Solanum xanti ‘Mountain Pride’
Outstanding selection by Carol Bornstein from the hills surrounding Santa Barbara,following the wildfires of 2008. Chosen for its particularly dark purple flowers, this subshrub grows 3 ft. tall and at least as wide. Clusters of rich purple one inch blossoms with bright yellow stamens bloom over a long period but heaviest in spring. In nature it is often found growing along the borders of coastal scrub,chaparral and woodlands. Plant in full sun along the coast with a little shade inland, where it will be drought tolerant once established. Prune to promote bushy habit. A good container subject. Should be deer resistant as all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Solidago lepida v. salebrosa
Golden-yellow, pyramid shaped inflorescences sit atop stems flanked with bright green leaves on this unusual native goldenrod. This selection is more compact and refined than the California goldenrod, with flower stalks reaching only about 2 feet tall and a spreading habit which is less aggressive. A superb plant to attract all sorts of bees and butterflies when it blooms in late summer and into autumn. Plant in full sun to light shade and water moderately to occasionally. This variety grows throughout western North America but is rare in California, only occurring in the northeast part of the state.
Solidago spathulata
Native to coastal strand and coastal scrub communities where it forms low mats of spreading bright green foliage. Summer brings flower stems a foot or so tall made up of small bright golden-yellow daisies. Full sun to light shade with some summer water. Tolerates heavy soils. The flowers support native bees, honey bees, beneficial insects and butterflies. It is a larval food source for the northern checkerspot butterfly.
Solidago velutina ssp. californica
A showy and easy to grow late blooming native perennial. Spreads by creeping rootstocks where it can form a good-sized colony. Has spread slowly in our heavy clay soils with minimal water, but has the potential to spread aggressively in lighter soils especially with regular water. Late summer through fall brings slender wand-like flower stalks of golden yellow daisies 2 - 3 ft. tall which are visited by bees, butterflies and other insects. Plant in a sunny area where it is drought tolerant, but some supplemental summer water keeps it blooming longer.
Sphaeralcea ambigua
Native to desert plant communities, apricot mallow is a showy evergreen shrublet growing 2-4 foot tall and wide. Soft-green, woolly, scalloped leaves provide the foil for long wands with an abundance of small hollyhock-like flowers in delicious shades of orange. Plant in full sun with good drainage and occasional summer water. Adaptable, tolerating cold, dry conditions but not heavy wet soils. When happy can bloom for months- trim back flowering stems after bloom for repeat performance. A beautiful addition to the dry sunny garden, ideal for inland gardens. Relatively short lived but grows rapidly and occasionally reseeds. Honeybees, native bees and hummingbirds are attracted to its flowers.
Stachys bullata
A native perennial from the mint family, found primarily near the coast from San Francisco southward, where it inhabits oak, pine and fir woodlands. Medium-green leaves are softly fuzzy with scalloped edges, growing around 2 ft. or more tall and spreading by underground rhizomes to form a colony. Blooming spring through summer, with lavender-pink tubular flowers in whorls, which attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Tends to grow in somewhat drier areas, but responds well to moisture and also tolerates inundation. A natural with rushes, ferns and snowberries. Useful for partly shaded bioswales and oak/mixed conifer woodlands. The underground rhizomes make it a good choice for erosion control. Deer resistant.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) ‘Little Carlow’
Quickly becoming a favorite, this aster has rich lavender-blue daisies starting in late summer and continuing through fall. Known to be a Symphyotrichum cordifolium hybrid hailing from the East Coast of North America. More constrained than our native Pacific aster, it is prolific bloomer with an upright habit that reaches 2-4 feet tall and wide. Best with regular to moderate water in full sun to part shade. It is highly attractive to all sorts of pollinators, especially butterflies.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense
This native aster is found throughout much of Sonoma County, usually in moist soils. More slender in form than the burly Point St. George selection. Spreads vigorously but with a lighter touch, integrating itself well with native grasses and bulbs. Its summer-to-fall blossoms are white to lavender blue and provide excellent nectar for butterflies and beneficial insects. 1-3 ft. tall and spreading. Thrives in sun to light shade with moderate to little summer irrigation.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense ‘Olema White’
Clear white flowers replace the class purple ones in this unusual selection of California aster that we found near the town of Olema in Marin County. In summer and into fall, a profusion of flowers bursts forth on this VIGOROUSLY spreading native perennial. An extremely adaptable groundcover reaching up to 3 ft. tall. Accepts regular to very little irrigation and full sun to light shade. This prolific bloomer is a bee magnet and also enjoyed by butterflies. Tolerant of clay and periodic flooding. Looks best when sheared to the ground after blooming.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense ‘Plumas Purple’
This form of the California aster is remarkably compact and refined, featuring blue-purple daisies which are darker than any other selection we have seen. Grows to a height of under a foot and so far has been much less likely to spread aggressively, though it should get to at least 3’ wide. In late summer and early autumn, the dense blooms turn plants into bonbons of flowers. Grow in full sun, where they will be drought tolerant once established, but will enjoy an occasional soak. California asters provide an important late nectar and pollen source for bees, while butterflies enjoy the nectar and are reported to utilize them as a larval hosts. Thank you to Pete Veilleux for giving us this stellar selection! It’s thought to have been found in Plumas County, so should be quite heat and cold tolerant.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense ‘Point Saint George’
A low-growing native perennial, reaching up to 1.5 feet in height and spreading widely and vigorously. Covered with soft lavender daisies over a long period, summer through fall and often into winter. Careful thought should be given to its placement as this plant really spreads. Far too vigorous for many settings, perhaps best used in planters, garden boxes or other contained areas or in large, naturalistic plantings. For sunny areas with at least a little summer water. Will tolerate flooding and periodic inundation. An excellent nectar source for bees and butterflies and seeds for birds.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense ‘Purple Haze’
A wonderful selection of our native Pacific aster, chosen by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden for its deep lavender blossoms. Blooms late summer through fall and often into winter with one-inch daisies opening from dark purple buds. This plant SPREADS VIGOROUSLY by underground rhizomes, so works best when constrained by a planter or garden box or in a meadow planting. Excellent for areas needing soil stablization. The dense foliage grows quickly to 2-3 feet tall each spring, and can be annually pruned to the ground in winter. Tolerates many soil types and full sun to part shade. Requires minimal water, but occasional deep soaks keep it blooming longer. This easy to grow habitat plant will delight bees and butterflies.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) ericoides ‘Monte Cassino’
Eye-catching, cheerful, and easy to grow, 'Monte Cassino' is a particularly stunning selection of a species of American aster with a wide native range east of the Rockies. In late summer and early fall, this vigorous aster dazzles with dense sprays of delicate, white, daisy-shaped blooms. The lacy foliage remains low, but the cloud-like flower-stalks can shoot up 3-4 feet tall and wide. Makes for gorgeous cut flowers. Thrives in full sun to part shade with moderate water. Irresistable to bees and butterflies.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) foliaceum
Native to the western United States where it grows in open woods, mountain meadows and along streams at mid to high elevations. The erect flower stems hold daisies of light blue to violet blue with yellow centers, surrounded by leafy bracts. An important pollinator plant, offering pollen and nectar late in the season to bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Grows 1 - 2 ft. tall from a leafy base that slowly increases. Prefers full sun with regular to moderate moisture. Winter deciduous.
Symphyotrichum (Aster) oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’
This late-blooming American aster offers dazzling bright blue-purple daisies in late summer through fall. Forms a dense mound 2-3 feet tall, with flowers nearly covering the foliage when in full bloom. A fine, reliable selection of aromatic aster, a species native to the eastern half of the United States. A good choice for borders and other areas needing a compact splash of color. Plant in full sun and provide with moderate summer water to keep it looking its best. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.
Tanacetum bipinnatum (camphoratum)
Native to sand dunes from the Bay Area north, this shrubby evergreen groundcover spreads quickly to create drifts of soft fern-like foliage. Yellow, button-shaped flowers form small clusters atop stalks up to 2 ft. tall. Enjoys full sun to light shade. Tolerant of clay soils and excessive moisture but will thrive with only occasional water once established. Reducing irrigation can temper this tansy's somewhat aggressive nature. Dune tansy has a strong scent of camphor and is valued for its medicinal uses. Beautiful when combined with ceanothus, Douglas iris and other plants from our coastal areas. Good for erosion control.
Tellima grandiflora
Fringe cups is a sweet native perennial for the shade garden. Slender flower stalks rise above the soft mounds of foliage 18 inches to 2 ft. The small, urn-shaped flowers have tiny fringed petals which open green and then age to pink. Seeds about in a nice way. Tolerates dry shade. Deer resistant.
Teucrium chamaedrys
Tough, neat looking evergreen shrublet-good for hot dry places. Excellent edging for herb gardens. Grows 1 ft. tall by 2 ft. wide. Dark green foliage topped with light magenta flowers in spikes. Shear after blooming. Deer seem to leave it alone. Bee favorite.
Teucrium cossonii (majoricum)
A beautiful little shrublet that hugs the ground to 2 ft. or more wide. Narrow gray-green foiage is topped with dense clusters of rosy-lavender flowers, nearly the entire growing season. Requires decent drainage with moderate to occasional summer water once established. Great rock garden plant. Pollinator friendly and deer resistant.
Thalictrum fendleri v. polycarpum
This native meadowrue has charm and adds a delicate, graceful quality to a woodland setting. Finely cut bluish-green foliage unfurls from purplish shoots. The tiny unisexual flowers are produced atop 2 - 5 ft. tall stalks on separate plants. The male flowers are showier with dangling cream-colored stamens; the females are clusters of greenish pistils. Useful in the woodland garden where it will thrive with some summer water or manage on winter rainfall. One way or the other it goes dormant in late summer where it can be allowed to go dry. Group several plants for best effect.
Tiarella trifoliata v. unifoliata
The native sugar-scoop makes an attractive groundcover in a shady spot with some moisture. Blooms in early summer with spikes of little white stars; seed pods are shaped like little scoops. Removing spent flower stalks often prompts reblooming. Native to the dark and damp forest floor of northern California. A sweet addition to the woodland garden where there is summer moisture.
Tolmiea menziesii
This western native of house plant fame, makes an attractive addition to the woodland garden. Lush looking, deep green leaves produce new plantlets at the junction of the leaf stalk and blade giving it its common name of piggyback plant. Tiny reddish-brown flowers are produced on 1 ft. stems are interesting though not terribly showy. Looks great as a small scale ground cover, in walls or containers. Needs filtered light and regular moisture.
Trautvetteria caroliniensis
From moist woodlands in mountainous areas of northern California comes this lush and verdant buttercup relative. Large, serrated, palmate leaves up to 8 inches wide spread densely across the ground on slender stems. In summer through early fall, icy white flowers made up of thin filaments form flat topped clusters up to 5 inches wide. These delicate flowers sit atop stems reaching up to 3 ft. high. Plant in moist areas with part to full shade. The leaves will die down in winter only to re-emerge in spring. While very rare in California, false bugbane is more common in other parts of the country. Our form comes from the Siskiyou Mountains of northern California.
Trientalis latifolia
Shade loving native perennial, inhabiting open woods from San Luis Obispo County to British Columbia. Forming small colonies from underground tuberous rootstock. Slender stems rise 6 inches tall with a whorl of neat leaves at the top of the erect stems. Dainty pink star-shaped flowers are suspended above the leaves on thread-like pedicels. Flourishes in loose, woodsy, acidic soils in lightly shaded areas. Thrives with the spring rains, then goes dormant in the summer dry period. A charming addition to the shade garden.
Trillium chloropetalum
The beautiful and distinctive giant Trillium is an elegant addition to the woodland garden. Native to coastal and interior open forests and woodlands of the San Francisco Bay Area and North Coast Ranges.Emerges in February with three broad leaves surrounding a leafless stem 10-18 inches tall. A single large flower arises directly from the whorl of leaves and can vary from white, pink, to maroon red. The leaves often have green or maroon mottling. After flowering it dies back to the ground. Prefers the dappled light of a woodland setting with humusy well drained soil and some summer moisture.
Urtica dioica
Found in moist woodlands and meadows throughout the state, stinging nettle is a habitat powerhouse. Growing at least 3 ft. tall and spreading vigorously to form large colonies, it's a great addition to any shady habitat garden or swale, where it stays moist throughout the year. Plant away from high traffic areas, as both the stems and foliage have small, stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation upon contact. This nettle has distinctive gray stalks, serrated leaves, and produces white, firework-like inflorescences that grow on stems in clusters throughout summer and early fall. Not only has it been used for centuries for a multitude of edible and medicinal purposes by indigenous tribes, it is also a larval host to several native butterflies including the painted lady and red admiral. Good cover for birds and small mammals.