Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos densiflora in the foothills of the north coast mountains. Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel' is a medium manzanita that flowers heavily. It is related to Arctostaphylos Howard McMinn and offers much of the same garden tolerance as McMinn. Sentinel has grayer foliage and is taller with a more upright habit than Howard McMinn. Height at maturity six to eight feet with a spread of five feet. Sentinel will tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions including heavy, rich soils but is much happier in sandy loam or sand and is more drought tolerant than the other Arctostaphylos densiflora cultivars. 'Sentinel' is one of the best performers in beach sand, while also being known as very clay tolerant. Like most other manzanitas it does not tolerate salt spray. 'Sentinel' has red bark and seems to be one of the faster growing manzanitas growing to full size in a couple of years.

Horticultural selection A. densiflora: origin = north coast foothills; intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1962 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for use in the garden; introduced by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

A species of manzanita known by the common name Little Sur manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California where it grows on the coastal bluffs of Monterey County. This is a petite, low-lying manzanita which forms mounds and patchy mats in sandy soil. The leathery leaves are small and rounded to oval, dark green and shiny when mature and red-edged when new. The flower clusters are dense with flowers, which are small, urn-shaped to rounded, and waxy white to very pale pink. The fruit is a shiny, reddish-brown drupe between one half and one centimeter wide.

Little Sur Manzanita prefers sun with a little afternoon shade. It likes sandy soils and beach sand, and will tolerate clay and adobe. It is great for a coastal garden, but doesn't do well with direct salt spray. There are a number of available cultivars including 'Carmel Sur', 'Danville', and 'Indian Hill'.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos edmundsii. Arctstaphylos edmunsii 'Bert Johnson' originates from the Tilden Botanic Garden, and is a special selection from A. edmunsii manzanitas growing in the county of Monterey, California. A. Bert Johnson is a low growing manzanita that forms a nearly perfect mat, standing less than 1 foot high but spreading 6 feet. This manzanita makes an excellent ground cover and is equally attractive spilling over walls or boulders. Bert Johnson's cascading habit allows it to thrive on hillsides; its low branches root as they spread, helping to keep the soil in place and erosion under control. Bert Johnson manzanita is also known by the name Bronze Mat manzanita, owing to the fact that the new growth on this plant is tinged a delicate bronze color. The densely clustered leaves are small on this manzanita, and a dark gray-green color, giving the plant a sophisticated appearance reminiscent of boxwood. In late winter and spring, A. Bert Johnson is covered in pink-tinged white flowers, and is beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds. A. Bert Johnson would like full sun in coastal conditions, but might benefit from a little afternoon shade in very hot inland areas. This plant prefers well-drained soil, enjoying occasional summer watering to look its best but ultimately remaining staunchly drought tolerant. A great choice for a native groundcover. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Introduced by Tilden Botanic Garden.

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

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos edmundsii. Carmel sur manzanita is a low growing evergreen shrub, with light green leaves. Plant in part shade inland to full sun (with a little extra water) near coast. Carmel sur likes good drainage but will also survive clay. It is very garden and water tolerant as long as the water doesn't stand on it. Carmel sur grows fairly rapidly for a manzanita and the new growth is bronze. This arctostaphylos is greatly appreciated as a fast way to cover large slopes where it will stabilize soil and quickly smother the weeds.

Horticultural selection A. edmundsii: origin = central coast, Monterey Co.; intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1972 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for use in the garden. Introduced by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

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

Franciscan Manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana) is a rare native shrub. It is presumed to be native only to the immediate vicinity of San Francisco Bay and was presumed extinct for many years. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of A. hookeri and some sources still refer to it that way.

Laguna Mountain Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsi) is a native shrub that grows in Southern California, primarily in the Peninsular Range region. It tends to grow in rocky outcrops, slopes and ridges, primarily at elevations over 3000 ft. It tends to be a spreader and sprawler but can be kept neat by pruning. Its gray-green foliage contrasts nicely with red stems and white/pink flowers.

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

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos hookeri. This gorgeous evergreen manzanita is a low growing shrub with bright green leaves. It has flowers that range from a pale pink to white. It doesn't like temperature extremes but does great in inland areas in partial shade. During the warmer summer months some water is needed but it is fairly drought tolerant. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden from species found in Northern and central Central Coast, western san Francisco Bay Area.

Arctostaphylos insularis is a species of manzanita known by the common name island manzanita. It is endemic to Santa Cruz Island, one of the Channel Islands of California. It grows in chaparral and woodland. This is a large, spreading shrub ordinarily reaching over two meters tall and known to exceed five meters in height. It has waxy, reddish bark and the smaller twigs sometimes have bristly hairy hairs. The leaves are shiny green and smooth, generally oval in shape and slightly convex, and up to about 4.5 centimeters long. The shrub blooms in many dense clustered flower clusters of urn-shaped flowers. The fruit is an orange-brown drupe up to 1.5 centimeters wide. Its long bloom time makes it a good choice for the coastal southern California garden where it will get some moisture from fog drip.

Common manzanita is a beautiful shrub: its red branching structure, delicate white lantern-shaped flowers, blush-colored berries, and bright foliage provide year-round interest. Use these gorgeous plants as specimen trees and to provide structure. Their graceful, twisting branches add an unbeatable sculptural effect. With their winter blooms and summer berries, they are a pollinator and wildlife all-star, supporting local birds and insects.

Common Manzanita is easy to grow in a variety of soils. It is low moisture but can tolerate some summer water. Outside of cultivation, it is commonly found in the northern part of the state.

There are many different species, hybrids, and varieties of Manzanitas native to California. They vary in size, flower color, and more, making them an excellent option for most gardens.

Dr. Hurd manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd') is known for its beautiful dark reddish-brown bark that forms an attractive contrast with its glossy, light green foliage. It is a relatively fast growing shrub that can be pruned in late summer to achieve the desired height or spread and may become a small tree. The white flowers bloom in February to April followed by clusters of berries in fall, making it a great year-round pollinator plant. Dr. Hurd Manzanita is an evergreen, multi-branched, treelike natural-hybrid shrub with glossy, light green foliage. This manzanita can handle some summer water and a richer soil but will also grow well in clay soil, and tolerates sandy soil.

Its brown-red bark and lovely multi-branched form make this distinctive taller manzanita a prized specimen plant and focal point of the landscape in many gardens. Along the coast, Dr. Hurd manzanita prefers sun, and if planted inland, it thrives in part shade. Perfectly drought-adapted in most gardens, Dr. Hurd is one of the faster manzanitas and is a reliable shrub.

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

Arctostaphylos myrtifolia is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common name Ione Manzanita. It is a rare species, endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of California where it grows in the chaparral and woodland on a distinctive acidic soil series in western Amador and Calaveras Counties. This is a red-barked, bristly shrub reaching just over a meter in maximum height. The small bright green leaves are coated in tiny hairy hairs and are shiny but rough in texture. They are less than 2 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a raceme of urn-shaped manzanita flowers on bright red branches. The fruit is a cylindrical drupe only a few millimeters long. A major threat to this rare endemic plant is a pair of fungal diseases. A branch canker caused by species of Fusicoccum, including F. aesculi, causes some mortality, and root and crown rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi has destroyed entire stands of the manzanita and prevented its regrowth in patches of infested soil.

La Panza Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pilosula) is a rare native shrub in the Ericaceae (Heath) family that grows in the Central Coast region, primarily in San Luis Obispo County. It tends to grow in sandstone outcrops, at elevations from sea level to 1,300 feet. As with other species from this region, La Panza Manzanita is exposed to a very mild climate with some summer moisture provided by fog drip.

Arctostaphylos pumila is a species of manzanita known by the common name Sandmat Manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California where it grows on the coastline near Monterey. This is a petite, low-lying manzanita which forms flat bushes and patchy, creeping mats in sandy soil. The branch tips will take root as it spreads. The bark is reddish and tends not to shred. The leaves are small and mainly oval-shaped, dark green on the upper surface and grayish and fuzzy beneath. The flowers appear in sparse flower clusters and are white to very pale pink. The fruit is a round brownish drupe about half a centimeter wide. In the wild this plant derives a lot of moisture from fog but does not like salt spray directly on it.

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

Arctostaphylos stanfordiana is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common name Stanford's manzanita. It is endemic to California, in the outer North Coast Ranges north of the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a bushy shrub growing one half meter to two meters in height. Leaves are oblong to widely lance-shaped, shiny green, and up to 5 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of urn-shaped manzanita flowers which are pink, with some so pale that they are nearly white. The fruit is an oblong drupe about 7 millimeters wide. In the garden this Manzanita is very versatile, being tolerant of a variety of soils (including serpentine) and climates. It has especially attractive bark. Baker's Manzanita was formerly considered a subspecies of stanfordiana, and some sources may still refer to it that way; however, Arctostaphylos bakeri is now considered a separate species. Stanfordiana still has 2 recognized subspecies, decumbens and raichei, both of which are rare in the wild.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. One of the faster growing manzanitas, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Green supreme' is truly superior when it comes to dense, low, evergreen ground cover. 'Green supreme' has noticeably brighter green leaves than most manzanita, a brilliant contrast with the plant's ruddy branches and stems. With very little to no die back in the center, Green supreme's exceptionally dense foliage helps suppress weeds. This manzanita grows just 6 inches tall but can spread up to 12 feet. It does well on slopes, thriving in well-drained soil but also grows well in heavier clay soil that has reasonable drainage. 'Green supreme' enjoys full sun and is drought tolerant, but occasional watering every 4-6 weeks will keep this manzanita looking extra dapper. Green supreme is frost hardy to 15 to 20 °F. It is more reluctant to bloom than other manzanita varieties, but a scattering of white to pale pink flowers will appear in late spring to early summer. Green supreme is a garden hybrid introduced by the Tilden Botanic Garden. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A garden selection introduced by the Tilden Regional park Botanic Garden.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi from Point Reyes just north of san Francisco. 'Point Reyes' is one of the most common manzanitas in cultivaton. It has deep green shiny leaves. it makes a great groundcover and slope stabilizer. It uusally stays under 1 foot tallbut will spread to about 10-12 feet. It has proven to be very garden tolerant and has done well here in the interior heat with some regular summer water. Give this manzanita a well-draining soil for best performance, but you will find it is not fussy about what type of soil; rocky or sandy, acid soils to richer heavier soils, Point Reyes seems to grow in all these conditions.

Horticultural selection A. uva-ursi: origin = cuttings (1949)Pt. Reyeys, north coast, Marin Co.; intro Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden 1956 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A garden selection from coastal san Francisco Bay Area (point Reyes). Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Garden selection from san Bruno Mountain in san Mateo. Introduced by Ken Taylor.

Arctostaphylos viscida is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common names whiteleaf manzanita and sticky manzanita. This is a treelike shrub reaching up to five meters in height. The stems may be smooth or fuzzy, and are often hairy. The leaves are rounded to oval, sometimes slightly toothed or with hairs along the edges, and usually dull green on both surfaces. When in flower the shrub is packed heavily with densely bunching flower clusters of urn-shaped white to pale pink flowers. The fruits are shiny red or greenish-brown drupes between one half and one centimeter wide. Seeds require fire for germination. This is a plant of chaparral and coniferous forests of 3,000-5,000 ft. elevation. It is native to California and Oregon. The Miwok of northern California used the fruits to make cider.

One of the most distinctive of California's endemic plants is Aristolochia californica, the California Pipevine or California Dutchman's Pipe. It is a deciduous vine with purple-striped, curving pipe-shaped flowers, which give rise to winged capsular green fruits.

If given the right conditions it will flower profusely. After it blooms, the plant sends out new green heart-shaped leaves. The vines grow from rhizomes to a length of over twenty feet and can become quite thick in circumference at maturity. In its natural state, it will spread out over open ground or sprawl over other plants.

This plant is common in moist woods and along streams in northern and central California, usually below 1,500 ft. The flowers have an unpleasant odor that is attractive to tiny carrion-feeding insects. These insects crawl into the convoluted flowers and often become stuck and disoriented for some time, picking up pollen as they wander. Most eventually escape; the plant is not insectivorous as was once thought. Fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae) may prove to be the effective pollinators. G.L. Stebbins suggested (California Native Plant Soc. Newsletter, 1971 Vol. 7 p. 4-5) that pollination by deceit is presumed.

This plant is the only host plant of the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly.

Artemisia arbuscula is a species of sagebrush known by the common names little sagebrush, low sagebrush, or black sagebrush. It is native to the western United States from Washington to California to Colorado, where it grows in open, exposed habitat on dry, sterile soils high in rock and clay content. This is a gray-green to gray shrub forming mounds generally no higher than 30 centimeters. Its many branches are covered in hairy leaves each less than a centimeter long. The flower cluster is a spike-shaped array of clusters of hairy flower heads. Each head contains a few pale yellow disc florets. The fruit is a tiny achene less than a millimeter wide.

Dwarf Sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula) is a native shrub that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in clay soil slopes, at elevations from 4900-12500 feet.

Warm Springs Low Sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola) is a native shrub that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast, the North Coast Range and High Sierra Nevada regions. It tends to grow in clay soil slopes, at elevations from 7200-8200 feet.

With its aromatic fragrance and threadlike, silvery-green foliage, California Sagebrush (Artemesia californica) is a feast for the senses. This resilient, easy-to-grow shrub thrives in the toughest environments. It's a good choice for dry, sunny, and sloped areas. It tolerates nutrient-poor sandy soil, as long as it's well-draining.

California Sagebrush is extremely drought adapted; some summer water is optional but not required. A little pruning keeps it compact in the garden.

This important coastal scrub plant supports the California gnatcatcher and quail, as well as other bird and insect species.

Horticultural selection from Artemisia californica from Montara Mountain south of san Francisco. If you need an unusual groundcover that can tolerate the hot dry summer, try this low, spreading artemisia out. This lovely groundcover sagebrush has a nice neat, dense form with aromatic gray green foliage. It's a great way to add texture, color contrast and fragrance in a drought-tolerant garden. Despite it's north coast origins we have found 'Montara' to thrive in hot inland conditions with almost no supplmental water. Some speculate that it is a natural hybrid between Artemisia calif. and Artemisia pycnocephala. This is fast becoming a landscaping favorite, but is not commercially grown in many nurseries and so is hard to find.

'Montara' was selected from a cutting at Montara Mountain by Roger Raiche and introduced by Wildwood nursery in 1987. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana) is a fast growing shrub chosen primarily for its aromatic gray foliage which makes a year round contrast behind other plants. The beautiful, silver gray leaves add texture and color to the garden. It grows to 4 feet high by 5 feet wide and will spread by underground rhizomes, especially in moist areas.The flowers are small and inconspicuous, often not producing viable seed. 

It does best in the sun but will tolerate shade. As it is native to riverbeds and other moist places it is vigorous if given water, but will tolerate drier conditions.  Dead stems cut back in the winter will resprout in the spring.

Mugwort is sometimes grown for medicinal purposes. It is also useful in restoration projects and for erosion control.

Various insects are attracted to the flowers and it hosts a likely total of 28 species of butterfly and moth.

California Milkweed (Asclepias californica) is a species in the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family. It is native to California and northern Baja California from the East Bay region southward and the foothills of the Sierra.

This flowering perennial has thick, white, woolly stems that bend or run along the ground. The plentiful, hanging flowers are rounded structures.

The flowers are dull to bright shades of lavender or pink and form an attractive contrast with the grey-to-white foliage. This plant was eaten as candy by the Kawaiisu tribes of Indigenous California; the milky sap within the leaves is said to be flavorful and chewy when cooked.

To maximize Monarch butterflies reaching their overwintering areas, plant only locally native milkweed species.

Asclepias eriocarpa is native to California and adjacent parts of Nevada and Baja California, where it grows in many habitat types, especially dry areas. In California it is found primarily in the Coast Ranges from Mendocino County southward into Mexico, in the Sierra foothills, and in the northern part of the Central Valley. It is an erect perennial herb which is usually coated in a thick layer of white hairs. The leaves are lance-shaped to oval, rippled, and arranged oppositely in pairs or in whorls of 3 or 4. The flower cluster is a large umbel-like cluster of flowers. Each flower is white to cream and usually tinted with bright pink. It has a central array of rounded hoods and a corolla reflexed against the stalk. The fruit is a large, woolly follicle. The plant is used as a source of fiber and medicine by several California Indian groups, including the Ohlone and Luiseno. In the garden it makes a striking specimen, especially when massed. All milkweeds are important to monarch butterflies.

Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) is a flowering perennial best known for the Monarch butterflies it will attract into the garden. Its long, thin pointed leaves give the plant a soft, wispy look. It blooms in summer to fall, with clusters of lavender or pinkish white flowers, each one an interesting button shape. The fruits are smooth pods, which split open to spill seeds along with plentiful silky hairs that may carry the seeds through the air.

This plant grows fast to 3 feet tall and is dormant in winter, often dying back to the ground. It will take full sun but is adaptable to most conditions, being easy to grow in soils with good drainage, even with no summer water. It can self-seed if the seed pods are not removed

This species is probably the single most important host plant for Monarch Butterflies in California, attracting them and hosting their caterpillars. It is crucial to not use any pesticide on or around the plant, because doing so will be fatal to the caterpillars. The plant also provides resources for many beneficial creatures, including native bees. Don't cut the dry stems down too soon as Orioles may use them for nesting.

Atriplex canescens (Chamiso, Chamiza, Four wing saltbush, Four-wing saltbush, Fourwing saltbush) is a species of evergreen shrub in the Amaranthaceae family, which is native to the western United States. Fourwing saltbush has a highly variable form, and readily hybridizes with several other species in the Atriplex genus. The degree of polyploidy also results in variations in form. Its height can vary from 1 foot to 10 feet, but 2 to 4 feet is most common. The leaves are thin and 0.5 to 2 inches long. It is most readily identified by its fruits, which have four wings at roughly 90 degree angles and are densely packed on long stems. The fruit stem resembles a mass of corn flakes.

Atriplex canscens is a great bird plant. Best to plant in dry salty soils. Susceptible to root rot unless drought or salt stressed.

Wingscale (Atriplex canescens ssp. canescens) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in clay or gravelly slopes, at elevations from 0-7900 feet.

Narow Leaf Shadscale (Atriplex canescens ssp. linearis) is a native shrub that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Transverse Range and Sonoran Desert regions. It tends to grow in clay or gravelly slopes, at elevations from 0-7900 feet.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Atriplex polycarpa (Allscale, Cattle spinach, Allscale saltbush, Cattle saltbush) is a plant in the Amaranthaceae family. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Baccharis Centennial is considered a hybrid between Baccharis pilularis and Baccharis sarothroides. This large bushy evergreen has brilliant green stems which give it a rounded profile. It is exteremely heat an drought tolerant. If the shrub becomes woody, prune in the winter. Limiting water after the plant is established encourages dense growth. Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for use in the garden. Hybrid of B. pilularis x B. Sarothroides.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden; Hybrid of B. pilularis x sarothroides.

Coyote Bush (also called Coyote Brush) is a common California native shrub. It is versatile and adaptable in a wide range of landscape applications. Its short height and spreading habit make this plant a practical choice for groundcover and bank stabilization. It is also said to be fire-resistant and can tolerate recycled water.

It has small, evergreen leaves and abundant white and yellow flowers that are very attractive to insects. Coyote Bush grows well in most soil types. It is a drought-adapted, low-water plant that requires minimal summer irrigation.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

This cultivar is a low growing (prostrate form) coyote brush. It is specifically seed producing (instead of pollen producing), hence the name 'San Bruno Lady '. One of the few low growing cultivars that produces seeds.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected from san Bruno Mountain.

Low growing horticultural selection from Baccharis pilularis from Twin Peaks in San Francisco. Twin Peaks II is a compact low growing shrub reaching 12-18 inch high with a 5-6 ft spread. It has dark leaves that are deeply toothed. Needs sun and regular water, but must have good drainage. Selection is pollen producing only (no seed producing plants). For seed producing selections, 'San Bruno Lady' is one option. Tolerates almost any soil type.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden; introduced by Las pilitas nursery.

Tolerates almost any soil type. A selection for garden use. Introduced by Ken Taylor.

Mulefat is a robust and adaptable flowering shrub known for its sticky foliage and abundant fuzzy flowers, which range in color from white to pink or red-tinged and bloom throughout the year. Its long, pointed leaves and fast-growing, upright, spreading form make it a striking addition to natural gardens. Typically reaching about 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, Mulefat can grow as large as 12 feet tall and 9 feet wide in optimal conditions.

This resilient plant thrives in full or partial sun and tolerates a variety of soil types. While highly drought-tolerant once established, it looks its best with regular summer watering. It’s ideal for planting in naturally moist areas, such as near streams or wetlands. Without sufficient water, Mulefat can become weedy and less visually appealing. If it becomes overgrown, it can be rejuvenated by cutting it back to 3-4 inches above the base, encouraging fresh, green growth.

Mulefat is highly valued for erosion control and wildlife support. Its flowers are a magnet for butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, while also attracting birds, making it a versatile choice for habitat restoration and ecological gardening.

Baccharis emoryi is a species in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name Emory's Baccharis. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in sandy, moist habitat such as riverbanks or alkali marsh, but also occasionally in more xeric areas. In California it is found in the southern half of the state. This is a shrub producing erect, branching stems approaching three meters in maximum height. The thick leaves are oblong to oval in shape and sometimes have roughly toothed edges. They may be up to 7 centimeters long. The shrub is dioecious, with male and female plants producing flower heads of different types. The head is enclosed in a layer of phyllaries and the female flowers yield fruits, each an achene with a white pappus about a centimeter long. The foliage and flower heads are hairy and sticky. This species is very similar to its relatives, Baccharis pilularis and Baccharis salicifolia. It's a good choice for a bioswale, edge of a pond, alkaline soil patches, or where rapid growth is desired and its tendency to spread can be accommodated.

Native to coastal Southern California, San Diego county viguiera (Bahiopsis laciniata) adds a bright splash of yellow to the waterwise landscape. This evergreen shrub is a member of the Aster family. It is sometimes called the San Diego sunflower or tornleaf goldeneye.

The sunflower-like blooms cover the plant from winter to summer. The small, toothed leaves are a vibrant, shiny green. San Diego county viguiera is a hardy, fast-growing shrub. It is easy to grow and does well in sandy, well-draining soil with minimal watering. 

San Diego county viguiera’s cheerful blooms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to the garden. The plant provides cover for wildlife. After blooming, the spent flowers can be deadheaded or left for birds. Prune in the fall after flowering.

This plant does well on dry slopes. Plant in clusters to form a hedge or combine with other colorful, low-water perennials for visual interest.

Golden Abundance Oregon Grape is a hybrid cultivar of 3 California native Berberis species that was selected for garden use. It is a dense evergreen shrub, with large compound glossy dark green leaves. It grows 5-8 feet tall by 6-8 feet wide, and can slowly spread by underground rhizomes to form plants 10 ft. wide. The plant produces large inflorescences with abundant yellow flowers in late winter to mid-spring. The flowers are followed by numerous drooping racemes of powdery purple-blue berries that are attractive to birds when they mature in late summer through fall.

Golden Abundance Oregon Grape is used as a flowering accent plant, an informal or trimmed semi-formal hedge, a screen, or a background plant in shady and woodland gardens. Since the leaves have prickly edges it can also be used as a barrier hedge to hinder animals and humans.

In coastal locations it prefers full sun to light shade. In inland locations it prefers partial shade or morning sun with afternoon shade. It can handle heat and aridity well when grown in partial shade. This plant is adaptable to many soil types from well-draining loam to clay loam. It prefers little to moderate watering when established, depending on the sun exposure and climate. It is resistant to oak root fungus and can be a drought tolerant option under mature oaks.

This 'Golden Abundance' cultivar was selected by Lee Lenz at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (present day California Botanic Garden), a chance hybrid between 3 different Berberis (classified as Mahonia at the time) species, Mahonia piperiana, M. aquifolium, and M. amplectans. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden was awarded a patent on it in 1973, the first patent on a cultivated plant selection granted to a botanic garden in California.

Lenz described its distinctions from its three parents as having: a more vigorous and upright form, many lateral inflorescences along the stems, larger terminal inflorescences, and a greater overall visual abundance of flowers.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection made by suncrest Nurseries. possible hybrid of B. pinnata and B. aquifolium.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade or shade in coastal sites, and shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Grows well in dry, dappled shade under oak trees. Berries are non-toxic to dogs and cats.

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

Bloomeria crocea, also known as Goldenstar, is a geophyte of the Themidaceae from California and northern Baja California. It is found along hillsides, in grassland and chaparral edges, and in dry flats. Growing in full sun, itt prefers porous soil and semi-dry conditions. Its distribution ranges along the south coast from Santa Barbara County and western Kern County down to Baja California. It is also found on the California Channel Islands. The corm has a fibrous exterior and usually produces only one leaf. Plants produce six-petaled golden flowers that are clustered in a loose umbel. When the three-lobed stigma is fertilized, Bloomeria produces capsules that contain small black seeds. The seeds then require three to four years to become a mature plant.

Two varieties are currently recognised:
B. crocea var. aurea
B. crocea var. montana

Bothriochloa barbinodis is a species of grass known by the common name cane bluestem. It is native to the Americas, including most of South and Central America, Mexico, and the southernmost continental United States from California to Florida. It is known elsewhere as an introduced species and sometimes a weed, such as in Hawaii. This is a perennial grass growing in upright clumps 60 to 120 centimeters tall. The straw-colored stems have nodes at intervals which are fringed with fluffy hairs. The leaves are 20 to 30 centimeters long and blue-green when new, drying to a reddish yellow. The flower cluster is a feathery array of spikelet units. Each unit is composed of one hairy, tan, fertile spikelet with a twisted awn up to 3.5 centimeters long twinned with a stalked, sterile spikelet which is much smaller and lacks an awn. The long-haired spikelets are wind-dispersed. In its native range, this grass is useful as a forage for grazing animals and a groundcover for revegetating cleared land. It is very drought resistant. It is considered an indicator of rangeland damage, as it is often one of the first native species to be eliminated when an area is overgrazed. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its showy flower clusters.

Bouteloua curtipendula, commonly known as sideoats grama, is a perennial, short prairie grass that is native throughout the temperate and tropical Western Hemisphere, from Canada south to Argentina. Bouteloua curtipendula foliage is blue-green in color and the flowers are purple. The small, oat-like seeds develop on the side of the stalk.

Boykinia occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name coastal brookfoam. It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to Los Angeles County and in the central Sierras. It grows in shady areas near riverbanks and streams. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing large, palmate leaves with blades up to 45 centimeters long and 12 wide, borne on petioles up to 30 centimeters in length. Each leaf has several rounded lobes with dull teeth along the edges. The flower cluster reaches 30 to 60 centimeters tall on a thin stem. It bears an open array of many small white flowers, each with five tiny pointed sepals and five larger oval petals. The flowers are somewhat more showy than the closely related Boykinia rotundifolia.

Boykinia rotundifolia is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name Roundleafed Brookfoam. It is endemic to southern California from Ventura to San Diego Counties, where it grows in shady forested areas near streams in the mountains below 6,000 ft. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing leaves with blades up to 30 centimeters long, borne on petioles up to 18 centimeters in length. Each leaf has several rounded lobes with dull teeth along the edges. The flower cluster reaches up to a meter tall on a thin stem. It bears a dense array of many small white flowers, each with five tiny pointed sepals and five larger oval petals.

A species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name California Brickellbush. It is native to western North America from Baja California to Idaho to Oklahoma. It is a common plant in many habitat types, especially in dry areas, somewhat more common in the southern coastal part of the state. One of the best smelling California native plants. Although not particularly beautiful, it has an amazing fragrance that comes out in the summer months when it is in bloom, and the fragrance can carry a considerable distance. This is a thickly branching shrub growing one half to two meters in height. The fuzzy, hairy leaves are roughly triangular in shape with toothed to serrated edges. The leaves are 1 to 6 centimeters long. Although it is in the Sunflower family, the inconspicuous flowers look nothing like sunflower, being very small and rayless. The flower clusters at the end of stem branches contain many small leaves and bunches of narrow, cylindrical flower heads. Each head is about 13 millimeters long and wrapped in flat, wide, purplish green overlapping phyllaries. At the tip of the head are a number of long white to pink disc florets. The fruit is a hairy cylindrical achene 3 millimeters long with a pappus of bristles. In the garden it is best used in a location where its fragrance can be appreciated but its lack of showiness will not detract (see companion plants below).

Brodiaea appendiculata (appendage brodiaea) is an uncommon species of plant in the genus Brodiaea. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the mountain foothills in the north part of the state.