Clay soils 3-11
description
Transcript of Clay soils 3-11
1
CA Native Plants for Western L.A. County – Plants for Clay Soils
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Trees and Tree-like Large Shrubs
* Acer negundo var.
californicum Boxelder
To 40 ft
tall & wide White/Sp FS/PS
Any incl.
clay 2 to 3
1, 8, 13, 14,
24 Fast-growing
* Aesculus californica CA Buckeye 12-30+ ft tall & w
White/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Any well-drained
1 1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14
* Alnus rhombifolia White Alder 50-75 ft tall
20-40 ft w.
Green/Sp FS/PS Any incl.
clay 2-3 to 3 3, 6, 8, 13, 14 Tol. flooding
X Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat To 10 ft Pink-white/ all year
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2
** Ceanothus ‘Ray
Hartman’
‘Ray Hartman’
Ceanothus To 20 ft t
10-15 w Lt. blue/Sp FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 6, 9, 13
Spreading; evergreen; good for garden
X * Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud 6-20 ft tall 10-15 ft w
Magenta/ Sp
FS/PS Any incl clay
1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16,
19
Fall color (red, orange); edible
fruit, flowers
X Cercocarpus montanus
var. blancheae/ C. alnifolius/
C. betuloides var. blancheae
Birchleaf Mountain
Mahogany 6-12 ft tall 4 ft. wide
Yellow-white/Sp
FS Well-drained
1-2 1, 7, 13 Hedge; evergreen;
upright form
* Cercocarpus minutiflorus
San Diego Mountain
Mahogany
8-12 ft tall 8-10 ft w
Yellow-white/Sp
FS Well-drained
1-2 3, 8, 14, 21 Hedge; evergreen;
upright form
X Cornus glabrata Brown Dogwood < 18 ft tall
to 10 ft w White/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Clay best 2-3 1, 13
* Cupressus forbesii Tecate Cypress 20-30 ft
tall 6-8 ft wide
Insig FS Any well-drained
1 to 1-2 6, 8, 14, 24
Hedge (to 12
ft); fast growth; neat-looking
X * Forestiera neomexicana (pubescens)
Desert Olive 8-15 ft t 8 ft wide
Yellow/Sp FS Any well-drained
1-2 to 2 6, 8
Berries for
birds; gray-green foliage
X * Garrya elliptica Coastal Silktassel 12 ft tall &
wide Cream/W FS/PS
Any well-
drained 1 to 1-2 3, 8, 14
Good under
oaks; ‘James
Roof’
X Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon 6-10 ft + 4-6 ft w
White/Su FS/PS/FSH Any well-drained
1-2 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16,
18
Berries toxic in lg. amounts
X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean
Spray 10-20 ft
tall White/Su-Fa FS/PS
Any, incl.
clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14
Fragrant at a
distance
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Juglans californica S. California
Walnut 20-40 ft ta Green/Sp FS/PS
Clays
best 1
1, 7, 12, 13,
14 allelopathic
X Lavatera
assurgentiflora ssp.
glabrata & assurgentiflora
Island (Rose) Mallow
8-12 ft tall & wide
Magenta/ yr round
FS/PS Well-drained
1 1, 2, 13
X
Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp.
aspleniifolius & floribundus
Catalina Ironwood To 50 ft t 15-30 ft w
White-
yellow/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Any well-drained
1-2 1, 3, 7, 9, 13, 14
Evergreen
X Malosma laurina Laurel Sumac <18 ft tall
and wide White/Sp FS any 1 to 1-2
1, 7, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16
X * Morella (Myrica) californica
California Wax Myrtle
6-30 ft t 10-20 ft w
Yellow-white/Sp
FS/PS/ FSH
Any;
well-drained best
2-3 to 3 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 14, 19
Evergreen;
good for hedges; purple berries
* Pinus torreyana Torrey Pine 40-60 ft t 30-50 ft w
Insignif/ Sp
FS/PS Well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 13, 14, 20
Pine scent
Platanus racemosa California
sycamore 60-100 ft
Bright
pink/Sp FS
Any but high alkali
2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14 Can live to 400 yrs; no salt tolerance
X Populus balsamifera
ssp. trichocarpa Black Cottonwood
30-60 (100
ft) Yellow/Sp FS any 2-3 1, 7, 14
Grows large with abundant
water
Populus fremontii Fremont’s Cottonwood
To 100 ft 80 ft w
Yellow/Sp FS Any 2-3 1, 3, 14 Long-lived
X * Prunus virginiana var. demissa
Western Chokecherry
6-25 ft tall 6-15 ft w
Cream/Sp FS/PS Any 2 to 2-3 6, 13 fruits for jelly, bird habitat
X Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia & lyonii
Holly-leaf and
Catalina Island Cherries
< 50 ft White/Su PS any 1-2 1, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19
X Quercus agrifolia Coastal Live Oak 10-70 f tall 40-70 w.
Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Coarse-med.
1 1, 2, 18 Long-lived
X Salix laevigata Red Willow 10-30 ft to 45 ft w.
Yellow/Sp FS any 1-2; winter
flooding 1, 2, 3, 12, 14
‘weeping’ growth habit
Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra Pacific (Shining) Willow
20-40 ft T Yellow/Sp FS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 13, 14
X Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
Blue (Mexican) Elderberry
8-25+ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 12-14, 16, 19
Edible berries
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges)
X * Amelanchier alnifolia Western Serviceberry
8-15 ft tall 6-12 ft w
White/Sp FS/PS Any; well-
drained 1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 10, 13 Ripe berries make
sweet jelly/sauce
** Arctostaphylos
bakeri ssp. bakeri 'Louis Edmunds'
‘Louis Edmunds’
(Sepentine) Manzanita
5-8 ft tall 8 ft wide
Pink/Sp FS Clay fine 1-2 to 2 6, 13, 24
Nice flowers;
maroon branches
** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard
McMinn'
‘Sentinel’ (Vine Hill) Manzanita
4-8 ft tall 6-10 ft w
Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays
2 to 2-3 1, 3, 13, 14
** Arctostaphylos
densiflora 'Sentinel'
‘Sentinel’ (Vine
Hill) Manzanita 5-8 ft tall
3-7 ft wide Pink/W-Sp FS/PS
Well-drained incl sand
1-2 6, 8, 13, Good for birds, butterflies; open growth
** Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony'
‘Harmony’ Manzanita
5-8 ft tall 6-10 ft w
Pink/W-Sp FS coast/ PS inland
Any, incl. clays
1 to 1-2 1, 13 Good bloomer; hardy
X Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush To 8 ft Cream/F FS/PS any 1-2 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18
X ** Baccharis pilularis
‘Pigeon Point’
Pigeon Point
Coyote Bush 6-12 ft T
to 10 ft W
Buff-White/
Su-F FS/PS any
1 to 1-2 Winter
flooding
1, 2, 7, 8, 10,
13, 14, 16, 20
X Baccharis plummerae
subsp. plummerae
Plummer's
Baccharis < 7 ft tall
Buff-Wht/ Su-F
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter
flooding
?
X * Calycanthus occidentalis Western Spicebush 6-12 ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Purple-bronze/
Sp-Su FS/PS
Pref.light deep rich
2-3 1, 13, 14 Spicy; wine-like fragrance
** Ceanothus ‘Concha’
Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus X C. impressus
‘Concha’
Ceanothus 4-6 ft. tall
& wide
Dark Blue/
Sp FS/PS Most 1-2 to 2
3, 6, 8, 9, 14,
24,
Alkali & garden
tolerant
** Ceanothus impressus
x papillosus ‘Dark Star’
‘Dark Star’
Ceanothus 6-8 ft high 5-8 ft wide
Dk blue/ W-Sp
FS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 24
Hedge; best nearer coast
X ** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’
‘Skylark’ Ceanothus
3-6 ft t Lt blue/Sp FS/PS Any incl clay
2 1, 3, 6, 13
X ** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Snow
Flurry'
‘Snowflurry’
Ceanothus 6-10 ft t 10 ft w
White/Sp FS/PS Any well-drained
2 1, 3, 6, 9, 13, 14
Dense; shrubby; fast
** Ceanothus arboreus x thrysiflorus ‘Frosty Blue’
‘Frosty Blue’ Ceanothus
6-10 ft t 8 ft wide
Med blue/ W-Sp
FS/PS
Well-
drained, sandy
2 1, 3, 6, 13
Dense;
evergreen; prune or hedge
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
** Ceaonothus ‘Julia
Phelps’
‘Julia Phelps’
Ceanothus 4-8 ft tall
7-9 ft wide Dk. Blue/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 6, 13,
Dense;
evergreen
** Ceanothus ‘Blue
Jeans’
‘Blue Jeans’
Ceanothus 6 ft tall &
wide Lavender/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2 3, 6,
X Dendromecon harfordii Channel Island
Tree Poppy 8 ft tall
4 ft wide Yellow/W-Sp FS
Any well-
drained 1-2
1, 9, 13, 14,
19
Showy; blue-
green foliage
X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean
Spray 10-20 ft
tall
White/
Su-Fa FS/PS
Any, incl.
clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14
Fragrant at a
distance
X Mahonia (Berberis) nevinii
Nevin’s Barberry 3-8+ ft tall 6-12 ft w
Yellow/Sp FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 1, 7, 13, 14
Edible berries;
good bird habitat
X Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Chaparral Mallow To 12 ft t
4-6 ft wide
Pink/ Sp-Su
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 13, 19
‘Casitas’ good for gardens
X * Philadelphus lewisii CA Mock Orange 4-10 ft tall & wide
White/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Any, incl clays
2-3 1, 7, 13, 14, 19
Very fragrant
X * Rhamnus californica California Coffeeberry
6-12 ft t &
wide; short cultivars
Buff/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18
'Eve Case', 'Mound San Bruno' smaller
X * Rhamnus crocea Redberry
Buckthorn 3-6 ft tall 6 ft wide
Yellow/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 20
Pretty fruits; birds
X * Rhamnus ilicifolia Holly-leaf Redberry 12 ft tall 5-6 ft w
Yellow/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any 1-2 to 2 1, 10, 12-14, 20, 21
Nice hedge plant’ holly-like leaves
X Rhus integrifolia Lemonadeberry 2-10 ft
3-20 ft w. Pink/Sp FS/PS any 1-2
1, 3, 7, 9, 10,
12, 14, 16, 18 Edible fruits
X Ribes aureum var. gracillimum
Golden Currant To 10 ft Yellow/ W-Sp
FS/PS/ FSH Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 12, 14 Any well-drained; Birds
eat berries
X Salix exigua Narrow-leaf Willow 6-15 ft 12-15 ft.w.
Yellow/Sp FS/PS any 1-2; winter
flooding 1, 2, 3, 14
Spreading via roots
Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Chamise 3-10 ft tall 3-6 ft wide
White/Sp-Su FS any 1-2 1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18
* Arctostaphylos edmundsii
Little Sur Manzanita
2-5 ft tall 4-6 ft w
Pink/W-Sp FS/PS well-drained
1-2 to 2 1, 3, 8, 13, 14 Cultivars: ‘Greensphere’
* Arctostaphylos hookeri
Hooker’s
Manzanita 2-5 ft tall
4-6 ft w Pink/W-Sp FS
well-
drained 1-2 to 2 1, 3, 13
Cultivars ‘Sunset’,
‘Wayside’, ‘Ken Taylor’
X Artemisia californica Coastal Sagebrush 3-6 ft tall
Gold/Su FS
Well-
drained 1
1, 7-10, 12,
13, 14, 16, 18 'Canyon Gray'
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Baccharis emoryi Emory Baccharis 6-12 ft T to 10 ft W
Buff-Wht/ Su-F
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter
flooding
1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16
Salt tolerant
X ** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point Dwarf’
Dwarf Pigeon Point Coyote Bush
6-12 ft T to 10 ft W
Buff-Wht/ Su-F
FS/PS any
1 to 1-2
Winter flooding
1, 3, 5, 8, 10,
13, 14, 16, 20, 24
X * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium
Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14
Incl. ‘Golden
Abundance’, ‘Ken Hartman’
* Chrysothamnus
nauseosus Rabbitbush
2-5 ft tall & wide
Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 13, 16 Insect-eaters
X Dendromecon rigida Bush Poppy 4-8 ft tall
4-6 ft wide
Yellow/
Sp-Su FS
Well-
drained 1 to 1-2
3, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16
Keep clay soils
quite dry
X Diplacus aurantiacus
ssp. aurantiacus
Bush
Monkeyflower 2-3 ft
Orange/
W-Sp FS/PS Sandy 1-2
1, 3, 5, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16,
X Encelia californica CA Bush Sunflower 2-5 ft Yellow/ W-Sp
FS/PS Any well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 8,
10, 13, 14, 16, 19
Good winter color
X
Epilobium canum
(Zauschneria
californica)
CA Fuschia 1-3 ft Orange/F FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
Tolerates winter
flooding
X * Eriogonum crocatum Conejo Buckwheat 1 ft tall 1-3 ft wide
Yellow/Sp-Su
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 19
X Eriogonum fasciculatum California
Buckwheat 1-3 ft tall 3-6 ft wide
Pink/Sp-F FS/PS Any well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18,
19
'Dana Point' tight, compact; ‘Bruce Dickinson’ - prostrate
X Eriogonum giganteum vars. formosum,
giganteum
St. Catherine’s Lace
3-6 ft Pink-white/ Su
FS/PS Any well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19
Don’t plant near
native buckwheats
X Eriogonum parvifolium Coastal Buckwheat 2-4 ft Pink-creme/ Su +
FS/PS/ FSH
Any well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 16
X Grindelia camporum var. bracteosa
Bracted Gumplant 2-4 ft tall 2-3 ft wide
Yellow/Su Fs Well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 2, 6, 12, 16 Tolerates salty, alkali soils
X Lepechinia fragrans Fragrant Pitcher Sage
3-6 ft tall & wide
Lavender/Sp FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14
‘El Tigre’
X Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons
Silver Bush Lupine 3-4 ft tall & wide
Purple/Sp FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19 ? var
X Malacothamnus clementinus
San Clemente Is. Bush Mallow
2-4 ft tall to 8 ft wide
Light pink/ Sp
FS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 13
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Rhus trilobata Basket Bush; Sour
Berry; Skunkbrush 2-6 ft
Yellow-
green/Sp PS any 1-2
10, 13, 14, 16,
19
X Ribes californicum var. hesperium
Hillside Gooseberry To 3 ft Red-white/ W-Sp
PS/FSH Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 10, 12, 13 (var.
californicum)
Birds eat berries
X Ribes indecorum White Currant To 6 ft White/W-Sp FS/PS Well-
drained 1-2 to 2 1, 3, 12, 14 Birds eat berries
X Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant 5-8 ft Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Well-
drained 1-2 3, 13, 14, 19 Birds eat berries
X Ribes speciosum Fuschia-flowered
Gooseberry 3-6+ ft tall and wide
dark pink/ W-Sp
FS/PS/FSH Well-drained
2-3; 3 in sun
1, 3, 10, 12-14, 19
X * Ribes sanguineum
var. glutinosum
Red-flowering
Currant 4-10 ft Pink/Sp PS/FSH
Well-drained
2-3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19
X Rosa californica California Wild
Rose 3-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w
Pink/
Sp-Su FS/PS/FSH any
1-2;
3 (sun) 1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
Tolerates seasonal flooding
Rubus ursinus (ssp. ?) Pacific Blackberry 2-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w White/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 7, 12, 13, 14
Tolerates seasonal flooding
Salvia brandegeei ‘Pacific Blue’
‘Pacific Blue’ Sage 3-4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Med. Blue/ W-Sp
FS Any 1-2 3, 13
X * Salvia clevelandii Fragrant (Chaparral) Sage
2-5 ft Purple/lav. Sp-Su
FS Well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19
Cultivars: ‘Betsy Clebsch’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Winifred Gilman’,
X Salvia leucophylla Purple Sage 3- 5 ft Lavender/Sp FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14,
16,18, 19
Nice scent
X Salvia mellifera Black Sage 3-5 ft Light
purple/Sp FS
Well-
drained 1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18, 19
X Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus
Common Snowberry
3-5 ft, spreading
White/Sp PS Clays, loams
2-3 7, 9, 13, 19 Fruit may be toxic to humans
X Symphoricarpos mollis Snowberry 2-4 ft tall & wide
Pink/W-Sp PS/FSH any 2-3 to 3 13, 14 mulch
X Urtica dioica ssp.
holosericea Hoary Nettle
3-6 ft tall
spreading Pink/Sp-F PS
Rich soils
ok 2-3 1, 10, 13, 16
Serious allergy
on contact
* Viguiera laciniata San Diego
Sunflower 1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft wide
Yellow/Sp FS any 1 to 1-2 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Perennial Vines
X Calystegia macrostegia California Morning Glory
To 30+ ft White/Sp-F PS
FS coastal
Well-drained
2-3 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16
Invasive; can look weedy; ‘Anacapa Pink’;
‘Candycane’
X * Clematis lasiantha Chaparral Clematis 8-20 ft vine
White/Sp-Su; sep. m/f
plants
FS (top) PS (roots)
any 1-2 to 2 1, 6, 8, 13 Winter decid.; tolerates
flooding
X Clematis ligusticifolia Virgin’s Bower To 15 ft White/Su PS/FSH Any 2-3 to 3 3, 5, 13, 14,
19
X Keckiella cordifolia Climbing Penstemon
3-4 ft Red-Or/ Sp-Su
PS/PS/ FSH
any 1-2 1, 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14
X Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans
Western Honeysuckle
5-18 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS/FSH clay 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14, 19
Tolerates seasonal
flooding
X * Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 3-5 ft Yellow/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 7, 13, 19
X
Lonicera subspicata
var. denudate & subspicata
Santa Barbara &
Southern Honeysuckles
3-8 ft Cream/ Sp-Su
PS/PS/ FSH
any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14
Edible fruit
X ** Vitis californica ‘Roger’s Red’
‘Roger’s Red’ California Grape
> 20 ft White/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13
X Vitis girdiana Desert Grape > 25 ft White/Su PS any 2-3 2, 3, 10, 13, 20
Perennial Groundcover Plants
X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 most Alkali soils fine
* Adenostema
fasciculatum var. prostratum
Prostrate Chamise < 2 ft
3-4 ft wide Cream/Su FS
Any incl.
clays 1 to 1-2 1, 13, 14 ‘Nicolas’
X ** Arctostaphylos
edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’
Carmel Sur
Manzanita 1 ft tall to 20 ft w
Pink/Sp FS/PS Any incl. clays
1-2 to 2-3 3, 6, 13, 19 Good for Coastal areas;
fast growth
** Arctostaphylos
hookeri ‘Monterey Carpet’
Monterey Carpet Manzanita
1 ft high 5+ ft wide
White/Sp PS Sandy best
1-2 1, 3, 6, 13
** Arctostaphylos hookeri X A.
pajaroensis ‘Sunset’
‘Sunset’ Manzanita 3-4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Pink/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 13, Tolerates heat; compact
8
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X ** Arctostaphylos uva-
ursi ‘Point Reyes’
Point Reyes
Manzanita <1 ft tall
to 10 ft Pink/Sp PS
Well-
drained 2-3
1, 3, 8, 13, 16,
19
** Arctostaphylos ‘John
Dourley’
John Dourly
Manzanita 2-3 ft tall
to 8 ft wide Pink/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2
1, 3, 6, 8, 9,
11, 16, 19
X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall
& wide Cream/Su PS
Well-
drained 1-2 to 2-3
3, 5, 10, 12,
14, 16, 18
Tolerates
flooding
** Artemisia
ludoviciana ‘Silver King’,
‘Silver Queen’, 'Valerie Finnis'
White Sagebrush (Western
Mugwort) cultivars
2-3 ft tall 3-4 ft wide
Cream/ Sp-F FS Well-drained
1-2 to 2 3, 8, 13, 14 Dies back in winter
X **Artemisia
pycnocephala ‘David’s
Choice’)
Beach Sagewort /
Sandhill Sage 1-2 ft. tall
2-4 ft wide Yellow/Su FS/PS
Sandy
best 1-2
1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18
‘
** Aster chilensis ‘Point
St. George’
Point St. George
Coast Aster 1-3 ft tall
spreading Lavender/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 1, 8, 11, 13
Good habitat
plant
Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis < 3 ft White/Su-F FS/PS Any incl.
clays 2-3 1, 13
** Baccharis pilularis
‘Pigeon Point’
Pigeon Point Dwarf
Coyote Bush 2 ft tall 6-8 ft wide
White-gold/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Any incl. clays
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 16
Light green leaves; good for
coastal region
** Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks 2’
Twin Peaks Dwarf Coyote Bush
1-3 ft tall to 10 ft w
White/F FS/PS Any incl. clays
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 13 Small dark leaves; can
shear to size
* Berberis (Mahonia)
aquifolium var. repens
Creeping Oregon
Grape 1 ft tall
< 6 ft wide Yellow/Sp PS/FSH
Any;
acidic 1-2 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14
Good habitat;
edible berries
** Berberis (Mahonia)
aquifolium ‘Compacta’
‘Compacta’ Oregon
Grape 2-4 ft tall
2-4 ft wide Yellow/Sp PS/FSH
Any;
acidic 1-2 to 2-3 1, 13
Good habitat;
edible berries
** Ceanothus ‘Dark
Star’
Dark Star
Ceanothus To 6+ ft
To 6 ft
Dk. Blue/
W-Sp FS
Well-
drained - to +/-
1, 3, 7, 8, 13,
19
C. impressus X
papillosus
* Ceanothus gloriosus Point Reyes Ceanothus
1-2 ft tall to 8 ft wide
Lt. blue/Sp FS (coast)
/ PS
Well-
drained; sandy
2-3 3 Dense foliage; holly-like
** Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’
Anchor Bay Ceanothus
< 1 ft tall to 8 ft wide
Dk blue/Sp FS (coast)
/ PS any 1-2 to 2-3 8, 9, 19 Dense, compact
** Ceanothus gloriosus
‘Heart’s Desire’
Heart’s Desire Ceanothus
1-3 ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Dk blue/ FS (coast)
/ PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 8
X * Ceanothus griseus
horizontalis
Carmel Creeper
Ceanothus 1-3 ft tall
5-15 ft w Lt. blue/ FS/PS
Any incl.
clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
** Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’
Yankee Point
Ceanothus To 4-5 ft
To 10 ft Med. Blue/
FS (coast) / PS
Any incl.
clays 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13, 19
Best near coast;
fast grower
9
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
** Ceanothus griseus 'Kurt Zadnik'
Kurt Zadnick Ceanothus
3-4 ft 8-10 ft
Dk purple/ FS Any 1-2 to 2 13 More reliable than ‘Yankee
Point’
* Ceanothus hearstiorum Hearst’s Ceanothus
1 ft tall 6-8 ft wide
Blue/W-Sp PS Any incl clays
1 to 1-2 3, 7, 8, 16, 19
Sticky; mat-
like; best near coast
** Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’
Skylark Ceanothus 4-5 ft tall 4-7 ft wide
Med Blue/Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clays
1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 13, 19 Quite shade & water toleratant
** Ceanothus ‘Wheeler Canyon’
Wheeler Canyon Ceanothus
4-6 ft tall to 8 ft wide
Dk Blue/Sp FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 6, 8, 9, 11, 19
Dark leaves; ?
Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus hybrid
X * Clinopodium (Satureja) chandleri
San Miguel Savory 1-2 ft tall 2-3 ft wide
White/Sp PS/FSH Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 3, 14
minty
X Clinopodium (Satureja) douglasii
Yerba buena < 6 in spreading
White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Well-drained
2-3 to 3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14
X Epilobium canum (Zauschneria californica) including all cultivars
CA Fuschia 1-3 ft 3-5 ft wide
Orange/F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19
Tolerates winter flooding
X ** Erigeron glaucus ‘Bountiful’
Bountiful Seaside Daisy
< 1 ft tall 1-2 ft wide
Lavender/ Sp-Su
PS best Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 8, 9, Green foliage; large flowers
X ** Erigeron glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’
Seaside Daisy 1 ft tall 2 ft wide
Lavernder/ Sp-Fa
FS/PS/FSH Well-drained
1-2 to 3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14
Attractive
flowers, foliage; habitat
X ** Erigeron glaucus
'Wayne Roderick'
Wayne Roderick
Daisy < 1 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Lavender-
blue/Sp-F FS/
PS (hot)
Well-
drained
1-2;
2-3(sun) 1, 3, 6, 8
Silvery foliage;
butterfly nectar
X
* Fragaria chiloensis
ssp. pacifica (and cultivars)
(Pacific) Coast
Strawberry < 1 ft
spreading White/Sp-Su PS
Sandy
best
1-2 to
2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
Let dry between waterings; edible fruit
* Fragaria vesca (californica)
CA/Wood Strawberry
< 2 ft spreading
White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20 Edible fruit
X * Heuchera maxima (incl. many cultivars &
hybrids)
Island Alumroot 1- 3 ft
White/Spr PS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays
1-2 to
2-3
1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14
X * Heuchera micrantha Crevice Alumroot 1-3 ft Pink/Spr
PS/PS/ FSH See note
2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8 Well-drained
soil
X * Iva hayesiana San Diego Marsh
Elder 2-4 ft tall
4-6 ft wide Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH
Any, incl.
clays 1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
10
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Malacothamnus
clementinus
San Clemente Is.
Bush Mallow 2-4 ft tall
to 8 ft wide
Light
pink/Spr FS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 8, 13
X ** Monardella villosa
‘Russian River’ Coyote Mint
1-2 ft tall
1-2 ft wide Pink/Spr-Su PS
Well-
drained 1-2
1, 3, 8, 13, 14,
19
X Ribes viburnifolium Catalina Perfume 1-3 ft Pink/ PS/FSH
Well-
drained best
2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 20
X Ranunculus californicus California
Buttercup < 2 ft Yellow/ PS sandy 2-3 to 3
Pac Coast
Seed
Very well-
drained soils
X * Salvia clevelandii
‘Compacta’
Compact Fragrant
(Chaparral) Sage 3 ft tall &
wide
Lavender/
Spr-Su FS
Well-
drained 1 to 1-2 ?
Showy
X Salvia leucophylla ‘Point Sal’ & ‘Point Sal
Spreader’
Point Sal Sage 2-3 ft tall 8-10 ft w
Pink-violet/ Spr-Su
FS Well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, 19
Dense,
evergreen; fast-growing;
aromatic
* Salvia sonomensis Creeping Sage 1-2 ft tall 3-8 ft wide
Med. Blue/ Sp
PS best Well-drained
1 to 1-2 3, 8, 13, 14 Silver-green foliage; inland;
‘Mrs. Beard’
X Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage 1-3 ft Magenta/Spr PS/FSH Any 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19
Cut back yearly
Stachys albens Whitestem Woodmint
(Hedgenettle)
1-3 ft White/Spr-Su
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 12
X Stachys bullata
California
Woodmint (Hedgenettle)
1-4 ft Pink/Spr-Su PS Well-
drained 2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14
Tolerates seasonal flooding
X
Stachys rigida var.
rigida (Stachys ajugoides)
Rigid Woodmint (Hedgenettle)
1-2 ft Pink/Spr-Su FS/PS Clay 2-3 to 3 1, 13
Herbaceous Perennials
X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa 1 ft tall & wide
White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Any incl clay
2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16 Tolerates flooding
X * Antirrhinum
multiflorum Rose Snapdragon
2-3 ft tall & wide
Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3
10, 13 Showy flowers
X * Aquilegia formosa Western
Columbine 1-2 ft
Red-yellow/Su
PS/FSH Well-drained
2 to 3 1, 3, 5, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20
X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall
& wide Crème/Su PS
Well-
drained 1-2 to 2-3
3, 5, 10, 12,
14, 16, 18
Tolerates seasonal flooding
11
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Asclepias fascicularis Narrow-leaf
Milkweed 2-3 ft
Cream-
pink/Su FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 10, 14
Needs seasonal
flooding
X Asclepias speciosa Showy Milkweed 2-3 ft tall 2-4 ft wide
Pink/Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 8, 19 Tol. Flooding; Monarch host
plant; silvery
X Diplacus aurantiacus
ssp. aurantiacus
Bush
Monkeyflower 2-3 ft
Orange/W-
Spr FS/PS Sandy 1-2
1, 3, 5, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16,
Diplacus (Mimulus)
linearis
Chaparral Bush
Monkey Flower 2-3 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Yellow/W-
Spr FS/PS
Well-
drained 1 to 1-2 3, 10, 13
X *Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy ½ ft Lavernder/ Sp-Fa
FS/PS/FSH Well-drained
2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14
Attractive flowers, foliage
X * Eriogonum grande
var. rubescens Red Buckwheat
1-2 ft tall
2-4 ft wide
Red-pink/
Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 5, 7, 8, 14
Tol. moderate
salt, alkali soils
Erysimum capitatum
var. capitatum Western Wallflower
1-3 ft 1-2 ft wide
Yellow-Or/ W-Sp
FS Well- drained
1-2 to 2 13
X Erysimum insulare ssp.
suffrutescens Dune Wallflower
1-3 ft tall 1-2 ft wide
Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 10
Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS Any 2 to 3 13, 16 Butterfly plant; can be invasive
X Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium
Narrowleaf Bedstraw
1-3 ft tall &
wide
White/Spr PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 12, 14, 16
X Grindelia camporum Large Gumplant 2-3 ft tall 3-5 ft wide
Yellow/ Sp-Fa
FS Well- drained
1-2 1, 2, 6, 12, 16 Spreading
Grindelia hirsutula var.
hirsutula Hairy Gumplant
1-2 ft tall & wide
Yellow/ Sp-Su
FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 10 Butterfly plant
Heracleum lanatum Cow Parsnip 4-5 ft tall 3-4 ft wide
White/Sp PS Any 2 to 3 1, 5, 8, 13 Butterfly plant; showy flowers
*Lobelia dunnii var.
serrata Dunn’s Lobelia
1 ft tall
1-3 ft wide Blue/Su-Fa PS
Well-
drained 2-3 to 3 1, 6, 8, 13 Toxic
*Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide Red/Sp-Su FS/PS/ FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic
X Mimulus cardinalis Scarlet
Monkeyflower To 3 ft Red/Sp-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3
3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16, 19 easy
X Mimulus guttatus Seep
Monkeyflower 1-5 ft Yellow/W-Sp FS Any 2-3 to 3
1, 3, 5, 8, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
Mimulus moschatus
(var. moniliformis)
Musk
Monkeyflower 1 ft tall &
wide
Yellow/
Sp-Su FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 8
leaves: boiled
as greens
12
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X * Monardella
macrantha Red Monardella
1-2 ft tall &
wide Red/Su-F PS best
Any; no
alkali 2-3
1, 6, 8, 13, 14,
19
Hummingbird plant; scented;
‘Marion Sampson’
X * Monardella villosa
(ssp. subserrata) Coyote Mint 1 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS
Well-drained soil best
1-2 1, 3, 8, 13, 14,
19
* Penstemon centranthifolius
Scarlet Bugler 1-3 ft OR-Red/ Sp-Su
FS Well- drained
1 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14
May be difficult
X Penstemon
heterophyllus Foothill Penstemon 1-2 ft
Purple/
Sp-Su FS/PS sandy 1 to 1-2 14
Keep clay soils quite dry; many blooms
* Penstemon laetus Gay Penstemon 1-3 ft Lavender/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 13 Keep clay soils quite dry
X Pseudognaphalium californicum
California Everlasting
2-4 ft White/Sp FS/PS Any, incl. clay
1-2 1, 2, 10, 13, 16
Sweet-scented foliage
X Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp.
beneolens
Wooly Everlasting 1-2 ½ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Any, incl. clay
1-2 1, 16 Spreads; gray foliage
X Scrophularia californica
ssp. floribunda CA Bee Plant 2-3 ft Red/Spr PS Any 2-3 to 3
1, 5, 8, 10, 12,
13, 16 Afternoon shade
X Sidalcea malviflora ssp.
malviflora
Dwarf Checker
Mallow To 1 ½ ft
Pink-lavender/
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 19
Solanum americanum American Black
Nightshade 2-3 ft tall White/Sp-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 13
Berries very poisonous
Solanum douglasii White (Douglas’)
Nightshade 2-5 ft tall White/Sp-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 10, 14
Berries very poisonous
Solanum xanti Purple (Chaparral) Nightshade
2-4 ft tall Purple/Sp-Su
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13 Berries very poisonous
X Solidago californica California
Goldenrod 2-4 ft tall
spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 14
Tolerates seasonal flooding
Solidago spectabilis
var. confinis
Southern
Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall
spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10
Tolerates seasonal
flooding
* Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum
Mountain Meadowrue
3-5 ft tall 2-3 ft wide
White/Su PS/FSH Well-drained
2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 10, 12-14, 19
Well-drained soils
X Urtica dioica ssp.
holosericea Hoary Nettle
4-6 ft tall
spreading Green/Su FS/PS Any 2 to 2-3 10, 16
Invasive; skin
allergies
13
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering
Nearly all CA annual wildflowers do fine in heavy clay soils.
Cacti and Succulents
X Dudleya lanceolata Lance-leaf Dudleya 1-2 ft tall & wide
Yellow-Orange/
Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-drained
1 to 1-2 1, 7, 13, 14, 15
Dudleya pulverulenta
(ssp. pulverulenta) CA Chalk Dudleya
< 2 ft &
wide
Pink-Yellow/
Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 14, 19
With good
drainage
Dudleya virens ssp.
Hassei & insularis
Bright Green
Dudleya 1-2 ft tall
& wide
Orange/
Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained 1 to 1-2 1, 7, 13, 14
X * Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf
Stonecrop < 1 ft tall
spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2 to 3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13 San Gabriels
Ferns and Fern-like Plants
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Common
Maidenhair 1-3 ft tall & wide
none PS/FSH Well-drained
2-3 to 3 7, 13
X Polypodium californicum
CA Polypody < 1 ft tall spreading
none PS/FSH Any 1 to 1-2 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20
Good under
oaks; containers
Woodwardia fimbriata Giant Chain Fern 5-6 ft tall
3-9 ft wide none PS/FSH
Any; not
alkali 2-3 to 3
3, 8, 13, 14,
19
Grows in seeps
in wild
Bulbs and Corms
X Bloomeria crocea var.
crocea Golden Stars 1-2 ft Yellow/Sp FS/PS
Any, incl. clays
1 1, 8, 10, 13, 16
Fine in grass
X Brodiaea jolonensis (B.
terrestris) Harvest Brodiaea 1-2 ft
Purple/ Sp-Su
FS Any, incl. clays
1 1, 8, 20
X Calochortus albus White Fairy
Lantern 1 ft tall <1 ft wide
White-pink/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Clays best
1 1, 8, 13, 19, 20
X Calochortus catalinae Catalina Mariposa Lily
1 ft tall <1 ft wide
White-purple/Sp
FS Clays best
1 1, 8, 13, 20 Fine in grass
X Chlorogalum pomeridianum var.
pomeridianum
Wavyleaf Soap
Plant 1-2 ft tall & wide
White/Su FS/PS
Any; well-
drained 1-2
1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 19
Good under oaks
X Dichelostemma
capitatum
Blue Dicks/Wild
Hyacinth < 2 ft Blue/Sp FS/PS
well-
drained 1
1, 2, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
X Fritillaria biflora var. biflora
Chocolate Lily 1-2 ft tall Brown/Sp FS/PS
Any;
best in clay
1 1, 8, 13, 20 Fine in grass
14
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Iris douglasiana Douglas iris 1-2 ft Purple/Sp PS Any 1 to 2 1, 3, 5, 7, 10,
13, 14, 16 Drought tolerant if mulched
X Ranunculus californicus California
Buttercup < 2 ft
Yellow/ Sp-Su
PS sandy 1-2 to 3 1, 13 Very well-drained soils
X Sisyrinchium bellum Western Blue-eyed Grass
1-2 ft Purple-yellow/Sp
FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)
X * Bouteloua gracilis Blue Gramma 1-2 ft tall Warm-seas. Perennial bunch/sod
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 3, 4, 7, 8,
10, 13, 16
X Bromus carinatus California Brome 2-3 ft tall &
wide
Perennial
bunchgrass FS/PS Any 1-2
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
Cover; cultivars
‘Deborah’; ‘Luval’
X * Calamagrostis foliosa Leafy (Mendocino)
Reed Grass 1-2 ft tall &
wide
cool-season
bunchgrass FS/PS
Well-
drained 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
Nice foliage
color
X * Calamagrostis
nutkaensis Pacific Reed Grass
3-4 ft tall &
wide
cool-season
bunchgrass FS/PS
Well-
drained 2-3 to 3 1, 4, 5, 8, 13
Can plant
densely
X * Carex barbarae Santa Barbara
Sedge 1-2 ft tall to 3 ft w
Evergreen sod sedge
FS/PS Any 2 to 3 3, 8, 13, 16 May be invasive (containerize)
X Carex praegracilis
Clustered Field
Sedge/CA Meadow
Sedge
1-2 ft tall Cool-season,
sod sedge FS/PS
Clays
best 2-3 1, 2, 4, 7, 13
X * Carex spissa San Diego Sedge 2-4 ft tall 2-3 ft wide
Cool-season, sod sedge
FS/PS/FSH Clays best
1 to 3 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13
Substitute for Pampas Grass
X Carex tumulicola Berkeley Sedge 2 ft tall & wide
Cool-season, sod sedge
FS/PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13
Cyperus eragrostis Umbrella Sedge/
Tall Flat-sedge 2-4 ft tall
clumping
Warm-season, sod sedge
FS.PS any 1-2 to 3 7, 10, 13
Cyperus odoratus Fragrant Flat-
sedge 1-3 ft tall
Warm-seas., annual sedge
FS/PS any 1-2 to 3 ?
X * Danthonia Californica California Oatgrass 2-3 ft tall Cool-season perennial bunchgrass
FS/PS any 2 to 3 6, 8, 10
Evergreen; tolerates
walking; good for small areas
X
* Deschampsia
holciformis (D. cespitosa ssp.
hociformis)
Pacific Hairgrass 1-3 ft tall
Cool-season
perennial bunchgrass
FS any 2-3 to 3 5, 8, 10, 13, 16
Salt-tolerant
15
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Eleocharis palustris Common
Spikerush 1-2 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season,
sod sedge FS Any 1-2 to 3
1, 2, 7, 10, 13,
16
X Elymus glaucus Blue (Western) Wildrye
2-4 ft tall 1-2 ft wide
Cool-season bunchgrass
PS/FSH Any; not shallow
1-2 to 2-3 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16
Salt-sensitive; coarse-looking;
re-seeds well
Equisetum hyemale subsp. affine
Common Horsetail 2-4 ft tall 1-6 ft w
Perennial rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 4, 8
Will grow in
standing water; contain
X Equisetum laevigatum Smooth Horsetail 2-5 ft tall
spreading Perennial FS
Clays
best 2-3 to 3 8
X * Festuca californica CA Fescue <1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft wide
Cool-season bunchgrass
FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19
‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse Mountain Green', 'Serpentine Blue'
X * Festuca idahoensis Blue Bunchgrass < 1 ft tall & wide
Cool-season bunchgrass
FS/PS any 2 to 3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20
‘Siskiyou Blue’ is best for clay
X
Hordeum
brachyantherum ssp. californicum
CA Meadow Barley 1-2 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season
bunch FS any 1-2 to 2-3
16 (other vars./ unk at 5, 10, 13)
Good for
erosion control
X * Juncus effusus Bog/Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide
Perennial rhizome rush
FS/PS
Any; sandy
best 1-2 to 3
1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14
Good around pools; ‘Quartz
Creek’
X Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall &
wide
Spreading/ bunching
perennial rush
FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12,
13, 19
‘Carmen’s Gray’
is blue-gray
X Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall 3-8 ft wide
Spreading/ bunching perennial
rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14
Showy; Good
for wet planter, pondside
X Juncus xiphioides Iris-leaf rush 1 ½ ft tall spreading
Spreading rush
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16
Best in
contained places if watered
X ** Leymus condensatus
‘Canyon Prince’ Giant Rye Grass
4-6 ft tall &
wide
Warm season perennial
FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 10, 12,
16
‘Canyon Prince’
is low-growing
X Leymus triticoides Creeping Wild Rye < 3 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season perennial
sod-grass; light mow
FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 14,
16
Great vernal swale; cultivars
‘Yolo’, ‘Rio’, ‘Gray Dawn’
16
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Melica imperfecta Coastal Melic
Grass 1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide
Cool season
bunchgrass PS Any 1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 19
X * Muhlenbergia rigens Deergrass 2-4 ft tall & wide
Perennial bunchgrass
FS Any 1-2 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16
Tolerates seasonal
flooding
X Nassella cernua Nodding
Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
X Nassella lepida Foothill
Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16
X * Nassella pulchra Purple Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16,
3/12/2011
I : X = Gardening Information Sheet available on-line : http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html * may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant ** light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade + Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;
2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn)