antonina is unclear, but it is mainly found in chaparral and wooded slopes in Monterey County. The rarer ssp. benitensis, the San Benito monardella, is a serpentine soils endemic which is mainly limited to the barren hills near the ghost town of New Idria in San Benito County. This is a pale green, rhizomatous, hairy perennial herb coated in whitish hairs. The oppositely arranged leaves are oval in shape and generally toothed. The flower cluster is a head of several flowers up to 1.5 centimeters wide with a base of leaflike leafs. Each flower is lavender in color. It has two long upper lobes and three lower with four long, protruding stamens at the center.

Monolopia lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name common monolopia. It is endemic to the southern half of California, where it grows in many types of habitat, including coastal and valley grassland, chaparral, woodland, and desert. It is an annual herb producing a slender, sometimes branching stem up to about 80 centimeters tall. It is usually somewhat woolly in texture. The flower clusters at the ends of stem branches bear small hemispheric flower heads. The golden ray florets are 1 to 2 centimeters long and have three-lobed tips. They surround a center of many disc florets. The fruit is a rough-haired achene 2 to 4 millimeters long.

California wax myrtle (Morella californica) is a moderately fast growing and long-lived shrub or tree.It grows in an upright form, with active growth during the spring and summer. The shiny dark-green leaves remain on the plant throughout the year, making it an attractive garden planting. The flowers are yellow and bloom in the early summer.

This plant does well in coastal gardens and also inland if given slightly more moisture and afternoon shade.  In general, California wax myrtle is a low water plant and should be watered a maximum of once a week in summer  once established. It tolerates a variety of soils and may be sheared to form a hedge or to create a more formal appearance.

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

This native bunchgrass, Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a popular plant choice for groundcover and lawn replacement applications. It's an attractive, low-water grass that's very easy to grow. Deergrass does best in sandy soil and full sun, but it is versatile enough to tolerate shade and a variety of soil types.

The leaf blades are pale green, and in spring the plant produces tall spikes of yellow flowers. The seeds provide food for birds in summer. Plant this large mounding grass in groups for an impressive display.

Navarretia pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name downy pincushionplant. It is native to southern Oregon and to the central mountain ranges of California, where it can be found in open mountainous habitat. It is a hairy, hairy annual herb producing a reddish or brownish stem up to about 33 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves are divided into many linear or needlelike lobes, sometimes clustered. The upper leaves are hairy, the lower generally hairless. The flower cluster is a cluster of many flowers surrounded by leaflike leafs and coated with downy or hairy hairs. Each flower is just over a centimeter long and blue in color with a purplish throat.

Named for the five purple spots that adorn each flower petal tip, Fivespot (Nemophila maculata) is a cute and cheerful annual that's native to California's Sierra foothills. Fivespot is a member of the Borage family. It is related to Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), another popular native annual. But it is not related to Desert Fivespot (Eremalche rotundifolia).

Fivespot's appealing white and purple flowers bloom in early spring and attract bees, butterflies, and other insects. Fivespot is a low, compact plant, making it a good choice for containers and small beds. It likes sun or partial shade and does best in loose, nutrient-rich garden soil. Since it is native to cooler regions of California, it tolerates cold temperatures but needs afternoon shade and supplemental moisture in hot, dry climates. Fivespot seeds are often included in wildflower seed mixes and the plant will self-sow in the garden.

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), a common annual of California, Oregon, and Baja California, is a popular garden plant. It is a spring-blooming wildflower that gets its name from the bright blue flowers of two of the three varieties that are recognized. One variety, var. atomaria, is found in the north coast and has almost pure white flowers.

It can occasionally be found outside its native range as an introduced species, in Alaska, for example. Baby Blue Eyes grows virtually throughout California at heights from sea level up to almost 6500 feet in many types of habitat. It is easy to grow from seed along with other annuals in a wildflower meadow or in openings between trees and shrubs.

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.

Hooker's evening primrose (Oenothera elata) is a perennial that blooms copiously and is very showy, with large flowers that vary in color from yellow to orange.  As with other "evening" primroses, the flowers close up during mid-day. The flower stalks arch up 3 to 5 feet high from a basal rosette of leaves and flowers bloom in the spring and summer of the plant’s second year.  The leaf base is usually 1 to 3 feet wide. There are two recognized subspecies, ssp. hookeri and ssp. hirsutissima.

Although this plant is typically found in moist areas in the wild, it  is also surprisingly drought tolerant, tough and easy to grow in the garden. Give it full sun or part shade and well-draining soil of any kind. It tolerates virtually any soil.  It develops a stout taproot and woody stems with age but can be pruned radically in winter to control ranginess and recovers quickly. It is a prolific seeder, and gardeners will need to be prepared to pull up numerous seedlings from areas where it is not wanted. 

A number of insects use this plant, particularly the large Sphinx moths. It hosts a likely total of 15 species of butterfly and moth. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers, and smaller birds such as Goldfinches are attracted to the seeds in fall.

Hooker's Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri) is a native perennial herb in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) family that grows primarily along the coast between San Francisco and San Diego and northern Baja. It is fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 5 feet, with active growth during the summer. Flowers are yellow and striking, and bloom in the late summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. Its form may be either upright or sprawling. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from sea level to 7,000 feet where it is a pioneer species. However, it is also somewhat drought-tolerant in garden situations. In the wild it is usually crowded out over time by more woody trees or shrubs. It spreads by prolific seed production, which also makes it attractive to many seed-eating birds.

Ornithostaphylos is a monotypic plant genus which contains the single species Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia, the Baja birdbush or Baja California birdbush. It is a member of the Heath family (Ericaceae), and it shares many characteristics with other members of this family such as the manzanitas and summer holly. This is a very rare shrub native to only one population very near the border in coastal San Diego County, where it is threatened by border enforcement activities. It is reportedly more common in northern Baja California but also threatened by expanding urbanization there. It is considered rare due to these threats and its extremely limited distribution. Where it exists in the wild, it is found in chaparral below 4,000 ft. However, it has been in garden cultivation since the 1960's. This bush has long, narrow, leathery evergreen leaves with edges rolled under. The bark on the branches is thin and the younger branches and twigs are reddish in color. Older plants develop a basal burl from which it will resprout after fire or branch dieback. Although it is very drought tolerant, it does well with some summer water. The bush bears rounded, lantern-shaped white flowers on drooping pedicels. Though not widely available, it is a beautiful plant that should be used more often.

Sorrel or Oregon Oxalis (Oxalis oregana) is a species of the wood sorrel family, Oxalidaceae, native to moist coastal Douglas-fir and redwood forests of western North America from southwestern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. This area receives considerable summer moisture from fog drip. It is a short herbaceous perennial plant with erect flowering stems 5-15 centimeter tall. The three leaflets are heart-shaped, 1-4.5 centimeter long with purplish undersides, on 5-20 centimeter stalks. The leaflets prefer to be in shade and will fold up when exposed to sun. The flower cluster is 2.4-4 centimeter in diameter, white to pink with five petals and sepals. The hairy five-chambered seed capsules are egg-shaped, 7-9 millimeter long; seeds are almond shaped. This plant will spread into any area where there is moisture and some shade, but it is fairly easy to control because it is shallowly rooted.

Grows best in loamy, medium draining soil. Prefers shade in coastal sites, and shade in inland sites. Selection of from the Klamath Mountains of southwest Oregon.

Paeonia californica (California Peony or Wild Peony) is one of two species of Peony native to North America. It is endemic to southwest California, United States, where it grows on dry hillsides in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities of the coastal mountains of Southern and Central California, on the coastal slope of the mountains, from Monterey County southward. It is often seen as an understory plant among chaparral shrubs. Some authorities consider it a subspecies of Paeonia brownii which is found in the northern Sierra and Klamath mountains. It is not a rare species in the wild, but uncommon in gardens because it is very particular about conditions. It needs a dry summer dormancy, and normal garden watering will kill it.

Windpoppy is a genus of annual plant in the family Papaveraceae. It was formerly included in the monotypic genus, Stylomecon heterophylla, but it has been reclassified to the Papaver genus which includes a few other poppies native to California and north western Mexico. It's flowers are distinctly different from California Poppy. The petals of Windpoppy are more crinkly and bright red-orange with dark centers. In the wild it is found in foothill area of the Sierras and Coast Ranges from the Bay area to San Diego. It makes a nice oak understory planting.

Pedicularis densiflora, known commonly as Warrior's Plume, is a plant of the lousewort genus in the broomrape family. It is a perennial herb with stout, green or sometimes reddish or magenta stems and fern-shaped leaves, and long spikes of deep red to bright pink flowers with toothed petals. Like others of its genus, it is a root parasite, attaching to the roots of other plants to obtain nutrients and water. This species is a facultative parasite, or hemiparasite, in that it can live without attaching to another plant but will parasitize if presented with the opportunity. It often parasitizes plants of the heath family, such as manzanita. Warrior's Plume is native to California and Oregon in western North America and is found in forests and woodlands at low elevation.

Scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) is a striking perennial herb in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae), known for its bright red to orange-red tubular flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds. Native to California, it grows widely across northern, southern, and central regions.

This drought-adapted plant thrives in rocky, well-drained soils, making it a perfect addition to rock gardens, slopes, and pathways. It requires little supplemental water once established and blooms profusely in the spring. The upright, slender stems can reach over a meter in height, with thick, smooth leaves arranged in pairs along the stem.

Beyond hummingbirds, scarlet bugler also attracts bees and butterflies, contributing to a vibrant and pollinator-friendly garden. Its vivid flowers and minimal water needs make it an excellent choice for low-maintenance native plant landscapes.

Foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus) is a stunning perennial with profuse clusters of blue to magenta tubular flowers. Foothill penstemon can be found in all major coastal mountain ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. It occurs in many local habitat types from grassland to chaparral to forests.

Foothill penstemon is a wonderful addition to front of borders. Blooming begins in May and continues for a month or two. Taking off dead flower stalks will induce more flowering. The plant’s stems can exceed 3 feet and may become woody at the base. Several cultivars have been developed for use in summer-dry climate and other low-water-use gardens, including 'Electric Blue,' 'Margarita BOP,' and 'Blue Springs' which may grow only 12 to 18 inches tall. 

This is a fast-growing, easy and hardy flowering plant that requires moderate water and sun to light shade. It is adaptable to different types of soil so long as drainage is good.  

Margarita BOP Penstemon is a low-growing, evergreen perennial prized for its long-lasting, vibrant blue-to-rose-purple flowers. Thought to be a hybrid of Penstemon heterophyllus and Penstemon laetus, its name comes from where it thrived with little care—“Bottom of the Porch.”

This adaptable plant flourishes in various garden settings, from borders to rock gardens and slopes. It is drought-adapted once established and benefits from cutting back spent flower spikes to encourage reblooming. A magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, margarita BOP penstemon is an excellent choice for pollinator-friendly landscapes.

Penstemon laetus is a species of penstemon in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known by the common names Gay Penstemon and Mountain Blue Penstemon. It is native to the inland mountains of Oregon and California, where its distribution extends from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the Transverse Ranges. It is found at elevations from 750 ft. to over 8,000 ft. where grows in forest, scrub, and other mountain habitats. It is a perennial herb growing erect to about 75 centimeters tall, its base becoming woody. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters long. The hairy flower cluster bears blue or purple flowers up to 3.5 centimeters long. The wide-mouthed tubular or funnel-shaped flower is hairy on the outer surface and mostly hairless on the inside. There are two recognized varieties in California, all commonly known as Mountain Blue Penstemon.

Penstemon procerus is a species of penstemon known by the common name littleflower penstemon. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, as far east in Canada as Manitoba, where it grows in mountain habitat such as meadows, often in alpine climates. It is a perennial herb forming mats of herbage with some erect stems reaching about 40 centimeters in maximum height. There are several varieties which vary in morphology, some more decumbent than others, several which are known commonly as pincushion penstemons for their matted forms. In general, the leaves are lance-shaped to oval, plentiful around the base of the plant with smaller ones arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The flower cluster is made up of one or more clusters of tubular flowers with lipped, lobed mouths. Each flower is no more than one centimeter in length and is purple to blue in color, often with a white throat. The outside of the flower is generally hairless, while the inside may be lined with white or yellowish hairs.

Perideridia kelloggii is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Kellogg's yampah. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the north and central coasts, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in grassland habitat, sometimes on serpentine soils. It is a perennial herb which may reach 1.5 meters in maximum height, its slender, erect stem growing from a cluster of long, narrow, fibrous roots each up to 15 centimeters long. Leaves near the base of the plant have blades up to 45 centimeters wide which are divided into many leaflets subdivided into narrow, elongated lobes. The flower cluster is a compound umbel of many spherical clusters of small white flowers. These yield ribbed, oblong-shaped fruits each about half a centimeter long.

Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var. palmatus) is a native perennial herb that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from 0-1300 feet.

Phacelia bolanderi is a species of flowering plant known by several common names, including Bolander's phacelia, Bolander's scorpionweed, blue-flowered grape-leaf, and caterpillar flower. It bears attractive papery inch-wide purple, lavender, or blue flowers and strongly toothed leaves which resemble those of grape. The plant blooms later than most others, and is commonly in flower during the hottest summer months. The plant is native to Oregon and coastal northern California. It was named for the California botanist Henry Nicholas Bolander.

Desertbells (Phacelia campanularia) is an annual in the Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae). Sometimes it is listed as California bluebells; always check the botanical name because there are many species of phacelia available. Desertbells leaves are light gray-green and oval. The bell-shaped flowers are deep blue with white stamens. It blooms from February through April in the desert, providing a much-needed early food source for pollinators. In cooler regions, it blooms from spring through early summer. 

In the wild, it is endemic (limited) to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in California. As an easy-to-grow annual wildflower, however, it is commonly found in native wildflower seed mixes. 

After the rainy season begins in autumn, scatter the seeds onto sandy or rocky soil. Good drainage and full sun is best. Desertbells are beautiful growing in a patch, or mixed with California poppies, golden blazing stars, or creamcups (Platystemon californicus). Allow the flowers to produce and drop seeds for more flowers next year. 

Phacelia ciliata is a species of phacelia known by the common name Great Valley phacelia. It is native to California, where it can be found in many of the coastal mountain ranges, the Central Valley, and the Sierra Nevada foothills; its distribution extends into Baja California. It grows in grassland and low mountain slopes. It is an annual herb growing erect to a maximum height near half a meter. The branching or unbranched stem is hairy and lightly hairy. The oblong or oval leaves are up to 15 centimeters long, the larger ones divided into lobed or toothed leaflets. The flower cluster is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of many flowers. Each funnel- or bell-shaped flower has deeply veined, hair-lined sepals and a blue corolla with a pale throat.

Phacelia distans is a species in the Boraginaceae (Borage) family known by the common name distant phacelia. It is native to much of California including the coastal mountain ranges, valleys, and deserts, adjacent sections of Nevada and Arizona, and parts of northern Mexico. It grows in many types of habitats and is a common wildflower in its range. It is a variable annual herb growing decumbent to erect, its branching or unbranched stem 15 to 80 centimeters in length. It is usually coated in soft or stiff glandular hairs which some people find foul-smelling when touched. The leaves are up to 10 to 15 centimeters long and are divided into several lobed leaflets, sometimes intricately. The hairy flower cluster is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of many funnel- or bell-shaped flowers. The flower is just under a centimeter long and is usually blue but may be white or varying shades of lavender or purple. It is most often used in a wildflower garden where it is grown from seed. Under suitable conditions it will re-seed itself. As with all annuals, careful weeding is essential.


It should be noted that there are a very large number of species in the genus Phacelia. Most are annuals. Gardeners should look for species appropriate to their area and garden conditions.

Phacelia grandiflora is a species in the Boraginaceae known by the common name largeflower phacelia. It is native to the coastal hills and mountain ranges of southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and other local habitats, especially areas recently cleared by wildfire. It is an annual herb with a branching or unbranched erect stem reaching one meter in maximum height. It is hairy and coated in soft and stiff hairs. The leaves are up to 20 centimeters long with toothed, rounded or oval blades borne on long petioles. The large, hairy flower cluster is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of widely bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is 2.5-4 centimeters wide and purple to blue in color, usually with a paler throat. The seeds germinate readily and the plant requires little care. Its height and long flowering season make it a standout in the dry garden.

Phacelia imbricata is a species in the Boraginaceae (Fort-me-not) family known by the common name Imbricate Phacelia. It is native to much of California and Baja California, where it can be found in varied habitat in mountains, valleys, and coastline. It is a perennial herb growing decumbent or erect to a maximum height exceeding one meter. It is hairy and coated in stiff hairs. The leaves may be up to 15 centimeters long and are divided into several leaflets. The flower cluster is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of many bell-shaped flowers. The flower is roughly half a centimeter long and white to pale purple in color. It is almost always grown from seed. There are four recognized varieties with differing geographic ranges.

It should be noted that there are a very large number of species in the genus Phacelia. Most are annuals. Gardeners should look for species appropriate to their area and garden conditions.

Phacelia parryi is a species in the Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not) family known by the common name Parry's Phacelia. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal and inland mountain ranges and deserts. It is found in many types of local habitats, such as coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and open, recently burned slopes. It is an annual herb growing a mostly erect stem 10 to 70 centimeters long. It is hairy and coated in soft and stiff glandular hairs. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long with toothed oval blades borne on petioles. The flower cluster is a cyme of widely bell-shaped flowers each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flower is purple in color, sometimes with pale coloration in the throat, and an arrangement of five white spots. The five protruding stamens are hairy and tipped with white anthers. It is typically grown from seed with other annuals.

This species can be easily confused with Phacelia minor, and their ranges overlap, though more easily distinguished when in flower. It should be noted that there are a very large number of species in the genus Phacelia. Most are annuals. Gardeners should look for species appropriate to their area and garden conditions.

Phacelia viscida is a species in the Boraginaceae (Borage) family known by the common names Sticky Phacelia and Tacky Phacelia. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of central and southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and recently burned areas. It is an annual herb growing erect to a maximum height near 70 centimeters. It is hairy and sticky and coated in soft and stiff, glandular hairs. The leaves have toothed oval blades borne on petioles. The hairy flower cluster is a curving cyme of five-lobed flowers. Each flower is up to 2 centimeters wide and usually deep blue to lavender in color with a paler, mottled center. The five protruding stamens are tipped with white anthers. The variety albiflora has white flowers.

It should be noted that there are a very large number of species in the genus Phacelia. Most are annuals. Gardeners should look for species appropriate to their area and garden conditions.

Mock orange (Philadephus lewisii) is a deciduous shrub covered in a mass of white blossoms at the height of flowering, in spring to summer. Mock orange is widespread but not common, usually appearing as an individual plant in a mix of other species. 

The shrub sends out long stems, which are red when new and fade to gray with age. Its leaves are light green in color with a rough texture, generally turning a lovely yellow in fall.  The large flowers bloom in clusters at the ends of long stems and have a heavy, sweet scent similar to citrus blossom. They are among the most fragrant flowers of any California native plant. It is fast-growing and tolerates almost any soil type, making it a wonderful focal plant in a garden.