PLANT PROFILES
Key:
💧- Water needs/WUCOLS classification
⛅☀️ - Sun exposure
❀ - Bloom time/season of interest
ꕤ - Attracts pollinators
Perennials
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow
Yarrow is a fragrant, spreading perennial that comes in a variety of colors. It is an excellent addition to any pollinator friendly landscape. Plant along borders or pathways in your garden. You can dead-head the flowers and pull off the dead leaves to encourage new growth and to keep neat.
Recommended varieties include:
Common Yarrow- white flowers
'Moonshine' - bright yellow flowers
'Terra Cotta'- yellow/orange flowers
'Paprika'- bright red flowers
California native
1-5' tall x 1-3' wide
💧Low water
⛅Full sun - partial shade
❀Spring - Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Agapanthus
Lily of the Nile
A very popular plant with a neat, bunched look. The foliage remains evergreen year round, and its many flowers bloom in the summer. The fragrant flowers make great cut flowers, growing in large clusters on long stalks.
2-3' tall x 3-4' wide
💧Moderate water
⛅Full sun - partial sun
❀Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Anemone x hybrida
Pink Japanese Wildflower
These wildflowers make a great addition to your late Summer and Fall landscape. They stay small, and have large numbers of pale pink, whimsical flowers that have a neat appearance. Grow these in your garden beds or along the edges of your garden. They are low maintenance, but require regular watering.
2-3' tall x 2-3' wide
💧Moderate water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Summer - Fall
ꕤ Attracts bees, butterflies
Deer/gopher resistant
Anigozanthos
Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paw is a fun and unique addition to your rock or low maintenance garden. It has unusual, velvety flowers that come in several vibrant colors such as yellows, red and pinks. There are some tall and some smaller, dwarf varieties of this plant. Cut the flowers back after they bloom to maintain a neat appearance.
Recommended varieties include:
Anigozanthos 'Bush Gold' -
2-3' tall x 1-2' wide
Anigozanthos 'Big Red' -
4-5' tall x 2-3' wide
Anigozanthos 'Bush Pearl' -
1-2' tall x 1-2' wide
A lovely dwarf pink variety!
1-6' tall x 1-3' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Spring - Summer - Fall
ꕤ Attracts bees, birds
Deer/gopher resistant
Callistemon citrinus
Bottlebrush Shrub
Bottlebrushes shrubs are the dwarf version of the larger Bottlebrush trees. They come in different sizes depending on your selection. They have distinct feathery flowers that grow in deep pinks and reds. These shrubs are evergreen and often bloom throughout the year. They make a fun addition to garden beds or along borders. Prune in the Summer.
5-12' tall x 5-12' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Year round
ꕤAttracts bees, birds
Deer/gopher resistant
Dicentra 'Luxurient'
Fernleaf Bleeding Heart
This pretty, low - growing perennial has lacey, fern like foliage and clusters of pink bleeding heart flowers. The flowers have a long bloom time. This plant makes a great addition to the edges of your garden or along pathways.
1-2' tall x 1-2' wide
💧Moderate water
⛅Full - partial sun - shade
❀Spring - Summer - Fall
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies
Deer/gopher resistant
Diplacus aurantiacus
Sticky Monkey Flower
Sticky Monkey Flower is a very drought-tolerant, spreading California native with long, evergreen stems and lots of flowers. Its leaves are slightly sticky to the touch, hence the common name. The flowers come in a range of warm colors including peach, yellow, orange and red. Hummingbirds and bees love this plant. Plant along the edges of your rock or low water garden.
California native
3-4' tall x 3-4' wide
💧Very low water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Spring - Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, birds
Deer/gopher resistant
Echium candicans
Pride of Madeira
This is an impressive shrub with large, cone shaped flowers. This is an evergreen plant that is a great choice for hillsides or slopes, and will grow quickly to fill space within your landscape. Flowers should be cut back after blooming to encourage new growth.
5-6' tall x 6-10' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Late Spring - Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Erigeron glaucus
Seaside Daisy
Seaside daisies are low-growing, perennials commonly found on the rocky coast of California. They grow in bunches with lots of pink or purple flowers and bright yellow centers. Plant these along the pathways in your garden or for a splash of color in your rock gardens.
California native
6"-1' tall x 1-2' wide
💧Low water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Spring - Summer
ꕤ Attracts bees, butterflies
Eriogonum karvinskianus
Santa Barbara Daisy
This small, mounding shrub has lots of white to pink flowers that grow as wildflowers in California. They are very drought tolerant and low maintenance. Great for use in borders, edging, or as a ground cover.
California native
1-2' tall x 2-5' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Year round
ꕤ Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Epilobium canum
(Zauschneria californica)
California Fuschia
With pale green leaves and red, tubular flowers, this native shrub is a great addition to any low-water, hummingbird friendly or rock garden. You should cut this plant all the way back in the fall to maintain a neat appearance.
California native
1-2' tall x 2-4' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Summer - Fall
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Freesias
Freesias
Typically grown as cut flowers, these have wonderful, brightly colored, and long lasting blooms. They are well known for their strong, sweet fragrance and multi-colored flowers. Plant several different colors of these in clusters and enjoy them in your landscape as well as cut flowers inside.
1-2' tall x spreading
💧Very low
☀️Full sun
❀Year round
ꕤAttracts bees, birds
Deer/gopher resistant
Germanium spp.
Cranesbill
Easy to grow with many flowers, hardy geraniums are a great choice for a variety of your garden needs. Some are excellent groundcovers, while others do well as a border or edge plant. They have different colored flowers and sun and water preferences dependent on variety.
Recommended varieties include:
Geranium 'Johnson's Blue' -
1-2' tall x 2-3' wide
An outstanding variety! Recommended for use as a groundcover or border plant.
Geranium 'Rozanne' -
1-2' tall x 2-3' wide
An outstanding variety with a long bloom time. Recommended as a border plant.
Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis' -
1-2' tall x 2-3' wide
An excellent variety for partial shade, use this plant along edges or as a groundcover.
4"-4' tall x 10"-5'wide
size dependent on variety
💧Low - Moderate water
⛅Full sun - partial sun
❀Bloom dependent on variety
ꕤAttracts butterflies
Deer/gopher resistant
Helleborus
Helleborus
Helleborus is a great choice for ensuring color and interest in your landscape year round. Starting in the late Winter or early Spring, it will come up before most of your other plants will. It stays low to the ground, and has blushed pink, purple, and white flowers with dark evergreen foliage. Plant this perennial under trees or on the shady edges of your garden.
Recommended varieties include:
Helleborus 'Ivory Prince' -
Cream colored flowers with a deep purple accent.
Helleborus 'Tropical Sunset' -
Yellow, creamy flowers with streaks of dark purple.
Note: This plant is poisonous - use with caution around domestic animals.
1-2' tall x 1-2'wide
💧Low-moderate water
⛅Full - partial shade
❀Late Winter - Spring
Deer/gopher resistant
Hosta Fortunei
Hosta
Hostas are recognized for their large, heart shaped leaves that add color and texture to the shady areas of your garden. They have long stalks with clusters of flowers that come up in Spring and Summer. This shrub is low maintenance and hardy, but you should cut the stalks back after they bloom.
1-2' tall x 1-2'wide
💧Moderate water
⛅Full - partial sun - shade
❀Spring - Summer - Fall
Iris douglasiana
Pacific Coast Iris
These Irises are a wonderful addition to any lush garden or meadow. They spread through rhizomes, and will come up year after year. You can separate clumps of them to plant in other sections of your garden if desired. Plant along your pathways for a bold splash of color. They are also appropriate for dry, shady areas of your landscape.
1-2' tall x 2-4' wide
💧Low water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Spring blooms
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies
Deer/gopher resistant
Lupinus albifrons
Bush Lupine
This fast growing, native perennial is a wonderful addition to meadows, and low maintenance rock gardens. It has light green, silvery leaves and showy clusters of many flowers in a variety of colors from purple to magenta. Be careful not to over water this plant, and it is very low maintenance.
3-4' tall x 4-5' wide
💧Very low water
☀️Full sun
❀Spring - Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Growing in the wild!
Penstemon heterophyllus X 'Margarita BOP'
Foothill Penstemon
Neat evergreen perennial with bright purple flowers. This shrub has delicate light green foliage and stays compact. It is a go to for your pollinator friendly gardens, and is especially loved by hummingbirds.
California native
1-2' tall x 1-2' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Year round
ꕤ Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Polygala fruticosa
Sweet Pea Shrub
This small, mounding shrub has
lots of pink pea-like flowers that have a long bloom time, sometimes blooming nearly year round in temperate areas. This plant is evergreen and the flowers can be used as cut flowers. It should be watered regularly and it
looks great along borders or under windowsills.
3-4' tall x 3-4' wide
💧Moderate water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Spring - Summer
ꕤ Attracts bees, birds
Romneya coulteri
Matilija Poppy
Matilija Poppy's impressive blooms are eye catching and love to be planted next to other tall shrubs for competition. They can take over in small gardens and should be given lots of space to grow. They are recommended for borders and along edges.
California native
6-8' tall x 6-8' wide
💧Very low water
☀️Full sun
❀Early Spring - Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Growing tall in the garden!
Salvia spathacea
Hummingbird Sage
This sweet smelling, showy sage is an absolute favorite for hummingbirds. It is a spreading plant, and can be used to fill in any gaps in your garden. This plant should be dead-headed after blooming to encourage new growth.
California native
1-3' tall x 3-5' wide
⛅Full sun - partial sun
❀Spring - Summer - Fall ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Hummingbird Sage growing in a pot- ready to be planted!
Hummingbird Sage growing in a pot- ready to be planted!
Salvia sylvestris
'Blue Night' or 'May Night' Sage
This showy, herbaceous Sage has glorious deep purple flowers that bloom from early Spring into the Summer. This plant makes a great addition to any pollinator friendly garden, or on the edges or borders of your landscape.
1-3' tall x 1-2' wide
☀️Full sun
❀Spring - Summer
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Lavender Cotton Santolina
This cute, low growing, evergreen perennial makes a great addition to your rock garden. It is known for its long, silvery foliage that looks good year round. It has little yellow button flowers that bloom in the Summer that can be used as potpourri when dried. You should prune this plant back yearly, in the Spring before it blooms.
1-2' tall x 2-3' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Spring - Summer - Fall
Deer/gopher resistant
Scabiosa
Pincushion Flower
Pincushion flowers come in a variety of different colors and grow in a mounding pattern. Combine several different colors for an eye-catching look. They also make great cut flowers and will dry nicely. You should deadhead the flowers to extend their growing season. They are a great addition to pathways and borders.
1-2' tall x 1-2' wide
💧Moderate water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Spring - Fall
ꕤAttracts bees, butterflies
Deer/gopher resistant
Sisyrinchium bellum
Blue Eyed Grass
This small perennial shrub has many small purple/blue flowers that grow on long, thin stalks. It looks great along pathways or you can use it to replace your lawn alongside native grasses for a lovely meadow look.
California native
3"-2' tall x 4"-2' wide
💧Very low water
⛅Full - partial sun
❀Spring - Winter
Stachys byzantina
Lamb's Ears
Lamb's ear is a wonderful, evergreen perennial that has very soft, green, silvery leaves. This plant adds great texture and interest to any garden. It stays low to the ground and can be used for borders or along pathways. It is very easy to grow and requires little to no maintenance.
1-3' tall x 18"-24"wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Year round
ꕤAttracts bees, birds
Deer/gopher resistant
Tulbaghia violacea
Society Garlic
This is a small, bunched perennial with a strong garlicky scent. This plant's structure resembles a grass with long, thin stalks and clusters of light purple flowers on top. Use this plant in landscape borders, edging, or as part of your edible garden.
1-2' tall x 1-2' wide
💧Low water
☀️Full sun
❀Summer - Fall
ꕤ Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer/gopher resistant