Lewisia cotyledon – Sunset Strain
Named for Meriwether Lewis, this attractive and showy succulent is native to higher elevations in Northern California and Southern Oregon, typically on granite outcrops. Abundant floral sprays arise in spring and summer on stalks reaching 6-10" above evergreen foliage. This seed strain has produced a rainbow of flower colors, including: yellow, white, orange, pink and red. The frost hardy rosettes grow to approx. 8-10” tall by a foot or so wide. Lewisias need very good, sharp drainage, and love a granite rock mulch. They like to be grown sideways, in rock walls, where excess moisture drains away. Plant somewhat high in a fast-draining mix and feed every now and then. Morning sun with afternoon shade is best inland. Water sparingly, as you would any succulent, and keep the crown dry.
Lewisia longipetala ‘Little Peach’
Large flowers with long petals colored peachy apricot make this selection of our native cliff maids a knockout in the garden. Round clusters of narrow, succulent leaves form patches up to about 8 inches wide. The irresistible flowers emerge en masse from between the leaves on slender stalks up to about 10 inches high. A very long bloomer, beginning in spring and often re-blooming in summer. Works really well in a container with lean, fast draining soil, placed in bright partial shade. Water sparingly. For best results, mulch with granite chips and fertilize occasionally. Lewisias are native to the mountains of California and beyond, where they grow in rock cliffs. An excellent choice for the rock garden.
Lewisia longipetala ‘Little Raspberry’
The parent of this strain of Lewisias is found in rocky outcroppings of the Sierra Nevada Mts. Forms low, fleshy rosettes of tough evergreen leaves. Raspberry-red flowers bloom on short stems above the leathery foliage in the spring into summer and often again in the autumn. Requires good sharp drainage and rock mulch, but appreciates partial shade in hot summer areas. Perfect for rock walls, rock garden, containers and troughs. Water as you would any succulent, sparingly, and keep crown high and dry. This is not the plant for your perennial border, but it is easy to make happy in containers.
Ligusticum apiifolium
We love members of the carrot family, with their flat-topped clusters of star-like flowers and excellent habitat value. This species is no exception, though it is rarely grown in nurseries. In spring the clear-white flowers appear in delicate umbels on slender stalks 2 - 4 ft. high. The ferny, bright-green foliage stays close to the ground, rarely reaching more than a foot tall. Occurs in the Coast Range from the San Francisco Bay Area northwards. You may find this species in full sun near the coast or in bright woodlands further inland. Needs decent drainage and occasional to infrequent summer water.
Lilium humboldtii ‘ssp. humboldtii’
From the mountains of northern California comes this dramatic, drought tolerant lily, reaching upwards of 10 feet tall in its native habitat of chaparral and open forest. Lowland gardeners can expect a height of 6 feet or so. Large, orange flowers with magenta spots form many stately tiers around the robust stalks with lance-shaped leaves climbing up the base in tidy whorls. Give this rare lily excellent drainage and withhold summer water. Plant in dappled shade.
Lilium pardalinum
An elegant and beautiful native from moist places and along stream banks in many plant communities from southern Oregon to southern California. A reliable species easily growing 4 ft. tall or more, slowly increasing its width over time. The Turk’s cap style flowers bloom in summer and are orange with red tips and maroon spots. Dies back to the ground in winter. Prefers fertile, well drained soils. Where summers are cool you can plant in full sun. Elsewhere plant in filtered sun, light shade or afternoon shade. Requires moderate summer water.
Lilium pardalinum ‘Giganteum’
A towering lily reaching up to 7 feet tall with orange and crimson flowers 3 to 4 inches wide. Who can resist that! Believed to have been discovered along the Van Duzen River in Northern California and thought to be a natural cross between L. humboldtii and L. pardalinum. The large stalks are crowned in summer by layers of flowers up to 30 in number with whorls of large leaves ascending up the base. Forms colonies over time to dramatic effect. Plant in full sun near the coast but protect from the hot afternoon sun, inland. Needs moderate water but is intolerant of soggy soils. Tolerates drier soil than the typical leopard lily.
Lilium pardalinum (Gualala River)
An elegant and beautiful native from moist places and along stream banks in many plant communities from southern Oregon to southern California. A reliable species easily growing 4 ft. tall or more, slowly increasing its width over time. The Turk’s cap style flowers bloom in summer and are orange with red tips and maroon spots. Dies back to the ground in winter. Prefers fertile, well drained soils. Where summers are cool you can plant in full sun. Elsewhere plant in filtered sun, light shade or afternoon shade. Requires moderate summer water.
Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense
This is the local rare subspecies of the leopard lily, threatened by habitat loss, grazing, competition with Himalayan blackberries, and collecting. Ours are responsibly grown by scale division from seed grown parent plants. A beautiful turks cap lily with intense orange-red reflexed petals revealing maroon spots. Needs moisture until it's through flowering and protection from gophers. Bright shade or morning sun with afternoon shade is best. This species attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Limnanthes douglasii
California native ANNUAL occurring in grasslands and vernal pools throughout California. Low growing, shiny green foliage is topped with a profusion of sweetly fragrant, cup shaped, bright yellow blossoms with white tips. An excellent choice for low, winter wet areas, drainage swales, retention basins or seasonally dry stream beds. Thrives in heavy soils where it often naturalizes. Plant in full sun to part shade with regular water through the growing season. Fabulous container plant too. Meadowfoam is excellent for encouraging native pollinators, bees and butterflies.
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. nivea
California native ANNUAL occurring in grasslands and vernal pools throughout California. Low growing foliage is topped with a profusion of sweetly fragrant, small white flowers with purple-pink veins on the petals. An excellent choice for low, winter wet areas, drainage swales, retention basins or seasonally dry streambeds. Thrives in heavy soils where it often naturalizes. Plant in full sun to part shade with regular water through the growing season. Good in containers too. Native wildflowers are excellent for encouraging native pollinators.
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. sulphurea
Pure yellow flowering form of meadowfoam, rare in the wild but easy to grow in the garden. This native ANNUAL favors seasonally moist areas in full sun. Low growing foliage is topped with a profusion of pure yellow, cup-shaped, fragrant flowers. Useful in low areas, drainage swales, retention basins or seasonally dry stream beds. Thrives in heavy, water retentive soils. Wonderful in containers too. Meadowfoam is excellent for encouraging pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower is native to wet places throughout much of North America. A hummingbird favorite with show stopping, intense scarlet-red tubular flowers on erect terminal spikes in late summer. Growing 2 - 3 ft. tall by 2 ft. wide, this clump-forming perennial has dark green, serrated leaves. Tends to be rather short lived, but is a strong re-seeder. Prefers areas with constant moisture and cool sun to part shade, affective in moist areas of woodland gardens, meadows, pond edges, and rain gardens. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but is resistant to deer browse.
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata
Water loving perennial native to creek sides and other wet places in Southern California. Growing one foot tall and spreading vigorously by rhizomes with clusters of soft blue, one inch flowers in summer. Best with regular water and part shade. A perfect addition for a shady water feature, moist meadow or container planting. The flowers are highly attractive to butterflies of all sorts and are visited by hummingbirds. Winter dormant. Deer resistant.
Lomatium californicum
Native to lightly shaded banks or brushy slopes, this interesting native forms clumps of beautiful, ferny, blue-green leaves. The foliage has a pungent celery flavor and grows 1 ft. or so tall. The yellow-green flowers form broad umbels that reach up to 4 ft. high. Good for brightly lit woodlands that go summer dry. Plant with Heucheras, California fescue and Iris. A larval food source for the Anise Swallowtail butterfly.
Lomatium dasycarpum
Native to chaparral, grassland and open woodland throughout much of California, this dainty little member of the carrot family produces flat-topped clusters of fuzzy flowers, yellow in bud and creamy-white when open. The fern-like leaves are gray-green and hairy. Blooms in early spring. A larval food source for the Anise Swallowtail butterfly. Needs well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. Do not water once established. Summer dormant.
Lomatium dissectum
This carrot relative features clusters of small burgundy or yellow flowers held in round clusters in open umbels. Tall, slender stalks about 3 - 4 ft high support the blossoms above broad, finely dissected leaves. Pollinators love the flowers and the anise and indra swallowtail butterflies depend on the leaves as a food source for the developing caterpillars. Grows throughout much of California in hot, inland areas. Plant in full sun to light shade and provide little to no water once established. Needs excellent drainage. A rarity in nurseries.
Lonicera ciliosa
Native to north slopes, creeks and river banks from very northern California to British Columbia and Montana. Lovely blue-green, oval-shaped leaves on rapidly growing woody stems will clamber up any support it can find. Terminal flower clusters with narrow, trumpet-shaped, orange flowers are adored by hummingbirds. Red translucent fruits follow that are relished by birds. Plant in cool sun to moderate shade with regular water. Possibly deer resistant.
Lonicera hispidula
This native honeysuckle is often seen climbing over shrubs on the edge of woodlands where its roots are shaded and its foliage is sun drenched. The trumpet-shaped flowers range in color from rosy-pink to pink and white and feature prominent yellow stamens emerging from their mouths. They form clusters which decorate the tips of the vining branches and are attractive to bees and hummingbirds. The high point is the drooping clusters of luminous red berries in late summer which are beautiful to behold and provide a feast for birds, especially orioles. A drought tolerant vine but would appreciate occasional deep summer watering. Considered by some to be deer resistant.
Lonicera involucrata
An interesting native shrub that grows along streams and other moist places. The tubular, red and yellow flowers are borne in pairs on bright red bracts and are hummingbird favorites. Two black shiny fruits follow the flower and are very showy set against the red bracts, making them attractive to birds. Reaches 6 - 10 ft. tall and wide, this neatly branched shrub loses its leaves in the winter. A great addition to the habitat garden in full sun to light shade with regular to occasional deep summer water. Orioles love the fruits. Needs afternoon shade in hot, inland areas. Deer resistant.
Lotus (Hosackia) formosissimus (gracilis)
A low growing native perennial found in seasonally moist meadows, ditches and seeps along California's coast, north to British Columbia. Small, neat leaves form a pretty, low ground cover spreading up to 2 ft. wide. Pea-like flowers have a bright yellow upper petal and deep pink lower petals which bloom in the spring then sporadically through the summer. Plant in full sun to light shade with regular moisture. Makes a nice container plant, too. Flowers visited by bees and other pollinators. Thought to be the larval food source for the possibly extinct lotus blue butterfly.
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus
A beautiful low growing form of the silver bush lupine. Forms a mat of gorgeous silvery foliage 12 inches or so wide with spires of rich blue flowers rising 12-18 inches tall in the spring. Plant in full sun to very light shade with well drained soil. Flowers attract a wide array of beneficial insects, especially bees of all types. Drought and deer resistant.
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii
A moisture loving lupine that grows along streambanks and throughout woodlands in central and southern California. A lush perennial, growing 3-4 feet tall and wide, with foot long flower spikes of scented, pink to lavender flowers in late spring-early summer. The large, dark green leaves create a bold texture beneath the slender flower stalks. Plant in lightly shaded conditions with some summer water. Dies back to the ground in winter. Attractive to bees and hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
Lupinus nanus
This beautiful ANNUAL lupine can be seen on grassy hills, open slopes and fields, often casting a blue haze of color from a distance in the spring. Low growing, 6 - 20 inches tall and wide, with wonderfully fragrant, rich blue flowers with white markings. Prefers full sun, lean and well drained soils with minimal supplemental watering. Contrasts beautifully with California poppies, providing the classic, blue and gold displays of spring. Attractive to a myriad of pollinators and a larval food source for a number of butterfly and moth species. Deer resistant.
Lupinus nanus – Pacific Pink
Unusual, soft pink flowers distinguish this seed strain of the iconic California sky lupine, the traditionally blue flowered, ANNUAL species which blankets grasslands throughout California in the spring. The blossoms sit in whorls on upright stems above dissected, palmate leaves. This low plant reach 6 – 20 inches tall and wide, combining nicely with low, native perennials and grasses. Enjoys well-draining soil in full sun to light shade. Reseeds fairly readily if exposed soil surrounds the plants. Attractive to a diverse array of pollinators and a larval food source for a number of butterfly and moth species. Deer resistant.
Lupinus polyphyllus
The bog lupine is known for its tall flower spikes of blue to purple or sometimes pink, reaching up to almost 5' tall from a bed of large, dark green leaves about 18" in height. Clumps can grow about 3' wide. This species is the dominant parent used in many popular hybrid lupines. Native to moist places from the San Francisco Bay area northward along the coast and in mountainous places in the interior. Prefers full sun along the coast and dappled shade inland. This lupine tends to go winter dormant. Snails and slugs find lupines especially tasty when young. Needs regular water. One can create a wonderful meadow by planting the bog lupine with other moisture loving species such as lady ferns, umbrella plant and seep monkeyflower. Deer resistant.
Lupinus sericatus
A rare species from Sonoma, Lake and Napa Counties, this lupine forms a low, wide mound of gorgeous, broad, silver leaves with thick,1 -2 foot spikes of mauve-pink to violet flowers in spring. Requires full sun to very light shade and good drainage. Do not water much once established. Lupine flowers attract a wide array of insects, especially bees. Deer resistant.