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Calamagrostis foliosa  Leafy Reed Grass
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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.
Calamagrostis nutkaensis  Pacific reed grass
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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.
Calamagrostis nutkaensis The King Pacific reed grass
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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.
Calandrinia spectabilis  rock purslane
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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.

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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.
Carex morrowii Evergold golden variegated Japanese sedge
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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. 
Carex pansa  California meadow grass
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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.
Carex tenuiculmis Cappuccino coffee sedge
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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.
Carex testacea  orange colored sedge
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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.
Carpenteria californica Elizabeth bush anemone
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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.
Ceanothus arboreus Cliff Schmidt Clif Schmidt Wild Lilac
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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.
Ceanothus gloriosus Anchor Bay wild lilac
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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.
Ceanothus griseus horizontalis  Carmel Creeper Ceanothus
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Ceanothus griseus horizontalis

Carmel Creeper Ceanothus

A good looking ground cover Ceanothus with large clean, glossy leaves. Shorter than Ceanothus 'Yankee Point' this shrub grows eventually 1 to 3 feet tall, 15 foot spread or trailing. Medium blue flowers in spring, grow in sun or light shade. Quite drought tolerant but one of the least deer resistant of the Ceanothus. Bay Area native.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus  wild lilac
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Ceanothus thyrsiflorus

wild lilac

This local ceanothus is fast growing to 6 to 12 feet tall, 8 to 12 foot spread making a large shrub or small open tree. Medium blue fragrant flower spikes in spring. Full sun, drought tolerant but can handle some water and clay soils. Looks good year round. Grown from local seed. Attracts the California Tortoiseshell butterfly. Bay Area native.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Skylark wild lilac
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Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Skylark'

wild lilac

This lush green, compact Ceanothus grows slowly 3 to 6 feet tall with a 5 foot spread. Dark blue fragrant flower spikes bloom over a long period in spring, again in fall. Full sun, drought tolerant but can handle some water and clay soils. Looks good year round. Native to Mendocino. Attracts the California Tortoiseshell butterfly.
Ceanothus x Concha wild lilac
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Ceanothus x 'Concha'

wild lilac

One of the more garden tolerant of the wild lilacs, it handles clay soils and some summer water.  Grows 5 to 6 feet tall, 6 foot spread. Large, dark cobalt blue flower clusters March through May. Full sun, quite drought and deer resistant. Good on dry hillsides, low water gardens.
Ceanothus x Dark Star wild lilac
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Ceanothus x 'Dark Star'

wild lilac

Evergreen mounding shrub 4 to 5 feet tall, 6 foot spread or more. Indigo blue flowers in spring, quite showy. Full sun, quite drought tolerant and deer resistant. Needs good drainage and not too much water. Introduced into the trade in 1971, an identical twin to C. Julia Phelps although 20 years younger.
Ceanothus x Julia Phelps wild lilac
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Ceanothus x 'Julia Phelps'

wild lilac

Evergreen mounding shrub 4 to 5 feet tall, 6 foot spread or more. Indigo blue flowers in spring, quite showy. Full sun, quite drought tolerant and deer resistant. Needs good drainage and not too much water. Introduced into the trade in 1971, an identical twin to C. Dark Star although 20 years older.
Ceanothus x arboreus Ray Hartman wild lilac
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Ceanothus x arboreus 'Ray Hartman'

wild lilac

Evergreen hybrid introduction substantial enough to be trained as a small tree, it grows to 15 feet with an equal spread. 3 to 5 inch flower spikes late winter, early spring, and often again in the fall. Fast growing. Full sun, drought tolerant, makes an attractive informal hedge or single specimen.
Ceratostigma griffithii  Burmese plumbago
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Ceratostigma griffithii

Burmese plumbago

This perennial ground cover forms an airy mass of wiry stems 2 to 3 feet high, spreads by underground stems 3 feet or more. Brilliant blue 1/2 inch flowers from July into late fall. Full sun or part shade, drought and deer resistant. Will grow under pine trees. It can be cut to the ground in winter.
Cercocarpus  betuloides  Mountain Mahagony
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Cercocarpus betuloides

Mountain Mahagony

This large shrub, 6 to 20 feet, can be pruned to form a tree or left as a bushy shrub. It has small birch like leaves, silvery gray bark, and summer fruits with showy white plumed tails. Good as an informal hedge or espaliered against a fence. Drought tolerant, grow in full sun. Bay Area Native
Chondropetalum elephantinum  large Cape rush
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Chondropetalum elephantinum

large Cape rush

This rush like plant from South Africa creates a striking accent with 4 to 6 foot upright stems producing papery brachts at each joint. It will grow in sun or partial shade, and can be either grown in shallow water or in soil with regular to low water. Doesn't like rich soils. You may cut old stems to the ground when new growth appears.

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Chondropetalum tectorum

Cape rush

This rush like plant from South Africa creates a striking accent. This species is a diminutive form with 3 foot stems producing papery bracts at each joint. It will grow in sun or partial shade, and can be either grown in shallow water or in soil with regular to low water. Doesn't like rich soils. You may cut old stems to the ground when new growth appears.
Chrysanthemum  Brett's choice chrysanthemum
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Chrysanthemum 'Brett's choice'

chrysanthemum

This selection is from Maggie of Western Hills Nursery. Its foliage grows 1 foot tall with 2 foot flower stalks bearing large spidery white flowers in summer. Average water, cold hardy, we've found it to be easy to grow. Excellent cut flower.
Cimicifuga racemoa  black snakeroot
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Cimicifuga racemoa

black snakeroot

Stately spikes of tiny white flowers on bottle brush racemes rising from dark green foliage can reach as high as 7 feet. Blooms late summer into fall. Grow in rich, well drained soil, can handle sun if given enough water. The plant is used medicinally and dried flowers can be used in flower arrangements.
Cistus  Sunset rock rose
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Cistus 'Sunset'

rock rose

Evergreen shrub 2 feet tall, 4 foot spread with 2 inch hot pink flowers late spring, summer. Full sun anywhere, light shade inland, quite deer resistant and drought tolerant. The gray green foliage contrasts nicely with the deep pink flowers. Good with lavenders, sages.
Cistus ralletii  magenta rockrose
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Cistus ralletii

magenta rockrose

A hybrid rock rose with velvety grey green leaves and crinkly magenta flowers. It grows 4 feet tall, 4 to 6 feet wide with a fountain like habit and prefers full sun, lean soil, and low water. Good in dry gardens and mixed low water borders, one of the few rockroses to attract insects, hardy to 10°F.

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Cistus salviifolius

sage leaf rock rose

Mounding evergreen groundcover 2 feet tall, 6 foot spread.  2 inch white flowers profuse in late spring.  Full sun, quite deer resistant, drought, salt wind, clay soil tolerant.  Good on banks, dry hillsides, used for erosion control.
Cistus skanbergii  rock rose
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Cistus skanbergii

rock rose

Evergreen rock rose 3 to 5 feet tall, sometimes more, with a 3 to 4 foot spread. Smokey pale pink one inch flowers heaviest in late spring, lighter blooming summer and fall. Full sun, drought tolerant and deer resistant. Good for erosion control, hillsides, perennial gardens. Very satisfying.
Cistus x Elma white rock rose
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Cistus x 'Elma'

white rock rose

This evergreen shrub grows 5 feet tall and as wide with dark green slightly fragrant foliage and 3 inch white flowers, June-July.  Full sun, prefers good drainage and low water.  A handsome shrub, does well with other low water plants like lavender and is good for erosion control.
Cistus x Victor Reiter rock rose
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Cistus x 'Victor Reiter'

rock rose

Evergreen shrub 3 feet round with 3 inch lavender pink flowers late spring, summer. Full sun, light shade inland. Quite drought tolerant and deer resistant. The gray green foliage contrasts nicely with the deep pink flowers.  Good with lavenders, sages.
Clematis ligusticifolia  virgin's bower
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Clematis ligusticifolia

virgin's bower

Fast growing, semi-evergreen vine with delicate foliage, large clusters of intricate,  creamy white flowers late spring into fall followed by interesting seedheads.  Full sun or light shade, average water. It can also be grown as a deciduous ground cover.

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Coleonema pulchrum

Pink Breath of Heaven

Evergreen shrub to 5 feet tall, 5 to 7 foot spread with tiny pink flowers in winter and spring. Fragrant leaves and flowers. Full sun or partial shade. Drought tolerant. Likes good drainage. Deer resistant. Good on hillsides or banks, along paths with its soft foliage.       
Coleonema pulchrum Sunset Gold golden breath of heaven
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Coleonema pulchrum 'Sunset Gold'

golden breath of heaven

Evergreen shrub with golden foliage to 2 feet tall, 6 foot spread with tiny pink flowers in winter and spring. Fragrant leaves and flowers. Full sun or light shade, moderate water. It likes good drainage. Deer resistant. Good along paths with its soft foliage, as a low accent with perennials.
Coreopsis auriculata nana  dwarf coreopsis
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Coreopsis auriculata nana

dwarf coreopsis

Dwarf Coreopsis grows just 6 inches high, spreading 2 to 3 feet.  This low, bushy plant has single, 2 inch orange-yellow flowers from spring until fall if old blooms are removed.  Full sun or light shade, drought tolerant and deer resistant.  Excellent in rock gardens, as a low border.
Cornus sericea ssp Occidentalis  creek dogwood
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Cornus sericea ssp Occidentalis

creek dogwood

This coastal red twig dogwood is a riparian shrub growing 6 to 10 feet round in sun near the coast, or in shade further inland. Large umbels of creamy white flowers in spring are followed by white berries. Brilliant red leaf color in fall followed by deep red bare stems in winter provide year round interest. Bay Area native.
Correa  Carmine Bells Australian fuchsia
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Correa 'Carmine Bells'

Australian fuchsia

Low growing evergreen shrub 2 feet tall, 5 foot spread with dusky rose tubular flowers over long winter season, November to April.  Full sun or part shade, quite deer resistant.  Prefers good drainage and poor rocky soil.  Drought tolerant, a good ground cover or low shrub.
Cupressus macrocarpa  Monterey cypress
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Cupressus macrocarpa

Monterey cypress

Fast growing evergreen tree to 75 feet, much shorter along the coast in the wind. Good screen or windbreak if topped. Best if grown in or near coastal conditions. Quite drought tolerant and deer resistant. Bay Area native.
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