Bol Park Revegetation Project: Description of Native Plants

Index

• Other Resources
• Trees
• Shrubs
• Perennials
• Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, Rhizomes, ...
• Annuals / Wildflowers
• Grasses (pending)
• bottom of page

Introductory Notes

• Alphabetized on official (latinate) name
• Size in feet, unless stated otherwise
• Wildlife supported covers only special/notable aspects. Unfortunately, many of the reference materials do not identify which aspect of the plant is important to the named animal.
• This information has been culled from multiple sources, with attempts to localize it.
• Some sizes may be typical and others may be the normal range for "normal" environment and others still may be the absolute range for all environments. For example, some trees grow significantly larger when given summer water. Unfortunately, most of the reference materials do not identify which of these situations they are presenting.
• Likely future additions:
  • Native of ? (Santa Clara County, California, other region of California - Santa Barbara is common origin for plants treated as natives here).
  • Habitat community (Foothill Woodland, Chaparrel, Riparian, ...)
  • Water requirements
  • Sun/Part Shade/Shade
  • Propagation method and timing

Trees

• California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
  Height: 15-40 (25 typical) , Breadth: 30-80
  Bloom: white/yellow flowers in early summer (March-June)
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: hummingbirds
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: fast growing
  Note: The Water District's own manual on plants states that this tree is poisonous to honeybees (Apies mellifera L.) : Do not plant this tree near bee-pollinated agricultural crops or wherever it could cause similar problems. This tree's pollen also makes the bee's sting more potent (Source: last paragraph of Hymenopterism section in Urban Entomology by Walter Ebeling).
  Note that this warning refers specificly to honeybees, and is silent on other species of bees. Other documents suggest that honeybees are particularly susceptible to this problem, but that it does affect other bees to lesser extents.
  Without consulting with the BPA, they approved a change that substituted in this tree. The BPA was able to get half of them removed, but the other half remain -- in a natural habitat that was designed to support and depend upon bees. On the other hand, there already are a number of these trees present from before the construction project.
• Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
  Height: 20-100 , Breadth: 20-40
  Bloom: March-May
  Fruit/Seeds: white in January-March
  Animals supported: good food source for birds
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Red Madrone (Arbutus `Marina')
  Fast growing
  Description, history and pictures:
  • From San Marcos Growers (a nursery in Santa Barbara)
  • Article in The Bay Area Gardener on the Saratoga Horticulutural Research Foundation
• Silk Tassel Bush (Garrya fremonti)
  Height: 5-10 , Breadth: 8-10
  Bloom: white, January/April
  Fruit/Seeds: in summer
  Animals supported: not determined
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
  Height: 50-100 , Breadth: 30-50
  Bloom: February-April
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: purple finches
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: especially susceptible to anthracnose blight (early and continuous leaf drop). Agressively rake up leaves to control blight.
  Water: some deep watering in summer preferred
• Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
  Height: 15-30 , Breadth: 6-30+
  Bloom: white in May/June
  Fruit/Seeds: reddish purple, cherry size
  Animals supported: nectar: bees; fruit: birds and mammals (widely used)
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
  Height: 30-70 , Breadth: 60-100
  Bloom: March-April
  Fruit/Seeds: acorns in fall
  Animals supported: ducks, crows, jays, thrushes, thrashers, woodpeckers, titmice, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, mice, woodrats
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: evergreen, leaf-drop in early spring
  Note: fast(est?) growing American oak
• Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)
  Height: 50-80+ , Breadth: 50-70+
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds: acorns in fall
  Animals supported: see coast live oak
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: deciduous
  Note: largest American oak
• Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis)
  Height: 6-30 , Breadth: 6-15
  Bloom: February-April
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: squirrels, woodrats, meadow mice
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California Bay-Laurel/Bay/Laurel, Oregon Myrtle, Pepperwood (Umbellularia californica)
  Height: 20-25 (to 75 feet with more water) , Breadth: 35+
  Bloom: yellow in November-March
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: none known
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: virtually pest-free, fire-retardant, always neat in appearance

Shrubs

• Manzanita (Arctostaphylus)
  Height: 6-20 , Breadth: 4-10
  Bloom: February-April
  Fruit/Seeds: showy red berries in fall
  Animals supported: jays, mockingbirds, sparrows, raccoons, skunks, ground squirrels
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  • A. `Pacific Mist'
    Height: 3-6 , Breadth:
    Bloom: pink in January/March
  • Monterey Manzanita (A. hookeri species hookeri)
    Height: , Breadth:
    Bloom:
  • Common Manzanita `Dr. Hurd' (A. manzanita)
    Height: to 15 feet , Breadth:
    Bloom: white in March/April
  • A. pajarensis `Sunset'
    Height: 3-10 , Breadth:
    Bloom: white in December/February
  • Dune Manzanita (A. pumila)
    Height: 1-2 , Breadth:
    Bloom: white/pink in February/April
  • A. refugiensis
    Height: 1-4 , Breadth: to 6
    Bloom: white to pink
  • Bearberry, Kinnikinnick (A. uva-ursi `Radiant')
    Height: 6-14 inches , Breadth: 3-5
    Bloom: white/pink edges in February/April
• California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
  Height: 3-6 , Breadth:
  Bloom: July-October
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Sandhill Sage (Artemisia pycnocephal `David's Choice')
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis)
  Height: 3-12 , Breadth: 6-10
  Bloom: yellow/cream, August-September
  Fruit/Seeds: the major nectar plant in fall
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Dwarf Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis var. pilularis)
  Height: 12-30 inches , Breadth: 6-12
  Bloom: yellow-green, September-October
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium)
  Height: 4-6+ , Breadth: 3-4
  Bloom: March-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: mockingbird, cedar waxwing
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California Barberry (Berberis pinnata)
  Height: 3-5+ , Breadth: 3-4
  Bloom: March-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: mockingbird, cedar waxwing, doves, jays
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Creeping Barberry (Berberis repens)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Calliandra californica
  Height: 2-5 , Breadth:
  Bloom: red, late summer to early fall
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis)
  Height: 4-9 , Breadth: 4-8
  Bloom: red-brown in April-August
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: flycatchers, robins, thrushes
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Tree Anemone (Carpenteria californica)
  Height: 6-15 , Breadth: 3-8
  Bloom: white, May to August
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California/Wild Lilac (Ceanothus)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: quail, rabbits, ground squirrels, woodrats
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  • C. `Julia Phelps'
    Height: 6-8 , Breadth:
    Bloom: cobalt in February/April
  • Coyote Ceanothus, Coyote Valley California Lilac (C. ferrisae)
    Height: 3-6 , Breadth:
    Bloom: White, March-May
  • Deer Brush (C. integerrimus)
    Height: , Breadth:
    Bloom:
  • Holly-leafed Ceanothus (C. purpureus)
    Height: 2-4 , Breadth: 5
    Bloom: blue or purple, late winter to early spring
  • C. rigidus `Snowball'
    Height: 4-5 , Breadth:
    Bloom: white in March/April
  • Red Heart Lilac, Green Bark Lilac (C. spinosus)
    Height: 5-10 , Breadth:
    Bloom: white or pale blue in February/April
  • Wild Blue Lilac (C. thyrsiflorus)
    Height: 3-18+ , Breadth: 3-15
    Bloom: blue, March-June
• Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
  Height: 6-16 , Breadth:
  Bloom: pink/red in March/April
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Summer Holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia)
  Height: 6-18 , Breadth:
  Bloom: white, March/April
  Fruit/Seeds: red berries in August/September
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
  Height: 6-15 (12 typical) , Breadth: 6-12+
  Bloom: white in May and red in fall
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: grows rapidly.
  Note: spreads quickly by underground runners and the rooting of branches that touch the ground (see Sunset's Western Gardening or similar book for more info).
• Tree Poppy, Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida)
  Height: 3-8 , Breadth: similar
  Bloom: yellow, early spring to summer
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron californicum)
  Height: 6-15 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow in May/June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: undetermined
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Sunset Magazine article (May 1995): Flannel Bush, an Uncommonly Showy California Native
• Fremontodendron `Pacific Sunset'
  Height: 6-15 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow-orange in May/June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: undetermined
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Showy Island Bush-Snapdragon `Firecracker' (Galvezia speciosa)
  Height: 3 , Breadth: 6
  Bloom: red in February/May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
  Height: 8-15 , Breadth: 5-15
  Bloom: white in July/September
  Fruit/Seeds: red berries in December/February
  Animals supported: nectar: California Tortoiseshell Butterfly; berries: excellent food source for many
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  More Info from the LA Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
• Bladder Pod (Isomeris arborea)
  Height: 3-4 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow, February-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Snapdragon Penstemon (Keckiella antirrhinoides x cordifolia)
  Height: 3-6 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow in April/June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: nectar: hummingbirds
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)
  Height: 2-10 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow-red in March/June
  Fruit/Seeds: black berries in August/September
  Animals supported: thrushes, rabbits, woodrats
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia/Berberis repens)
  Height: 1-3 , Breadth: spreading (ground cover on back and under oaks)
  Bloom: yellow, in spring
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Plumas Monkey Flower, Azalea-flowered Diplacus (Mimulus/Diplacus grandiflorus/bifidus)
  Height: 9-30 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: buff, in spring and fall
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica)
  Height: 3-12 , Breadth: 8-15
  Bloom: none
  Fruit/Seeds: green to red to black, large
  Animals supported: mockingbird, robins, thrashers, raccoons, ground squirrels, woodrats
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana)
• Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)
  Height: 4-10 , Breadth: 3-10
  Bloom: pink in February-March
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: many
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Squaw Bush (Rhus trilobata)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry (Ribes speciosum)
  Height: 3-6 , Breadth: 2-4
  Bloom: crimson, January/May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: many
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California Wild Rose (Rosa californica)
  Height: 3-10 , Breadth: 3-5
  Bloom: pink, May-August
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: rodents
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California Blackberry (Rubus Ursinus)
  Height: 3-6 , Breadth: spreading
  Bloom: March-July
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: many
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)
  Height: 8-25+ , Breadth: 8-20
  Bloom: cream, March-September
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: excellent wildlife food source: doves, finches, mockingbirds, thrushes, robins, thrashers, towhees, cedar waxwings, woodpeckers, ground squirrels, woodrats
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:

Perennials

• Columbine (Aquilegia)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds: Nectar, seeds
  Animals supported: nectar: hummingbirds; seeds: sparrows ...
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation: seeds
  Lifespan: short, often only 2-3 years
  • VanHoutte's Columbine (A. eximia)
    Height: 2-3 , Breadth:
    Bloom: scarlet, May-August
    Fruit/Seeds:
    Note: Several books note that A. eximia tends to produce few volunteers from seed - especially in relationship to A. formosa - which matches my personal experience (although I have had no problem starting plants from seeds collected from existing plants in my garden). May be more desirable in garden than A. formosa because it blooms all summer with large flowers and has attractive wide branching structure.
  • Western Columbine, Red Columbine (A. formosa)
    Height: 1-3 , Breadth:
    Bloom: red, March-May (experience: into July)
    Fruit/Seeds:
• Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia californica)
  Height: to 10 feet (woody climber, esp on stream banks) , Breadth:
  Bloom: green-purple in February-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• California Harebells (Campanula)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja species)
  Note: this would be a later addition because it depends on other native plants already being established: It is (harmlessly) parasitic on nearby native bushes.
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Western Hounds Tongue (Cynoglossum grande)
  Height: 8-15 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: deep blue in February-April
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: undetermined
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Large-flowered Fairy Bells (Disporum smithii)
  Height: 1-3 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow, June-August
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Sulfur Flower (Erigonum umbellatum polyanthum)
  Height: 1-3 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow, June-August
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum)
• Scarlet Monkey Flower (Mimulus cardinalis)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Common/Creek/Seep Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Downy/False Monkey Flower (Mimulus pilosus)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Penstemon
  Height: 1-2 , Breadth: spreading
  Bloom: April-June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  • Scarlet Bugle (P. centranthifolius)
  • Azure (P. azureus)
  • P. heterophyllus `Blue Bedder'
• California Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica)
  Height: 3-6 , Breadth:
  Bloom: tiny dark red
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: nectar: bees **** ; larval food for Checkerspot Butterfly
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  Note: makes herbaceous hedge
• Dune Goldenrod (Solidago spathulata)
  Height: 1-2 feet , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow in August-October
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Dune Tansy (Tanacetum douglasii)
  Height: 1-2 feet , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow in July-October
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Verbena lilacena
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Mule's Ear (Wyethia species)
  Height: 1 , Breadth:
  Bloom: 3-inch flowers
  Fruit/Seeds: edible seeds
  Animals supported:
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
• Spanish Bayonet (Yucca baccata)
• Our Lord's Candle (Yucca whipplei)
• California Fuchsia, Hummingbird's Flower/Trumpet, Fireweed (Zauschneria, Epilobium)
  Height: 1-3 , Breadth: spreading
  Bloom: fuchsia, August-October
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: ground squirrels, rabbits, hummingbirds
  Location:
  Water:
  Habitat Communities:
  Native of:
  Propagation:
  • Zauschneria californica = Epilobium canum
  • Zauschneria californica `Brilliant Smith'
  • Epilobium `Kristin Jakob'

Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, Rhizomes, ...

• Allium
  • Pink Meadow Allium (A. unifolium)
  • Crinkled Allium (A. crispum)
• Golden Stars (Bloomeria crocea)
• Brodiaea/Triteleia/Dichelostemma
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Seeds mature in: 3 years
  • California Brodiaea (B. californica)
    Height: 8-29 inches
    Bloom: lilac, May-July
  • Harvest Brodiaea (B. coronaria)
    Height: 2-9 inches
    Bloom: blue, May-June
  • Elegant Brodiaea, Harvest Brodiaea (B. elegans)
    Height: 6-18 inches
    Bloom: blue, April-July
  • Pretty Face, Golden Brodiaea (B. lutea/ixioides)
    Height: 8-31 inches
    Bloom: yellow, May-August
  • Long Rayed Brodiaea (B. peduncularia)
    Height: 4-31 inches
    Bloom: white/violet, May-July
  • Blue Dicks (B. pulchella/capitata)
    Height: 12-24 inches
    Bloom: violet, March-May
• Mariposa Lily/Tulip, Globe Lily, Star Tulip (Calochortus)
  Seeds mature in: 3-5 years
  • Gold Nugget Mariposa Lily, Yellow Mariposa Lily/Tulip (C. lutens)
  • Mariposa Lily, Sego Lily (C. nuttallii)
  • Lilac Mariposa Lily/Tulip, Star Tulip (C. splendens)
  • Pussy Ears, Cat's Ears (C. tolmiei)
  • Pink Star Tulip (C. uniflorus)
  • Beautiful Calochortus (C. venustus)
  • Goddess Mariposa (C. vestae)
• Amole, Soap Lily (Chlorogalum pomeridianum)
• Stream Orchid (Epipactis gigantea)
• Fawn Lily (Erythronium californicum)
• Fritillary (Fritillaria)
  • Misson Bells, Checker Lily (F. lanceolata)
  • Adobe Lily (F. plurifora)
  • White Fritillary (F. liliacea)
• Pacific Coast Irises
  Note: the irises in this group freely hybridize in the wild. Thus, at various native plant sales, you will see specimens classified only as "Pacific Coast Hybrid" (PCH)
  Personal observation: I would treat the classifications with a bit of skepticism, treating them more like "bulges" on a continuum rather than truly distinct species.
  • Coast Iris, Long-petaled Iris (I. longipetala) - classified by some to be the same as Western Blue Flag Iris or Rocky Mountain Iris (I. missouriensis)
    Aside: It is called I. missouriensis when found in the interior mountains (Sierras, Rocky Mts, ...) (Yellow Pine or Red Fir Forests; at elevations of above 3000 feet), and I. longipetala when found at lower elevations near the coast, hence the common names.
  • Slender-tubed Iris (I. fernaldii)
  • Douglas Iris (I. douglasiana)
• Lily (Lilium)
  • Humboldt Lily (L. humboldtii)
  • Leopard Lily (L. pardalinum)
  • Cascade Lily, Washington Lily (L. washington)
• Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
• Wake Robin (Trillium ovatum)

Annuals / Wildflowers

• White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
  Height: 2 , Breadth:
  Bloom: 3-inch flowers
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Alyssum
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Centauria
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
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• Cheiranthus
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Chrysanthenum
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Dwarf Farewell-to-Spring (Clarkia amoena)
  Height: 1-3 , Breadth: freely branching
  Bloom: pink-lavendar, April-July
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: ground squirrels, mice
• Tall Farewell-to-Spring (Clarkia amoena ...)
• Red Ribbons (Clarkia concinna)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Monterey Clarkia (Clarkia ****)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Mountain Garland (Clarkia unguiculata)
  Height: 1-4 , Breadth:
  Bloom: pink, red, purple, 1-inch flowers, May-June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)
  Height: 2 , Breadth:
  Bloom: white, rose, or purple
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Coreopsis
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Rocket Larkspur (Delphinium ajacis) (non-native, but included in various "California Wildflower" mixes)
  Height: 1-2 , Breadth:
  Bloom: blue-violet
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Tansy Mustard (Descurainia pinnata)
• Turkey Mullein/Dove Weed (Eremocarpus setigerus)
• California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
  Height: 1-2 , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow to dark gold
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: Nectar: bees; seeds: doves, sparrows, meadowlarks, ...
  Note: Actually a perennial. With some summer water will bloom repeatedly and come back the next year. Root goes very deep searching for water (personal experience: over 4 feet long), so best to plant in fall to give roots chance to develop. After setting seed, the stalks may die back to the ground or near the ground, but new growth appears if/when there is adequate water (ground water or provided).
  Suggestion: Plant large group of California Poppies, not just for color, but for wildlife. On a still day, the bees will cause the flowers to bob as if there was a gentle wind. The bees force their way into just-opening flowers, and lay on their sides and madly spin around to collect as much pollen as they can.
  After the seed pods open, doves and sparrows will seem to be permanent diners, not just occasional visitors.
• Globe Gila (Gilia capitata)
  Height: 8-30 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: violet-blue clusters, May-July
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: quail, ground squirrels
• Birds' Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Pink Everlasting (Gnaphalium ramosissimum)
  Height: 1-3 feet , Breadth:
  Bloom: pink in March-October
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Gypsophilia
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
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• Goldfields (Lasthenia/Baeria californica/chrysostoma/maritima/glabrata)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: nectar: Checkerspot Butterfly (endangered); seeds: "attacts goldfinches" ****
• Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow with white tips, March-June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: nectar: Checkerspot Butterfly; "excellent wildlife attractor"****
• Baby Snapdragon, Toadflax (Linaria maroccana)
  Height: 4-30+ , Breadth:
  Bloom: violet-purple, March-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: larval food for Buckeye Butterfly; ground squirrels, mice
• Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)
  Height: 2-3 , Breadth:
  Bloom: blue
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Golden Lupine (Lupinus ****)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor)
  Height: 4-16 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: Blue and white, March-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus)
  Height: 8-24 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: blue, April-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: Painted Lady Butterfly
• Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: larval food plant for various butterflies
• Blazing Star (Mentzelia lindleyi)
  Height: 4-24 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: golden yellow, April-June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: quail
• Fenestra monardella (Monardella douglasii)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Baby-blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
  Height: 10 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Nemophila
  Height: 1 , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Evening Primrose (Oenothera ****)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Butter and Eggs (Orthocarpus erianthus)
  Height: 3-14 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: yellow, March-May
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Owl's Clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens)
  Height: low growing , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: larval food plant for Buckeye Butterfly
• Papaver
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Chinchweed (Pectis papposa)
• California Bells/Bluebells (Phacelia minor/campanularia)
  Height: 6-24 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom: purple, March-June
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Bee Food (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
  Height: 1-4 , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: nectar: bees, butterflies
  Note: very effective attractor for bees, often recommended to interplant it with crops
• Rudbeckia
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Chia (Salvia columbariae)
  Height: 2 , Breadth:
  Bloom: blue
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Sweet William, Catchfly (Silene) (some non-natives in this family may be included in various "California Wildflower" mixes)
  Height: 2 , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Problem: snails love it. For residential landscaping, many gardening books recommend growing it in a hanging pot.
• Wind Poppy (Stylomecon heterophylla)
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom: tangerine
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
• Lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes)
• Mountain Phlox (Linanthus grandiflorus)
  Height: 4-20 inches , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported:
  Location: full sun, light sandy soil
• Calico Flower ()
  Height: , Breadth:
  Bloom:
  Fruit/Seeds:
  Animals supported: