Plant Database
We’re here to help you navigate the process of creating a thriving native landscape.
We’re passionate about your success with native plants. Our goal is to expand this resource over time, empowering gardeners, contractors, and architects with the knowledge they need to create thriving native landscapes.
We prepared these plant profiles with anecdotal experiences: insights from our own gardens and stories shared by others. We encourage you to comment on the plant profiles and share your experiences and recommendations.
We’ve started with 50 of our hardiest species and will continue adding from our inventory.
Aster chilensis 'Point Saint George' (Coast Aster)
Lush spreading groundcover with violet blooms in summer to fall.
Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Howard Mcminn’ (Howard Mcminn Manzanita)
One of the most garden tolerant species of manzanita, so a good species to start with if you want to try a manzanita.
Abutilon palmeri (Palmer's Indian Mallow)
An evergreen, medium sized shrub with soft grey leaves and nearly ever-present blooms. Native to the desert but also does great on the coast.
Agave shawii (Shaw's Agave)
Rare in California due to habitat loss. Found only along the Pacific coast of Baja and San Diego.
Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’ (Paprika Yarrow)
Long blooming, striking red flowers that attract butterflies.
Achillea ‘Moonshine’ (Moonshine Yarrow)
Vibrant yellow flowers that bloom all summer and attract pollinators.
Acalypha californica (California Copperleaf)
A beautiful red-twigged shrub that is underused in native landscaping. Blooms most of the year if watered periodically.
Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray' (Coastal Sagebrush)
A fragrant, low spreading groundcover. A natural cultivar of California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) from the windswept San Miguel Island in the Channel Islands.
Bahiopsis laciniata (San Diego Sunflower)
A shrub local to the San Diego region that has large masses of yellow flowers in the spring.
Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’ (Dwarf Coyote Brush)
A great mass evergreen groundcover that is adaptable and dependable.
Condea emoryi (Desert Lavender)
A desert shrub that needs little water, is heat tolerant, and produces fragrant, colorful flowers over a long season.
Corethrogyne filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet' (Silver Carpet Aster)
A low-growing, carpet-like groundcover with pink flowers and silver foliage.
Clinopodium douglasii (Yerba Buena)
A spreading perennial found in shady, moist areas. It has a pleasant fragrance and the leaves can be used for tea.
Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow)
A small tree with beautiful, large pink flowers. Ideal for full sun and sandy soil.
Cercocarpus betuloides (Mountain Mahogany)
A columnar small evergreen tree with delicate feather-like flowers. Great for screening or pruned into a small tree.
Ceanothus ‘Joyce Coulter’ (Joyce Coulter Mountain Lilac)
A fast growing groundcover selection of Ceanothus, great for covering large areas.
Carex praegracilis (Clustered Field Sedge)
A great native lawn replacement - can be mowed or left long. Requires significantly less water than turf grass.
Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster)
A striking evergreen shrub with red "powder puff" flowers. A great native alternative to Callistemon 'Little John'.
Dudleya brittonii (Giant Chalk Dudleya)
A striking silver succulent that maintains a small rosette form year-round. Great as an accent around rocks or planted en masse.
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (Red-flowered Buckwheat)
A uniquely low-growing buckwheat from the Channel Islands with bright red/pink flower clusters.