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More information »	Achillea 'Terra Cotta' yarrow A green leafed yarrow with umbels of soft, two toned terra cotta colored flower heads late spring through summer. Drought tolerant, full sun, it can be used as a lawn substitute or in meadows. Good as a cut or dried flower. Shear back mid season to reinvigorate.
More information »	Achillea borealis island pink yarrow An attractive greenleafed yarrow from the Channel Islands, the umbels open dusky rose then fade slowly to pale pink, colors that combine nicely. This yarrow blooms over a longer period than most, usually from May through summer. Drought tolerant, full sun, it can be used as a lawn substitute.
More information »	Achillea millifolium yarrow This native version of the green leafed yarrow stays quite compact, under 1 foot and slowly spreading with umbels of clear white flower heads late spring through summer. Drought tolerant, full sun, can be used as a lawn substitute or in meadows mixed with native grasses and wildflowers. Bay Area native.
More information »	Achillea Moonshine yellow yarrow This fast growing perennial grows 2 1/2 feet high, spreads 2 feet or more. Bright yellow flower heads 3 to 4 inches across appear summer into fall if cut back occasionally. Full sun, drought tolerant, deer and wind resistant. Fire retardant. It makes a good cut flower.
More information »	Aconitum henryi monkshood Upright perennial 2 to 3 feet tall with striking, dark blue flower spikes in summer. Prefers a cool garden with moist soil, sun or part shade. Good at the back of the garden or edge of a shaded bog. All parts of plant are poisonous.
More information »	Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' golden variegated sweet flag Rich golden yellow foliage grows to 10 inches high, 1 foot spread. It grows well in pots, ponds, as an edging or ground cover and even grows indoors. It doesn’t like to dry out but can handle sun or shade.
More information »	Aesculus californica California buckeye This multi-branched summer deciduous tree grows 15 to 30 feet round. Its silvery trunk accents pale, apple green leaves in the spring, large 10 inch fragrant white flower spikes in summer, and large seed pods on its bare branches through the winter. Its twisted trunk is always interesting. Attracts butterflies. Bay Area native.
More information »	Allium schoenoprasum chives This small clump forming perennial onion has grass like leaves that could reach 2 feet but are usually shorter and produces a clover like rose purple flower in spring. Best in moist, fairly rich soil in sun or part shade. Evergreen in mild winter areas but will grow anywhere. Leaves and flowers are edible.
More information »	Allium senescens v glaucum curly onion Hardy evergreen perennial 3 to 6 inches tall, 1 foot spread. Clusters of lavender pink flowers in the summer. Full sun or light shade, quite drought tolerant. An unusual and fun plant for the rock garden, works well in containers.
More information »	Alnus rubra red alder Ranging along the coast from Alaska to Santa Cruz this deciduous tree grows quickly to 40 feet. Found in riparian areas it can tolerate salty water and is a nitrogen fixer. It provides important wildlife habitat. Sun or shade, it likes water. Bay Area native.
More information »	Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' Japanese anemone Mounding, spreading perennial with rich, dark green foliage supports graceful stems, 3 to 5 feet high bear showy, single white flowers late summer and fall. This selection was introduced in 1858. Part to heavy shade, moderate water. Effective in front of tall shrubs, under high trees. Invasive in some gardens.
More information »	Anemopsis californica yerba mansa Yerba mansa is found by seeps, stream edges and in wet meadows. It spreads by runners forming a green mat 8 inches high with aromatic flowers in spring with showy, white bracts surrounding a central cone of tiny green flowers. Winter dormant. Grow in light shade with average to low water. Bay Area native.
More information »	Angelica hendersonii bluff angelica A large taproot grows each year into a 3 to 4 foot round shrub with large bold leaves and sturdy flowering stalks bearing showy umbels of white flowers. Native to windswept bluffs, it needs good drainage and some summer water. Sun or light shade Bay Area native.
More information »	Apocynum cannabinum Indian hemp Named for the strong fibers of the stems used by the Indians to make ropes and nets, this member of the Dogbane family grows to 4 feet or more each year with clusters of white flowers. Found in wooded areas and wet spots it spreads and can be invasive in gardens. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Bay Area native.
More information »	Aquilegia formosa western columbine Native to California, Utah and north to Alaska, this woodland perennial produces 2 foot stems with 2 inch red-orange and yellow flowers in late spring. Although delicate looking, it is quite hardy. Without summer water it will die back, to return again in spring. Partial shade, good under oaks. Bay Area native.
More information »	Arbutus unedo compacta compact strawberry tree Evergreen shrub or small tree 8 to 10 feet tall. Shredding brown twisted trunk, white urn shaped flowers followed by red berries similar to strawberries, attracts butterflies. Tolerates ocean wind, can be grown there in sun or shade, and desert heat if grown in shade. Low to average water, any soil.
More information »	Arbutus x Marina strawberry tree A hybrid of uncertain origin developing the handsome red-brown trunk, or trunks, of the native madrone. It has quite large clusters of pink flowers, then red berries similar to the strawberry tree. Evergreen, 20 to 40 feet round, full sun or part shade. Drought tolerant. A good garden substitute for the more difficult madrone.
More information »	Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist' manzanita Mounding evergreen shrub with rapid growth, 2 feet by 6 feet. White flowers in spring followed by berries attractive to birds. Full sun or part shade, quite drought tolerant and more tolerant of garden conditions than some manzanitas. Good under native oaks. A hybrid from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.
More information »	Arctostaphylos 'Sunset' manzanita A naturally occurring hybrid between A. hookeri and A. pajaroensis with coppery red new foliage. This evergreen shrub grows 4 to 5 feet tall, 5 to 6 foot spread with white bell shaped flowers followed by berries. Attractive red trunk as it ages. Sun near the coast, part shade anywhere, quite drought tolerant.
More information »	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Point Reyes' bearberry This groundcover manzanita grows 1 foot tall, with an 8 foot spread. White bell flowers in late winter followed by red berries valuable to wild life. Sun near the coast, part shade anywhere. Quite drought tolerant, fairly resistant to interior heat. Slow growing but long lived. Good for erosion control and under native oak trees.
More information »	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Wood's Compact' manzanita This selection of A. uva-ursi is an evergreen groundcover that grows 1 foot high, 3 foot spread or more. Pink bell shaped flowers in late winter followed by large, showy berries turning red, popular with wildlife. Full sun near coast, part shade anywhere. Quite drought resistant, fairly deer resistant. Good under oaks.
More information »	Arctostaphylos x 'Emerald Carpet' bearberry Low growing, evergreen, manzanita groundcover 1 foot tall, 4 to 6 foot spread. Rich green foliage year round. Small, bell shaped white flowers late winter. Light to medium shade is best, prefers deep irrigation every 2 to 3 weeks in hot climates. Moderately fast growing and can handle heavier soils if not overwatered. This is a hybrid probably between A. uva-ursi and A. nummularia.
More information »	Argyranthemum gracile 'Chelsea Girl' Chelsea girl dill daisy Billowing pastel gray green foliage growing 4 feet round and topped with white and bright yellow daisy flowers from late spring to early fall. Sun or light shade, any soil, average to low water. It's good near the coast, in mixed borders and containers. Best known for it's light, airy, kinetic foliage.Hardy to at least the mid 20s.
More information »	Armeria alliacea Portuguese sea thrift A low growing tuft of stiff green foliage 8 inches tall, 1 to 1 1/2 foot spread. Pink ball shaped flowers on 1 foot stems most of the year. Full sun or light shade, drought and wind tolerant and fairly deer resistant. Good in containers, rock gardens, as a low border. Looks good year round.
More information »	Armeria juniperifolia dwarf sea thrift Evergreen, dwarf perennial growing slowly to 3 inches high, 1 foot spread. 1/2 inch light pink flowers spring, summer. Full sun, likes good drainage and low to average water. A good container plant, in the rock garden, or as a low border.
More information »	Armeria maritima californica California sea thrift Mounding evergreen perennial 4 inches high, 8 inches wide, with pale pink pom-poms on 10 to 14 inch stems. Full sun, drought tolerant, fairly deer resistant. Good low border, in rock gardens, in sea coast gardens and meadows. This is the native armeria found on rocky bluffs. Bay Area native.
More information »	Artemesia californica California sagebrush Low growing, mounding shrub 2 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 4 foot spread. The silver green leaves are sweetly fragrant when crushed. Full sun, quite drought tolerant and deer resistant. Native to coastal areas here growing further inland in Southern California. Good on dry hillsides, under oaks. Bay Area native.
More information »	Artemesia douglasiana mugwort This perennial sage grows each year one to three feet tall with an erect habit and distinctly sweet smell. An important habitat plant as well as used medicinally by Native Americans. Grow in sun or light shade with low to average water. Can be invasive, especially in watered gardens. It can be shaped for tidyness.
More information »	Artemesia drucunculus sativa French tarragon Perennial to 1 foot high, spreading slowly by creeping rhizomes, very fragrant leaves. Dormant in winter. Full sun, moderate to low water. Can be eaten fresh or dried. Works well in containers.
More information »	Asarum caudatum wild ginger A member of the Pipe Vine family, this evergreen makes an incredibly lush ground cover for dappled to heavy shade. Large heart-shaped leaves hide unusual maroon-purple flowers. Although it will survive with little water it looks better and spreads faster with more. It has a pleasant gingery aroma when crushed.
More information »	Asclepias fascicularis Narrow leaf milkweed Growing 2 feet tall, half as wide with curious greenish white flowers tinged with purple followed by large seed heads. Native to dry valleys and foothills as well as salty coastal areas it likes sun and low water but can handle boggy clay soils in winter. Attracts butterflies and bumblebees - sap can be poisonous. Native to Marin and Sonoma County as well as much of the Western United States.
More information »	Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed Growing 3 to 4 feet tall and spreading,with showy, fragrant white and purplish flowers followed by large seed heads. Native to warmer valleys and foothills it likes sun and can handle heavy clay soils. Can be invasive. Attracts butterflies and bumblebees - sap can be poisonous. Marin County Native
More information »	Aster chilensis 'Point Saint George' dwarf California aster This perennial grows quickly spreading by underground rhizomes to form a 4 to 6 inch herbaceous mat that can handle light foot traffic. Violet daisy flowers with yellow centers summer into fall. Sun or light shade, any soil, quite drought tolerant, can be invasive in well watered gardens. Attracts butterflies, bees, birds. Bay Area native.
More information »	Aster cordifolius 'Little Carlow' blue wood aster This low growing perennial with 3 foot stalks bears prolific sprays of small lavender blue single daisies late summer into fall. Moderate water. Easy, disease resistant, no mildew in full sun. It's a great beneficial insect plant and makes a good cut flower. Vigorous but not aggressive.
More information »	Aster frikartii 'Monch' Monch's aster One of the finest, most useful and widely adaptable perennials. Open, spreading growth to 2 feet high with clusters of 2&1/2 inch lavender blue flowers with golden centers May through October if old flowers are removed. Full sun, moderate water, resists diseases, attracts beneficials. Good cut flower.
More information »	Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black' black aster This is a striking perennial growing 6 inches tall, 1 to 2 foot spread with plum purple leaves and tiny white dancing daisy flowers with raspberry centers on 3 foot stems in fall. Attracts bees and butterflies. Grow in full sun with moderate water.
More information »	Aster novi belgii 'Tiny Tot' dwarf New York aster This perennial grows only 6 inches high. Sprays of small bright purple single daisies late summer into fall. Moderate water. Easy, disease resistant, no mildew in full sun. Vigorous but not aggressive. Good container plant, low border. This perennial grows only 6 inches high. Sprays of small bright purple single daisies late summer into fall. Moderate water. Easy, disease resistant, no mildew in full sun. Vigorous but not aggressive. Good container plant, low border.
More information »	Asteriscus maritimus gold coin This evergreen groundcover from the Mediterranean grows 1 foot tall, 3 to 4 foot spread with silvery green foliage and 1&1/2 inch golden yellow flowers. It’s a tough plant tolerant of most soils and seaside conditions. Full sun, low or no water once established. Fairly deer resistant.
More information »	Baccharis pilularis coyote bush This evergreen mounding shrub grows 4 to 6 feet round. Likes full sun, quite drought and deer resistant. Excellent for erosion control, one of the major members of the coastal scrub community. It can be pruned up to show the twisted trunks. Coyote Bush is an extremely important source of nectar for insects in the fall. Can reseed.
More information »	Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Point' dwarf coyote bush Hardy, evergreen groundcover growing 1 to 3 feet tall, 6 foot spread. It forms a dense mounding groundcover or can be pruned hard to reinvigorate. Full sun, very deer and drought resistant. It is an excellent erosion control plant and drought tolerant groundcover. Native to San Francisco.
More information »	Baccharis pilularis 'Twin Peaks' prostrate coyote bush Hardy, evergreen ground cover growing 2 to 4 feet tall, 6 foot spread. It forms a dense mounding ground cover or can be pruned into a formal low hedge. Full sun, very deer and drought resistant. It is an excellent erosion control plants. Native to San Francisco.
More information »	Baumea rubiginosa 'v. variegata' striped rush This spiky grass with deep green blades streaked with gold grows 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall with a 1 foot spread. It can handle low water to boggy conditions and will grow anywhere from full sun to heavy shade. Good in containers, near ponds, in a shade garden.
More information »	Calamagrostis foliosa Leafy Reed Grass This low growing, dense bunch grass is found in rocky places near the coast of California. Tan panicles tinged with purple form within the foliage. It's 6 to 8 inch stature makes it a nice choice for a dry stream bed. Full sun, prefers rocky soils and low water.
More information »	Calamagrostis nutkaensis Pacific reed grass This evergreen bunch grass grows to 3 to 4 feet round. Seed heads are 3 feet above the foliage. A stately, flowing grass for sun near the coast, part to heavy shade everywhere, quite deer resistant. Drought tolerant along the coast. Bay Area native.
More information »	Calamagrostis nutkaensis 'The King' Pacific reed grass This selection of Pacific Reed Grass found in the King Mountain Range in Humboldt County has unusually broad blades and is presentable enough to be included in the perennial garden. It grows 3 feet tall with a 3 foot spread, flower spikes rising another 2 feet. Full sun on the coast, part shade anywhere. Low water.
More information »	Calandrinia spectabilis rock purslane This succulent from Chile grows to 8 inches tall and spreads slowly to 3 feet or more. Tall 1 to 2 foot stems support 2 inch magenta flowers bloom spring through fall. Drought tolerant but doesn't mind water if the drainage is good. Excellent in containers or rock gardens. Full sun, may not be hardy below 25°F.
More information »	Calylophus drummondianus sundrops Softly mounding or trailing plant 1 foot tall,2 feet wide with bright yellow flowers from spring through summer. It will grow in sun or part shade and prefers low water unless the drainage is excellent.
More information »	Carex morrowii 'Evergold' golden variegated Japanese sedge This evergreen clumping sedge is known for its bright creamy yellow, center-striped leaves and lush arching foliage appearing golden yellow in the garden. Growing 1 foot tall, 2 feet round, it will spill over walls. Light to medium shade, it can be grown indoors. It likes good drainage and moisture.
More information »	Carex pansa California meadow grass This is a low, spreading evergreen sedge native to coastal northern California. It can be left to form a mounding meadow or mowed once or twice a year for a lawn effect that fills in quickly and can handle foot traffic. Regular to low water, any soil.
More information »	Carex tenuiculmis 'Cappuccino' coffee sedge Graceful, arching mounds of deep cappuccino to reddish bronze colored foliage 12 to 18 inches high and as wide. Grow in sun or light shade in moist, gravelly soil. Good accent spilling down rocky slopes, over walls, in containers. Fairly cold hardy for a bronze carex.
More information »	Carex testacea orange colored sedge This clumping, fine textured glossy foliage grows 1 to 1&1/2 feet tall, trailing to 3 feet, seeding heads to 8 feet. The iridescent foliage emerges olive green, turning intense orange as it ages. Grow in sun or light shade in gravely soil average to low water. Good accent spilling down rocky slopes, over walls, in containers. Re-seeds.
More information »	Carpenteria californica 'Elizabeth' bush anemone Moderate growing evergreen shrub 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide with 3 inch fragrant white flowers May to August. Good in sun or part shade with average to low water, no water near the coast. Good under native oaks - resistant to oak root fungus. Pinch back to keep bushy.
More information »	Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' Clif Schmidt Wild Lilac Evergreen large shrub or small tree growing to 15 feet with an equal spread. 3 to 5 inch flower spikes in early spring, and often again in the fall. Fast growing. Full sun or light shade, drought tolerant, makes an attractive informal hedge or single specimen. Found on the Santa Cruz Island but hardy to 10°F.
More information »	Ceanothus gloriosus 'Anchor Bay' wild lilac This selection of gloriosus grows 1&1/2 feet tall, spreading to 6 feet in a very dense pattern that is good for weed control. Showy dark blue flowers in spring. Will grow in full sun or light shade. Quite drought and deer resistant. Good for erosion control.