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Habitat Plant Guide

A collection of native plants that help create vibrant gardens supporting pollinators, birds, and local wildlife.

Salvia apiana

A dramatic plant with striking, pale blue-green, aromatic foliage and tall spires of white flowers. Very adaptable as long as

Madia elegans

Tarweed is in full bloom from late summer through fall, providing pollen and nectar when little else is available for

Gilia tricolor

This species of Gilia is unique to California and very easy to grow. Each plant yields hundreds of half-inch flowers

Eschscholzia californica

The state flower of California, the California poppy is a cheerful annual that every garden should have. It thrives in

Clarkia unguiculata

The blooms of this native clarkia range from white, pale pink, salmon, and bright pink to magenta. Flowers in full

Linem lewisii

A beautiful Western perennial, perfect for the border or in a meadow blended with bunchgrasses, poppies, clarkia and flowering bulbs.

Salvia spathacea ‘Avis Keedy’

Hummingbird Sages set their large flowers on spires that are easily accessible to the hummingbirds. This Salvia is endemic to

Frangula (Rhamnus) californica

Coffeeberry is one of California’s most common shrubs, found growing naturally in various woodland, riparian and chaparral communities. It is

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Toyon is another of California's common shrubs that grows naturally in a multitude of environments; it is at home in

Muhlenbergia rigens

Deer Grass is one of the most impressive of the native bunchgrasses. Established plants are large, and sometimes flowering stalks

Monardella villosa

Coyote Mint displays masses of purplish flowers in dense rounded heads all through the summer. The deer avoid this plant

Heuchera maxima

The delicate beauty of the Alum Roots, particularly in full bloom, belies the hardiness of this plant.  The leaves are

Eriogonum latifolium

Coast Buckwheat is found growing in the wild along coastal bluffs and dunes, and within the  coastal scrub community. Various

Asclepias speciosa

Milkweeds are wonderful habitat plants that provide resources for a host of creatures. Various Asclepias species grow throughout the northern hemisphere;

Asclepias fascicularis

In the wild Narrow-leaf Milkweed can be seen growing in meadows, sometimes in large, spread out stands. In the garden

Aquilegia eximia

The red and yellow flowers of the native Columbines rise up on graceful stems from basal clusters of beautiful lacey

Gilia capitata

Gilias are easy to grow, and will happily reseed when conditions are right! Annual wildflowers often mingle with other wildflowers in

Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa

Tufted Hairgrass is native to the cool, coastal bluffs, and as such performs best in gardens with a little extra

Festuca californica

Festuca californica is native to brushy or wooded slopes, particularly those with a north-facing exposure. Established wild stands are a beautiful

Phacelia tanacetifolia

Phacleias are one of the very best bee forage plants! The flowers bloom in early summer, and also attract many

Penstemon heterophyllus

The flowers of this native penstemon are almost an electric blue, and very profuse. It blooms in spring, and creates

Scrophularia californica

This herbaceous perennial spreads by underground stems to colonize an area. The leaves are dark green, and triangular with a toothed

Salvia leucophylla

The flowers of Purple Sage are actually more pink than purple, and lovely against the silvery foliage of this evergreen shrub.

Salvia brandegei

The flowers of Salvia brandegei are white with lilac tones, and profuse when this Salvia gets full sun exposure. It

Mimulus guttatus

This lovely Monkeyflower is found growing naturally in wet places. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade locations,

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

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

Salvia spathacea

The bright pink flowers of Salvia spathacea form on stems that rise about 12 to 18 inches above the large

Aster chilensis

This sweet little aster is native to coastal southern California; and given the right conditions will spread happily in most gardens.

Erigeron glaucus

This lovely native of coastal bluffs is a reliable evergreen perennial that blooms prolifically in the garden in late spring. ‘Cape

Mimulus aurantiacus

This perennial shrub is found all over the Bay Area, growing in full sun in Chaparral, or part shade at

Charlotte’s Habitat Wisdom

Learn from her articles on native plants, supporting wildlife, habitat gardening, and the living landscapes she loves.