Achillea millefolium – inland form – Lake County seed source
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 Lake 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. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium – inland form – Napa County seed source
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. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium – inland form – Sonoma County seed source
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 Sonoma 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. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium – Montara Mountain form
We discovered the parent of this giant seed strain on the lower slopes of Montara Mountain in San Mateo Co.. With broad, white flower clusters reaching up to 4 ft. high, this is the largest yarrow we've encountered. While seedlings can vary, we have high hopes for this new introduction. Give full sun and moderate to infrequent irrigation. Potentially an excellent spreading perennial for a tall meadow. Attracts all sorts of pollinators. The green, fuzzy leaves are usually considered to be deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium ‘Island Pink’
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. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium ‘Red Velvet’
This yarrow is getting rave reviews for its deep-red flowers produced atop grey-green ferny foliage. Spreading 2 foot or so wide with flowers rising 2 – 2 ½ feet tall. Best in full sun with moderate to occasional watering. Popular with bees and butterflies. Often deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium ‘Sonoma Coast’
This is a local selection from the Sonoma County coast near Salmon Creek. Bright green foliage is topped with white flowers in dense heads on compact stems to around 1 ft. tall. Can bloom over a long period, spring through fall, depending on conditions. Best in sunny areas with some summer water, though it is drought tolerant. Flowers attract butterflies and other insects. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’
This hybrid yarrow forms a mat of grey-green ferny foliage 2 - 3 ft. wide with interesting earth-tone colored flowers. The long-lasting flower clusters simultaneously sport peachy-yellow tones through burnt orange, on sturdy non-floppy stems to around 2 ft. tall. Plant in full sun with moderate to occasional summer water once established. Bees and butterflies love yarrows, but they are not deer favorites. Excellent cut flowers too.
Acmispon (Lotus) glaber (scoparius)
Bees go nuts over the bright-yellow flowers of this California native. From spring and into summer you can find this plant covered in blooms at the edges of chaparral throughout much of California. The intricate, pea-shaped flowers, often colored burnished red as they are pollinated, emerge along wand-like stems. Deerweed usually reaches a height and width of about 2 – 3 ft. Plant in full sun to light shade. Needs good drainage and no summer water once established. A remarkable number of butterflies use this species as a larval host plant, including the bramble hairstreak, orange sulphur, funeral duskywing, silvery blue, acmon blue and the avalon hairstreak.
Actaea rubra
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. Deer resistant.
Actaea rubra – white fruited form
This is the special white fruited form of the more commonly seen red fruited baneberry. We are not sure how true these will come from seed and suspect there will be some red berries showing up in this crop. So far we have had only white fruits coming from this seed source, but we will have to see how the entire crop develops. Baneberry is a wonderful woodland plant and easy to grow in shady locales with some summer moisture. The foliage is astilbe-like and late spring brings tall flower stems topped with white flowers that have no real petals and are made up of clusters of creamy white stamens. The showy and VERY POISONOUS fruits follow, hopefully in this case white, but may be shiny red. Dies back to the ground in the winter. Deer resistant.
Adelinia (Cynoglossum) grandis
From woodlands throughout Northern and Central California comes this alluring bluebells relative. Dainty flower clusters ranging in color from periwinkle blue to lavender appear on slender stalks in the spring. The leaves are what gives this plant its name: grey-green and tongue-shaped, emerging in the winter from basal roots. Plant in bright shade and don’t water once established. Needs decent drainage. Once this plant goes to seed it will go dormant, re-emerging in late winter. A great accent plant for under the dry shade of deciduous oaks.
Agastache ‘Blue Boa’
From Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon, this stunning hybrid has won awards at a number of plant trials. Growing 2-1/2 ft. tall and 2 ft. wide with fragrant foliage and flowers of deep violet-blue. The large and sturdy terminal flower spikes dazzle mid to late summer into fall and are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Best in full sun with good drainage. Drought tolerant, but happiest with moderate to occasional summer water. Deer resistant.
Agastache ‘Coronado Red’
Agastaches are rewarding perennials with fragrant foliage and abundant flowers, which are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. ‘Coronado Red’ has a vertical growth habit with silvery foliage to 2.5 ft. tall and 2 ft. wide. Spikes of orangy-red flowers bloom over a long period in the summer delighting the hummingbirds. Requires good drainage and full sun with moderate to occasional summer water. Deer resistant.
Agastache ‘Morello’
Calling all pollinators! Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies will delight in the large, dense flower spikes of deep, burgundy-rose on this fragrant perennial. This summer bloomer has minty scented foliage which has a purple blush early in the season, growing 2 -3 ft. tall and 2 ft. wide. Plant in full sun with good drainage and moderate to occasional watering. Good in container plantings, too. Deer resistant.
Agoseris grandiflora
With a wide distribution throughout the state, the California dandelion is much more refined and well-behaved than its European, weedy look-alike. Found in oak woodland, chaparral, and many other plant communities in part-shade or bright dappled light. Slender, dissected, low, fuzzy gray-green leaves give rise to stem-like peduncles up to 2+ feet tall that are topped with rounded, flat, gold-yellow flower clusters from March-May, followed by large, perfectly rounded white globes of seeds that are wind-dispersed. Plant in part-sun or in areas with bright dappled light that drain well and are summer dry. Does not reseed aggressively like the European dandelion. Drought-tolerant.
Agrostis scabra
Native to middle and high elevation forests and meadows throughout California, this small bunchgrass forms dense tufts of blue-green foliage about six inches high with airy inflorescences rising another eighteen inches. Works well in a meadow planting or in a container. Combine with other small perennials such as Grindelia and yarrow or plant in large masses to show off the delicate grass flowers. Needs regular moisture and full sun to light shade. Deer resistant.
Ambrosia chamissonis
The silvery mats of this sand-dwelling species are important for soil stabilization along our coastline, but can also be used as an attractive, evergreen groundcover in the garden setting. Dissected leaves line crawling branches, forming a dense carpet up to about 10” high and spreading wherever they have room to grow. While vigorous, it can be pruned back easily. In summer, short stalks of inconspicuous, cream colored flowers raise, followed by bur-like seed capsules. Plant in sunny locations with moderate to occasional irrigation. Tolerant of different soil types.
Anaphalis margaritacea
An adaptable plant with silver-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 spread vigorously, perhaps best used in meadow plantings or other naturalistic settings. Grows 1 - 3 ft. tall and spreading. Dies back to the ground in the winter. Larval food source for the painted lady and American lady butterflies. Deer resistant.
Anemone deltoidea
Rhizomatous perennial native to coniferous forests in the coastal mountains of Northern California through Washington. Forming low colonies, 6 inches or so tall with slender stems holding three leaflets. Simple, pure white flowers with a central shaft of anthers hold themselves just above the foliage. Spreads vigorously and best used with shrubs, ferns or other sturdy subjects. Can romp over smaller perennials. Sweet addition to the woodland garden where it will grow in full to part shade with regular to a occasional summer watering. Good in containers too. Dies back to the ground in winter.
Anemopsis californica
An unusual plant - native to wet areas, but adaptable to regular or moderate 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.
Angelica arguta
A remarkable form of this native mountain Angelica with striking bluish-gray foliage. Umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers sit on stalks up to 6 feet in height. Needs moderate irrigation and dappled shade inland. Combine with native Heleniums, lilies and columbines to create a beautiful woodland flower patch. Great for native pollinators. A larval food source for the anise swallowtail butterfly.
Angelica breweri
From the Sierras and the Klamath mountains comes this elegant member of the carrot family. Clear white flowers perch like little stars in flat-topped clusters up to 10 inches wide. Flower stalks can reach 6 feet in height with green serrated leaves forming 2 foot tall mounds at the base. Enjoys dappled shade away from the coast and moderate water. Great for native bees and butterflies. A larval food source for the anise swallowtail butterfly.
Angelica californica
Striking stalks up to 6 or more feet tall hold flat topped clusters of white flowers above low growing emerald-green leaves. This uncommon member of the carrot family needs only occasional water once established. Naturally occurs under the dappled shade of oaks where it cohabitates with ferns, hound's tongue, yerba buena and woodland strawberries. Excellent for attracting beneficial insects and is a larval food source for the anise swallowtail butterfly. May go summer dormant when allowed to dry out.
Angelica capitellata
We are excited to offer this denizen of mountain meadows and forests known for its clusters of white flowers or “buttons” on tall stalks reaching up to 5 feet in height. Lance-shaped leaves of bright green form upright mounds at the base of the stalks. Ranger buttons are easily identified by the hairy stems within the inflorescences. Provide regular water and dappled shade. This unusual member of the carrot family combines beautifully with ferns, lilies and other forest dwellers.
Angelica hendersonii
Found in nature on the immediate coast, though well adapted to the watered inland garden. It has the overall look of a stout cow parsnip with creamy white flowers in umbels and pinnately compound leaves of a deep green. Like many umbels, it is a good nectar source for beneficial insects. 4 - 6 ft. tall. Full sun to light shade. Good drainage with moderate summer water.
Angelica lucida
Large white flower clusters up to one foot across are held on stalks up to 5 feet tall above coarsely dissected leaves. Greener leaves and a more refined character distinguish this species from the more common Angelica hendersonii. While it is rare on the sea cliffs of northern California, sea-watch has a large distribution along coasts throughout the northern hemisphere. Give regular moisture and part shade in areas away from the coast. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Angelica tomentosa
This species offers striking, flat-topped clusters of white flowers held up dramatically on stalks reaching up to around 5 ft. tall. Handsome, pinnately compound, gray-green leaves mass at their base. A generally inland angelica found in more or less moist, lightly shaded places, usually on serpentine. It can grow in full sun as long as it has plenty of moisture during the growing season. An important plant for the Pomo for its many medicinal and shamanistic uses. Diverse pollinators utilize the flowers, while the anise swallowtail butterfly uses the stems and leaves as a host plant for the catterpillars. Enjoys moderate water in the garden with a late summer rest (low water).
Anisocarpus (Madia) madioides
A quiet perennial, native to woods and coniferous forests of California from sea level to 4000 ft. Dark green, narrow leaves are covered with soft hairs and form a sturdy, low, perennial clump. The bright yellow daisies top 8-10 inch flower stems over a long period, from late spring into summer. Able to thrive in dry shady conditions.May seed about in a friendly way.