Great Habitat Plants to Grow

Salvia apiana

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

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

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

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

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

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’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asclepias speciosa

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

Asclepias  fascicularis

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

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

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

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

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

Phacelia tanacetifolia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...