Great Habitat Plants to Grow
Salvia apiana
A dramatic plant with striking, pale blue-green, aromatic foliage and tall spires of white flowers. Very adaptable as long as the drainage and air...
Madia elegans
Tarweed is in full bloom from late summer through fall, providing pollen and nectar when little else is available for bees and beneficial insects. A...
Gilia tricolor
This species of Gilia is unique to California and very easy to grow. Each plant yields hundreds of half-inch flowers on upright stems surrounded by...
Eschscholzia californica
The state flower of California, every garden should have this cheerful annual. California poppies like fast draining soil and plenty of sunshine but...
Clarkia unguiculata
The blooms of this native clarkia range from white, pale pink, salmon, and bright pink to magenta. Flowers in full sun or partial shade. Clarkia...
Linem lewisii
A beautiful Western perennial, perfect for the border or in a meadow blended with bunchgrasses, poppies, clarkia and flowering bulbs. Summer...
Salvia spathacea ‘Avis Keedy’
Hummingbird Sages set their large flowers on spires that are easily accessible to the hummingbirds. This Salvia is endemic to California with a...
Frangula (Rhamnus) californica
Coffeeberry is one of California’s most common shrubs, found growing naturally in various woodland, riparian and chaparral communities. It is very...
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon is another of California's common shrubs that grows naturally in a multitude of environments; it is at home in the chaparral and woodlands...
Muhlenbergia rigens
Deer Grass is one of the most impressive of the native bunchgrasses. Established plants are large, and sometimes flowering stalks reach well over...
Monardella villosa
Coyote Mint displays masses of purplish flowers in dense rounded heads all through the summer. The deer avoid this plant because of the minty...
Heuchera maxima
The delicate beauty of the Alum Roots, particularly in full bloom, belies the hardiness of this plant. The leaves are somewhat maple shaped,...
Eriogonum latifolium
Coast Buckwheat is found growing in the wild along coastal bluffs and dunes, and within the coastal scrub community. Various Eriogonum species...
Asclepias speciosa
Milkweeds are wonderful habitat plants that provide resources for a host of creatures. Various Asclepias species grow throughout the northern...
Asclepias fascicularis
In the wild Narrow-leaf Milkweed can be seen growing in meadows, sometimes in large, spread out stands. In the garden it is equally effective in...
Aquilegia eximia
The red and yellow flowers of the native Columbines rise up on graceful stems from basal clusters of beautiful lacey foliage. Columbines are at home...
Gilia capitata
Gilias are easy to grow, and will happily reseed when conditions are right! Annual wildflowers often mingle with other wildflowers in the...
Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa
Tufted Hairgrass is native to the cool, coastal bluffs, and as such performs best in gardens with a little extra water. In inland gardens, it...
Festuca californica
Festuca californica is native to brushy or wooded slopes, particularly those with a north-facing exposure. Established wild stands are a...
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Phacleias are one of the very best bee forage plants! The flowers bloom in early summer, and also attract many other beneficial insects. Plant...
Penstemon heterophyllus
The flowers of this native penstemon are almost an electric blue, and very profuse. It blooms in spring, and creates quite a show in the garden...
Scrophularia californica
This herbaceous perennial spreads by underground stems to colonize an area. The leaves are dark green, and triangular with a toothed edge....
Salvia leucophylla
The flowers of Purple Sage are actually more pink than purple, and lovely against the silvery foliage of this evergreen shrub. Purple Sage...
Salvia brandegei
The flowers of Salvia brandegei are white with lilac tones, and profuse when this Salvia gets full sun exposure. It requires good drainage and...
Mimulus guttatus
This lovely Monkeyflower is found growing naturally in wet places. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade locations, but is at its showiest...
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum
Pink-flowering Currant grows best in partial shade; perfect in the summer-dry conditions of an oak woodland. Drooping racemes of pink to red...
Malva (Lavatera) assurgentiflora
Mission Mallow is a very fast growing shrub with showy hibiscus-like flowers produced nearly all year in frost-free settings. The plant is big...
Salvia spathacea
The bright pink flowers of Salvia spathacea form on stems that rise about 12 to 18 inches above the large fragrant leaves in late spring to...
Aster chilensis
This sweet little aster is native to coastal southern California; and given the right conditions will spread happily in most gardens. The pale...
Erigeron glaucus
This lovely native of coastal bluffs is a reliable evergreen perennial that blooms prolifically in the garden in late spring. ‘Cape Sebastian’...
Mimulus aurantiacus
This perennial shrub is found all over the Bay Area, growing in full sun in Chaparral, or part shade at the edges of Oak Woodland. In the...