Eriophyllum lanatum ‘Siskiyou’
An extremely variable species ranging from the immediate coast to the high mountains of California and into Oregon. The cultivar 'Siskiyou' is a Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery selection. Lush gray-green woolly foliage forms low mats up to 10 inches and 3-4 feet wide. Blooms over a long period, spring into fall with cheery 2 inch golden-yellow daisies. This tough perennial will thrive in full sun to light shade, decent drainage and moderate to infrequent summer water once established. The open-faced daisies are an excellent sources of pollen and nectar and make good platforms for insects to perch, attracting butterflies, bees and other insects.
Erythranthe (Mimulus) cardinalis
Native to wet areas throughout the West, this robust perennial can easily grow to more than 2 ft. tall and wide. Tubular scarlet flowers are a hummingbird favorite and are very showy. Plant in sun to part shade with ample water. Perfect beside a pond, stream or water feature. Trim as needed to keep tidy. The flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds.
Erythranthe (Mimulus) guttata
This charming monkeyflower is native to wet places throughout the west. Forms mats of bright green foliage topped with flowering stems of cheerful, bright yellow, tubular flower. Needs regular moisture and full sun to light shade. Seeds about when happy. The flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds. Works great in a swale, combined with rushes, Helenium and bee plant.
Eschscholzia californica – cream colored flowers
Smaller in stature than the typical robust orange forms of California poppy, this perennial fits into plantings nicely without overwhelming. Low foliage is ferny and finely dissected and topped with cup-shaped blossoms that are a lovely shade of cream to pale yellow. Best in full sun with dryish conditions. Given the opportunity may seed about. Flowers provide pollen that is favored by native bees, bumbles and honey bees.
Euthamia occidentalis
This little known, native goldenrod is a pollinator powerhouse, supporting bees, as well as a wide array of butterflies, including the Monarch, who are drawn to the nectar. In late summer and autumn, small, golden-yellow flowers form rounded clusters at the tops of tall, vertical branches, 4’ to 6’ high, clothed in long, slender, leaves. Grows naturally in sunny, low-lying areas which stay at least somewhat moist into early summer, but may be dry later in the year. Spreads quickly by underground rhizomes, especially in areas with perennial moisture, making it good for erosion control, but not suitable for small gardens. In two years, plants should reach about 4’ wide. Great in containers in smaller spaces.
Festuca californica
California fescue is a beautiful native bunchgrass often seen cascading down oak studded slopes. Blue-green leaf blades 1 1/2 ft. tall with graceful, airy flower stalks rising another 2 ft. above the foliage. A natural for under native oaks where they receive light shade and little summer water. Accepts full sun near the coast. They are drought tolerant once established. Deer resistant.
Festuca californica ‘Long Canyon’
We selected this unusual form of California fescue from the Trinity Mountains in Northern California. Features remarkably broad, stiff leaves colored an appealing silvery-grey reaching up to about 18 inches in height. In late spring, slender, airy grass flowers rise another 2 ft. above the foliage. Grows naturally in partial shade under oaks where it can be very drought tolerant once established. Similar to ‘Scott Mountain’, but with taller, more silvery foliage. Deer resistant.
Festuca californica ‘Phil’s Silver’
A bunch grass selected from seedlings grown from seed collected almost within sight of the ocean (Shell Beach area, Sonoma Coast). Gray-green in spring, it turns more silver-gray as the dry season progresses. Relatively dense (2 ft. X 2 ft.) foliage with unusually stout and heavy grass-flowers, this robust clone holds up well throughout the season. Its cultivar name is a pun for baby boomers that watched the 50’s show The Phil Silver’s Show, starring Phil Silvers. It prefers good drainage and bright shade inland with little to occasional summer water. Deer resistant.
Festuca californica ‘Scott Mountain’
A Native Sons Nursery selection from Siskiyou County. A good choice for gardens with limited space where the typical California fescue may prove too large. Smaller, stiff. blue-green blades to 1 foot tall with airy flower stems rising to 3 ft. tall. Will accept full sun along the coast but best with light shade. Wonderful understory grass among trees and shrubs or other partly shaded areas. Can stand alone or use in drifts for a wonderful textural effect. Drought tolerant but appreciates a little supplemental summer water. Deer resistant.
Festuca californica ‘Willits Giant’
Living up to its name, this selection is extremely robust, growing twice the size of typical California fescue. Wide gray blades grow in mounds about 3 ft. tall and wide. The grass flowers rise 5-6 feet tall with loose inflorescences dangling from the arching stems. Useful as a specimen or in drifts, this grass serves as a sturdy ground cover in deciduous oak woodlands or other lightly shaded areas. Drought tolerant once established but thrives with occasional summer water. We selected this cultivar from a seed crop collected near Willits, Mendocino County. Deer resistant.
Festuca idahoensis
A modest sized native bunchgrass with beautiful green to blue-green, fine-textured foliage. The blades grow eight inches to 1 ft. tall with flower stems 18 inches to 2 ft. tall. Grow in full sun to light shade. Appreciates some protection from hot afternoon sun, especially inland. Drought tolerant, though a little water in hot regions is helpful. Deer resistant.
Festuca idahoensis ‘Little Bald Hills’
This tidy little beauty was discovered on the south fork of the Smith River in Del Norte County. Soft, blue-grey leaves form a dense little mound about 10 inches high by a foot wide. Airy grass flowers rise another foot with chalky-blue stems. Enjoys full sun near the coast but will appreciate some afternoon shade in hot, inland areas. Needs moderate to infrequent irrigation once established. Plant with iris, yarrows and buckwheats to create a little meadow in your own garden. Deer resistant.
Festuca idahoensis ‘Muse Meadow’
Idaho fescue is a widely distributed native bunch grass growing in seasonally dry habitats below 5,000 ft. The cultivar ‘Muse Meadow’ was selected in the Marble Mountains by Nevin Smith of Suncrest Nursery. Forms hummocks of fine-textured blue blades around 6 inches tall, making it one of the smallest native Idaho fescue cultivars. The flower stems are 12 - 18 inches tall and become straw colored with age. Best in well drained soils in full sun or partial shade. Protect from the hot afternoon sun in hot areas. Provide moderate to occasional irrigation. Deer tolerant.
Festuca idahoensis ‘Stony Creek’
From Del Norte County comes this blue-gray native. Tolerant of full sun even inland, getting chalkier with summer scorching, but would prefer some afternoon shade. It grows to about 12 inches by 18 inches, with inflorescences rising to 2 ft in height. Enjoys moderate to occasional water. Good drainage, as its name implies. Deer resistant.
Festuca idahoensis ‘Tomales Bay’
This attractive blue-green selection of our native bunchgrass was discovered in the Nicasio area of Marin County. The soft foliage reaches a height of up to a foot and a width of about 1 1/2 ft.. The inflorescences are smaller than is typical for this species and can grow up to 18 inches tall. Best with full sun near the coast and light afternoon shade inland. Prefers moderate to occasional water. Deer resistant.
Festuca idahoensis ‘Warren Peak’
A Nevin Smith selection of Idaho fescue from the Warner Mts. in northeastern California. Forms dense 8 inch hummocks of very narrow bright green blades that become grey-blue with age. Perhaps the bluest of the native Idaho fescues. The 1 - 2 ft. tall flowering stems are silvery in color. Best in well draining soils in full sun to part shade (especially in hot regions) with moderate to occasional water. Deer resistant.
Festuca rubra – Molate strain
Discovered on Point Molate near Richmond, this selection spreads to form soft, flowing drifts of gray-green foliage 12 to 18 inches tall with graceful, open flowers rising to 3 feet. One of the biggest forms of our native red fescue, it’s eye-catching when planted in large masses or when combined with mounding shrubs or some of the more robust native bulbs. Very choice for a meadow or parking strip. Prefers some afternoon shade in the hotter climates and occasional water away from the coast. More drought tolerant than many other red fescues. Deer resistant.
Fragaria chiloensis ‘Green Pastures’
Beach strawberry is native to Pacific coast beaches and bluffs of North and South America. A popular and adaptable groundcover growing well in a wide range of climates and conditions. This selection forms lush carpets of shiny dark green foliage. The five-petaled white flowers are particularly large, showy and profuse in the spring. A great colonizer and stabilizer, this vigorous perennial spreads by runners to form dense carpets. Plant in sun to light shade with moderate to occasional summer water. Drought tolerant along the coast. This ia a male selection and will not fruit. Deer resistant.
Fragaria vesca
This native woodland strawberry is a great colonizer and can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. Pretty little white flowers are followed by small, tasty, red berries. Tolerates drought but best with a little summer water. Well suited for under oaks and conifers. Said to be deer resistant.
Fragaria vesca ‘Montana de Oro’
A vigorous, heavy blooming selection of woodland strawberry from a coastal canyon at Montana de Oro in San Luis Obisbo County. This easy to grow, carpet forming, ground cover is a great colonizer and stabilizer for lightly shaded areas. Deals well with root competition and thin soils. Pretty little white flowers are followed by small, tasty, red fruits. Often deer resistant.
Frangula (Rhamnus) californica – large, inland form
Handsome native evergreen shrub with small greenish-yellow flowers followed by showy dark-colored berries. The propagation material for this this crop was collected from tall, upright shrubs on a hot inland site. Growing 8 ft. or more tall, coffeeberries thrive in full sun to light shade. They are drought tolerant once established, but would appreciate occasional deep summer waterings. A good choice for hedgerows and habitat gardens, coffeeberry provides food and nectar for a wide array of beneficial insects, birds and wildlife.
Frangula (Rhamnus) californica ‘Ed Holm’
Prized by gardeners for its low, dense habit and shiny, leathery leaves, this special selection of coffeeberry was discovered along Skyline Dr. in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains. Clusters of small, creamy-yellow flowers are produced from spring through fall and are followed by penny-sized, deep purple fruits. Over time, 'Ed Holm' will reach a height of up to 3 ft. and a width up to 6 ft.. Plant in full sun to light shade. Protect from the hot afternoon sun in hot areas and give moderate to infrequent irrigation. The blossoms are a favorite of bees.
Frangula (Rhamnus) californica ‘Eve Case’
This well-known cultivar of coffeeberry was introduced to the trade in 1975 by the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation. Coffeeberry is a handsome evergreen shrub with broad leathery leaves. This selection grows to 6 ft. tall and wide, though mature specimens can reach 8 ft. or more tall under ideal circumstances. The small yellow-green flowers are not showy but attract an array of pollinators. The berries start out green and age to burgundy-black and are attractive to small mammals and birds. A larval food source for pale swallowtail butterfly. Adaptable, grows in sun to light shade. Drought tolerant but appreciates occasional summer water.
Frangula (Rhamnus) californica ‘Leatherleaf’
Another fine Roger Raiche selection, this coffeeberry cultivar is well worth growing. The evergreen leaves are particularly dark and broad with a mounding habit growing 5 - 6 ft. tall and wide. The tiny flowers attract a wide array of pollinators. Larval food source for pale swallowtail butterfly. The handsome fruits go green to red to black and are enjoyed by small mammals and birds. Plant in sun to light shade. Drought tolerant once established though occasional summer watering is helpful. An adaptable and useful shrub for both formal and naturalistic plantings.
Frangula (Rhamnus) californica ‘Seaview’
This highly sought after selection of our native coffeeberry stays low and compact only reaching 2 – 3 ft tall and up to 6 ft wide. The tidy, deep green leaves form dense rosettes with small cream-colored flowers appearing from spring through summer. Deep purple “berries” form dense clusters in the summer and fall. Enjoys full sun to moderate shade and moderate to occasional water once established. An excellent habitat plant for bees and birds.
Frangula (Rhamnus) purshiana
Native to moist places from Mendocino County northwards and throughout the Sierra Nevadas, this medium sized deciduous tree is distinctive for its shiny, green leaves with strong venation. Ranges in height from 15 to 30 ft. tall. Bees are attracted to the clusters of small, cream-colored flowers and birds enjoy the dark purple berries which follow. Plant in riparian zones or in areas where it can receive regular moisture. Give full sun to part shade. Requires protection from the afternoon sun in the hottest areas.
Fraxinus dipetala
This is our only native ash with showy flowers. A large shrub or multi-trunked tree native to slopes, canyons and stream banks in hot interior regions of the state. Grows 7 to 25 ft. tall with pinnately compound leaves. The creamy white flowers are produced on dangling racemes in mid to late spring, followed by pendulous clusters of samara fruits. Like the California buckeye, it loses its leaves early to evade the long dry summer. Grows in sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant once established.
Fraxinus latifolia
Fast growing hardwood tree, native to stream and river banks or other wetland habitats from San Diego to British Columbia. Growing 30 - 70 ft. tall, this deciduous tree has medium green compound leaves. Male and female flowers occur on separate trees and are not particularly showy. They bloom just as the spring foliage is leafing out. Fruits occur on the female trees and are paddle-shaped, single samara-style fruits in drooping clusters. Birds and mammals eat its seed, but probably used more as a nesting site for birds. Plant in sun to light shade with regular to moderate water.