California Native & Relatives

Perennial Herb: Deciduous. CA native. Deer resistant. Drought, clay & heat tolerant. Sends up many thin, erect stems while bearing distinctive long pointed lvs which are narrow, often whorled about the stem. Produces clusters of 2" lav. or lav.-tinted wht flowers summer-fall. Important host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars & nectar source for other butterflies as well. 3' x 3'. Exp: sun/pt shade. Water: mod./dry. USDA Z6.

Perennial Herb: Deciduous. CA native. Deer resistant. Drought, clay & heat tolerant. Sends up many thin, erect stems while bearing distinctive long pointed lvs which are narrow, often whorled about the stem. Produces clusters of 2" lav. or lav.-tinted wht flowers summer-fall. Important host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars & nectar source for other butterflies as well. 3' x 3'. Exp: sun/pt shade. Water: mod./dry. USDA Z6.

Grass: Given to us by John Greenlee & part of the Greenlee Meadow Collection. Deer & drought tolerant. CA native. Long-lived & tufted w/fine-textured gry-grn lvs. Showy blms in late spring w/long prplsh blue eyelashes held horizontally above the lvs. Cool-season interest, as the long lasting seed heads remain through winter. Tolerant of many soil types, perfect for low maint. landscapes. Blms: summer-fall. Size: 1' x 1' or less. Sun. Z4.

Grass: Given to us by John Greenlee & part of the Greenlee Meadow Collection. Deer & drought tolerant. CA native. Long-lived & tufted w/fine-textured gry-grn lvs. Showy blms in late spring w/long prplsh blue eyelashes held horizontally above the lvs. Cool-season interest, as the long lasting seed heads remain through winter. Tolerant of many soil types, perfect for low maint. landscapes. Blms: summer-fall. Size: 1' x 1' or less. Sun. Z4.

Grass: Given to us by John Greenlee & part of the Greenlee Meadow Collection. Deer & drought tolerant. CA native. Long-lived & tufted w/fine-textured gry-grn lvs. Showy blms in late spring w/long prplsh blue eyelashes held horizontally above the lvs. Cool-season interest, as the long lasting seed heads remain through winter. Tolerant of many soil types, perfect for low maint. landscapes. Blms: summer-fall. Size: 1' x 1' or less. Sun. Z4.

Grass: Deer resistant & drought tolerant. CA native. Long-lived & tufted w/fine-textured gry-grn lvs. Showy flowers in late spring that look like long purplish blue eyelashes held horizontally above the lvs, creates quite the show. Cool-season interest, as the long lasting seed heads remain through winter. Tolerant of many soil types, perfect for low maint. landscapes. Blm time: summer-fall. Size: 1 ft or less x 1 ft or less. Sun. USDA Z4.

Grass: Deer resistant & drought tolerant. CA native. Long-lived & tufted w/fine-textured gry-grn lvs. Profusion of big, showy chartreuse blms, held horizontally above the lvs creates quite the show. Provides cool-season interest, as the long lasting blonde seed heads remain through winter. Tolerant of many soil types, perfect for low maint. landscps. Blm. time: summer-fall. Size: 30-36" x 30-36". Sun. USDA Z4. USPP#22048

Perennial Grass: Drought tolerant. Deer resistant. California coast native-so it tolerates coastal conditions. Clumping, mounding growth habit-good in borders. Height 18-24". Foliage: blue-green. Plumes: tan feathery panicles 3-6" long that arch over the foliage. Good cut flower. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate to occasional. USDA Z7.

Perennial Grass: Drought tolerant. Deer resistant. California coast native-so it tolerates coastal conditions. Clumping, mounding growth habit-good in borders. Height 18-24". Foliage: blue-green. Plumes: tan feathery panicles 3-6" long that arch over the foliage. Good cut flower. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate to occasional. USDA Z7.

Perennial Grass: Drought tolerant. Deer resistant. California coast native-so it tolerates coastal conditions. Clumping, mounding growth habit-good in borders. Height 18-24". Foliage: blue-green. Plumes: tan feathery panicles 3-6" long that arch over the foliage. Good cut flower. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate to occasional. USDA Z7.

Perennial Grass: Evergreen. Deer resistant. California native. This large, handsome selection was found in the King Mountain Range in Humboldt County. Has unusually broad blades. Good background or accent for woodland or partly shaded meadow. Very attractive seed heads spring-summer. Ht: 3'. Flowers: 5'. Width: 3'. Prefers moist, rich soil in full sun. Can take heavy soils & heat if plenty of moisture is present. USDA Z4.

Perennial Grass: Evergreen. Deer resistant. California native. This large, handsome selection was found in the King Mountain Range in Humboldt County. Has unusually broad blades. Good background or accent for woodland or partly shaded meadow. Very attractive seed heads spring-summer. Ht: 3'. Flowers: 5'. Width: 3'. Prefers moist, rich soil in full sun. Can take heavy soils & heat if plenty of moisture is present. USDA Z4.

Perennial Grass: Evergreen. Tolerates drought & deer. California native. Was found by Josh Williams at Cal Flora Nursery. Clumping, mounding growth habit w/plumes that gently arch over the foliage. Good border, meadow, pot & cut flower plant. Blooms: spring-summer. Plume color: wheat. Foliage color: mid green. Ht: 1-2 ft. Width: 1-2 ft. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: dry. USDA Z7 or lower. (parentage C. foliosa x C. nutkaensis 'The King')

Perennial: Drought tolerant. California Native. Woodland, rock garden, coastal garden, container and border plant. Produces bell shaped, upright to nodding flowers that are held on erect stems. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Bloom time: summer-fall. Bloom color: deep blue. Clump forming. Height: 6-18 inches. Spread: 12-15 inches. Exposure: sun to light shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z3.

Perennial: Drought tolerant. California Native. Woodland, rock garden, coastal garden, container and border plant. Produces bell shaped, upright to nodding flowers that are held on erect stems. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Bloom time: summer-fall. Bloom color: deep blue. Clump forming. Height: 6-18 inches. Spread: 12-15 inches. Exposure: sun to light shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z3.

Perennial: Drought tolerant. California Native. Woodland, rock garden, coastal garden, container and border plant. Produces bell shaped, upright to nodding flowers that are held on erect stems. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Bloom time: summer-fall. Bloom color: deep blue. Clump forming. Height: 6-18 inches. Spread: 12-15 inches. Exposure: sun to light shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z3.

Grass-like Perennial: CA coastal native. Tolerates foot traffic, deer, coast, sun, bog, clay & sand. Tuft forming habit spreads slowly by rhizomes. Good lawn, meadow, rock garden, patio and ground cover plant. Attracts butterflies. Height: 6-8". Flowers to 12". Space 12" apart for meadow/lawn. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate. USDA Z8.

Grass-like Perennial: CA coastal native. Tolerates foot traffic, deer, coast, sun, bog, clay & sand. Tuft forming habit spreads slowly by rhizomes. Good lawn, meadow, rock garden, patio and ground cover plant. Attracts butterflies. Height: 6-8". Flowers to 12". Space 12" apart for meadow/lawn. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate. USDA Z8.

Grass-like Perennial: Evergreen. Deer resistant. California native (central and north coast). A large, handsome light green sedge with narrow leaves. Spreads freely by rhizomes. Tolerates moderate foot traffic. Striking as an accent or background plant. Good lawn, meadow, and rock garden plant. Blooms: spring-fall. Bloom color: green to brown. Height: 2-4 feet. Width: 4 feet. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate. USDA Z5.

Grass-like Perennial: Evergreen. Deer resistant. California native (selected for its compact growth & slower spreading habit). A short, rich dark green sedge with narrow leaves. It is finer textured, darker & shorter than most. Slowly spreads by rhizomes to form a ground cover. Tolerates moderate foot traffic. Good lawn, meadow, & rock garden plant. Blooms: spring. Color: brown. Ht: 6-8 in. Width: 12-24 in. Sun/part shade. Water: moderate. USDA Z5.

Grass-like Perennial: Evergreen. Deer resistant. California native (selected for its compact growth & slower spreading habit). A short, rich dark green sedge with narrow leaves. It is finer textured, darker & shorter than most. Slowly spreads by rhizomes to form a ground cover. Tolerates moderate foot traffic. Good lawn, meadow, & rock garden plant. Blooms: spring. Color: brown. Ht: 6-8 in. Width: 12-24 in. Sun/part shade. Water: moderate. USDA Z5.

Grass-like Perennial: CA, OR, WA native. Evergreen. Tolerates deer, drought, heavy shade, & wet soil. Tufted growth habit. Native to open woods, meadows, & coastal prairies. Good ground cover, under shrubs, trees, meadow plantings, & soil stabilization. Spreads by underground rhizomes. Has insignificant brown flowers in spring. Ht: 1-2 ft. Width: 2-3 ft. Exposure: part shade/shade. Water: moderate, can tolerate periods of dryness. USDA Z8-10.

Shrub: Evergreen. California native. Deer, drought, coast, gopher & fire tolerant. Dark green holly-like leaves are leathery and toothed making it less palatable to deer than most. Clusters of lavender-blue flowers appear in spring. Dense, low-spreading ground cover with slightly arching branches. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Approximate size: 1-2' x 6-8'. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z8

Shrub: Evergreen. California native. Deer, drought, coast, gopher & fire tolerant. Dark green holly-like leaves are leathery and toothed making it less palatable to deer than most. Clusters of lavender-blue flowers appear in spring. Dense, low-spreading ground cover with slightly arching branches. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds. Approximate size: 1-2' x 6-8'. Exposure: sun/part shade. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z8

Shrub: Deer, drought, gopher, coast, lime and fire tolerant. California native. Good ground cover and rock garden plant. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Has evergreen glossy foliage with clusters of flowers in spring-summer. Bloom color: medium blue. Size: 3-5' x 8-10'. Exposure: sun. Water: moderate/dry. USDA Z8.