Juncus patens
Juncaceae
Lifespan: Perennial evergreen.
Origin: California native. West coast from Washington to Baja California, Mexico.
Height/width: 1-2’ tall, 1-2’ wide.
Culture: Full sun to part-shade, dry shade okay. Low water/drought tolerant. Hardy down to 15° F. Can grow in a marsh, stream bed, riverbank, seep, areas with moist soil.
Description: Grass-like ornamental. Rhizomatous. Grey-green erect stems. Tiny flowers in clusters. Fruit are round, brown/ red capsules. Wildlife gardens, habitat restoration, rain gardens and wonderful landscape design plant. Great in planters, containers. Attracts birds. Deer resistant.
Flowering Time: Spring through fall.
Ceanothus x impressus 'Julia Phelps'
Rhamnaceae
Lifespan: Perennial evergreen shrub.Origin: CA native
Height/width: 6-8' tall/8' wide
Culture: Full sun to partial sun. NOT heat tolerant. Moderate-low water. Drought tolerant. Well-drained soil. Hardy to 4-5°F.
Description: Crinkly, dark green leaves. Purple fragrant flowers. Round form. Wildlife, bee and butterfly attractor. Deer, fire tolerant. Great for erosion control, hedges, hillsides, screens, slopes, specimen tree, containers. Cottage, Mediterranean garden. Ceanothus hybrid. Parents are Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus x Ceanothus impressus.
Flowering time: Spring to early summer
Aquilegia formosa
Ranunculaceae
Lifespan: Perennial
Origin: CA native
Height/width: 7-30" tall
Culture: Part shade. Tolerates low water, likes moisture.
Description: Fern-like leaves. Reddish orange, yellow flowers with spurs. Sweet -tasting flowers.
Attracts hummingbirds. Juncos and sparrows love the seeds. Shown resistance to deer.
Fruiting/Flowering time: Flowers April to August
Galvezia speciosa
Plantaginaceae
Lifespan: Perennial.
Origin: California native (Channel Islands)
Height/width: 3ft tall, 4-5ft wide.
Culture: Clay tolerant. Can handle dry conditions.
Description: Evergreen branches, 1" red flowers reminiscent of snapdragons. Attracts hummingbirds. Groundcover/ vining shrub, grows in a mound.
Flowering time: flowers late spring to fall
Arctostaphylos uva ursi ''Pt. Reyes'
Ericaceae
Lifespan: Perennial evergreen shrub.
Origin: CA native
Height/width: 2-5" tall, 10' wide.
Culture: Full sun to part shade. Clay and sand tolerant.
Description: Reddish-green coriaceous leaves. Pale pinkish-white, urn-shaped, blooms. Edible red berries. Trailing habit, mat-like groundcover. Manzanita. Foundation, rock garden. Bee and bird attractor. Deer tolerant. Erosion control.
Flowering/Fruiting time: Spring/late summer-fall.
Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn'
Ericaceae
Lifespan: Perennial mounding shrub.
Origin: CA native
Height/width: 6-10' tall, 6-12' wide.
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Low water. Likes being near water, but not in moist soil. Well-drained soil. Clay and sand tolerant. Hardy to 0-10° F.
Description: Shiny green foliage. Red stems. Smooth red bark. Little urn-shaped, pinkish-white flowers. Small, edible red berries. Mid-sized hedging plant.Attracts wildlife, butterflies, hummingbirds and moths. Popular commercial landscaping plant.
Fruiting/Flowering time: Spring/Winter and spring
Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet'
Ericaceae
Lifespan: Perennial shrub
Origin: CA native
Height/width: 1' tall, 3-5' wide
Culture: Full sun to partial shade. Low water. Well-drained soil. Clay tolerant. Hardy to 15-25° F.
Description: Dense, evergreen groundcover. Small, bell-shaped, white flowers. Red stems, shiny green foliage. Small red fruits.
Manzanita hybrid. Parents are Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Arctostaphylos ummularia. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Fruiting/Flowering time: Spring/Winter and spring
Salvia clevelandii 'Allen Chickering'
Lamiaceae
Lifespan: Perennial
Origin: Rancho Santa Ana, California.
Height/width: 5' tall, 5' wide.
Culture: Full sun. Well-drained soil. Low water. Drought tolerant. Frost hardy to 15°F.
Description: Evergreen woody shrub. Fragrant, grayish-green foliage. Lavender flowers on 2' long spikes. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
Flowering Time: Late spring- summer
Achillea millefolium
Asteraceae
Lifespan: Perennial
Origin: California native
Height/width: 18-24" tall.
Culture: Full sun to part shade. Poor soil okay. Drought tolerant. Self-seeds.
Description: Evergreen. 6-12" flower stalks. Cosmetic and medicinal herb. Nature's bandaid. Beneficial attractor. Deer resistant. Cut flower.
Fruiting/Flowering time: Flowers from June to September.