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 crocatum
A rare buckwheat grown for its beautiful gray, felty foliage and bright, clear yellow flowers. The yellow flowers open from brown buds and then age to a dark rusty brown. Grows 1 - 2 ft. tall and wide, this perennial requires full sun and good drainage. Little to no summer water once established. This Ventura County, California native is hardy to about 15°F. Good nectar source for bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.
Eriogonum latifolium
Native to our coastal bluffs, this perennial forms neat mounds of silvery white foliage under 1 ft. tall. Flowers develop in dense pom-poms and are creamy white to pinkish. Tolerates sun, wind and drought once established but needs decent drainage. Provide occasional summer irrigation to keep them looking their best. Buckwheats have substantial wildlife value, providing pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies, larval food for butterflies, seeds for birds and cover for many creatures. Deer resistant.
Eriogonum nudum
Few natives are as excellent a source of nectar for bees and butterflies as the buckwheats. This widely distributed species is known for its elegant flower displays on naked stems rising one to three feet above low mounds of grey-green leaves. Naked buckwheat has flower pom-poms ranging in color from white to pink set on slender stems in open clusters up to twelve inches wide. Blooms from late spring into early autumn. Provide full sun to very light shade in soil with decent drainage. Drought tolerant once established. Generally deer resistant.
Eriogonum nudum – robust form
This buckwheat came to us by way of Ginny Hunt and her seed company Seedhunt. Collected from a local race (Santa Cruz area) of naked buckwheat where the flower stems rise to 5 foot or more! Naked buckwheat is the most widely distributed species of buckwheat, growing throughout the state. Forms low mounds of foliage with tall, slender, naked stems, topped with clusters of white to pinkish pom-poms. Plant in full sun to very light shade with good drainage. Drought tolerant once established. Important pollinator plant. Said to be deer resistant.
Eriogonum nudum – soft yellow form
This seed strain of the naked buckwheat hails from a particularly robust population found in blue oak savanna, in the foothills of Tehama County. It has soft, buttery-yellow inflorescences, rather than the more common white or soft pink flowered forms. 3-5 feet tall, chunky stems topped with soft yellow, pom-pom shaped flower clusters emerge from a low, narrow, evergreen rosette of rounded leaves from May-August. Provide full-sun, good soil drainage, and little to no water once established. Native bees and butterflies enjoy the flowers. Great for rock gardens. Drought-tolerant.
Eriogonum nudum ‘Ella Nelson’s Yellow’
The naked buckwheat has the widest distribution of all the buckwheats, occurring from the coast to timberline in the mountains. This interesting seed strain was collected by Eric Nelson along the middle fork of the Eel River in Mendocino County and named for his grandmother. Instead of the more common white or pink flowers of the species, this strain has beautiful yellow flowers. The spoon shaped leaves which form a low rosette are grey green on top and white and wooly beneath. Late spring brings a multitude of small, bright yellow flowers carried on the bare, leafless stems 18-24 inches above the foliage. Best on well drained soils in full sun where they are drought tolerant once established. Buckwheats are highly attractive to nectar feeding insects. Deer resistant.
Eriogonum umbellatum var. aureum ‘Kannah Creek’
Selected from the Kannah Creek region of Western Colorado, this durable perennial will make a fine addition to the dry garden. Forms low mats of leathery leaves 12-24 inches wide, which turn shades of red and purple in the autumn. Masses of bright yellow flowers on stalks 12-15 inches tall appear late spring to early summer and deepen in color to orange as they age. Plant in full sun to light shade with occasional to little water. Drought tolerant once established. Buckwheats attract an array of beneficial insects, provide pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies and seeds for birds.
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.
Eriophyllum staechadifolium
This native perennial is perfect for coastal environments where it tolerates full sun, wind, salt spray and drought. Forms leafy mounds 2 - 3 ft. tall and at least as wide. The foliage is grey-green above and silvery beneath with flower heads densley packed with tiny golden-yellow daisies from May through August. Drought tolerant but appreciates occasional summer waterings, especially when grown away from the coast. Excellent for pollinators. Tip pruning helps keep the mounds tidy. Annual pruning back will refresh.
Erysimum franciscanum
This rare and threatened species makes its home in the sand dunes and hills of the San Francisco Bay area. Development has seriously impacted its native habitat. Fragrant, four-petaled flowers ranging in color from creamy white to yellow rise up to 18” above dark green foliage in the spring and early summer. Thrives with good drainage and occasional water once established. Plant this special wallflower in full sun with other small perennials such as buckwheats, checkermallows and coyote mint. Attractive to butterflies.
Erysimum menziesii
A rare species native to sand dunes along the north coast of California. Forms tight mounds of narrow leaves 8-12 inches tall and wide. Bright-yellow fragrant flowers bloom in late spring and will continue into summer with a little additional summer watering. The fragrant flowers are butterfly favorites. Adaptable and can seed about if happy, though not weedy. Requires good drainage, full sun, to light shade inland, with moderate to occasional summer water. Said to be deer tolerant.
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.
Eschscholzia californica var. maritima
This is the perennial, coastal form of California poppy. Low growing and spreading with beautiful, finely cut, blue-gray foliage. Abundant flowers are golden yellow with orange centers, blooming over a long period, especially in mild climates. Plants retreat to leafy rosettes in winter. Best in full sun where they are drought tolerant, but a little summer water can extend their bloom period. Seeds about if happy.
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
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.