Plant Focus: California natives

I incorporate  several California Native plants  in some of the gardens I design, in combination with plants from other Mediterranean regions. Here are just a few of my favorite CA natives.

Penstemon heterophyllus. The purple/blue flowers are simply stunning!  It really wakes up the garden in Spring. A low growing Penstemon to about 1' tall 2-3'. wide. Easy care and drought-tolerant.

​Mimulus (Sticky Monkey Flower). I've included a photo of one with a brilliant orange flower. Also available in shades of yellow, reds and white. You'll notice them often when hiking in Marin.

Carpenteria Californica (Bush Anemone) is a shrub with a pretty white flowers in Spring. and thrives in part shade.

Salvia Clevelandii is a compact shrub with long-lasting purple flowers that emerge late Spring. Very tough, full sun and drought-tolerant.  Has a lovey/earthy scent, I often pick the flowers and allow to dry.

Dudleya (Chalk Live-forever) is a succulent that grows well near the coast, needs some afternoon shade inland. Its rosette form can measure a foot across.This beautiful chalk-colored succulent also forms long flower stalks in Spring with red flowers.

Ascelpias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) is stunning when in bloom late Spring/Summer. It thrives in poor, dry soil, and is the native host plant for our Western Monarch Butterfly.

Calamagrostis foliosa - (Cape Mendocino Reed Grass) a beautiful native grass growing to about 18 inches tall with beautiful arching mounds of blades with silvery-purple plumes that turn a tawny color with age. A very pretty grass I use often.

Ceanothos 'Ray Hartman' (California Lilac) A large CA native shrub or small tree with beautiful blue flowers in early spring with a delicate scent.  It attracts bees, butterflies and birds and offers habitat as well.  A fast growing, evergreen that requires fast training soil and little irrigation to no irrigation once established. There are several varieties of Ceanothos from low growing ground cover to medium sized shrubs.  See video below of 'Ray Hartman' in my personal garden.