Epipactis gigantea ‘Serpentine Night’
The stream orchid is found in perennial streams, seepages, or other permanently moist places in California. Spreads by runners and will form a colony producing many flower stems. Each stem holds several orchid blosssoms of subtle orange tones 12 - 18 inches tall. The cultivar ‘Serpentine Night’ has wonderful dark purple foliage, emerging in the spring almost black. As the season progresses the color changes to dark bronze then bronzy green. Goes dormant in winter. Best with good light but may need afternoon shade in hot areas. Easy to grow with regular to moderate water. Excellent in containers.
Equisetum hyemale v. robustum
Horsetail’s wonderful, erect form can be very useful in the landscape BUT BEWARE of its invasive nature. Best confined to containers where its slender, hollow, segmented stems can rise 4 ft. tall or more. Provide sun to medium shade and regular water. Deer resistant.
Erigeron ‘Olga’
A fine seaside daisy hybrid introduced by Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Oregon. Forms a tidy, dense mat of dark green foliage. Lavender daisies rise 12 inches above the compact foliage late spring into summer. Plant in full sun along the coast, part shade inland with moderate to occasional summer water. This compact grower is perfect for small spaces, troughs or containers. Bee and butterfly favorite.
Erigeron ‘W.R.’
The "W. R." stands for the late Wayne Roderick, whom we can thank for many fine plant introductions. This hybrid involves the seaside daisy, Erigeron glaucus and some other native species more tolerant of heat. The lavender daisies sit on slender stalks about 10 inches above low rosettes of narrow leaves. The flowers bloom over a long period in summer and are very attractive to pollinators of all sorts. Provide full sun in cooler areas but will enjoy part shade in hot inland sites. Moderate to occasional irrigation. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches. Wayne discovered this surpisingly heat tolerant selection on the Del Norte coast. This selection should not be confused with 'Wayne Roderick', which is an entirely diferent selection of Erigeron.
Erigeron glacialis
From mountain meadows throughout much of California and the West comes this endearing little daisy. Features clusters of refined, lavender-pink daisies with yellow centers held on stalks up to 10 inches tall above low, mat-forming leaves. Plant in full sun except in hot, inland areas where some afternoon shade would be appreciated. Needs moderate irrigation. This summer bloomer provides excellent habitat for bees and butterflies. A superlative candidate for a rock garden or narrow planting bed. Works well in containers.
Erigeron glaucus
Low growing native perennial to 1 ft. tall with lovely, lavender, daisy-like flowers blooming over a long part of the year. Native to coastal dunes and bluffs, but does well inland with some afternoon shade and a little extra summer water. A natural along the coast where it thrives with little to no summer water and tolerates wind and salt spray. Good nectar source for butterflies and many different pollinators. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Bountiful’
Forms a lush mound of foliage 10 inches - 1 ft. tall by 2 ft. wide. Exceptionally floriferous and long blooming, 'Bountiful' offers masses of lavender daisies with yellow centers held above loose rosettes of green foliage. It slowly spreads to form drifts which combine wonderfully with Iris and low grasses. A natural along the coast where it grows in full sun and is drought tolerant. Appreciates some afternoon shade and summer water inland. A reliable and easy to grow perennial. Butterfly and bee favorite. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Cal Flora’
This seedling appeared at the base of a decorative pot planted with Erigeron glaucus ‘Cape Sebastian’. The seedling's foliage and form appears to be intermediate between Erigeron glaucus 'Cape Sebastian’ and Erigeron glaucus 'Bountiful'. It has a nice dense habit, though a bit taller than ‘Cape Sebastian', with larger and darker flowers held just above the foliage at about 10 inches in height. A natural along the coast where it thrives with little to no summer water once established and tolerates wind and salt spray. In hotter inland conditions give some afternoon shade and additional summer water. Good pollen and nectar source for bees and butterflies. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Cape Sebastian’
This selection of the West Coast native seaside daisy is from Oregon, just north of the California border. A compact and dense mound up to 6 inches high, topped with lavender daisies over a long period. Full sun near coast, light shade in hot regions. Best with moderate to occasional summer water in hotter climates. A favorite of pollinators. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Ron’s Pink’
A delightful pink-flowered version of the useful seaside daisy, an easy to grow perennial native to the coast. Mounds of compact foliage topped with large, pink daisies, spring through autumn. At home on coastal bluffs in full sun with wind and salt spray. Requires afternoon shade and some summer water when grown in hotter interior locations. Looks beautiful when planted with Douglas iris, low fescues and woolly sunflowers. Attractive to a wide array of pollinators, including native bees and butterflies.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’
This selection offers the darkest flowers of any of the seaside daisies. Deep purple petals surround golden discs on flowers 1 ½ inches wide. The prolific blooms begin in spring and can continue into autumn if the spent flowers are removed. Bright green leaves create a slowly spreading mound up to a foot high with the flowers perched just above. Plant in full sun near the coast but protect from the hot afternoon sun in inland locales. Enjoys moderate to occasional irrigation. The seaside daisies make a great addition to the meadow garden, combining beautifully with iris, blue fescues and spreading gumplant.
Erigeron glaucus ‘White Lights’
This unusual white flowering form of seaside daisy was discovered along a coastal bluff in Sonoma County by Roger Raiche. It has been a long bloomer, starting in spring and continuing into autumn. Reaches a height of up to 1 ft. and spreads to form a small clump. Prefers sun, decent drainage, and is drought tolerant once established. A little shade and moderate to occasional water is best in hot inland sites. A member of the sunflower family, seaside daisies are excellent sources of both nectar and pollen for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Their seeds are favored by juncos and finches.
Erigeron linearis
This native Erigeron grows in a number of western states, including California, where it is found in the mountains, on rocky slopes, sagebrush scrub and desert plant communities. Most Erigeron species flowers are white, pink or shades of purple, but this low growing, tufted perennial sports dime-sized, yellow daisies, in the late spring to early summer. The flower buds nod at first, then straighten as they open above the mound of narrow leaves, rising to around 8 inches or so tall and getting about as wide. A natural for the dry garden, rock garden, crevice, wall or container, where it gets full sun and excellent drainage. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers, including several checkerspot butterfly species and the white-lined sphinx moth.
Eriogonum umbellatum var. porteri
One of our most diminutive buckwheats, featuring intensely yellow flowers in charming pom-poms held just above tight mats of deep green, rounded leaves. The foliage only reaches about 4 inches tall and about a foot wide, making this variety a great choice for containers, rock gardens, and small spaces. While the same species as our Californian sulphur buckwheats, this form is found on gravelly ridges in the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains. Does well in local gardens with decent drainage in full sun to very light shade. A great pollinator plant when in bloom in spring and summer.
Eriogonum vimineum
Here is an ANNUAL buckwheat found throughout much of California, growing on gravely and volcanic soils. Summer brings showy domes of rose-pink flowers held on wiry stems 18 inches above small clumps of basal leaves. Buckwheats are excellent for attracting beneficial insects providing pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies and seeds for birds. Plant in full sun with little water once established. Good container plant too.
Eriophyllum lanatum ‘Horseshoe Cove’
This western native grows on rocky slopes and bluffs over a wide range of plant communities in California, Oregon and Washington. This low dense coastal selection forms a mat of woolly, bright green foliage just a few inches tall and 1-2 ft. across, topped with cheerful golden yellow daisies rising to 6 inches tall, late spring and summer. The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Larval host plant for the painted lady butterfly. Plant in full sun to light shade inland with good drainage and moderate summer water.
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. Larval host plant for the painted lady butterfly.
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) dentata
Native to coastal streams and wet shady places in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, north to British Columbia.Handsome bright green leaves with toothed margins,6-15 inches high spreading by slender rhizomes to form perennial patches.Late spring and summer brings funnel shaped bright yellow flowers with tiny red dots in the throat, which bloom over a long period. Excellent for any moist shady spot where the cheerful blossoms brighten. A good container plant too.
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.
Erythronium ‘Pagoda’
This delightful woodland bulb offers soft yellow, lily flowers in early spring, held on delicate stems up to a foot high above broad, speckled leaves. The charming flowers point gently downwards with stamens protruding from the reflexed petals. Creates a beautiful accent in the shade garden where it can form small drifts overtime, mingling with ferns, bleeding hearts and fringecups. The leaves emerge in late winter when the soil is moist and disappear shortly after flowering. Needs well-draining soil with a little organic matter and only occasional irrigation after it goes dormant in summer. A cross between 2 rare native fawn lilies: E. tuolumnense and E. revolutum.
Erythronium oregonum
The giant fawn lily adds a delicate accent in the spring to the bright shade garden featuring starlike flowers of creamy-white with yellow centers. Reaching to a height of about 1 ft when in bloom with low, broad leaves attractively mottled. This bulb will slowly increase to form little clumps, ideal for the forest rock garden. Provide good drainage and water infrequently during its summer dormancy.
Eschscholzia lobbii – Sundew
This endemic, ANNUAL poppy is more diminutive than the typical big, orange, well known California poppy. Native to inland sites in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills, where it grows in full sun with good drainage. This floriferous little gem sports smaller, cup-shaped flowers of the most lovely, soft shade of buttery-yellow, atop gray-green, finely cut foliage to about 6 inches tall. Wonderful addition to dry garden plantings, rock gardens, in openings amongst shrubs, perennials or other annuals, or in containers. May reseed if happy. The pollen attracts all sorts of pollinators and is deer and rabbit resistant.
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 ‘Beyond Blue’
A natural mutation of Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’, introduced by a Dutch nursery and said to offer the bluest of the blue colored blades. This cool season grass forms a neat mound of vibrant blue foliage, 9 - 12 inch tall and 12 - 18 inches wide, with silvery grass flowers that fade to tan. Requires decent drainage with full sun along the coast and light shade inland and moderate to occasional summer water. Beautiful in mass or as an accent, grows well in containers too. 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 ‘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 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 occidentalis
Western fescue has a wide distribution in western north America, largely found in low to mid elevations of Central California north to British Columbia. Native to conifer, oak and mixed evergreen woodlands where it grows in light shade. Forms dense tufts of fine evergreen foliage 6-12 inches tall. Delicate flower panicles on stems rise 2 ft. or so above the blades in early spring or summer. A nice accent in lightly shaded areas with decent drainage and some summer moisture. Deer resistant.