Elymus californicus
California bottlebrush grass is a tall robust grass with broad, bright green blades and nodding brushlike flower spikes. Uncommon in the wild it can be found in coastal counties on shaded banks and wooded areas, including redwood forests. Displays 3 - 6 ft. tall flower stalks with low foliage up to 1 ft. high. Provide moderate to infrequent irrigation. Deer resistant.
Encelia californica
Cheery yellow daisies with purplish-brown centers cover this sunflower from late winter all the way into summer, making it one of our longest blooming natives. The 2-inch-wide blossoms make for stupendous cut flowers and are loved by bees and butterflies. Goldfinches enjoy the seeds which follow. This somewhat short-lived subshrub features dark green, diamond-shaped leaves and reaches about 3 – 4 ft. tall, spreading a little wider. Should reseed if the spent flowers aren’t removed. Enjoys full sun to light shade and occasional to infrequent irrigation with decent drainage to look its best. Native to generally coastal areas in southern California. While not especially cold sensitive, it will freeze if the temperature gets down to the mid 20s.
Epilobium ‘Bert’s Bluff’
A Las Pilitas Nursery selection, named for the founder, Bert Wilson. This California fuchsia sports grey foliage, growing 2 -3 foot tall and spreading. Blooming in late summer, the bright orange-red, tubular flowers are beloved by hummingbirds, but visited by bees as well. This cultivar is reputed as being particularly tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and growing environments. Plant in full sun with occasional deep summer watering.
Epilobium ‘Chaparral Silver’
This California fuchsia that we obtained from another grower appears to be identical to our ‘Roger’s U. C. Hybrid’ - same lovely gray foliage 12 -18 inches tall, spreading, with narrow red tubular flowers that the hummingbirds love. Provide full sun to bright shade. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium ‘Roger’s U.C. Hybrid’
A California fuchsia that is upright in habit with narrow silver-gray foliage and slender trumpet-shaped blossoms of orange-red. Reaches a height of about 1 1/2 ft. and spreads easily. Very similar to the selections ‘Carman’s Gray’ and ‘Chaparral Silver’. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Hummingbird favorite. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium ‘Schieffelin’s Choice’
This California fuchsia grows close to the ground - 10 - 12 inches tall with arching flower stalks. Gray foliage makes a wonderful foil for the bright orangey-red tubular flowers which appear summer through fall. Believed to be a cross between E. septentrionale and E. canum. Provide full sun to very light shade. One of the more drought tolerant selections but flowers best with occasional deep watering. Hummingbird favorite. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year. Perhaps more deer resistant than other California fuchsias.
Epilobium canum ‘Bowman’s Hybrid’
This California fuchsia has distinctive narrow, olive-green foliage and an upright habit about 2-3 ft. tall and spreading widely. The orange-red tubular flowers are petite but profuse. Plant in sunny areas. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvinate them for the following year. Hummingbird favorite.
Epilobium canum ‘Calistoga’
Phil Van Soelen’s selection of California fuchsia from the Palisades east of Calistoga. Forms a spreading mat of unusually wide, fuzzy, gray leaves. The flowers are the typical hummingbird attracting orange-red trumpet shape and appear on stalks reaching up to 18 inches high. For sunny areas. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium canum ‘Carman’s Grey’
We love California fuchsias and have grown this cultivar for over twenty years. Valued for their beauty and important late season nectar source for hummingbirds, California fuchsias offer many forms and foliage colors. 'Carman's Grey' has gorgeous grey foliage which contrasts beautifully with the masses of orangey-red, tubular flowers, late summer and fall. The grey, narrow leaves form soft mounds 2 foot tall, spreading by underground rhizomes, 4 foot or so wide. Plant in full sun to very light shade where it is tolerant of many soil types, even heavy clay, drought tolerant, but best with occasional summer watering. Hummingbird magnet and bees use it too.
Epilobium canum ‘Catalina’
An outstanding selection of California fuchsia growing 3 ft. tall or more. This may be the tallest cultivar available, sometimes reaching as much as 5 ft. tall. The foliage is silvery-gray with an abundance of large, brilliant orangey-red tubular flowers late summer through fall. This species from southern California is particularly drought tolerant. Hummingbird favorite. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium canum ‘Cloverdale’
This form of California fuchsia was selected by U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum from along the Russian River north of Cloverdale. Low, slightly mounding fuzzy olive-green foliage with an abundance of orangey-red tubular flowers the hummingbirds love. Usually stays bellow one ft. in height. 'Cloverdale' is one of the most orange selections of California fuchsia. Plant in full sun. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium canum ‘Coral Canyon’
This elegant and unusual form of the California fuchsia offers a prolific display of peachy-pink flowers, a departure from the more common orangey-red blossoms. The late-summer, autumn blooms are held on distinctly upright stems reaching 1 ½ ft. high above broader, bright green foliage. Unlike most native fuchsias, this selection is somewhat shy to spread, generally forming a rounded mound about 2 ft. wide. Enjoys full sun, but will benefit from a little afternoon shade in hot areas. Likes moderate to occasional irrigation. Hummingbirds and bees partake from the flowers. We must thank Cistus Nursery for discovering the parent plant on a high ridge above the North Fork of the American River.
Epilobium canum ‘Everett’s Choice’
A low, spreading form of Californica fuchsia staying below one ft. in height. Distinctive for its fuzzy, gray-green foliage with many scarlet tubular flowers from summer through to fall. Good for sunny areas, though tolerates light shade. Flowers best with occasional deep watering. Attracts hummingbirds. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium canum ‘John Bixby’
A Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden introduction, 'John Bixby' is a chance seedling of Epilobium 'Everett's Choice'. Forming a broad patch with a dense rounded form of grey-green foliage 12 -18 inches tall or more. Showy, vivid red-orange tubular flowers put on a spectacular display from summer into fall and are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Vigorous perennial, spreading by underground rhizomes to form large colonies. Plant in full sun to light shade with occasional deep watering for best appearance. Cutting plants down after flowering rejuvinates them for the following year.
Epilobium canum ‘Liz’s Choice’
This selection of California fuchsia features particularly large, trumpet-shaped, scarlet flowers atop stems reaching 3 ft. tall. The flowers, blooming from summer into fall, are a favorite of hummingbirds and bees. The lance-shaped leaves are a pewter green, providing a striking contrast to the brilliant flowers. It spreads over time to create small colonies. Trim plants down to about 4 inches in winter for vigorous, tidy growth the next year. Provide moderate to infrequent irrigation and full sun. This beautiful cultivar was selected by Milo Baker Chapter CNPS Fellow Liz Parsons.
Epilobium canum ‘Marin Pink’
California fuchsias are appreciated for their abundant tubular flowers that bloom in late summer and fall, predominantly in different shades of orange-red. This unusual selection has beautiful PINK tubular flowers produced on sage green mounds of foliage to about 2 ft. tall and spreading by underground rhizomes. Vigorous and easy to grow in full sun to very light shade. Touted as drought tolerant, they will survive dry conditions but will thrive with occasional summer water. Beautiful against a rock wall, in dry stream beds, or naturalistic plantings where they have some room to spread. Hummingbird favorite. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Epilobium canum ‘Sierra Salmon’
California fuchsias have many charms, blooming in late summer into fall with hummingbird attracting, tubular flowers, mostly in shades of red and orange. 'Sierra Salmon' offers unusual salmon-colored blossoms on soft blue-green foliage. This cultivar doesn't tend to wander like some can and forms dense clumps of erect stems 12 - 24 inches tall and wide. Looks wonderful amongst rocks or boulders, in perennial borders or to add pizazz with grass and shrub plantings. Plant in full sun with occasional summer water. Prune down to a few inches after blooms are done.
Epilobium canum ‘Summer Snow’
While CA fuchsias are generally known for their abundant showy red flowers, this unusual variety offers surprising clean-white blossoms on low growing green foliage up to 10 inches tall. Spreading by underground rhizomes, this mat forming perennial grows in full sun to light shade with occasional to little summer water once established. Perfect in naturalistic plantings, on slopes amongst boulders, dry creek beds or rock walls. California fuchsias bloom heavily late summer into fall and their tubular flowers are hummingbird favorites. The habit of this plant can be improved with shearing in the winter.
Epilobium septentrionale ‘Select Mattole’
This California fuchsia forms tidy, low, 6 inch high mats of beautiful silver foliage with a matte finish. Late summer through fall brings orangey-red tubular flowers which attract hummingbirds. A somewhat redder flowering selection. Spreading by underground rhizomes, this Epilobium increases a little less vigorously than the others. Full sun to light shade. More shade tolerant than most California fuschias. Needs more water than most Epilobiums. Pruning plants down to a few inches in late autumn helps to rejuvenate them for the following year.
Ericameria arborescens
Native to chaparral regions throughout California, this tall, billowy shrub stands out with its soft and narrow, bright green leaves and, in the summer and early fall, clusters of small yellow flowers. Goldenfleece reaches 6 ft. or more tall with a width of around 4 ft. A wonderful accent plant for the dry garden, especially when combined with dark-foliaged plants such as ceanothus, toyon and manzanitas. Prefers full sun and excellent drainage. Very drought tolerant once established. Excellent for bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.
Ericameria ericoides
Native to sand dunes from Long Beach north to Bodega Bay, this low shrub resembles a heather, covered with clusters of small yellow daisies in late summer and fall. Reaching a height of up to 3 feet and spreading to 4 feet, making it an ideal shrub for the smaller garden. Needs occasional water in interior locations and full sun to light shade. Requires well-draining soil. Plant with Ceanothus, low manzanitas and pacific reed grass for a taste of the coast in your own garden. Excellent late season nectar source for bees and butterflies. A light winter pruning will help keep it dense and compact. Said to be deer resistant.
Ericameria nauseosa
This classic plant of the high desert grows in dry, hot, rocky areas throughout much of interior California and throughout the West. In summer and autumn, clusters of golden, star-like flowers cover the tips of the white branches on this low, rounded shrub which reaches up to 3 - 4 ft. tall and wide. Fine, white hairs cover the narrow leaves, giving the plant a ghostly grey-white appearance. Needs a sunny location with excellent drainage and little to no irrigation once established. Bees and butterflies love the flowers. A larval host for the northern checkerspot butterfly.
Erigeron ‘Olga’
A fine seaside daisy hybrid introduced by Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Oregon. Forms a tidy, dense mat of dark green foliage. Lavender daisies rise 12 inches above the compact foliage late spring into summer. Plant in full sun along the coast, part shade inland with moderate to occasional summer water. This compact grower is perfect for small spaces, troughs or containers. Bee and butterfly favorite.
Erigeron ‘W.R.’
The "W. R." stands for the late Wayne Roderick, whom we can thank for many fine plant introductions. This hybrid involves the seaside daisy, Erigeron glaucus and some other native species more tolerant of heat. The lavender daisies sit on slender stalks about 10 inches above low rosettes of narrow leaves. The flowers bloom over a long period in summer and are very attractive to pollinators of all sorts. Provide full sun in cooler areas but will enjoy part shade in hot inland sites. Moderate to occasional irrigation. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches. Wayne discovered this surpisingly heat tolerant selection on the Del Norte coast. This selection should not be confused with 'Wayne Roderick', which is an entirely diferent selection of Erigeron.
Erigeron glacialis
From mountain meadows throughout much of California and the West comes this endearing little daisy. Features clusters of refined, lavender-pink daisies with yellow centers held on stalks up to 10 inches tall above low, mat-forming leaves. Plant in full sun except in hot, inland areas where some afternoon shade would be appreciated. Needs moderate irrigation. This summer bloomer provides excellent habitat for bees and butterflies. A superlative candidate for a rock garden or narrow planting bed. Works well in containers.
Erigeron glaucus
Low growing native perennial to 1 ft. tall with lovely, lavender, daisy-like flowers blooming over a long part of the year. Native to coastal dunes and bluffs, but does well inland with some afternoon shade and a little extra summer water. A natural along the coast where it thrives with little to no summer water and tolerates wind and salt spray. Good nectar source for butterflies and many different pollinators. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Bountiful’
Forms a lush mound of foliage 10 inches - 1 ft. tall by 2 ft. wide. Exceptionally floriferous and long blooming, 'Bountiful' offers masses of lavender daisies with yellow centers held above loose rosettes of green foliage. It slowly spreads to form drifts which combine wonderfully with Iris and low grasses. A natural along the coast where it grows in full sun and is drought tolerant. Appreciates some afternoon shade and summer water inland. A reliable and easy to grow perennial. Butterfly and bee favorite. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Cal Flora’
This seedling appeared at the base of a decorative pot planted with Erigeron glaucus ‘Cape Sebastian’. The seedling's foliage and form appears to be intermediate between Erigeron glaucus 'Cape Sebastian’ and Erigeron glaucus 'Bountiful'. It has a nice dense habit, though a bit taller than ‘Cape Sebastian', with larger and darker flowers held just above the foliage at about 10 inches in height. A natural along the coast where it thrives with little to no summer water once established and tolerates wind and salt spray. In hotter inland conditions give some afternoon shade and additional summer water. Good pollen and nectar source for bees and butterflies. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Cape Sebastian’
This selection of the West Coast native seaside daisy is from Oregon, just north of the California border. A compact and dense mound up to 6 inches high, topped with lavender daisies over a long period. Full sun near coast, light shade in hot regions. Best with moderate to occasional summer water in hotter climates. A favorite of pollinators. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.