Western Dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. occidentalis) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 16 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 0-8000 feet.

Creek Dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It was formerly known as Cornus stolonifera and is still referred to by that name in some sources. It is moderately fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of up to 15 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. It is noted for its red bark, especially on new growth. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. Fall foliage is colorful. The fruit is a cluster of small round berries ranging in color from white to gold to blue. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 0-9000 feet.

Creek Dogwood requires moist soil and part shade. It performs best in woodland settings.

Cornus sessilis is a species of dogwood known by the common names blackfruit cornel or blackfruit dogwood and miner's dogwood. This is a shrub or small tree which is endemic to northern California, where it grows along streambanks in the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and the coastal mountain ranges. It is a tree of the understory in its native range. This dogwood may approach five meters in height at maximum. It is deciduous, bearing deeply-veined oval green leaves in season which turn red before falling. Its flower cluster is a cluster of tiny greenish-yellow flowers surrounded by thick, pointed leafs. The fruit is a round drupe about a centimeter wide which is white when new and gradually turns shiny black. The fruit attracts many birds.

Cornus unalaschkensis (Canadian Dwarf Cornel, Canadian Bunchberry, Crackerberry) is a herbaceous member of the Cornaceae (Dogwood) family. It is widespread outside of California, but within the state it is a rare species occurring only near the coast in Mendocino County. It grows about 20-30 centimeters tall and bears tiny flowers a few millimeters across that form a cluster at the center of four white, petal-like leaves 3-4 centimeter diameter. Each flower has highly elastic petals that flip backward, releasing springy filaments that are cocked underneath the petals. The filaments snap upward flinging pollen out of containers hinged to the filaments. This motion takes place in less than half a millisecond and the pollen experiences 800 times the force that the space shuttle does during liftoff. The Bunchberry has one of the fastest plant actions found so far requiring a camera capable of shooting 10,000 frames per second to catch the action (Edwards et al. 2005).

Corydalis aurea (Scrambled Eggs, Golden Corydalis, Golden Smoke; syn. Capnoides aureum (Willd.) Kuntze, Corydalis washingtoniana Fedde ) is a medicinal and poisonous plant native to North America , specially the United States. This is an annual or biennial herb growing from a branching caudex to a maximum length near 40 centimeters. There are several stems which are often decumbent, with leaves divided into leaflets with oval or diamond lobes. The flower cluster is a raceme of up to 30 flowers, each on a short pedicel. The flower is about a centimeter long, with a spur, and yellow in color. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule.

Sierra Fumewort (Corydalis caseana) is a uncommon native perennial herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the High Cascade Range, the High Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau regions. It is moderately fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 7900-17700 feet.

Sierra Corydalis (Corydalis caseana ssp. caseana) is a uncommon native perennial herb that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 7900-17700 feet.

California hazel (Corylus cornuta var. californica) -- also commonly called beaked hazelnut or California hazelnut -- is an evergreen shrub in the Birch family (Betulaceae). Delicate stems are clothed in velvety birch-like leaves which turn golden yellow in autumn. Springtime brings dangling cream-colored catkins before the leaves appear, which can resemble tiny ornaments when viewed from a distance in a forest. Although ruby red, the flowers are quite small, and escape notice unless one is looking for them.

Butterflies and moths are attracted to the flowers and Early Hairstreak butterflies use the plant to lay their eggs. Wild birds feed on the high-protein winter buds and spring catkins. Hazelnuts are famous for their fruit, which is a delicious nut that is enclosed in a papery, beaked-shaped husk. Our native hazelnut, while not as productive as the commercial crop (European Hazelnut, Corylus avellana), may require protection from wildlife if one wishes to grow it for its nuts.

California hazel thrives as an understory shrub or small tree in Woodland habitats, flourishing in part to full shade and slightly moist, well-drained soil near creeks, streams, or under dense tree canopies. Gardeners who are interested in growing their own food using Permaculture or Food Forest methods, can include this plant in the shrub layer. For those who wish to attract wildlife, this is also a wonderful choice. California hazel adds a delicate, ethereal quality to a woodland garden and those with shady yards will find this shrub to be a great addition to their landscapes.

California Hazel (Corylus cornuta var. californica) is a native shrub that grows in central and northern California. It is slow growing and long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 18 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are yellow and bloom in the early spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-7000 feet.

Escobaria vivipara is a species of cactus known by several common names, including spinystar, and viviparous foxtail cactus. It is native to North America, where certain varieties can be found from Mexico to Canada. Most are limited to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. This is a small cactus growing to a maximum height of about 15 centimeters, often remaining smaller and oblong or spherical. It is densely covered in a mat of star-shaped arrays of straight white spines one to two and a half centimeters long. It flowers in yellow, pink, or purple blooms two to five centimeters across. Varieties include:

Crassula aquatica is a succulent plant known by the common names water pygmyweed, common pygmyweed and just pigmyweed. It is an annual plant of salt marshes, vernal pools, wetlands, and other fresh to brackish water bodies. It is at least partially aquatic, living in areas which are submersed much of the time. It also lives along muddy banks and in tidally-active areas of estuaries. Crassula aquatica is a small plant forming thin mats or small patches on mud and sand, and growing more erect when exposed to open air for longer periods. The flesh of the plant is greenish-yellow to bright red or purplish. The tiny fleshy pointed leaves are only a few millimeters long. Crassula aquatica is a small plant forming thin mats or small patches on mud and sand, and growing more erect when exposed to open air for longer periods. The flesh of the plant is greenish-yellow to bright red or purplish. The tiny fleshy pointed leaves are only a few millimeters long. A flower grows on a short stalk from the intersection of each oppositely-arranged pair of leaves. The flower is only about two millimeters long and wide. The fruit is a minute follicle containing several seeds. This plant is widespread across North America and Eurasia. It is listed as a vulnerable species in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Crassula connata is a succulent plant known by the common names sand pygmyweed and pygmy stonecrop. It is a very small plant which grows in patches on the ground, especially in rocky areas. It is also sometimes associated with vernal pool plant communities. The stems are a few centimeters in length and are covered with tiny fleshy more or less rounded leaves. Each leaf is only millimeters long. The plant is green when new and it matures to shades of pink and red. It is found in western North America and in parts of Central and South America.

Castlegar hawthorn (Crataegus castlegarensis) is a deciduous shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) native to the northern and western regions of North America. It closely resembles black hawthorn and features bright green leaves, clusters of small cream-colored flowers that bloom from May to June, and crimson to burgundy berries in late summer. The berries, which resemble tiny apples, appear in August. Its twigs are armed with long thorns.

Castlegar hawthorn works well as a woodland shrub or small tree. It supports butterflies and moths, and its berries are a valuable food source for birds.

Crataegus douglasii is a species of hawthorn known by the common names black hawthorn and Douglas' thornapple. It is named after David Douglas, who collected seed from the plant during his botanical explorations. This thorny shrub is native to northern and western North America, where it grows in varied habitats from forest to scrubland. It is most abundant in the Pacific Northwest. This is a compact erect bushy shrub covered in fan-shaped green leaves with teeth along the distal margin. Thorns along the branches are one to two centimeters long. White flowers with greenish centers grow in bunches at the ends of each thin branch. The fruit is a very dark purple pome up to about a centimeter across. The fruits were a good food source for Native American peoples such as the Cheyenne and Nlaka'pamux.

Klamath Hawthorn is a native tree or shrub that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in moist streambanks, at elevations from 0-4900 feet.

Crepis acuminata is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name tapertip hawksbeard. It is native to the western United States where it grows in many types of open habitat. Crepis acuminata is a perennial herb producing a woolly, branching stem up to about 70 centimeters (28 inches) tall from a taproot. The gray-green leaves are long and cut into many triangular, pointed lobes. The longest, near the base of the plant, may reach 40 centimeters (16 inches) in length. The inflorescence is an open array of flower heads at the top of the stem branches. Each of the many flower heads is enveloped in smooth or hairy phyllaries. The flower head opens into a face of up to 10 yellow ray florets. There are no disc florets. The fruit is a narrow achene 7 or 8 millimeters long tipped with a pappus of white hairlike bristles.

Crepis bakeri is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Baker's hawksbeard. It is native to the western United States where it grows in many types of mountain and plateau habitat. It is found in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, northern California, Nevada, and Utah. Crepis bakeri is a perennial herb producing a dark green, hairy, glandular stem up to about 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall from taproot and a thick caudex at ground level. The leaves are narrowly oval and fringed with shallow lobes. They are dark dusty green with reddish or purplish veins and the basal leaves approach 20 centimeters (8 inches) in maximum length. The inflorescence is an open array of up to 22 flower heads. Each has a base of lance-shaped phyllaries which are hairy and often bristly. The flower head contains up to 60 yellow ray florets. There are no disc florets. The fruit is a thin achene up to a centimeter long with an off-white pappus.

Crepis intermedia is a North American species of flowering plants in the daisy family known by the common name limestone hawksbeard. It is native to western Canada (Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia) and the western United States (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California). Crepis intermedia grows in many types of open and forested habitat. It is a perennial herb growing an erect, multibranched stem from a thick taproot, reaching up to 70 centimeters (28 inches) in height. It has woolly green herbage. The leaves are lined with triangular lobes and the lowest leaves approach 40 centimeters (16 inches) long. The inflorescence is an open array of many ligulate flower heads, each with woolly phyllaries and several yellow ray florets but no disc florets. The fruit is a narrow, ribbed achene just under a centimeter long.

Crepis modocensis is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Modoc hawksbeard. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in several types of mountain and plateau habitat, including sagebrush. It is a perennial herb growing an erect stem up to 45 centimeters tall and often lined with long bristles. The woolly and sometimes bristly leaves are dark-veined and edged with blunt and sharp lobes. The longest leaves at the base of the plant reach about 25 centimeters long. The flower cluster bears one to ten flower heads with rough or bristly phyllaries and up to 60 yellow ray florets. The fruit is an achene around a centimeter long which is black in color, sometimes green or red tinted, and sports a tufty white pappus. There are several subspecies of this plant. The ssp. glareosa is endemic to Kittitas County, Washington.

Crepis monticola is a North American species of wildflowers in the daisy family known by the common name mountain hawksbeard. This aster-like flower is native to southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows in woodlands and dry forests. Crepis monticola is a taprooted perennial which rarely exceeds 30 centimeters (12 inches) in height. The dense foliage is made up of highly lobed and toothed leaves forming a wrinkled, bristly clump. It is often covered in sticky exudate. The inflorescence is a cluster of several flower heads, each made up of about 20 golden yellow ligules with toothed tips, but no disc florets. The fruit is a small achene with a white pappus.

Askellia pygmaea (dwarf alpine hawksbeard) is a species of Asian and North American plants in the dandelion tribe within the sunflower family. It is native to western, northern, and eastern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Nunavut, Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland), the western United States (Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California), Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and western China (Tibet + Xinjiang). Askellia pygmaea is a perennial up to 20 cm (8 inches) tall, with a deep taproot and spreading by means of underground rhizomes thus forming dense clumps. Stems are sometimes erect, but sometimes trailing along the ground. One plant can have more than 80 small flower heads, each with 9-12 yellow ray florets but no disc florets.

Crepis occidentalis is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names western hawksbeard,:119 or largeflower hawksbeard. It is native to western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan) and the western United States (from the Pacific to the western Great Plains). Crepis occidentalis grows in many types of habitat. It is a perennial herb growing a grayish woolly branching stem to about 40 centimeters (16 inches) in height from a deep taproot. The woolly, toothed leaves are up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long at the base of the plant. The inflorescence produces several clusters of flower heads with hairy, often glandular phyllaries and many yellow ray florets but no disc florets. The fruit is a ribbed achene with a frilly pappus at the tip.

Crepis pleurocarpa is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name nakedstem hawksbeard. It is native to the western United States (Washington, Oregon, northern California and western Nevada. Crepis pleurocarpa grows in dry, wooded or open habitat, sometimes on serpentine soils. It is a taprooted perennial herb producing a branching stem up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in height. The mostly lance-shaped leaves are lobed and long near the base of the plant, approaching 30 centimeters (12 inches) in length, and smaller and sometimes unlobed farther up the stem. The inflorescence is an open array of many flower heads, each with pointed phyllaries with thick midribs and thinner, hair-lined edges. Each flower head has 5 to 8 golden yellow ray florets but no disc florets. The fruit is a narrow, ribbed achene with a whitish pappus.

Crepis runcinata is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name fiddleleaf hawksbeard. It is native to western and central Canada (from British Columbia to Manitoba), the western and central United States (from the Pacific as far east as Minnesota, Iowa, western Kansas and northwestern Texas) and northern Mexico (Chihuahua). Crepis runcinata grows in many types of habitats. It is a variable species with many subspecies. In general it is a perennial herb growing an erect, hairless, mostly leafless, unbranching stem up to about 80 centimeters (32 inches) tall from a taproot. The hairless leaves are arranged about the base of the plant in a rosette, each somewhat narrowly oval with many toothlike triangular lobes or sometimes lacking lobes. The inflorescence produces flower heads with hairy, glandular phyllaries and many yellow ray florets but no disc florets. The fruit is a small achene with a pappus.

Cressa truxillensis is a species of flowering plant in the morning glory family known by the common name spreading alkaliweed. It is native to the western United States and Mexico, where it grows in habitat with saline or alkaline soils, such as beaches, desert flats, and playas. This is a perennial herb producing an erect stem with many branches up to about 25 centimeters tall. The clump of stems is densely lined with silky hairs and studded with many small hairy oval leaves, each under a centimeter long. Flowers appear in the axils of the uppermost leaves. Each has a white corolla with five pointed lobes surrounded by hairy green sepals. There are five protruding stamens and two styles.

Alderson's rush-rose (Crocanthemum aldersonii) is a low shrub in the Cistaceae or rock rose family. In the wild, it is found in Southern California and Baja, Mexico, on chaparral slopes and canyons at elevations up to 4,000 feet.  The leaves are blade-like, the yellow flowers  cup-shaped or flat-petalled, blooming in spring.

It should be noted that there are many non-native varieties of Cistus that are commonly available in nurseries; almost all are commonly called Rock Rose or Sun Rose.

Crocanthemum scoparium is a species in the Cistaceae (Rockrose) family which is endemic to California. There may be some taxonomic confusion about this species, and some sources include it in the genus Helianthemum. Its common names include Peak Rockrose and Peak Rushrose. There are two recognized varieties, both uncommon. This is a small perennial shrub bearing long, smooth stems and small flowers each with five bright yellow petals. It is found in dry, sandy areas in hills and low mountains primarily along the coast from the Bay Area southward, with a concentration in San Diego County. It should be noted that there are many non-native varieties of Cistus that are commonly available in nurseries; almost all are commonly called Rock Rose or Sun Rose.

Bisbee Peak Rush Rose (Helianthemum suffrutescens) is a rare native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry and sandy slopes, at elevations from 0-1000 feet.

Crocidium multicaule is a species of plants in the daisy family known by the common name spring gold. This plant is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it can be found in varied habitats from grassland to woodland. It is a small annual, typically not exceeding 30 centimeters in height. It grows from a small patch of somewhat fleshy leaves at the ground and erects several very tall, very thin gangly stems, each of which is topped with a flower head. The flower head is made up of five to 13 lemon yellow ray florets, each up to a centimeter long. The center of the head is filled with tiny disc florets, in a similar shade of bright yellow. The fruits are fuzzy brown achenes only one or two millimeters long which turn gluey when wet.

Crossosoma bigelovii is one of only a few species in the flowering plant family Crossosomataceae. It is known by the common name ragged rockflower and it is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of North America. It is a shrub growing one to two meters tall. It is intricately divided into thorn-tipped branches lined with clusters of small, deciduous, gray-green leaves no longer than about 1.5 centimeters. The flower cluster bears a single flower, which has white to purple-tinged petals about a centimeter long and narrowing to claws at their bases.

Crossosoma californicum, known by the common name California rockflower, is one of only a few species in the flowering plant family Crossosomataceae. Crossosoma californicum is native to San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands, two of the Channel Islands of California, as well as Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California. It is also known from one location on the mainland California coast at the Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve, on the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles County. Crossosoma californicum is a shrub or small tree sprawling to a maximum height of 5 metres (16 ft). The stem is intricately divided into many thorn-tipped branches lined with veiny, pale green, oval-shaped to rounded leaves up to 9 centimeters long. The species produces solitary flowers with round white petals, each one to 1. 5 centimeters long. At the center are numerous of stamens and 1-5 free carpels

Croton californicus is a species of croton known by the common name California croton. This plant is a perennial or small shrub not exceeding a meter in height. The plant produces long oval-shaped leaves a few centimeters long and covered in a light-colored coat of hairs. This species is dioecious, with individual plants bearing either male (staminate) or female (pistillate) flowers, both only a few millimeters across. The staminate flowers are tiny cups filled with thready yellowish stamens and the pistillate flowers are the rounded, lobed immature fruits surrounded by tiny pointed sepals. This plant is native to California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Baja California, where it grows in the deserts and along the coastline.

Turkey Mullein (Croton setigerus) is a squat plant with furry, feltlike, heart-shaped leaves that are pale gray green. The small green flowers are covered in soft bristles. It is about 8 inches high and has a rounded form.  As a result it is often planted in outdoor flower pots.

It takes full sun or part shade, requires very little water and is easy or moderately easy to grow. 

The foliage is toxic to animals. Birds, particularly doves and Wild Turkeys are attracted to the seeds. It hosts several butterfly and moth species.

Croton wigginsii is a species of croton known by the common name Wiggins' croton. This small gray-green shrub is native to the Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and Arizona, into the Colorado Desert in California where it is an inhabitant of sand dunes. This small gray-green shrub is native to the Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and Arizona, into the Colorado Desert in California where it is an inhabitant of sand dunes. Croton wigginsii is spreading shrub approaches a meter-3 feet in height. Its sparse foliage is made up of long oval-shaped leaves covered in a coating of white hairs. It is dioecious, with male plants bearing staminate flowers with thready stamens and female plants bearing pistillate flowers composed of the rounded immature fruits.

Cryptantha affinis is a flowering annual plant occurring in open areas of the coniferous forest. It is a member of the Boraginaceae family. It occurs at elevation ranges between 700 - 2900 m. Cryptantha species occur with other genera such as Clarkia, Hesperolinon, Lasthenia, Lupinus, Mimulus and Phacelia . Cryptantha affinis is native to California. Its distribution is from the Klamath, North coast, and Cascade Mountain Ranges. It also occurs in the Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino, and Warner Mountains and as far as Washington to Wyoming . Characteristics. C. affinis is an annual ranging from 5-40 cm in height. Stems are simple with little or no branching. Stems have stiff hairs lying parallel to the stem surface. Hairs also may curve upward slightly . Leaves are short and oblanceolate to oblong. Leaf size ranges from 1-4 cm. Leaf arrangement is opposite below and alternate above. Upper leave appear more oblong to lanceolate. Flowers are terminal and elongated when in fruit. Flowers are radial and can be open or dense in contact from side to side. Sepals are free. Flower color is generally white. Flowers are fused and lobed at the tip of the tube. Fruits are smooth ovate nutlets. Nutlets are in a group of four about 2 mm. Fruit shape is ovate. Fruits are smooth and shiny and black in color. Fruits are grooved and sometimes forked at the basal region. Most plants appear to be toxic due to their high levels of alkaloids and nitrates. Ecology. C. affinis physiology appears to be influenced by nutrients of Deer excretions. Increased photosynthesis and higher plant nitrogen levels have been observed in habitats frequented by Mule Deer, Antelope, and Elk. Higher nutrients appear to increase growth and reproduction in wet years. In dry years survival is increased by the shading of Cryptantha by the presence of large shrubs. Although shading increases survival in dry years, in wet years growth and reproduction seem to be reduced even when nutrient levels in the soil are high . Cryptantha species are dominant annuals in a wide range of habitats . In habitats where Cryptantha is a dominant species, fire intensity reduces its density .

Cryptantha ambigua is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name basin cryptantha. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in many types of habitat, including forest, scrub, and sagebrush. It is an annual herb producing a branching stem 10 to 35 centimeters tall covered in stiff hairs. The hairy to bristly leaves are up to 4 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a linear array of developing fruits with a dense clump of open flowers at the tip. The bristly white five-lobed flowers are 3 or 4 millimeters wide.

Cryptantha cinerea (common name James' catseye) is a plant found in the United States. Among the Zuni people, the powdered root of the jamesii variety is used to relieve a sore anus.

Cryptantha clevelandii is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name Cleveland's cryptantha. It is native to coastal California and Baja California, where it grows in the chaparral and other habitat in the coastal hills. It is an annual herb growing a branching or unbranched stem up to 60 centimeters tall. It is softly to roughly hairy and lined with linear leaves up to 5 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a length of developing fruits with a dense cluster of white flowers at the tip, the flowers are often thought to resemble a blow fly ascending to the sun as radiant beams of light engulf the flower like an illuminating aura, this gives Cryptantha clevelandii the nickname "glowing fly"