California Native Plants For Your Garden

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California Native Plant List

The native plants of California have incredible diversity and beauty, my hope is that more of these beautiful plants will be included in our landscapes. It seems logical that the plants that grow here naturally should be the ones that would be the easiest to grow. So often we try to help the plants along and fail them with our kindness. Knowing where the plants come from and what conditions will make them thrive can make many of these plants easy choices for including in most any garden.

The popularity of the California's Native Plants seems to wax and wane depending upon the availability of water. Much of the garden hardiness of the xeric plants is often diminished by the excessive use of water. Due to the increasingly critical nature of this supply, our need for supplemental water for irrigation will at some point be rationed by cost. As more people move to the state, and they are every day,(typically half a million a year) and ancient groundwater and farm water resources are consumed by our landscapes (as we recently saw with Coachella Valley-Colorado River water going to San Diego) there will be an increasing pressure to use plants in our landscapes that do not need so much additional water. The occasional El Nino may allow us to forget about water limits for a season or two but we can be relatively assured that we will find ourselves, at some point, looking towards conservation of water in our landscape so that we can maintain the comfort of our lifestyle in our homes.

With 5,862 species of wild plants growing in this state and 4,839 of those species being native to California, it is a small wonder that more of them have not made it into the horticultural trade directly or in the form of hybrids. It seems ironic that many of our native plants are more popular in Europe than they are here at home. Only 8% of our plant resources are in protected areas. Much of this resource is at risk due to the rapid encroachment of our ever-expanding suburbs and agriculture. The native plants are very effective at attracting our native wildlife and may provide some limited habitat for increasingly displaced native wildlife species. Within our state there are climatic zones that range from the very wet to the extremely dry, from coastal plants to alpine. With this range of climatic zones there is a huge array of plants to chose from and something that can suit almost any need.

Because we have utilized this California native plant resource in such a small way we have little idea about the breadth of the design capacity of these plants. There are natives with large dark glossy leaves, with showy flowers, and adaptations to myriad soil types. Everything from desert effects and wildflower meadows to near tropical lushness can be achieved with this palate of plants.

It is important to know where the plants that we use in the landscape are native to, what is the soil, rainfall and exposure where these plants live. Plants collected from the Sierra's near Tahoe or along the Monterey or Carmel coastline come from a much cooler and wetter climate than the plants from the mountains of Southern California. When choosing plants for an area that recieves less than 15 inches of rainfall and often recieves weeks of temperatures above the century mark, picking a plant from the Carmel bluffs hardly makes sense. The plants think so, Ceanothus Yankee Point looks dreadful after a week of Southern California inland heat.

Many of California's wildflowers can be used in the seeded garden, Poppies, Lupines, Clarkias, Evening Primroses and many others are available in seed mixes. Many of the woody plants are more easily propagated from cuttings or divisions. Check our California Wildflower List.

California Native Plants by Latin Name

Aster chilensis Purple Haze, Purple Haze California Aster, Purple Haze Pacific Aster

Datura wrightii * Sacred Thorn Apple, Jimsonweed, Devil's Trumpet
Delphinium purpusii * Kern County Larkspur, Rose Flowered Larkspur
Dendromecon harfordii * Island Bush Poppy
Dendromecon rigida * Bush Poppy
Dicentra chrysantha * Golden Teardrops
Dicentra formosa * Bleeding Heart
Dichelostemma capitatum * Blue Dicks
Diplacus aurantiacus * Sticky Monkeyflower
Diplacus longiflorus * Southern Bush Monkeyflower
Dodecatheon clevelandii * Padre's Shooting Star
Dodecatheon hendersonii * Mostquito Bills, Foothill Shooting Star
Drymocallis glandulosa * Sticky Cinquefoil
Dryopteris arguta * Coastal Wood Fern
Dudleya caspitosa * Sea Lettuce
Dudleya candelabrum * Candleholder Liveforever, Candleholder Dudleya
Dudleya farinosa * Bluff Lettuce, Cliff Lettuce
Dudleya hassei * Catalina Liveforever
Dudleya lanceolata * Lance Leaf Liveforever
Dudleya pulverulenta * Chalk Liveforever
Dudleya traskiae * Santa Barbara Liveforever
Echinocereus coccineus * Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii * Engelman's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus mojavensis * Mojave King Cup Cactus
Ehrendorferia chrysantha * Golden Eardrops
Elymus condensatus Canyon Prince * Canyon Prince Giant Rye
Encelia californica * California Brittle-Bush, Coast Sunflower
Encelia californica El Dorado * California Brittlebush, California Sunflower
Encelia californica Paleo Yellow * Paleo Yellow California Brittle Bush
Encelia farinosa * Brittlebush, Incienso
Ephedra californica * Desert Tea
Epipactis gigantea * Stream Orchid
Equisetum telmateia braunii * Giant Horsetail
Eremalche rotundifolia * Desert Five Spot
Eremothera boothii condensata * Booth's Evening Primrose, Woody Bottle Washer
Eremothera boothii decorticans * Desert Shredding Evening Primrose
Ericameria linearifolia * Narrowleaf Goldenbush
Ericameria nauseosa * Rabbit Brush
Erigeron argentatus * Silver Fleabane
Erigeron blochmaniae * Blochman's Erigeron
Erigeron foliosus foliosus * Leafy Fleabane, Hartweg's Fleabane
Erigeron glaucus Bountiful * Bountiful Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus Cape Sebastian * Cape Sebastian Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus Sea Breeze * Pink Seaside Daisy, Sea Breeze Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus Wayne Roderick * Wayne Roderick Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus White Lights * White Lights Seaside Daisy
Eriodictyon crassifolium * Felt Leaved Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon tomentosum * Woolly Yerba Santa
Eriogonum arborescens * Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat
Eriogonum cinereum * Ashyleaf Buckwheat, Coastal Buckwheat
Eriogonum crocatum * Conejo Buckwheat, Saffron Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum * California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum Warriner Lytle * Warriner Lytle California Buckwheat
Eriogonum giganteum * St. Catherine's Lace
Eriogonum incanum * Frosted Buckwheat
Eriogonum latifolium * Seaside Buckwheat, Coast Buckwheat
Eriogonum parviflorum * Sea Cliff Buckwheat, Coastal Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum * Sulphur Buckwheat
Eriogonum wrightii * Bastardsage, Wright's Buckwheat
Eriophyllum confertiflorum * Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum staechadifolium * Seaside Golden Yarrow, Lizard Tail
Erysimum capitatum * Western Wallflower, Sand Dune Wallflower
Erythronium grandiflorum * Glacier Lily, Yellow Avalanche Lily
Eschscholzia caespitosa * Tufted Eschscholzia
Eschscholzia californica * California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica Carmine King * Carmine King California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica White Linen * White Linen California Poppy
Eschscholzia minutiflora * Pygme Poppy
Eschscholzia parishii * Parish's Poppy, Pygme Poppy
Fagonia laevis * California Fagonbush
Ferocactus cylindraceus * California Barrel Cactus, Desert Barrel Cactus, Miner's Compass
Festuca californica * California Fescue
Fouquieria splendens * Occotillo
Fraxinus dipetala * California Ash
Fremontodendron californicum * Fremontea
Fremontodendron Ken Taylor * Flannel Bush, Ken Taylor Fremontea
Fritillaria biflora * Chocolate Lily
Galium angustifolium * Narrow Leaved Bedstraw
Galium aparine * Bedstraw
Galvezia speciosa * Island Snapdragon
Garrya eliptica 'James Roof' * Coast Tassel Bush
Garrya flavescens * Ashy Silktassel
Geraea canescens * Hairy Desert Sunflower
Geranium richardsonii * Richardson's Geranium
Gilia capitata * Thimble Flower, Globe Gilia
Gilia latifolia * Broad Leaved Gilia, Holly Leaf Gilia
Gnaphalium californicum * California Everlasting, California Cudweed
Grindelia camporum * Great Valley Gumweed, Great Valley Gumplant
Grindelia robusta * Great Valley Gumweed, Great Valley Gumplant
Grindelia stricta * Coastal Gumplant, Coastal Gumweed
Helianthemum scoparium * Sunrose
Heliotropium curassavicum * Salt Heliotrope
Hesperocallis undulata * Desert Lily
Heteromeles arbutifolia * Toyon
Heuchera Canyon Duet * Canyon Duet Coral Bells
Heuchera maxima * Island Alumroot
Heuchera micrantha diversifolia Palace Purple * Crevice Alumroot
Heuchera Rosada * Rosada Coral Bells
Heuchera rubescens Yosemite * Yosemite Alumroot, Pink Alumroot
Heuchera Santa Ana Cardinal * Santa Ana Cardinal Island Alum Root
Heuchera Wendy * Wendy Coral Bells
Hibiscus lasiocarpos (H. californicus) * Wooly Rose Mallow
Holodiscus discolor * Cream Bush
Hyptis emoryi Silver Lining * Desert Lavender
Iris douglasiana Dorothea's Ruby * Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris Dorothea's Ruby
Iris douglasiana Royal Peacock * Royal Peacock Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris
Iris hartwegii * Sierra Iris, Hartweg's Iris
Iris pacific coast hybrids * Douglas Iris Hybrids
Ipomopsis aggregata * Scarlet Gilia
Isocoma menzeisii * Coastal Goldenbush
Isomeris arborea * Bladderpod
Juglans californica * California Walnut
Juncus tenuis Blue Dart * Path Rush
Justicia californica * Chuparosa
Justicia californica Tecate Gold * Tecate Gold Chuparosa
Keckiella antirrhinoides * Yellow Bush Penstemon, Snapdragon Penstemon, Chaparral Beardtongue
Keckiella breviflora * Yawning Penstemon
Keckiella cordifolia * Bush Penstemon
Keckiella ternata * Blue Stemmed Penstemon, Scarlet Keckiella, Summer Bush Penstemon
Krameria bicolor * White Rhatany
Lasthenia californica * Goldfields
Lavatera assurgentiflora * Tree Mallow
Lavatera purisima * Island Mallow
Layia platyglossa * Tidy Tips
Lepechinia calycina * White Pitcher Sage, California Pitcher Sage, Woodbalm
Lepechinia fragrans El Tigre * Island Pitcher Sage, Fragrant Pitcher Sage
Leptodactylon californicum * Prickly Phlox
Leptosyne bigelovii * Bigelow's Coreopsis, Desert Coreopsis
Lessingia filaginafolia * California Aster
Lewisia brachycalyx * Short Sepaled Bitterroot
Lewisia cotyledon Elise * Cliff Maids, Siskiyou Lewisia
Lewisia cotyledon Little Plum * Little Plum Bitterroot
Lewisia rediviva * Bitterroot
Leymus condensatus Canyon Prince * Canyon Prince Giant Rye
Lilium humboldtii * Humboldt Lily
Lilium parvum * Sierra Tiger Lily
Linum lewisii * Western Flax
Lobelia cardinalis * Cardinal Flower
Lomatium dasycarpum * Woolly Fruited Lomatium
Lonicera ciliosa * Orange Honeysuckle, Western Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata * Twinberry
Lonicera subspicata denudata * Chaparral Honeysuckle
Lotus crassifolius otayensis * Otay Mountain Lotus
Lotus scoparius * Deerweed
Ludwigia peploides * Water Primrose
Lupinus albifrons * Silver Bush Lupine
Lupinus arizonicus * Arizona Lupine
Lupinus bicolor * Miniature Lupine
Lupinus chamissonis * Dune Bush Lupine, Chamisso Bush Lupine
Lupinus exubitus * Grape Soda Lupine
Lupinus grayi * Sierra Lupine
Lupinus hirsutissimus * Stinging Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus densiflorus * Chick Lupine
Lupinus stiversii * Harlequin Lupine
Lupinus succulentus * Succulent Lupine
Lupinus truncatus * Collared Annual Lupine
Lyonothamnus floribundus * Catalina Ironwood

Rafinesquia neomexicana * Desert Chicory, New Mexico Plumeseed
Ranunculus californicus * California Buttercup
Rhamnus californicus Eve Case * Coffee Berry
Rhamnus crocea * Red Berry
Rhus integrifolia * Lemonade Berry
Rhus laurina * Laurel Sumac
Rhus ovata * Sugar Bush
Ribes aureum * Golden Currant
Ribes malvaceum * Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceup viridifolium Ortega Beauty * Ortega Beauty Chaparral Currant
Ribes speciosum * Fuchsia Flowered Currant
Ribes viburnifolium * Evergreen Currant, Catalina Currant
Romneya coulteri * Matilija Poppy
Rosa californica * California Wild Rose
Rosa minutifolia * Baja Rose, Littleleaf Rose
Rubus ursinus * California Blackberry, Pacific Blackberry
Salix lasiolepis * Arroyo Willow
Salvia Allen Chickering * Allen Chickering Sage
Salvia apiana* White Sage
Salvia brandegeei * Brandegee's Sage
Salvia clevelandii * Cleveland Sage, Blue Sage, Fragrant Sage
Salvia clevelandii Winnifred Gilman * Winnifred Gilman Blue Sage
Salvia columbariae * Chia Sage
Salvia carduacea * Thistle Sage
Salvia Celestial Blue * Celestial Blue Sage
Salvia Desperado * Desperado Sage
Salvia dorrii dorrii * Desert Sage, Purple Desert Sage
Salvia leucophylla Bee's Bliss * Bee's Bliss Sage
Salvia leucophylla Amethyst Bluff * Amethyst Bluff Purple Sage
Salvia leucophylla Point Sal Spreader * Point Sal Spreader Purple Sage
Salvia mellifera * Black Sage
Salvia mellifera Green Carpet * Green Carpet Creeping Sage
Salvia mellifera Skylark * Skylark Black Sage
Salvia mellifera Terra Seca * Terra Seca Black Sage
Salvia munzii * San Diego Sage, Munz's Sage
Salvia munzii Emerald Carpet * San Miguel Mountain Sage, Munz's Sage
Salvia Pozo Blue * Pozo Blue Sage
Salvia sonomensis Dara's Choice * Dara's Choice Creeping Sage
Salvia sonomensis Mrs Beard * Mrs Beard Creeping Sage
Salvia spathacea * Hummingbird Sage
Salvia Terra Seca * Dwarf Black Sage
Sambucus mexicana * Mexican Elderberry
Saxifraga californica * California Saxifrage
Scutellaria mexicana * Paperbag Bush, Mexican Bladder Sage
Scutellaria siphocampyloides * Greyleaf Skullcap
Sedum spathulifolium Cape Blanco * Cape Blanco Stonecrop
Sidalcea malviflora * Checker
Silene laciniata * Indian Pink, Cardinal Catchfly
Sisyrinchium bellum * Blue Eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium californicum * Yellow Eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium Rocky Point * Rocky Point Blue Eyed Grass
Smilacina racemosa * False Solomon's Seal
Solanum umbelliferum * Blue Witch Nightshade
Solanum xanti Mountain Pride * Mountain Pride Purple Nightshade
Solidago californica * California Goldenrod
Sphaeralcea ambigua * Desert Mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua Louis Hamilton * Louis Hamilton Apricot Mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua rosacea * Rose Globemallow, Rosy Apricot Mallow
Sphaeralcea fulva La Luna * La Luna Globemallow
Stachys albens * White Hedge Nettle
Stanleya pinnata * Prince's Plume
Stipa speciosa * Desert Needle Grass
Symphyotrichum chilense * California Aster, Pacific Aster
Tetraneuris acaulis * Angelita Daisy, Stemless Four Nerve Daisy
Trichostema lanatum * Wooly Blue Curls
Trichostema lanceolatum * Vinegar Weed
Trichostema Midnight Magic * Midnight Magic Blue Curls
Trifolium wildenovii * Tomcat Clover
Triphysaria eriantha * Yellow Owls Clover
Triteleia laxa * Ithuriel's Spear
Triteleia ixioides ssp. anilina * Pretty Face
Typha domingensis * Southern Cattail
Umbellularia californica * California Bay
Urtica dioica gracilis * Stinging Nettles
Venegasia carpesioides * Canyon Sunflower
Vitis californica * California Wild Grape
Woodwardia fimbriata * Giant Chain Fern
Yucca brevifolia * Joshua Tree
Yucca whipplei * Our Lord's Candle
Zauschneria californica(Epilobium) * California Fuchsia
Zigadenus fremontii * Fremont's Star Lily