Helenium puberulum
Summer brings clouds of yellow pom-poms which age to brown on this native member of the sunflower family. The round flower clusters sit atop rings of small, down-turned petals, held up on flat stems lined with lanceolate leaves. The flower stalks reach 3 to 5 ft. in height and can be cut down once blooming has finished. Plant in full sun to light shade. Rosilla grows naturally by creeks and seeps and enjoys regular moisture, but will tolerate some drier periods. Attracts a wide variety of insects including bees and butterflies. Goldfinches love the seed. Reseeds readily.
Helianthus annuus
Native to much of North America, this is a wild California selection from the Central Valley just east of Lake Berryessa. A fast growing annual with coarse heart-shaped leaves and topped with an abundance of 3 inch flowers, with bright yellow petals and brown centers on branched stalks. An excellent habitat plant, providing nectar and pollen for a wide array of bees and butterflies as well as seed relished by birds. A highly variable species with a long history of uses and domestication. Plant in full sun where it is adaptable to soil types and watering regimes. Can manage in dryish conditions but best with moderate water, especially early in its growth.
Helianthus californicus
This giant, perennial sunflower is native to riparian habitats in openings with decent light. Dormant in the winter, spring brings rapid growth, with narrow, bright green leaves on tall stalks rising 7 feet or more above a root system which spreads widely. Summer brings many small, golden-yellow sunflowers on the branch tips which are quite dramatic in full bloom. Flowers attract bees and butterflies and the seeds are relished by birds. Perfect for stabilizing soil where there is some summer water and plenty of space. Once established it can take it dryish, but will flower better with water. An excellent cut flower.
Heracleum maximum
Big, bold, native perennial 3 - 8 ft. tall, is striking in mass or as a specimen. Forms a rosette of large lobed leaves followed by stout flower stems carrying large umbels of white flowers. Thrives in rich soils with some moisture. Full sun along coast, part shade inland. As a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) the flowers are very effective at attracting beneficial insects. Larval food source for anise swallowtail butterfly. Formerly known as Heracleum lanatum.
Heuchera ‘Canyon Duet’
A Santa Barbara Botanic Garden selection, part of their Quartet Series of hybrids. This charming, diminutive coral bells forms low, sturdy clumps of small rounded leaves slowly spreading to about 10-12 inches wide. Bi-colored flowers of dark pink and white rise 12 to 18 inches above the dense foliage in spring and early summer. Heuchera's require good light to bloom well but resent full sun, especially inland. Moderate to occasional water. Excellent small scale perennial for mixed border, edging or rock garden. Good container subject too.
Heuchera ‘Old La Rochette’
Here is a wonderful, often hard to find Heuchera hybrid. Grows into robust clumps of rounded leaves to around 1 ft. tall and 1 - 2 ft. wide. 2 ft. tall flower stalks carry hundreds of soft pink blossoms in the spring, and often intermittently through the summer. Sturdy perennial for part shade and a little summer water. This species attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera ‘Rosada’
Listed as one of U.C. Davis Arboretum’s “All Stars”, this heuchera hybrid is tough and dependable. Forms an attractive mound of evergreen foliage 10 - 12 inches tall. A long display of tall flower stems covered with creamy-pink dainty bells begin in the spring and often continue into the summer. Best with part shade and moderate to occasional summer water. Attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera ‘Santa Ana Cardinal’
An outstanding hybrid that is vigorous and free flowering. Compact clumps of foliage topped with 2 ft. tall flowering stems with vibrant rose-red blossoms over a long period. Plant in cool full sun to light shade with moderate to occassional summer water once established. This species attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera cylindrica
Native to the northern mountains of California, the roundleaf alumroot is distinctive for its dense clusters of white to cream-yellow flowers held on vertical stems reaching 1 to 2 ft tall. Round leaves grow in tight mounds up to 8 inches high and 2 ft wide. Combine with pink Heucheras, Iris and small ferns for an attractive woodland display. Needs part shade and decent drainage. Attracts hummingbirds. Drought tolerant.
Heuchera hirsutissima
This miniature alumroot is the perfect addition to the lightly shaded rock garden or along the edge of a path. Pinkish-white, dainty flowers sit atop short stems only about 4 inches tall in spring and summer. The little 2 inch mounds of dark green leaves slowly spread to form tiny drifts. Provide good drainage and moderate irrigation. An excellent plant for a rock crevice or container where it can be combined with Idaho fescue, Erigeron 'Olga' or leather fern. This species comes from the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains of southern California.
Heuchera maxima
Native to the Channel Islands, this is one of the most adaptable and vigorous of the alum roots, forming broad evergreen mounds of bright green folilage 1 - 1 1/2 ft. high. Maroon flower stems are 3 ft. high topped with pink blushed creamy flowers that have a slight green haze. Best with part shade and a little summer water, but will tolerate full sun close to the coast. Good for use under oaks. This species attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera micrantha
This is our common alum root which is usually seen on shady cliffs and roadbanks adjacent to forests. Easy to grow in garden situations. Forms low mounds of foliage topped with dainty white flowers on long stems. Likes moisture, but tolerates considerable drought and takes deeper shade than most Heuchera species. This species attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera micrantha ‘Martha Roderick’
Here’s a pink flowered form of the normally white flowered native alum root. Foliage forms handsome clumps topped with slender stalks 1 - 1 1/2 ft. tall of tiny pink flowers. Excellent in woodland setting for border, slope or rock garden. Drought tolerant but best with a little water. This species attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera pilosissima
Native to the coast from Mendocino to Santa Barbara Counties, this perennial forms compact, evergreen clumps of light-green scalloped leaves. Stocky flower stems 12 – 16 inches long carry small white-pink flowers in early summer. Perfect in coastal areas where it can grow in sun to light shade and will be drought tolerant once established. Must have part shade and some summer water inland. Plant in mass for a nice ground cover in a woodland setting or in mixed plantings with shrubs and ferns. Attracts hummingbirds.
Heuchera rubescens
The pink alumroot stands out with bell-like flowers of pink and white held in clusters on slender stems up to 1 ft tall. The round, scalloped leaves form low, dense mats up to 1 1/2 ft wide and about 6 inches high. This western mountain dweller looks beautiful in a rock garden but will do well in any situation with part shade and good drainage. Needs moderate to occasional irrigation once established. Attracts hummingbirds. Great in a container.
Hierochloe (Anthoxanthum) odorata
Invite good spirits into your home and garden with this interesting, fragrant grass. Sweet grass is an aromatic, native perennial, with an extensive range in the United States, Canada and Eurasia. Growing in wetlands, prairies and meadows, it prefers rich, moist, soils and at least half day of sun. The grass flowers sit just above the foliage where they can dance with the wind. This cool season grass is sacred to indigenous people, where it is used in herbal medicine, a kind of tobacco, basket making, and burned as a smudge. Growing 1 - 2 ft. tall and spreading widely by sturdy rhizomes that can be difficult to eliminate once well established. Winter dormant in cold areas. Deer resistant.
Hoita macrostachya
Leather root is a robust perennial, native to California’s coastal and inland valleys. It forms dense clumps of trailing or ascending stems with trifoliate leaves and showy clusters of purple-to-lavender, pea-like flowers that bloom from late spring through summer. It thrives in full sun to light shade, and prefers well-drained soils, though it tolerates clay. While somewhat drought tolerant, it enjoys deep summer irrigation. This species is ideal for slope stabilization and habitat restoration. It attracts bees and butterflies while fixing nitrogen in the soil, creating a resilient, ecologically-supportive landscape.
Iris douglasiana
Native to the California coast from Santa Barbara to Oregon. Grows both on the edge of coastal forests and on bluffs and prairies along the ocean. Clumps of evergreen, sword-shaped leaves increase readily and are topped with violet-purple blossoms early to mid spring. Important nectar producer for native bees. An adaptable garden subject for cool full sun to light shade. Drought tolerant once established, but occasional summer water will help keep foliage fresher. Deer resistant.
Iris douglasiana ‘Canyon Snow’
A dependable and floriferous selection of the native Douglas iris, with springtime flowers that are pure white with yellow markings on the falls. Broad shiny blades are mostly evergreen and grow a foot or more tall and form compact clumps. Plant in sun to part shade, particularly in hot inland areas, with moderate to little summer water. Prefers good drainage but will grow well on clay soils provided they are mounded up. Too much summer water on heavy soils will prove fatal. Deer resistant.
Iris Pacific Coast hybrid
A diverse group bred from the native irises with wonderful coloration, patterning, flower form variation....ranging from soft pastels to mahogany, maroon and midnight purple. Evergreen foliage, about 1 to 2 ft. high. Can eventually form sizable clumps. Full sun to light shade. Often do well as an understory for oaks that needs no summer water. Drought tolerant, moderate to little water when established. Deer don’t seem to eat flowers or foliage.
Iris Pacific Coast hybrid – lavender
A native iris hybrid thought to be a cross with Iris douglasiana. Flowers are a deep lavender in color, with purple-veined petals and yellow throats. Evergreen foliage is 12-18 inches tall and spreads to form 2-3 foot-wide clumps. Tolerates full sun on the coast but does best with afternoon shade inland. Occasional water keeps it looking good in summer. Like other Pacific Coast iris hybrids, it can be planted in the understory of oaks, where it will require little irrigation once established. Drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Iris Pacific Coast hybrid ‘Canyon Sunshine’
One of a diverse group of hybrid native irises, this butter-yellow selection with a lemony center is the result of a cross with Iris douglasiana 'Canyon Snow.' The evergreen foliage grows about 1 - 2 feet tall and spreads by rhizomes to form clumps up to 3 feet wide. Tolerates full sun on the coast but does best with afternoon shade inland. Occasional water keeps it looking nice in summer. A good plant for the understory of oaks, where it will require little irrigation once established. Drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Iris Pacific Coast hybrid ‘Purple & White’
A Pacific Coast hybrid iris with thick purple veins and a splash of yellow at the center of white flowers. The evergreen foliage gets 12-18 inches tall and spreads by rhizomes to form clumps up to 3 feet wide. Does well in full sun in cooler, coastal areas, but needs afternoon shade inland. Occasional water keeps it looking good in summer. A suitable plant for the understory of oaks, where it will require little irrigation once established. Drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Iris Pacific Coast hybrid ‘Sebastopol’
A diverse group bred from the native irises with wonderful coloration, patterning, flower form variation....ranging from soft pastels to mahogany, maroon and midnight purple. Evergreen foliage, about 1 to 2 ft. high. Can eventually form sizable clumps. Full sun to light shade. Often do well as an understory for oaks that needs no summer water. Drought tolerant, moderate to little water when established. Deer don’t seem to eat flowers or foliage.
Juglans hindsii
Beautiful, deciduous tree native to riparian areas in Northern California. Canopies of pinnately compound leaves form a round-topped tree 20 - 60 ft. tall. Flowers in early spring are dangling catkins, followed by round nuts in a fleshy husk. The delicious nuts are small and held in thick, hard to crack shells. An important food source for wildlife. Prefers deep soils and is drought tolerant once established. A natural for along the upper slopes of creeks and rivers.
Juncus effusus
Striking plant with bright green, erect, cylindrical blades that arch somewhat toward the tips. Creamy-gold, tassel-like flowers appear near the tips in spring and early summer. Grows 3 ft. or more tall and wide. Native to moist habitats in temperate regions of the world. Can grow in full sun to light shade with regular to moderate water. A natural for water features, making a great foliage accent for pools, ponds, or streamsides. Can grow in shallow water. Great in containers too. Deer resistant.
Juncus patens
This handsome evergreen rush provides a striking vertical accent 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 ft. tall with grey-green to grey-blue foliage. Brownish-yellow, tassel-like flowers appear in the spring and early summer. Very adaptable, tolerating a wide range of conditions. Enjoys sun with moisture, but will tolerate dry conditions once established. Accepts moderate shade. Robust root systems are excellent for soil stabilization. Deer resistant.
Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’
Introduced by San Marcos Growers, this form of Juncus patens was selected from the hills southeast of the town of Elk in Mendocino County. Features exceptionally blue foliage and and a vigorous spreading habit. This selection is shorter than the typical grey rush only reaching about 18 inches tall. An adaptable species, will thrive in moist soils, even shallow water but once established tolerates dry conditions too. Grows in sun to moderate shade. An excellent accent plant with its stiff, vertical foliage. Deer resistant.