Melica geyeri
This perennial bunch grass is native to many types of habitat in seasonally moist forests and hillsides throughout much of California. Forms a lush, dense bunch of deep-green, broad blades, spreading slowly by rhizomes. The common name refers to the swollen, onion-like corms at the base of the stems. The inflorescence rises 3 ft. tall or more is made up of long, green, narrow spikelets with purple banding. A perfect grass for dappled shade under oaks and firs. Tolerant of some summer irrigation, but can survive the dry season once established. Goes dormant by early autumn. A host plant of the rural skipper and the white-lined sphinx moth. Deer resistant.
Melica harfordii
A lovely and useful grass native to dryish slopes and canyons of coniferous forests from central California to British Columbia. Forms a loose vertical clump with slightly arching stems 2 to 4 ft. tall. The delicate, narrow flower spikes add a sparkling effect to the woodland garden. Useful in lightly shaded plantings, where it is drought tolerant especially in cooler areas like western Sonoma County. It would benefit from occasional water during the dry season in warmer regions. Adds a nice vertical touch, as a specimen or in mass. Deer resistant.
Melica imperfecta
Native to dry hillsides, chaparral and open woodlands of southern and central California. This dainty native perennial grass grows 1 - 3 ft. tall in flower with narrow, glossy leaves at its base. The slender flower panicles provide a delicate effect, starting out cream and aging to beige. Grows best in cool sun or part shade and responds to some irrigation. Goes dormant if allowed to go summer dry once established, turning green with the winter rains. Useful for lightly shaded meadow plantings and stabilizing slopes. Deer resistant.
Melica torreyana
At its best in winter and early spring, this little northern California bunchgrass is a perfect mound of soft green blades. In full bloom it can reach 1 - 3 ft. tall, followed by typical melic fruit resembling small brown rice grains held close to the stem. Grows in sun and shade in nature, but performs best/longest in the garden in part shade. Will go semi-summer dormant with drought, but will be evergreen with some moisture. Deer resistant.
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 ‘Soulajule’
Smaller than our cultivar 'Russian River', this coyote mint reaches a height of about 10 inches with fragrant leaves and dense heads of lavender-pink flowers in late spring and summer. Forms small colonies over time as the branches touch the ground and root. Best in full sun though light shade is helpful inland. Will enjoy occasional irrigation once established but does not require it.Attracts bees, butterflies and other beneficials and is deer resistant.Discovered near Soulajule Reservoir in Marin County.
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 ‘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.
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.
Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’
A beautiful ornamental oregano with showy arching sprays of papery pink bracts shaped somewhat like the flowers of a hop plant. Looks wonderful cascading over walls, in pots, and in rock gardens. Full sun to light shade, moderate water and good drainage. Flowering oregano is a bee favorite. Deer tolerant.
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.
Penstemon rostriflorus
A wonderful addition to the dry garden, bringing late summer color through abundant, bright red, tubular flowers. Growing 2 - 4 feet tall and wide, with attractive, glossy foliage, that takes on red and bronze tones in winter. A late blooming Penstemon, beginning in July, provides copious nectar for hummingbirds as well as bees, butterflies, and moths. Tolerant of wide range of soils and conditions, plant in full sun to light shade with occasional water. Drought tolerant once established.
Phacelia tanacetifolia
A robust ANNUAL increasingly used in agriculture as a pollinator attracting cover crop. This native covers the ground and flowers abundantly producing high quality pollen and nectar which is highly attractive to bees and beneficial insects. Fast growing frilly foliage grows 2-4 ft. tall and wide topped with clusters of small lavender-blue cup shaped flowers. Sun to light shade, decent drainage and drought tolerant. Occasional water during flowering will keep it going longer.
Pinus attenuata
This closed-cone pine is found primarily along the Oregon-California border and in hotter coastal mountains down to Baja. Knobcone pines can reach anywhere from 25 to 80 ft tall, depending on the soil conditions. The conical-shaped, evergreen crown has an open habit with clusters of 4-5” needles on upward-curving branches. Distinctive, asymetrical cones persist on the tree for years, even decades, and add to the tree’s visual appeal. This chaparral and dry-woodland native needs very little water and does best in rocky, well-draining soils with full sun. More tolerant of nutrient-poor soils than most other pines. In very lean soils, trees can develop a stunted and contorted appearance which is quite striking. Deer resistant.
Pinus contorta ssp. bolanderi
A close relative of the shore pine, the pygmy pine occurs in the coastal pygmy forests of Mendocino Co. This rare and threatened pine only reaches a height of about 6 ft in the acidic soils of its native habitat but acts more like the shore pine in a garden setting, reaching up to about 30 ft in time. The upward reaching stems are clad in short needles with small cones produced on the ends. Provide full sun near the coast and a little afternoon shade inland. Needs moderate to occasional irrigation and decent drainage. Good container plant. Deer resistant.
Pinus contorta ssp. contorta
On windswept coastal bluffs from Mendocino Co. northwards resides this dense, picturesque shore pine. While small in stature on the weathered cliffs of our shoreline often reaching only 6-10 ft. in height, in a garden setting the shore pine is a small to medium sized tree, growing to about 30 ft. Short, dark green needles cover the stems with small cones. An excellent compact conifer for the medium sized garden or in a container where it stays more diminutive. Provide full sun and occasional deep irrigation once established. Needs decent drainage. Deer resistant.
Pinus jeffreyi
This stately pine hales from many of California’s mountain regions and is the dominant pine of the Tahoe basin. Features long needles and a broad trunk with deeply furrowed bark of orangy-red. Similar to the ponderosa pine but occurs at higher elevations and the bark has a distinctive vanilla scent. The cones are also larger than those of the ponderosa and don’t have sharp, outwardly protruding scales, hence the affectionate name “gentle Jeffrey.” Often reaches heights of over 100 feet with an open canopy. Provide good drainage and full sun to light shade. Drought tolerant and deer resistant.
