Mimulus (Erythranthe) lewisii – dark flowered form
From cold streams in the Cascade Mountains comes this particularly dark flowered form of Lewis' monkeyflower. Trumpet-shaped blossoms with flared mouths are colored a deep, rich rose-pink, unlike the paler Sierra form. Reaching up to more than a foot tall and spreading to form small clumps, this moisture-loving monkeyflower enjoys part-shade and decent drainage. Hummingbirds love the flowers. Plant with sedges, blue lobelia and false bugbane for a colorful woodland display filled with texture. Great in a container.
Monardella macrantha ‘Marian Sampson’
A choice native perennial forming low mats of fragrant dark green shiny leaves. Mid to late spring brings spectacular heads of scarlet tubular flowers which are hummingbird magnets. Well suited for rock garden or container use where good drainage can be provided along with occasional summer water. Appreciates light shade in hot regions. The cultivar ‘Marian Sampson’ is a vigorous and disease resistant selection, but still likely to be short lived, lasting 2 to 4 years. Fantastic accent plant which is deer resistant and attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Monardella purpurea
A locally rare and more refined version of our common coyote mint, often with darker flowers, colored purple. Mature plants typically stay under a foot tall, but will get a little wider. Leaves are narrow and dark green, lining burgundy-tinged stems. While native to serpentine soils, it does well in most soils with good drainage. Plant in full sun to part shade and water infrequently. A great, rarely offered native for rock gardens or smaller areas, where butterflies and bees will enjoy the summer blossoms. Deer resistant.
Monardella villosa ssp. franciscana ‘Pomo Canyon’
This low growing, dense selection of our native coyote mint was discovered near the mouth of the Russian River. Large, round, deeply veined leaves colored dark blue-green give this groundcover a lush appearance. In summer, soft lavender flowers which look like pincushions cover the plant. Reaches a height of up to 12 inches and spreads fairly quickly to form drifts. Provide full sun to light shade and moderate to infrequent irrigation. A stellar plant for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Coyote mint is not a true mint and won’t spread invasively by roots. Deer resistant.
Monardella villosa ssp. franciscana ‘Russian River’
Our own selection of coyote mint from a rocky slope along the lower Russian River. Although Monardella is sometimes difficult in cultivation, this plant has proven to be vigorous. Grows 12 to 18 inches tall with ball-like clusters of pinkish-purple above the fragrant evergreen foliage. Good for a dry sunny site. Attracts bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.
Monardella villosa ssp. villosa – Mark West seed strain
This sweet little coyote mint hails from the dry, inland hills above the Mark West watershed in North East Santa Rosa. It is more compact than the ‘Russian River’ selection, mounding to about 1’ high and spreading to 3’ across. The aromatic foliage is a light minty green, and the round lavender-pink flower heads bloom from late spring through summer. Best with a bit of protection from the hot afternoon sun, this coyote mint is great to tuck under a large, upright, drought tolerant shrub, such as manzanita or Ceanothus. Drought tolerant once established, but blooms best with occasional deep soaks. Needs good drainage. Like other coyote mints, it is a butterfly and native bee magnet. Deer resistant.
Monardella villosa ssp. villosa – Mark West seed strain ‘Mark West’
This sweet little coyote mint hails from the dry, inland hills above the Mark West watershed in North East Santa Rosa. It is more compact than the ‘Russian River’ selection, mounding to about 1’ high and spreading to 3’ across. The aromatic foliage is a light minty green, and the round lavender-pink flower heads bloom from late spring through summer. Best with a bit of protection from the hot afternoon sun, this coyote mint is great to tuck under a large, upright, drought tolerant shrub, such as manzanita or Ceanothus. Drought tolerant once established, but blooms best with occasional deep soaks. Needs good drainage. Like other coyote mints, it is a butterfly and native bee magnet. Deer resistant.
Monardella viridis
A pollinator magnet! Found in inland Sonoma County, and in Lake and Napa Counties, on hot, dry, rocky slopes, green coyote mint entices the senses with its minty, sage-like aroma, small, pointed, ovate, green-gray foliage, and its saturated lavender inflorescences that bloom in summer. Growing to 4’ across, this low mounding woody perennial prefers decent drainage and a bit of relief from afternoon sun in hotter, inland sites. The flowers are especially attractive to native bees and butterflies. Deer resistant and drought-tolerant once established.
Morella (Myrica) californica
Native evergreen shrub with clean looking shiny foliage 15 ft. or more tall. Useful screen, clipped or informal hedge or even trained as multi-trunked small tree. An adaptable plant for sun to light shade, with moderate to occasional water. Its waxy berries attract flickers, robins and finches. Fairly deer resistant.
Muhlenbergia dubia
A half size version of the popular deer grass, Muhlenbergia rigens, with many of its attributes - only smaller. Evergreen foliage 12 - 18 inches tall. Narrow flower spikes on erect stems to 3 ft. tall. Adaptable, plant in full sun to light shade, little to moderate summer water. Heat and drought tolerant. Deer resistant too.
Muhlenbergia rigens
With its graceful, arching habit and tall, attractive seed stalk, this versatile, adaptable native grass is a striking addition to any garden. Forms a tidy, dense clump 3 ft. tall and 3-4 feet wide, making it useful as a specimen and also wonderful planted in mass. Remains mostly evergreen with occasional summer water, but can be periodically chopped down to spur fresh growth. Plant in full sun to light shade. Tolerates moist or dry soils and performs well in clay. Its extensive root system makes it an excellent for soil stabilization. Good habitat value offering seeds for songbirds and is a larval food source for a number of butterflies species. Deer resistant.
Myrica hartwegii
From Sierran streambanks comes this sweet bay, a cousin of our local wax myrtle. Rare in nature, this deciduous shrub can reach a height and width of up to 5 ft. Soft, lance-shaped leaves of gray-green flank the stems. Small red flowers appear in the spring. Enjoys dappled shade and good drainage. Requires regular irrigation. Plant with indian rhubarb, western columbine and ferns for a taste of the mountains in your own garden. Thought to be deer resistant.
Nemophila menziesii – Frosty Blue
An interesting seed strain of the charming, ANNUAL baby blue eyes. Found in many habitat types throughout California, this beauty has long been in cultivation. The slender, succulent, lobed leaves grow 4 - 6 inches tall, spreading and spilling about 1 ft wide. The "Frosty" in the name refers to the silvery color to the foliage, which contrast nicely with the profusion of gorgeous, bright, baby-blue blossoms. Spectacular in drifts, where it can spill and cascade, at the front of a garden bed, in meadow plantings, rock gardens or in containers. Plant in full sun to light shade where it is early to bloom during the cool of spring. Hot weather triggers seed production. The large black seeds are relished by birds. Reseeds readily.
Neviusia cliftonii
Shasta snow-wreath is a rare species not know to science until 1992. Endemic to Shasta County, California, often on limestone embankments, in moist shady areas, this deciduous shrub grows to around 6 ft. tall spreading by underground rootstocks. Looking something like ocean spray or a delicate ninebark, heart shaped leaves with toothed edges are alternately arranged on the slender branches. The flowers are a starburst of white anthers in early spring surrounded by green petal-like sepals. A lovely addition to a woodland planting where it thrives in light shade with some summer water.
Nicotiana quadrivalvis
This late-blooming annual can be found in dry, sunny, well-drained slopes and washes throughout much of California. Often referred to as sacred tobacco by the Northern California indigenous tribes, it has been intentionally cultivated for thousands of years. Slightly fuzzy, 6-inch long lanceolate leaves give rise to stalks 1- 6’ tall that are topped with long, white, tubular flowers from May-October. Provide full sun, good soil drainage, and little to no water. Dead-heading will prolong the bloom period. Often a fire follower. Drought tolerant. Deer may eat the flowers.
Oemleria cerasiformis
A charming native shrub which grows in moist areas along the coast or when inland on forest edges. Blooms in early spring just as the new leaves are beginning to expand with drooping clusters of fragrant white flowers. Male and female plants are separate and you'll need both to get the small blue-black fruits that birds enjoy. A suckering shrub growing 5 - 6 ft. tall or more. Plant in part shade with regular to occasional water. Can grow in cool full sun such as you find along the coast.
Oenothera californica
California primrose forms low mats of gorgeous, grey foliage, up to 2 to 3 ft. across. The soft leaves, covered with dense hairs, becomes nearly hidden by large, white, sweetly fragrant flowers. The long succession of blooms pop open in early evening from drooping flower buds and last just one night, becoming pink with age. Native to sandy or gravely soils of southern California, southwestern U.S. and Baja, where it can be found in chaparral, high elevation deserts and open woodland habitats. Perfect for the dry garden with well draining soils in full sun to very light shade. The luscious flower display can last from late spring into early summer. Goes completely dormant by mid-summer, returning the next winter. Pollinated by a number of interesting moth species including the Sphinx moth.
Oenothera elata ssp hookeri
Found in coastal areas from Sonoma County down to San Diego County. A vigorous, showy, winter-deciduous perennial that makes a dramatic border or background planting in full-sun gardens. In late summer into early fall, sprays of large, cheery, bright-yellow flowers with flat, papery petals top tall stalks up to 5’ high that are clothed with light-green lanceolate leaves. Blossoms provide a late season sweet treat for native butterflies and bees. As the name suggests, flowers fold and close during the heat of the day. May vigorously seed about. Moderate to occasional water once established.
Oxalis oregana
A natural companion of coast redwoods where it forms low carpets of clover-like foliage. Useful ground cover for the woodland garden where it competes well with tree roots and thrives in partial to deep shade. Low and spreading with spring flowers that can range from white through dark pink . Best with humus in the soil and some summer moisture, though it is drought tolerant in coastal zones. Deer resistant.
Oxalis oregana ‘American Beauty’
This remarkable selection of our native redwood sorrel has perhaps the largest flowers of any of the forms we've seen. The big pink blooms appear in spring above the lush, green, clover-like foliage. This ground cover competes well with tree roots and thrives in even the shadiest spots. Best with humus in soil and some moisture, though it is drought tolerant in coastal zones. Deer resistant.
Oxalis oregana ‘Klamath Ruby’
Low spreading groundcover which thrives in the shady conditions of Douglas fir and redwood forests. The cultivar ‘Klamath Ruby’ offers dark green clover-like foliage with beautiful burgundy backed leaves. White flowers with pale pink veining on the petals bloom in the spring. A lovely groundcover for a shady garden with some summer water, though it is drought tolerant in coastal zones, once established. Deer resistant.
Oxalis oregana ‘Smith River White’
This Cal Flora selection carries white flowers with thin pink lines on the petals held up above the foliage, thus creating an effect somewhat reminiscent of our small native anemones. The foliage is handsome with dark olive green tops and purple-red undersides to the leaves. The perfect ground cover for deep to moderate shade with some summer moisture. Drought tolerant when grown in more coastal areas. Rampant when its needs are met, it competes well with tree roots and is the perfect companion to other redwood forest understory plants. Deer resistant.
