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.
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.
Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster)
A striking evergreen shrub with red "powder puff" flowers. A great native alternative to Callistemon 'Little John'.
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (Red-flowered Buckwheat)
A uniquely low-growing buckwheat from the Channel Islands with bright red/pink flower clusters.
Erigeron glaucus (Seaside Daisy)
A low-growing evergreen with nearly year-round pink flowers. A pollinator favorite.
Romneya coulteri (Coulter's Matilija Poppy)
One of the showiest poppies, known as the "fried-egg flower". Very drought tolerant, spreads by rhizomes and can easily spread 10 ft wide.
Sphaeralcea ambigua ‘Coral’(Coral Desert Globemallow)
A beautiful perennial with long-blooming vibrant red flowers.
Sphaeralcea ambigua (Desert Globemallow)
A drought tolerant perennial with vibrant orange blooms. Works great in hot, sunny areas.
Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-eyed Grass)
One of the easiest herbaceous perennials, provides a vibrant pop of color during springtime.
Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal Spreader' (Purple Sage)
A medium height groundcover with silver foliage and pink flowers in winter. Tolerates drought and garden conditions.
Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina' (De La Mina Verbena)
An adaptable perennial with lightly scented purple blossoms that attract butterflies. Though this plant has more flowers in the spring, it does have blossoms throughout most of the year, especially if given supplemental water.