Our Plants

Acer circinatum (vine maple)

Deciduous shrub or tree 5 to 20 ft. tall, native to moist woods and streambanks in the coastal mountains of northern California to British Columbia. Attractive in all seasons: bare reddish twigs in winter, delicate lobed leaves in spring and summer, and good color in autumn. Wonderful in the woodland setting, under tall conifers where its fall color will stand out. A natural with ferns and other woodland plants that receive dappled to part shade and regular to moderate summer water. Can be espaliered too.

Achillea 'Moonshine' (yarrow)

Great long blooming yarrow with bright lemon-yellow flowers above mounds of soft silvery leaves. This very attractive foliage makes it a great addition to borders and mixed plantings. Full sun with moderate watering. Deer resistant.

Achillea millefolium 'Island Pink' (pink yarrow)

A color variant of the normally white California native yarrow from Santa Cruz Island. Dark green ferny foliage topped with clusters of bright pink flowers on 18 inch stems over a long period. Sun to partial shade, occasional to moderate water. Good habitat value, providing nectar for bees and butterflies. 

Achillea millefolium (inland form) (yarrow)

A vigorous and easy to grow perennial, yarrow grows native throughout California in many plant communities. This crop is grown from seed collected from a hot inland site in Napa County. In this form, flower stems rise 18 inches above the gray ferny foliage bearing white flowers in flat topped clusters. Plant in a sunny location with moderate to a little water. Spreads by rhizomes and can form sizable clumps if happy. A good addition to the habitat garden where the flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies and the foliage provides winter forage for birds.

Actaea rubra (baneberry)

Native to moist wooded plant communities throughout the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. The attractive astilbe-like foliage emerges in the early spring. The tiny white flowers have no petals and are made up of clusters of creamy white stamens. The spikes of vivid, shiny red berries are very showy though poisonous - hence the common name baneberry. A wonderful addition to shady situations with some summer water. Goes dormant in the winter.

Adenostema fasciculatum v. prostratum (prostrate chamise)

An interesting form of a rugged native shrub that inhabits hot dry rocky slopes of the chaparral. This rare and unusual form, from Santa Cruz Island grows into a low mound 3 - 4 ft. wide with dark green needle-like leaves. Small creamy white flowers in dense spikes decorate the branch tips in summer. A natural for dry sun drenched slopes where it will require no supplemental water once established. 

Adiantum aleuticum (five-finger fern)

Five finger fern provides a delicate, airy, fresh effect in the shade garden. Easy to grow in part shade with regular water and humusy soil. Does well in containers too. Fronds form finger-like patterns on handsome black stems

Aesculus californica (Californica Buckeye)

Beautiful in all its seasons, this native tree is perfectly adapted to our summer dry climate.  Broad headed, deciduous tree rapidly growing to 15 feet or more with smooth grey bark and a rounded shapely habit.  Bright green palmate leaves unfurl in the spring.  Striking, fragrant white flowers in long spikes are followed by pear shaped fruits that split open to reveal large chestnut-brown shiny seeds dangling from branch tips.  Buckeyes lose their leaves in summer to avoid the long dry season. Adaptable and tolerant of a wide range of conditions.  Sun to light shade, little to no water once established.  Flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies and native bees.

Allium cernuum (nodding onion)

A charming onion with clusters of pink and white flowers hanging from stalks up to about 18 inches tall. Blooms from spring through early summer. This species does not produce bulblets, making it less invasive than many other onions.  Under good conditions, it will spread by seed. Native throughout most of the United States but not California. Prefers partial shade with occasional water. Deer resistant.

Amelanchier alnifolia (serviceberry)

A common native shrub or small multi-trunked tree often found growing along seasonal streams. Serviceberries provide a touch of autumn color at Annadel State Park where the leaves turn a lovely butterscotch yellow. The white spring flowers are followed by dark blue-purple fruits coveted by ring neck doves in the wild. Sun to partial shade. Moderate water.

Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting)

An adaptable plant with shiny deep green leaves that are densely white and woolly beneath. The flowers appear in summer and are made up of pearly white papery bracts surrounding yellow centers. The “straw flowers” retain their shape and color and are often used in dried arrangements. Tolerant of almost any soil type, it prefers full sun where it will grow in moist to somewhat dry conditions. Can be invasive, perhaps best used in meadow plantings or other naturalistic settings. Grows 1 - 3 ft. tall and spreading. Attracts bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.

Anemopsis californica (yerba mansa)

An unusual plant - native to wet areas, but adaptable to regular garden water. The low rosettes of leaves spread into attractive colonies. The white flowers, or actually, flower bracts, are very showy in late spring. Sun to light shade with moisture. Herbalists use roots and leaves for a topical antibiotic and other uses.