Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Euphorbia misera is a species in the Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) family known by the common name Cliff Spurge. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it is known from the Sonoran Desert and the coastline, including the Channel Islands of California. It occurs in close proximity to the coast in Coastal Sage Scrub and Maritime Succulent Scrub vegetation, often on steep slopes. Although common in Baja, it is very rare in California. It was probably never common north of the border, and much of its former habitat has been lost to agriculture and urbanization.

This is a subshrub standing erect in protected areas, or prostrate when exposed to constant sea breeze. It reaches one half to one meter in height. The stems are limber and somewhat succulent. When broken, the stems produce a milky sap that is typical of Euphorbias. It has small, rounded, hairy leaves that are dropped readily in dry periods. The typical Euphorbia flower clusters are at the tips of the branches. The distinctive flower is hairy and has a central nectar disc with a bright red appendage with scalloped edges and a light yellow fringe. The style in the pistillate flower extends outward and is divided at the tip. The anthers are bright yellow. The fruit is a spherical capsule with lobes containing round, wrinkled gray seeds.

In the garden this plant can be a highly interesting though unusual specimen or accent plant. The flowers are not showy, but in garden conditions the plant can bloom nine months out of the year. It is especially effective with other succulents and decorative rock. It is best used in warm, relatively dry coastal gardens in the southern part of the state.

Eurybia integrifolia, (formerly Aster integrifolius) commonly called the thickstem aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the composite family. It is native to the western United States where it grows primarily in the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Sierra Nevada in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, and California.

Euthamia occidentalis, known by the common names Western Goldenrod and Western Goldentop, is a deciduous flowering perennial plant. It is native to most of the western states. It is most widespread in California, where it is primarily found at elevations below 5,000 feet, in damp ground along rivers and streams, irrigation ditches, meadows, tidal channels, fresh to brackish marshes, and other wetlands.



Western Goldentop is a spreading rhizomatous plant with thin, tall, and branched stems clad with long, narrow, gray-green leaves. It will usually grow from 4 to 6 feet tall, and can be used for erosion control and bank stabilization. It produces numerous small yellow flower heads that are united into loose, rounded blossom clusters at the ends of the branches. It blooms during late summer and autumn, attracting many bees and other pollinators.

Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) is an elegant, long-lived perennial bunchgrass native to western North America. In California, it thrives in the Sierra foothills and Coast Ranges, growing in dense clumps with soft, fine-textured blades. Its deep root system helps it withstand dry conditions and supports beneficial soil fungi.

This versatile grass is an excellent choice for planting under oaks and pairs beautifully with ferns, Heuchera, and hummingbird sage. It provides valuable forage for wildlife while adding texture and color contrast to the landscape.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected by Nevin smith from Marble Mountains near Boulder peak.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Del Norte County.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Marin County, near Nicasio Reservoir.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or 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. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

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

Ocotillo is a curious-looking and unique desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include Ocotillo, Coachwhip, Jacob's staff, and Vine Cactus, although it is not a true cactus. For much of the year, the plant appears to be an arrangement of large spiny dead sticks, although closer examination reveals that the stems are partly green. With rainfall the plant quickly becomes lush with small 2-4 centimeter ovate leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months. The stems may reach a diameter of 5 centimeters at the base, and the plant may grow to a height of 10 meters, but growth is very slow. Large specimens in the wild may be 200 years old. The plant branches very heavily at its base, but above that the branches are pole-like and only infrequently divide further, and specimens in cultivation may not exhibit any secondary branches. The plant produces two types of leaves. The first leaves on new growth produce a petiole (leaf stalk) which hardens into a sharp spine after the leaf drops off. Subsequent leaves sprout from the base of the spine. The bright red flowers appear in spring and summer, occurring as a group of small tube shapes at the tip of the stem. They are pollinated by hummingbirds or carpenter bees.

Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) is one of the two strawberry species used to create the modern garden strawberry.

In spring to early summer, it blooms with beautiful white flowers, which are later replaced by unique red fruits. Local bees and butterflies pollinate flowers and its fruits draw the attention of a variety of insects, birds and mammals.

It has dark-green, glossy leaves that turn red in fall. It has a creeping habit and spreads at a moderate rate. Plant in very low to low moisture, and in sandy soil.

Horticultural selection from Fragaria chiloensis with larger flowers and larger, dark green glossy leaves. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Introduced from Brett Hall.

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

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

Horticultural selection from Fragaria chiloensis. Lipstick is an extremely showy, easy-care ground cover for a wide variety of garden situations. Plant it in full sun on the coast, part shade inland and it will reward you with bright pink flowers from mid spring until mid fall. It's small shiny fruits are not as tasty as the woodland strawberry, but the birds are not so picky. It is a fast grower to 4"-6" high and 1'-2' wide. Water this ideal ground cover regularly during it's first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. This strawberry can tolerate regular garden water or infrequent irrigation. With regular water and partial shade Lipstick can make a wonderful lawn replacement. It is also ideal in borders, containers, rock gardens or as an embankment stabilizer. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

This cultivar was selected for improved vigor, heavy bloom, long bloom period (January - July) and tasty berries. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites.

The Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), is one of two species of strawberry that were hybridized to create the modern domesticated Garden Strawberry. Its natural range is confined to North America, in the United States (including Alaska) and Canada, although a popular variety called "Little Scarlet" grows only in Great Britain, having been imported from the United States in the early 1900s. It is also sometimes called "Wild Strawberry", though this can also refer to several other species of Fragaria, particularly F. vesca.

Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)  is a dense evergreen shrub with dark red branches and oval leaves that are an attractive dark green with reddish tint. The flowers are inconspicuous, small and greenish-white. The plant is prized more for its fruit, which turns red, then purple, and finally black over the summer. The fruits attract a variety of birds. 

This shrub is beautiful and easy to grow. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types and likes either full sun or part shade. It is moderately garden tolerant, and takes low water but accepts light summer water up to 2 times per month.

Coffeeberry has a dense form and is easy to prune. It makes a great and fire resistant hedge. There are six subspecies, some of which are restricted to certain parts of its range or certain growing requirements. There are also several horticultural varieties including 'Eve Case' and 'Mound San Bruno'. Select one that best fits your locations and conditions.

Hoary Coffeeberry (Rhamnus tomentella) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-7500 feet.

The perennial herb Frankenia salina, often called Alkali Heath or Alkali Seaheath, is a member of the Frankeniaceae family that is native to California. It is occasionally found in Nevada and Mexico. In California it is found along the coast, in the mountain, central valley, and other wetland locations, including salt marsh and alkali flats. Its common name refers to its preference for saline or alkaline soils. It is a squat flowering bush that forms a twiggy thicket near beaches and estuaries. The leaves are tiny and somewhat succulent. It has the ability to excrete salt as an adaptation for living in saline habitats. The flowers are white, pink or fuchsia in color. It spreads by rhizome and can cover large areas but remains very low. It is not a common garden plant but can be a useful ground cover at the edges of ponds or streams, in bioswales, or in areas of saline soil.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden from F. californicum var. crassifolium and named after a site in the santa Cruz Mtns.

Hybrid of Fremontia californicum and Fremontia mexicanum. One of the most beautiful large native shrubs. California Glory is an abundantly flowering shrub whioh will make a grand statement in your landscape. The masses of 3" golden yellow flowers bring warmth and life to the garden. Leaves are dark green and covered with tiny hairs. Growing to 15'-20' height and up to 15' wide, this shrub needs some space and course, well draining soil to thrive. Be very sure not to overwater once this shrub is established. If possible, plant your Fremontodendron in late fall so that it is established before the summer, avoiding the danger of overwatering. The dry hairs on the leaves can be irritating to skin, so it is best to plant this away from high-traffic areas.

Hybrid, random; origin = seed (1949) R. californicum x F. mexicanum, Theodore Payne Foundation; intro Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden 1962. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Hybrid of F. californicum x F. mexicanum. Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Hybrid of Fremontia decumbens and Fremontia 'California Glory'. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Hybrid between F. decumbens x F. 'California Glory'.

Fremontodendron hybrid. 'Ken Taylor' offers all the stunning beauty of the Fremontodendron californica, but in a more compact form suitable for smaller gardens. This hybrid reaches about 5' high and spreads to about 8'. Attractive blooms of deep gold, with a darker orange outside adorn the shrub in spring and into summer. Leaves are deep green. Ideal for planting on slopes, where the soil drains well. This shrub will not need supplemental water after establishment. If possible, plant your Fremontodendron in late fall so that it is established before the summer, avoiding the danger of overwatering. The dry hairs on the leaves can be irritating to skin, so it is best to plant this away from high-traffic areas.

Fremontodendron 'Ken Taylor' was created by Ken Taylor of Aromas, California and is thought to be a cross of Fremontodendron califronica ssp. decumbens and Fremontodendron 'California Glory'. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Hybrid of Fremontodendron californicum and Fremontodendron mexicanum, a cultivar by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. It is a large, robust plant reported to reach 15 - 20 feet tall, and grows in an upright to vase shape. However, we have noticed that this hybrid grows more slowly and stays smaller than the original and may be more suitable for smaller spaces. Pacific Sunset has large, fuzzy, 3 inch wide yellow flowers that have an orange-red blush, as opposed to the original full yellow. The leaves of the plant are fairly sturdy like a geranium's, and have a similar shape. Called Flannel Bush due to the leaves, stems, and flower bracts all being covered in thick, visible hairs. The hairs can cause allergic reactions or allergies for some people. This is a stunning plant when in bloom in spring, and is an interesting evergreen texture in winter. Fremontodendron 'Pacific sunset' does well on slopes since it favors sandy, rocky, exceptionally well-draining soil. It needs full sun to light shade, and dry conditions. 'Pacific sunset' is drought tolerant and needs no supplemental water in summer once established.

Hybrid of Fremontia californicum and Fremontia mexicanum. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden. Hybrid of F. mexicanum X F. californicum introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

A low growing member of the flannel bush family, Fremontodendron 'West Hills' spreads about 8' wide and grows up to about 4'. An excellent and showy, no maintenance groundcover , 'West Hills' does best where it has perfect drainage, such as a rocky slope or canyonside. This flannel bush offers large, yellow-orange flowers in spring and has attractively lobed leaves on arching branches. It is a mounding evergreen shrub that would do well with some supplement water after planting in autumn, but then no more water as it is drought tolerant. Flannel bushes are tough as nails in dry conditions, but susceptible to rot from overwater, so be sure the proposed planting site has excellent drainage. Please note, the fuzzy leaves are actually covered in hairs that can irritate human skin---plant this native away from walkways, more up on a bank or less trafficked area. 'West Hills' needs full sun to part shade, and is frost resistant. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Hybrid between F. decumbens x F. 'California Glory'.

Best known for its spectacular bright yellow flowers during spring blooming season, Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron californicum) is an eye-catching large evergreen shrub. The vibrant blooms attract bees and butterflies. This plant gets its name from fuzzy hairs that cover its leaves. These hairs can be an irritant to eyes and skin.

Flannel Bush has unique moisture and site-selection requirements. In its natural environment, it grows in sandy or chalky soil, about 10 feet away from a water source. In the garden, plant it at a similar distance from any type of irrigation. It is fast growing, and under ideal conditions, it can reach 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide in five years.

It is notably intolerant of summer water and should stay dry, even when it looks like it needs water. Supplemental irrigation that's too close to a Flannel Bush can kill it. This plant depends on its long roots to reach moisture at a distance, so be sure to plant it near other low-moisture plants.

Pine Hill Fremontia (Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens) is a rare native shrub that grows in Central California, primarily in the High Sierra Nevada region. It tends to grow in dry sandy washes, at elevations from 1300-6600 feet.

Fritillaria atropurpurea is a species of fritillary known by several common names, including spotted fritillary, purple fritillary, spotted mountainbells, and spotted missionbells. This wildflower is native to the western United States, where it is often found beneath trees in moldy leaf litter. This species has the widest distribution of the fritillaries, growing from California to the Dakotas. The stems may reach anywhere from 10 to 60 centimeters in height and bear narrow, pointed leaves at nodes along the stem. The nodding flower has splayed-open petals each one or two centimeters long which are yellowish or cream-colored with heavy dark purple-brown mottling. The center of the flower has a central style surrounded by stamens with very large yellow anthers. This species is similar to Fritillaria pinetorum, but it has nodding flowers compared with the latter's erect blooms.

Galium angustifolium is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name narrowleaf bedstraw. It is native to California and Baja California, where it is most commonly found in low elevation mountains. This is a stocky perennial herb or small shrub growing from a woody base and producing sprawling stems from a few centimeters to nearly a meter in length. Leaves grow in whorls of four about the stem at intervals, and the stem may branch at these points. The flower cluster is a panicle containing several flowers. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers similar in appearance with greenish-yellow flower parts. The fruit is a nutlet covered in long bristly white or yellowish hairs.

Galium oreganum (Oregon bedstraw) is a plant species in the Rubiaceae family. It is native to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California (Siskiyou and Del Norte Counties).

Galium trifidum is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name threepetal bedstraw. It is native to most of northern and western North America from Alaska eastern Canada to Mexico, where it grows in moist habitat. It is a usually perennial herb forming tangles of thin stems up to half a meter long ringed with whorls of several linear to oval leaves. The flower cluster is a cluster of small white or pinkish flowers, each with usually three petallike lobes in its corolla.

The herbaceous perennial plant Gentiana calycosa is a species of gentian known by the common name Rainier pleated gentian. It is native to the mid-elevation mountains of the western United States and Canada from the Sierra Nevada of California to the Canadian Cascades. The flower is a funnel-shaped cup opening into a five-petaled face 3 to 5 centimeters wide, in shades of deep blue to purple. The plant has hardy, thick green leaves on the thin red stems from which the flowers are borne. Like other gentians, G. calycosa is an attractive mountain wildflower good for use in alpine gardens.

Geranium californicum is a species of Geranium known by the common name California cranesbill. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the Sierra Nevada and coastal ranges in the southern part of the state. This is a perennial herb topping half a meter in maximum height. Its thin, hairy stems have many wide, palmate leaves divided into several segments which are subdivided into small lobes. Flowers appear singly or in pairs on small stalks. Each has five pointed sepals beneath five rounded to oval-shaped petals which may have slight notches in the ends. The petals are up to 1.5 centimeters long and white to pale pink or lavender with deeper lavender veining.

Geum triflorum, (three-flowered avens, old man's whiskers, or prairie smoke) is a spring perennial herbaceous plant of North America from northern Canada to California and east to New York. Some Plateau Indian tribes used three-flowered avens to treat tuberculosis.

Dune Gilia (Gilia capitata ssp. chamissonis) is a rare native annual herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the Central Coast region. It tends to grow in open and sandy rocky places, at elevations from 0-600 feet.

Gilia leptantha is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name fineflower gilia. It is native to California and southern Nevada, where it grows in open mountain and desert habitat. It is a small, mostly erect herb with a hairy stem often coated in cobwebby fibers. The leaves are arranged in a rounded basal rosette, each leaf divided sharply into many subdivided lobes. The top of the stem is an flower cluster of a few pink to lavender flowers with yellow and white throats. The base of the flower is a thin, hairy tube.

Purpus' Gilia (Gilia leptantha ssp. purpusii) is a native annual herb that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and High Sierra Nevada regions. It tends to grow in open rocky or sandy places, at elevations from 2300-8500 feet.

Tricolor gilia (Gilia tricolor) is an annual with a long blooming period. Starting in spring, each plant produces hundreds of half-inch white flowers with blue or lavender edges.  Though small, these flowers look very pretty when massed. They grow on upright stems, about 18 inches tall, surrounded by soft, lacy foliage.

This plant is very easy to grow. It takes full sun, low water and tolerates many different types of soil including clay. It can be planted from seed and re-seeds itself the next spring reliably, and is very attractive to native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Tricolor gilia is also known as bird's-eyes, bird's-eyes gilia. If you sow related but different types of gilia together they will hybridize. 

The flowers on this delicate, 2' high California native are one of the prettiest of any native wildfower! A chance seedling of the straight species, it features white petals instead of pale pink with beautiful creamy yellow centers. Known as Birds Eyes, this annual first sprouts ferny foliage & then come late spring, slightly overlapping, five-petaled 1/2 flowers. Though mostly one flower per delicate stem, each multi-branching plant produces 100-200 cup-shaped flowers over a 6-8 week season. Bees & butterflies love the flowers, which exude a sweet scent on warm days. Though it looks tender, this Gilia is drought tolerant, able to thrive in a variety of soils & is just as happy in a container as it is in the ground. Plant in full sun to light shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Cut flowers make a great bouquet. May reseed.

Glyceria striata is a species of mannagrass known by the common names fowl mannagrass and ridged glyceria. It is native to much of North America, from Alaska and northern Canada to northern Mexico. It is a common species found in wet areas, often in forests. It bears erect stems exceeding a meter in maximum height and firm, narrow leaves. The spreading branches of the flower cluster hold oval-shaped to nearly round spikelets each with generally fewer than six florets.

American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is a species of Glycyrrhiza native to most of North America, from central Canada south through the United States to California, Texas and Virginia, but absent from the southeastern states. It is also sometimes known in the United States as "wild licorice", to distinguish it from the related European Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) which is occasionally cultivated. The plant grows in moist soils; although it will grow in heavy soil it prefers sandy soil. It grows to 40-100 centimeter (16-40 inches) tall, and has long tough brown roots which are said to be sweet and were used as food and for medicinal purposes by Native Americans. American Licorice is not sweet from sugar but from glycyrrhizin, the acid ammonium salt of the tri-basic acid, glycyrrhizic acid. Glycyrrhizin may increase blood pressure (aka hypertension) by interfering with cortisol conversion.

This plant slowly spreads by rhizome to form large patches. Bumblebees are attracted to the flowers, and this plant is a host for several butterfly plant. Wild licorice is a rare in native plant gardens, but has lots of value for wildlife, does great in heavy soils, and is tolerant of both shade and full sun. It grows well with other riparian forest species like Leymus triticoides and Carex barbarae.

Grindelia camporum is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Great Valley gumplant and Great Valley gumweed. The plant is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in a number of habitats including chaparral and woodlands. Its range may extend into Nevada. It is hardy plant that also readily grows in disturbed and altered areas such as ditches and roadsides. Grindelia camporum is a gangly perennial up to 2 m (6 ft. ) in maximum height but usually less. Its erect, branching stems are lined with many stiff, wavy-edged, serrated leaves 2 to 3 cm long. Atop the stem branches are inflorescences of a single large flower head up to 3 cm wide. The head is a vaguely thistlelike cup of green clawlike phyllaries that bend downward. The centre of the head is filled with yellow disc florets and there are usually many yellow ray florets around the circumference. The flower head fills with a copious white exudate, especially during the early stages of blooming. It is a traditional Native American medicinal plant, used by the Indigenous peoples of California and also a major pollinator attractant.

Grindelia hirsutula is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names hairy gumplant and hairy gumweed. Grindelia hirsutula is native to North America, widespread across Canada and in California and Oregon. The species is highly variable, and many local populations have been named as varieties or as distinct species. All these taxa do, however, intergrade with one another. Grindelia hirsutula is an erect perennial herb or subshrub sometimes as much as 250 cm (100 inches or 8 1/3 feet) tall but usually much shorter. The plant is usually green but the stems are often red or purplish-brown and the leaves can be somewhat yellowish to reddish. The plant can produce numerous flower heads in branching arrays at the top of the plant. Each head is 2 or 3 centimeters (0. 8-1. 2 inches) wide with hemispheric cups of greenish phyllaries around the base, the bracts claw-like and bent away from the flowers. The center of the head is filled with many small yellow disc florets surround by numerous golden ray florets. The head produces a thick white exudate, especially in new flower heads. Varieties: Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima - San Francisco Gum Plant, San Francisco gumplant, coastal gumweed; endemic to coastal California in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Tolerant of recycled water.

Grindelia stricta is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common names Coastal Gumweed and Oregon Gumweed. It is native to the west coast of North America from California to Alaska, where it is a resident of coastal plant communities such as those in marshes and beaches. In California it is found from the Channel Islands northwards, typically in close proximity to the coast. There are three recognized Varieties: This plant is variable in appearance, taking the form of a weedlike perennial herb forming low clumps to a sprawling subshrub growing erect to heights exceeding one meter. Its foliage and stems are green to rusty red or purplish and the plant may be hairy to hairless. The fleshy leaves are green, often with red edges and veining, and are up to 15 centimeters in length on large plants. The flower cluster holds one or more flower heads each up to 5 centimeters wide. The flower head is a cup of thick erect or recurved green phyllaries. Yellow disc florets fill the center of the flower head and there is a fringe of yellow ray florets around the circumference. The head produces copious white exudate, especially in the early stages of blooming. This exudate was used by native people as an adhesive.

Marsh Gumplant (Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in tidal flats, at elevations from 0-1600 feet.

Gumweed (Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla) is a native perennial herb that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Central Coast region. It is a member of the Asteraceae and has typical sunflower floral structure with yellow disk flowers and ray flowers. It tends to grow in tidal flats, coastal strand, and coastal sage scrub typically very near the ocean, at elevations from 0-700 feet. There are three recognized varieties of Grindelia stricta; var. platyphylla is broadly distributed along the coast from Del Norte County to Los Angeles County and the northern Channel Islands. The flower bud is distinctive in having large amount of sticky white sap which native people use as an adhesive. The plant has a prostrate, sprawling habit and roots as it spreads. It performs best in coastal gardens with sandy soil.

Suisun Gumplant (Grindelia paludosa) is a putative stabilized hybrid between Grindelia camporum and Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia. It is endemic to the Suisun Bay Area, in the Deltaic Great Valley bioregion of California, growing in salt marshes and banks of sloughs. Its flowering time is between July and November.

Some botanists consider Grindelia paludosa a synonym for Grindelia hirsutula, a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names hairy gumplant and hairy gumweed. Grindelia hirsutula is native to North America, widespread across Canada and in California and Oregon. The species is highly variable, and many local populations have been named as varieties or as distinct species. All these taxa do, however, intergrade with one another. Grindelia hirsutula is an erect perennial herb or subshrub sometimes as much as 250 cm (100 inches or 8 1/3 feet) tall but usually much shorter. The plant is usually green but the stems are often red or purplish-brown and the leaves can be somewhat yellowish to reddish. The plant can produce numerous flower heads in branching arrays at the top of the plant. Each head is 2 or 3 centimeters (0. 8-1. 2 inches) wide with hemispheric cups of greenish phyllaries around the base, the bracts claw-like and bent away from the flowers. The center of the head is filled with many small yellow disc florets surround by numerous golden ray florets. The head produces a thick white exudate, especially in new flower heads.
Varieties: Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima - San Francisco Gum Plant, San Francisco gumplant, coastal gumweed; is endemic to the the San Francisco Bay Area in coastal northern California.

Gutierrezia californica is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common names San Joaquin snakeweed and California matchweed. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows on slopes and plains in a number of habitats. It is found in the Coast Ranges, Transverse Range and Peninsular Range, coming fairly close to the coast in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. It is often seen in very arid settings. This is a small subshrub reaching up to about half a meter in height. It grows clumpy or gangly and generally erect stems in shades of gray and red which are lined with small linear green leaves. At the end of each branch of the stem is an flower cluster of one to three small flower heads just a few millimeters wide. The head contains several yellow disc florets with long, protruding styles and several yellow ray florets around the edge.

Gutierrezia sarothrae is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names broom snakeweed and perennial matchweed. It is native to much of the western half of North America, from central Canada to northern Mexico. It can be found in a number of desert, grassland, and mountain habitats. This is a small, dense, bushy subshrub reaching maximum heights around half a meter. The multibranched stems and twigs are greenish or tan when young and age to woody brown. There are scattered narrow to thready leaves along the branches. The plant flowers abundantly in flower clusters of a few flowers each. The flower is about a centimeter long and bright golden yellow with a center of a few long, protruding disc florets and a fringe of ray florets. The plant is toxic to livestock in large quantities, due mainly to the presence of saponins and concentrated selenium.

Hazardia detonsa is a rare species of shrub in the daisy family known by the common name island bristleweed. It is endemic to three of the eight Channel Islands of California. This is a bushy shrub reaching 60 centimeters to 2.5 meters in height. It has densely woolly, hairy herbage of thick, serrated, oval-shaped leaves up to 14 centimeters long. At the ends of its whitish stems it produces bell-shaped flower heads each about a centimeter long. Each flower head has several rows of white woolly phyllaries and an open end revealing disc florets and longer protruding ray florets. The florets are yellow and may age to red or purple. The main threat to this species on Santa Cruz Island was the presence of feral Santa Cruz sheep. The sheep were removed, allowing the plant to begin its recovery there.