Fall Garden Fair Native Plants | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

California native plants have evolved to be well adapted to our dry summer/wet winter climate, plus they support native birds and insects. They are generally water-wise choices for landscaping.

Remember that California contains a wide variety of growing conditions, from sandy deserts to moist creek sides. Some plants are broadly adaptable while others have specific soil, water, or sun requirements. For gardening success, try to select plants whose growing requirements best match your landscape's conditions. A good source for additional information is the California Native Plant Society's site, Calscape.org.

Please understand that some varieties may sell out quickly or not be available due to germination difficulties.

Native plant list

Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Perennial, evergreen. White flowers April–August. Edible leaves with slight peppery taste. 1–3' tall x spreading. Low water. Full/part sun. Hardy to -10°F

Deer Plant, Acmispon glaber
Perennial, winter deciduous. Small yellow flowers March–August. Attracts bees & butterflies. Adds nitrogen to soil. 2–3' tall x 3' wide. Very low water. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F

California Buckeye, Aesculus californica
Shrub/small tree, summer deciduous. Showy white flower spikes in spring, toxic fruits. 15–25' tall x 25-40' wide. Very low water. Full/part sun. Hardy to -5°F

Mound of long, grass-like leaves with a few puffy round magenta flowers

Thrift Seapink, Armeria maritima
Perennial, evergreen. Grass-like mound with pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Good in containers. Deer resistant. 6–12" x 6–12". Water 2/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Full/part sun. Hardy to 20–30°F

Artemisia-californica-Cal-State-Channel-Islands

Coast Sagebrush Artemisia californica
Adapts to various soils. Fragrant grey foliage. 1–8' tall x 3–4' wide. Water 1/month once established. Full sun. Hardy to 20°F

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Narrowleaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis
Perennial, winter deciduous. White or lavender flowers in June–September. Hosts monarch & queen butterflies and birds. 2–3' tall x 1' wide. Water 2/month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 5°F

Large flowers with single ring of white petals and bright yellow stamens

Tree Anemone, Carpenteria californica
Shrub, evergreen. Large white flowers with bright yellow stamens May–July. Glossy 4-inch leaves, peeling bark. Found in Sierras. 6–10' tall x 10' wide, but can be kept smaller with regular pruning. Draining soil. Water max 3/month once est. Full/part sun. Hardy to 10°F

Hoary Ceanothus, Ceanothus crassifolius
Shrub, evergreen. White flowers March–April. 5–14' tall x 5–10' wide. Water 2/month once est. Draining soil. Full/part sun. Hardy to 12°F

Hairy Ceanothus, Ceanothus oliganthus
Shrub, evergreen. Blue/purple flowers March–May. Attracts birds, butterflies & native bees. 10' tall x 12' wide. Water 1/month once established. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F

White Coast Ceanothus, Ceanothus verrucosus
Shrub, evergreen. White flowers w/black center January–April. Tolerates minimal trimming. 4–10' tall x 8' wide. Water 1/month once established. Draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 30°F

Sacred Datura, Datura wrightii
Perennial, semi-deciduous. White flowers at night. Poisonous, especially fruit & seeds. 3' tall x 5' wide. Low water once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 15°F.

Bright orange-red five-petaled tubular flowers

Red Bush Monkey Flower, Diplacus puniceus
Shrub, summer semi–deciduous. Red or orange flowers in March–August. Good in containers. Deer resistant. Attracts hummingbirds and bees. 1–2' tall x 2–3' wide. Water max 1/month once established. Prefers draining soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to 15°F

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California Bush Sunflower, Encelia californica
Shrub, summer semi-deciduous. Yellow, brown, purple daisy-like flowers February–June. Fast growing, reseeds easily. Very easy to grow. Hosts butterfly fatal metalmark and moth dwarf tawny wave. Found in south California. 2–5' tall x 3–7' wide. Water 1/month once established. Part/full sun. Hardy to 30°F

Red Buckwheat, Eriogonum grande var. rubesens
Perennial, evergreen. Rare. Rose red flowers April–Oct. Deer resistant. Good for containers and groundcover. Found on Catalina Islands. 8–18" tall x spreading. Water 1/month once established. Slow draining soil. Full sun. Hardy to 20°F

Scarlet Monkeyflower, Erythranthe cardinalis
Perennial. Red flowers March–May. Deadhead to extend season. Attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies. 2–3' tall x 3' wide. Moderate–high water, keep moist. Part/full sun. Hardy to -34°F

Great Valley Gum Plant, Grindelia camporum v. camporum
Perennial. Yellow daisy-like flowers April–October. Supports butterflies. Water 1/month once established. 2–6' tall x 3' wide. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F

Island Alum Root, Heuchera maxima
Perennial, evergreen. Pink or white flowers in February–May. Attracts hummingbirds. 1–2' tall x 2' wide. Water 3/month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 12°F

Crevice Alum Root, Heuchera micrantha
Perennial, evergreen. Pink or white flowers May–July. 1–3' tall x 1' wide. Draining soil. Water to keep moist. Full/part shade. Hardy to 16°F

Climbing Penstemon, Keckielia cordifolia
Shrub, summer semi-deciduous. Red flowers March–August. Attracts hummingbirds, birds, bees, & butterflies. Good in containers. Fast growing. Found in Santa Maria to San Diego. Very low water, max 1/month once established. 3–7' tall and 3–6' wide. Full/part sun. Hardy to -5°F

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Perennial. Red flowers in June–September. 2–6' tall x 2–5' wide. Moderate/high water. Loam soil. Part/full sun. Hardy to -30°F

Light yellow flowers circling stalk with unopened buds above them

Yellow Evening Primrose Oenothera elata
Perennial. Yellow/orange flowers in June–September. Attracts butterflies. 5' x 3'. Water 1–2 times/month once established. Adapts to soil. Full/part sun

Catalina Island Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
Tree, evergreen. White or cream flowers May–June. Edible cherries with large pits. Attracts pollinators. 25–40' tall x 20' wide. Water 2/month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 10–20°F

Large dark green bush with small, creamy flowers

Sugar Bush, Rhus ovata
Shrub, evergreen. White or pink flower clusters April–May. 7–33' tall x 30' wide. Good for bank stabilization. Adapts to soil. Very low water, max 1/month once est. Full/part sun, Hardy to -10°F

California Blackberry/Pacific Dewberry, Rubus ursinus
Shrub/vine, winter deciduous. Sweet black berries on thorny canes. 2–8' tall x 5’ wide. Consistent moisture. Tolerates variety of soils. Full/part sun, Hardy to 0°F

White Sage, Salvia apiana
Shrub. Aromatic bluish-white floliage. Tall white flower stalks April–July. Deer resistant. 3–5' tall x 3–8' wide. Water 1/month once established. Full sun. Hardy to 0°F

Black Sage, Salvia mellifera
Perennial, evergreen. Aromatic foliage. Pale blue to white flowers March–July. 3–4' tall x 3–6' wide. No/low water. Full/part sun. Hardy to 15°F

Rose Sage, Salvia pachyphylla
Perennial, evergreen. Dense 4" spikes of blue-violet flowers in July–Sept. 1–3' tall x 2–3’ wide. No/low water once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 30°F

Dense clusters of small starry off-white flowers in front of green serrated leaves

Blue Elderberry, Sambucus mexicana. caerulea
Shrub/tree. Prune as shrub or tree. Clusters of white flowers produce edible blue berries. 10–25' tall. Low water. Full/part sun

California/Pacific Aster, Symphyotrichum chilense
Perennial, winter deciduous. Pale lilac daisy-like flowers in July-August, deadhead for more. Can copice in winter. Fast growing. Deer resistant. Attracts bees, birds & butterflies (nectar). Very easy care. Spreads by rhizomes. 1–3' tall x 3' wide. Water 2/month once established. Full/part sun. Hardy to 5°F