Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow)

An all-star plant. Wildlife love the blooms, but Common Yarrow can also be used for a lawn.

Light:

Size: 2' W x 2' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Aesculus californica (California Buckeye)

Typically grown as a multi-trunk tree, the buckeye produces flushes of large candle-like clusters of white flowers during the spring and summer. The flowers are a favorite for our native bees, but are toxic to the european honey bee. Drops its leaves in summer but can hold on to them slightly longer with supplemental water.

Light:

Size: 40' W x 13 - 40' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Agrostis pallens (Thingrass)

A true turf replacement. Unfortunately, the turf rebate program considers this too similar to turf to count for the rebate.

Light:

Size: 1' W x 2' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) — Ground cover

Great Options:

A. 'John Dourley'
A. 'Pacific Mist'

Manzanita are known for their dark red bark and slow growth. They need little maintenance and generally pruning should be avoided. Manzanita berries are edible and can be processed into a cider-like drink.

Light:

Size: 6 - 8' W x 2' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) — Mid-sized Shrub

Great Options:

A. glauca (Bigberry Manzanita)

Manzanita are known for their dark red bark and slow growth. They need little maintenance and generally pruning should be avoided. Manzanita berries are edible and can be processed into a cider-like drink.

Light:

Size: 12' W x 15' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) — Small shrub

Great Options:

A. glandulosa ssp. glandulosa (Eastwood Manzanita)
A, 'Howard McMinn'

Manzanita are known for their dark red bark and slow growth. They need little maintenance and generally pruning should be avoided. Manzanita berries are edible and can be processed into a cider-like drink.

Light:

Size: 8' W x 3 - 12' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Artemisia californica (California Sagebrush)

Great Options:

A. californica 'Canyon Gray'

Aromatic silvery-green foliage. The 'Canyon Gray' cultivar is lower growing and more tolerant of clay soil.

Light:

Size: 4 - 8' W x 2 - 4' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Asclepias fascicularis (Narrow Leaf Milkweed)

A wonderful habitat plant and critical for our monarch population. However, not the most attractive. Recommended to tuck one into a sunny border where it can blend in with other greenery. And always plant our native milkweed because others are reported to promote the spread of disease among monarchs.

Light:

Size: 2' W x 3' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea (Coyote Brush)

Great Options:

B. pilularis 'Pozo Surf'
B. pilularis 'Pigeon-Point'
B. pilularis 'Twin Peaks No. 2'

An adaptable low growing shrub with a lovely bright green hue. Coyote Brush is an important habitat plant and its evergreen leaves provides a nice foundation in a garden.

Light:

Size: 7 - 8' W x 2 - 6' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Carex praegracilis (Field Sedge)

A true turf replacement. Can be mowed but looks wonderful long in a field. Prefers seasonally wet locations and does well around swales.

Light:

Size: 3' W x 1.5' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Ceanothus (California Lilac) — Ground cover

Great Options:

C. 'Valley Violet'
C. 'Centennial'

A wonderful fast growing shrub. Flowers can be white or blue depending on selection.

Light:

Size: 4' W x 2' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Ceanothus (California Lilac) — Mid-sized Shrub

Great Options:

C. arboreus (Island Ceanothus)
C. 'Ray Hartman'
C. megacarpus (Big Pod Ceanothus)

Ceanothus is a diverse group of evergreen shrubs. The mid-sized species can be pruned as a small tree.

Light:

Size: 10 - 30' W x 10 - 30' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Cercocarpus betuloides (Mountain Mahogany)

A very distinct and attractive shrub with unique feather like seeds. Takes pruning well and has a habit to grow tall and upright, which makes it great for hedges or narrow spaces.

Light:

Size: 10 - 12' W x 8 - 20' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow)

Great Options:

C. linearis 'Bubba'

A small tree with fragrant trumpet-shaped blooms that are a favorite nectar source for bees, hummingbirds, and butterfly. The 'Bubba' cultivar produces more blooms and is an absolute show stopper. This is a wonderful tree for small gardens.

Light:

Size: 20' W x 20' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Claytonia perfoliata (Rooreh)

An attractive annual herb that can be used as a salad green. Seeds are available from Theodore Payne nursery.

Light:

Size: 1' W x 1' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Clinopodium douglasii (Yerba Buena)

Wonderful aromatic ground cover, makes a great tea. Delicate white flowers. Perfect for a shady border or in a hanging basket. Stems will root in the ground as it grows.

Light:

Size: 5' W x 1' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Eriogonum (Buckwheat)

Great Options:

E. fasciculatum (California Buckwheat)
E. fasciculatum var. fasciculatum (California Buckwheat var. fasciculatum)
E. parvifolium (Sea Cliff Buckwheat)
E. arborescens (Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat)

One of the most important plants to southern California. Buckwheats are abuntant nectar sources, the seeds feed birds and can be processed into flour, and the leaves support numerous caterpillar. Buckwheat are also very easy to grow from seed.

Light:

Size: 3 - 6' W x 3 - 5' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)

A favorite among gardeners near and far. The poppy is a short lived perennial that grows and spreads without any extra care. Beautiful cup shaped flowers during the spring.

Light:

Size: 2' W x 2' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Frangula californica (California coffeeberry)

Great Options:

F. californica 'Eve Case'
F. californica 'Leatherleaf'
F. californica 'Mound San Bruno'

Makes berries that change from green to dark red from late summer through fall. The common cultivars offered are smaller than the species.

Light:

Size: 6 - 15' W x 6 - 15' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Heteromeles (Toyon)

Great Options:

H. arbutifolia (Toyon)
H. arbutifolia 'Davis Gold'

Can be pruned to almost any shape and size. Makes red berries in winter that birds love. The 'Davis Gold' cultivar has yellow berries instead.

Light:

Size: 15' W x 20' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Isocoma menziesii (Menzies' Goldenbush)

Semi-summer deciduous with small bright yellow blooms. Provides an important nectar source during summer. Numerous small native bees are attracted to it.

Light:

Size: 4' W x 4 - 5' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Juglans californica (Southern California Black Walnut)

A beautiful tree for large spaces. The walnuts are edible but difficult to process. Drops its leaves in winter

Light:

Size: 50 - 75' W x 50 - 75' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Lepechinia fragrans (Fragrant Pitcher Sage)

An amazing smelling low shrub with pale fuzzy leaves and small but attractive blooms.

Light:

Size: 5' W x -2' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Lyonothamnus floribundus (Catalina Ironwood/Island Ironwood)

Large flower clusters, attractive bark and fern-like foliage makes this an especially attractive tree in the landscape. Prefers good drainage but can tolerate heavy soil. Beautiful in groves.

Light:

Size: 20' W x 40' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Malva assurgentiflora (Malva Rosa)

A great native alternative to hibiscus, and very attractive to butterflies.

Light:

Size: 8' W x 8' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Mirabilis laevis (Desert Wishbone-bush)

An excellent ground cover with bright pink blooms in spring. Prefers drainage, but tolerates clay—especially when planted on a small mound. Goes dormant in summer but still looks nice in dormancy.

Light:

Size: 8' W x 1' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Monardella villosa (Coyote Mint)

Grows near Santa Barbara and north further north. But the leaves have a lovely scent and butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds enjoy it as a nectar source.

Light:

Size: 3' W x 2' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Muhlenbergia rigens (Deergrass)

A large mounding grass that provides wonderful structure to the garden year around.

Light:

Size: 4' W x 4 - 5' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Penstemon — Perennial

Great Options:

P. centranthifolius (Scarlet Bugler)
P. heterophyllus (Foothill Penstemon)
P. spectabilis (Showy Penstemon)
P. heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP'

Showy perennials that hummingbirds and bees adore. Flowers bloom along a long stem and can range from white, blue, or red depending on species.

Light:

Size: 2 - 8' W x 3 - 6' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Platanus racemosa (California Sycamore)

Great Options:

P. racemosa 'Roberts'

A fast growing plant that likes a regular water. Sycamore are one of Santa Ana's approved street trees. 'Roberts' is a disease resistant cultivar.

Light:

Size: 40' W x 50' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Prunus (Cherry)

Great Options:

P. ilicifolia ssp. lyonii (Catalina Cherry)
P. ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry)

A hardy evergreen that forms edible fruits in summer. A favorite for birds. Can handle dry, rocky slopes but tend to grow larger where there is more moisture.

Light:

Size: 5 - 20' W x 5 - 40' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Quercus (Oaks)

Great Options:

Q. agrifolia (Coast Live Oak)
Q. engelmannii (Engelmann Oak)

Large graceful trees that are known around the world for how much life they support. Native oaks require full sun and dry summers.

Light:

Size: 30 - 90' W x 30 - 80' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Quercus berberidifolia (Scrub Oak)

Scrub Oaks are tough, compact shrubs with rigid, somewhat prickly leaves. Known around the world for how much life they support. Native oaks require full sun and dry summers.

Light:

Size: 15' W x 15 - 20' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Rhus (Sumac)

Great Options:

R. integrifolia (Lemonade Berry)
R. ovata (Sugar Bush)
R. aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)

Sumacs are tough, drought-tolerant, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. They handle pruning very well and can even be cut all the way to the ground periodically to encourage new shoots. Recommended varieties have edible red berries.

Light:

Size: 8 - 30' W x 8 - 30' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Ribes (Currant)

Great Options:

R. indecorum (White Flowering Currant)
R. speciosum (Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry)
R. viburnifolium (Catalina Currant)
R. aureum (Golden Currant)

Forms edible fruit which is an important food source for many bird species. Beautiful when in bloom, but winter deciduous.

Light:

Size: 3 - 8' W x 3 - 8' H

Growth Rate: SLOW

Rosa californica (California Wildrose)

Less showy than traditional roses, but the flowers are attractive and the rose hips are a beautiful deep red.

Light:

Size: 10' W x 10' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Salvia (Sage)

Great Options:

S. apiana (White Sage)
S. mellifera (Black Sage)
S. clevelandii (Cleveland Sage)
S. spathacea (Hummingbird Sage)

An adaptable genus that hummingbirds love. White Sage and Hummingbird Sage are especially nice fragrances but there's all kinds.

Light:

Size: 3 - 10' W x 3 - 6' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Scrophularia californica (Bee Plant)

A wonderful plant for wildlife and for back of perennial borders.

Light:

Size: 3' W x 4' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-eyed Grass)

A tough perennial that does great in our clay soil once established. Dies back after flowering in summer.

Light:

Size: 2' W x 1' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE

Solidago californica (California Goldenrod)

Can be an aggressive spreader but pirds and pollinating insects love this plant. A wonderful addition to a habitat garden.

Light:

Size: 3' W x 2 - 5' H

Growth Rate: FAST

Stipa pulchra (Purple Needle Grass)

Our state grass. Produces a large amount of seeds, which attract birds and other wildlife. But avoid planting where pets will go—the needles on seeds can get stuck in fur.

Light:

Size: 2' W x 3' H

Growth Rate: AVERAGE