Penstemon heterophyllus ‘GMR White’
An unusual, bright white form of our native foothill penstemon that dazzles with dense blooms from spring to fall. Spring sees the emergence of soft yellow buds on this evergreen perennial, which then open as snowy fresh, tubular flowers. The showy flower stalks reach 18 inches to 2 feet and look spectacular cascading out of a container. A natural selection, its name is an abbreviation of Glendora Mountain Road, the area just north of Los Angeles where it was found. As beloved by hummingbirds and pollinators as the more common blue-violet form of this species and even more shockingly floriferous. Plant in full sun to very light shade where it will have good drainage, and provide occasional to no water. Thrives in large pots. Drought tolerant.
Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Margarita BOP’
A fine selection of a native penstemon from Las Pilitas Nursery where this chance hybrid seedling was discovered at the “Bottom Of the Porch”. Forms a tidy mound 18 inches tall by 2 ft. or so wide. Iridescent blue-purple tubular flowers in short spikes put on a good show over a long period in spring and early summer. The spent flower spikes should be cut off to encourage more blooming, better form, and longer life. Best in full sun with well drained soils and moderate to little water once established. 'Margarita BOP' has proven particularly adaptable and has survived longer than other cultivars. Hummingbird favorite.
Penstemon newberryi
As the common name implies, this beauty is native to the mountains of California, Oregon and Nevada, where it grows in rocky habitats at high elevations. Forms an evergreen mat, under a foot tall with thick, leathery leaves and gorgeous magenta-pink tubular flowers, in mid to late spring. Good drainage is a must for success and growing in a container is an option for those with heavy soils. Full sun to very light shade with occasional summer waterings. Can be challenging to cultivate, but well worth the extra effort. The showy flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Said to be deer resistant.
Penstemon newberryi v. sonomensis
This rare, perennial, inland beauty, found only in Sonoma, Napa, and Lake Counties, is a great addition to the dry, inland rock garden. A low mat of small, gray-green, succulent-like leaves gives rise to 5-12” stalks topped with clusters of chunky, tubular, magenta-red flowers with white, fuzzy throats and reproductive structures. Mature plants are no more than 2' wide. A native bee and hummingbird magnet. Plant in full sun with decent soil drainage. Little to no water once established.
Penstemon palmeri
Showy, grape-scented, pale pink flowers top blue-green, succulent-like foliage on vertical stalks reaching an astonishing 4 to 5 ft. in height. The bulbous flowers have given rise to the common name, ballon flower. Native to desert mountains of southern California and throughout the western United States. This penstemon is attractive to a multitude of pollinators, especially hummingbirds. Plant in full sun to light shade and provide good drainage. Drought tolerant once established. The tall but narrow flower stalks make this penstemon useful in narrow spaces where height is desired.
Penstemon pseudospectabilis
From the southeast corner of the state comes this surprisingly adaptable penstemon, with prolific displays of magenta-purple, tubular flowers with flared mouths. Large, serrated, gray-green leaves line stems in attractive pairs. Flower stalks rise 2 – 3 ft. in spring, drawing in hummingbirds and bees. Even though this species is from the desert, it does quite well in local gardens with good drainage, full sun and occasional irrigation once established. Several local butterflies use the desert penstemon as a larval food source, including the common buckeye, variable checkerspot and Edith’s checkerspot.
Penstemon rostriflorus
A wonderful addition to the dry garden, bringing late summer color through abundant, bright red, tubular flowers. Growing 2 - 4 feet tall and wide, with attractive, glossy foliage, that takes on red and bronze tones in winter. A late blooming Penstemon, beginning in July, provides copious nectar for hummingbirds as well as bees, butterflies, and moths. Tolerant of wide range of soils and conditions, plant in full sun to light shade with occasional water. Drought tolerant once established.
Penstemon speciosus
Found in higher elevation localities of inland Northern California, royal penstemon is a vibrantly colorful addition to the dry, full sun garden. In summer, the large, saturated blue-purple florets are held in clusters on stems rising almost 2’ tall above a low, evergreen rosette of glossy, strap-like foliage, reaching 1' - 2' wide. Attracts a multitude of pollinators. Does best with decent soil drainage, and inland sites that provide seasonality—colder winters, and hotter summers. Drought-tolerant once established.
Penstemon spectabilis
A spectacular Penstemon native to dry, gravelly slopes of southern California and northern Baja. Demanding good drainage and full sun, this perennial grows 3 ft. or more tall with striking displays of lavender-purple tubular flowers. A challenging species with a sensational floral display, but can be short lived in northern California. Performs best in hot inland gardens. Take care not to over water. Highly attractive to hummingbirds as well as bees and butterflies.
Penstemon strictus
Showy perennial, native to a number of states in the Rocky Mountains, where it grows in sage brush and coniferous forest communities. Forming clumps of neat evergreen foliage 8 - 10 inches tall by 36 inches wide. Mid to late spring brings flowering stems 2 foot or so above the foliage with deep blue-purple tubular flowers. Considered one of the easier to grow, tolerating heavier soil and moisture better than many Penstemon species. Still, good drainage is best with little summer water once established. Plant in full sun to light shade in hot regions. Very cold tolerant. Penstemons are attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
Penstemon venustus
This jewel of the mountains displays richly toned, trumpet-shaped flowers of blue to lavender held on stalks reaching 1 – 3 ft. tall. Dark green, serrated leaves form a low mound up to 2ft. wide over time. Hummingbirds love the tubular flowers as do bees. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage and water infrequently. While native to much of the West, this penstemon doesn’t quite make it into California.
Phacelia imbricata
Native to dry slopes and open woodland throughout much of California, this rarely-offered perennial phacelia thrives in heat. Creamy-white flowers form curly clusters atop stalks ranging from 1 to 3 feet. Bees and butterflies find them irresistible. The soft, dense foliage hugs the ground in an up-to-2-ft-wide mound. Plant in full sun to light shade in areas with good drainage and minimal irrigation once established. Drought tolerant.
Phyla nodiflora
Vigorous, spreading ground cover native to California, North America and other parts of the world. It's a tough one, able to survive a wide range of conditions and soil types. Tolerates both drought and flooding, but best with occasional deep watering in full sun to very light shade. Flowers heavily over a long period with charming little heads of mauve-pink, lavender and white blossoms, delighting an assortment of bees and butterflies. This dense, carpeting plant makes a serviceable ground cover or lawn-like replacement, tolerating moderate foot traffic and occasional mowing. May look rough in the winter, but quickly recovers in spring. Free flowering and pollinator friendly.
Pinus attenuata
This closed-cone pine is found primarily along the Oregon-California border and in hotter coastal mountains down to Baja. Knobcone pines can reach anywhere from 25 to 80 ft tall, depending on the soil conditions. The conical-shaped, evergreen crown has an open habit with clusters of 4-5” needles on upward-curving branches. Distinctive, asymetrical cones persist on the tree for years, even decades, and add to the tree’s visual appeal. This chaparral and dry-woodland native needs very little water and does best in rocky, well-draining soils with full sun. More tolerant of nutrient-poor soils than most other pines. In very lean soils, trees can develop a stunted and contorted appearance which is quite striking. Deer resistant.
Pinus contorta ssp. bolanderi
A close relative of the shore pine, the pygmy pine occurs in the coastal pygmy forests of Mendocino Co. This rare and threatened pine only reaches a height of about 6 ft in the acidic soils of its native habitat but acts more like the shore pine in a garden setting, reaching up to about 30 ft in time. The upward reaching stems are clad in short needles with small cones produced on the ends. Provide full sun near the coast and a little afternoon shade inland. Needs moderate to occasional irrigation and decent drainage. Good container plant. Deer resistant.
Pinus contorta ssp. contorta
On windswept coastal bluffs from Mendocino Co. northwards resides this dense, picturesque shore pine. While small in stature on the weathered cliffs of our shoreline often reaching only 6-10 ft. in height, in a garden setting the shore pine is a small to medium sized tree, growing to about 30 ft. Short, dark green needles cover the stems with small cones. An excellent compact conifer for the medium sized garden or in a container where it stays more diminutive. Provide full sun and occasional deep irrigation once established. Needs decent drainage. Deer resistant.
Pinus jeffreyi
This stately pine hales from many of California’s mountain regions and is the dominant pine of the Tahoe basin. Features long needles and a broad trunk with deeply furrowed bark of orangy-red. Similar to the ponderosa pine but occurs at higher elevations and the bark has a distinctive vanilla scent. The cones are also larger than those of the ponderosa and don’t have sharp, outwardly protruding scales, hence the affectionate name “gentle Jeffrey.” Often reaches heights of over 100 feet with an open canopy. Provide good drainage and full sun to light shade. Drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Pinus muricata
The Bishop pine is native to the northern California coast from Marin to Mendocino. A medium to large sized tree with a beautifully rounded crown and long, gray-green needles. Distinguished from the more southerly Monterey pine by its smaller cones which prick the hand when held. The Bishop pine often cohabitates with redwoods and other coastal conifers. Drought tolerant once established except in interior locations where an occasional deep watering may be required. Generally reaches 40 to 70 feet in height. Deer resistant.
Pinus ponderosa
Often associated with the Sierra Nevada mountains, this majestic pine can be found in Sonoma County as well. Long, gray-green needles form bushy clusters at the ends of branches with cantaloupe-sized cones that emerge at the very tips. The bark at maturity is a colorful patchwork of orange-tan plates separated by deep grooves of dark brown. It can grow a couple of feet a year, and averages from 60 to more than 100 feet in height in a garden setting. Provide full sun to light shade with occasional deep waterings when young. Needs decent drainage. Deer resistant.
Pinus sabiniana
A distinctive pine native to chaparral areas of California’s foothills. Sometimes called ghost pine due to its long gray needles set against dark, furrowed bark. While fairly slow growing, the gray pine can reach a height of 80 ft or more in well-draining sites with ample sunlight. Native Americans prized the big, prickly cones for their large, edible seeds. Prefers full sun and requires minimal water once established
Plantago maritima
From coastal bluffs up and down the California coast comes this charming little plantain. Starting in late spring and continuing through summer, small, greenish-yellow flowers flank the top of slender stems up to 6 inches tall. The dense rosettes of narrow, succulent leaves provide a striking accent in a rock garden or nestled in crevices between pavers or stones. A good container specimen. Recognized for its edible and medicinal uses. Plant in full sun to light shade. Tolerates low to regular moisture. May spread vigorously by seed.
Polypodium scouleri
A choice species native to moist coastal forests of the western U.S. where this fern will grow on trees, rocks and logs. Beautiful, leathery, deeply lobed, evergreen fronds grow on creeping rhizomes to about 8-12 inches tall and slowly spreading. Requires good drainage with a humusy soil and some summer moisture, but not overly wet. Wonderful on rocks, cracks in walls, and logs in shady locations. Excellent in containers. Makes a lovely hanging basket.
Polystichum munitum
The versatile western sword fern is an evergreen native fern from California to Alaska. In most gardens it will reach about three feet tall and wide. In prime areas near the coast where moisture is readily available and cool temperatures prevail, this fern can get up to 5 feet tall and wide. Excellent for shady beds, along walls, as a large scale groundcover and mixed woodland planting. Best with humusy soil and regular to moderate water, but drought tolerant once established and tolerant of most soil types. Actually quite adaptable and deer resistant.
Prunella vulgaris v. lanceolata
Native to moist areas usually near coniferous forests and woodlands. Creeping perennial forms a low dense mat of foliage. Upright spikes of purple flowers over a long period summer - fall. Give some thought to placement because if happy it will reseed vigorously. Plant in full sun or light shade with regular water.
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
Hollyleaf cherry is a large, evergreen shrub that can grow more than 15 feet tall and wide, but is easily pruned to be more compact. This adaptable foothill native can be clipped into a formal hedge, pruned to be treelike, or left to its own natural gumdrop-shaped habit. Often it is used for background or screen plantings. Glossy, holly-like leaves are accompanied by showy displays of creamy-white flowers in narrow spikes from late spring to early summer. Plant in full sun to very light shade. Looks best with occasional deep waterings, but can tolerate very dry conditions once established. Although it requires good drainage, it is tolerant of heat, drought, wind and oak root fungus. An excellent habitat plant, offering food and cover for wildlife. Birds enjoy the small reddish-purple cherries. Generally deer resistant.
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
This subspecies of our native cherry comes from Southern California and can be grown as a large shrub or trained into a small tree. The Catalina cherry is evergreen, with soft, glossy leaves and without the toothed leaf margin of our more local hollyleaf cherry. Gorgeous, creamy-white flower clusters make a showy display in spring. The purple-red fruits are edible, but are mostly preferred by wildlife. At 20-40 feet in height and slightly narrower in width, it is also larger than the hollyleaf cherry, but is prunable to 8-10 feet. Its dense foliage makes an excellent hedge. Does best in well-drained soil with occasional deep watering once established. The flowers are adored by pollinators. Robins, finches, towhees, Cedar waxwings and mockingbirds eat the cherries.
Pseudotsuga menziesii
We are not currently growing this plant due to flammability and reduced demand.