Layia platyglossa
Easy to grow native ANNUAL for open sunny areas. Cheerful lemon-yellow daisies with pure white tipped petals entice bees and butterflies. Foliage grows 6-12 inches tall in lean soils and taller with more fertility. Wide distribution, from the coast to inland valleys, Mendocino County to Baja. Birds love the seeds. A knock-out mixed with blues and purples of lupines or baby blue eyes. Does not need water once established.
Lepechinia calycina
A super fragrant sage relative with a wide distribution in California’s coastal ranges. White to pale pink or lavender, open-mouthed, tubular flowers appear in late spring and early summer. Fuzzy, grey leaves clothe the plant all year but less densely in the winter. Can grow 2 - 4 ft. tall and wide with a rather lank form which can be improved with regular pinching. A fast growing perennial for sunny to lightly shaded areas with good drainage. Very drought tolerant once established. Attracts hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
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 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 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.
Limonium californicum
Native to coastal areas throughout much of the state, this beautiful statice relative produces clusters of small, lavender-purple flowers on slender stalks up to 18 inches tall. Low rosettes of semi-succulent, dark green leaves provide an excellent contrast to the airy inflorescences. Plant this marsh native in full sun with regular to moderate water. Thrives in wet conditions with poor drainage. Excellent for bees and butterflies. Makes a wonderful dried flower.
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.
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. albifrons
A popular California native lupine growing to around 3 ft. tall and wide. Beautiful silver foliage with intense blue-purple flower spikes in the spring. To thrive, this lupine needs full sun to very light shade and excellent drainage. Little to no water once established. Vulnerable to snail and slug predation. An excellent species for native pollinators and a larval host for several species of butterflies. Deer resistant.
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 albifrons var. douglasii
This variety of the popular silver bush lupine has the same wonderful wands of blue-purple flowers in spring and summer but also features larger, silvery leaves covered with fine hairs. The plant itself is also larger, reaching 3 – 5 feet in height. This variety grows from Marin County down to the Channel Islands. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage and little to no summer water once established. A nectar species for native bumblebees and hummingbirds. This is a butterfly host plant for several blues, hairstreaks and the northern cloudy-wing. Deer resistant.
Lupinus arboreus – blue flowered form
Native to coastal areas from Sonoma Co. down to Southern California, the blue bush lupine is distinctive for its grand size (reaching up to 6 ft. tall) and racemes of scented, blue and white flowers. The showy blooms which appear in spring and continue into summer are an excellent nectar source for native bees and hummingbirds. Various butterflies use this species as a larval host plant. The seeds are enjoyed by birds. Grow in full sun with good drainage and occasional to no irrigation once established. Not suitable for areas which get very cold in the winter. Not suitable for Mendocino Co. northwards where it can invade natural areas. Deer resistant.
Lupinus arboreus – yellow flowered form
Native to coastal plant communities from Sonoma County south to Ventura County. Showy, fragrant, clear-yellow flowers in long, dense spikes in mid spring and into summer. A fast-growing, floriferous shrub, 3-6 ft. tall and wide. Excellent choice for coastal areas in full sun with good drainage. Not suggested for gardens in coastal Mendocino County due to its ability to quickly naturalize and take over fragile plant communities. Drought and wind tolerant. Lupines have great habitat value, offering nectar for pollinators and nourishing seeds for birds. Great for hummingbirds and a larval food source for various butterflies. 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 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.
Madia elegans
Native ANNUAL growing 3-4 ft. tall with multi branching aromatic stems. Cheerful bright yellow daisies top the stems in the summer and can be solid yellow or may have a maroon spot at the base of each petal. Tarweeds are an important late nectar source for butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects. The seeds are relished by small mammals and birds, especially finches. Native to grasslands and open forests, well adapted to clay soils and full sun, perfectly adapted to our long, dry summers.
Maianthemum (Smilacina) racemosum
Choice herbaceous perennial native to moist woodlands in California and throughout North America. Forms robust clumps of arching branches 2-3 ft. tall. The branch tips carry dense panicles of sweetly fragrant, white, star-shaped flowers in late spring. Clusters of red berries follow in summer and fall. A lovely addition to the shade garden where it thrives in well drained, woodsy soil with some summer moisture. In cooler coastal environments can go summer dry once established. This lily family member slowly spreads to form striking clumps which die back to the ground in the winter. An elegant and long lived beauty.
Maianthemum (Smilacina) stellatum
Native to California and much of North America, this woodlander makes a worthy and useful addition to the shade garden. Spreading by stout rhizomes forming colonies of lush, green foliage one foot to 18 inches tall. Small, white, star-shaped flowers top the slender stems in the spring and early summer. Berries follow that are often striped with purple or black, eventually turning red. Thrives in shade with moisture but tolerates dryish conditions once established. Can grow in quite a bit of light as long as there is moisture. A variety of insects seek nectar or pollen from the flowers and woodland song birds love the berries.
Maianthemum dilatatum
This lush, lily relative is native to coastal forests of Northern California to Alaska. When happy, spreads by underground root stocks to form broad mats of heart-shaped, glossy, green leaves with parallel veins. Bears clusters of tiny white flowers followed by red, translucent berries. Dies back to the ground in winter. Loves shade and moisture. Competes well with tree roots.
Marah oregana
A native perennial vine found in coastal counties from Santa Clara, California to British Columbia. Growing from a massive, enlarged tuber in forest edges and riparian habitats. The lush-green, palmate leaves with spiraling tendrils clamber along the ground and climb and sprawl over shrubs and trees. White, star-like flowers bloom in the spring and are favored by native bees as well as honeybees. The flowers lead to showy, inflated, bright-green, fruits with soft spines. The generic name Marah comes from the Hebrew word for bitter, in reference to all parts of the plants being extremely bitter to taste. Completely herbaceous, dying back to the woody root in late summer or fall, returning in the spring. Best with part shade. Quite drought tolerant but will accept moderate irrigation. Probably deer resistant.
Melica californica
Here is a tough and handsome bunchgrass native to the grasslands and oak woodlands of northern and central coast ranges and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Bright green blades grow about one foot tall. The flower spikes are made up of glistening papery bracts and grow 2 - 4 ft. tall. The ornamental flowering culms remain attractive even after this grass has gone dormant, and is also useful as a “cut” in floral arrangements. Tolerant of many soil types, though it requires good drainage. Plant in full sun to light shade where it is very drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
Melica geyeri
This perennial bunch grass is native to many types of habitat in seasonally moist forests and hillsides throughout much of California. Forms a lush, dense bunch of deep-green, broad blades, spreading slowly by rhizomes. The common name refers to the swollen, onion-like corms at the base of the stems. The inflorescence rises 3 ft. tall or more is made up of long, green, narrow spikelets with purple banding. A perfect grass for dappled shade under oaks and firs. Tolerant of some summer irrigation, but can survive the dry season once established. Goes dormant by early autumn. A host plant of the rural skipper and the white-lined sphinx moth. Deer resistant.