Native Plant List – California and Nevada
Last updated: October 7, 2026
This is a "starter" list of native plants for California and Nevada. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes. The region runs from coastal bluffs, chaparral and oak woodland through the Sierra Nevada to the Great Basin and the Mojave and Colorado deserts, so check each plant’s profile for where it is native and choose plants suited to your own climate, elevation and soil.
See Also:
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California Native Flowering Shrubs for Your Garden
Drought Tolerant Native Plants Nevada for Sustainable Landscaping and Water Conservation
Plants in the Mojave Desert: A Guide to the Region’s Flora
California and Nevada Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Silver Fir | Abies amabilis | F-S | A | 100-150 ft | Rare in CA (CRPR 2B.3); needs cool, humid sites. |
| White Fir | Abies concolor | P | A | 70 ft+ | Blue-gray conifer; tolerates part shade; good mountain tree |
| Grand Fir | Abies grandis | F-P | D-A | 100–200 ft | Tree native to CA |
| California Red Fir | Abies magnifica | F-P | A | 100-150 ft | High-elevation Sierra/Cascade conifer; cylindrical cones on tree |
| Noble Fir | Abies procera | F | A-W | 150-230 feet | Tree native to CA |
| Vine maple | Acer circinatum | P-S | A | 10-20 ft | NW CA understory, good fall color |
| Big Tooth Maple | Acer grandidentatum | F | D-A | 30 ft | Reliable fall color; drought tolerant once established. |
| Big Leaf Maple | Acer macrophyllum | F-P | A | 30-100 ft | Large shade tree with huge leaves, good fall color. |
| Box Elder | Acer negundo | F | A-D | 30-75 ft | Fast-growing streamside maple; good shade tree for moist sites |
| California Buckeye | Aesculus californica | F-P | D | 10-25 ft | Drought-deciduous; all parts toxic if eaten; CA endemic |
| Thinleaf Alder | Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia | F-P | W-A | ~30 ft | Streamside tree; forms thickets on moist sites, not for dry gardens |
| White alder | Alnus rhombifolia | F-P | W-A | 30-80 ft | Streamside tree, Sierra/foothills |
| Red Alder | Alnus rubra | F | W | 40-100 ft | Fast-growing coastal riparian tree, nitrogen-fixer. |
| Pacific Madrone | Arbutus menziesii | F | A | 40–80 ft | Tree native to CA |
| Bigberry manzanita | Arctostaphylos glauca | F | D | 10-20 ft | Chaparral tree-form manzanita |
| Common manzanita | Arctostaphylos manzanita | F | D | 8-20 ft | Sierra foothill tree-form manzanita |
| Water Birch | Betula occidentalis | F | W | 5-20 ft | Riparian tree/shrub; needs consistently moist streamside soil |
| Incense Cedar | Calocedrus decurrens | F-P | A-D | 80-150 ft | Slow-growing fragrant conifer; fibrous bark, tolerates rocky soils |
| Crucifixion Thorn | Canotia holacantha | F | D | 10-20 ft | Leafless spine-tipped green stems; very slow growing |
| Netleaf Hackberry | Celtis reticulata | F | D | 10-30 ft | Drought-tough small tree; good for dry washes and slopes |
| Western Redbud | Cercis occidentalis | F-P | D | 10-20 ft | Spectacular bare-branch spring bloom; needs sharp drainage |
| Birchleaf mountain mahogany | Cercocarpus betuloides | F | D | 10-20 ft | Evergreen chaparral tree/shrub |
| Port Orford Cedar | Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | F-P | A-W | 40-80 ft cultivated; 100-200 ft old-growth | Streamside conifer; highly susceptible to Phytophthora root rot |
| Alaska Cedar | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis | F-P | W | 25–100 ft | Tree native to CA |
| Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | F | D | 20 ft | Orchid-like blooms, great pollinator tree for desert washes. |
| Giant chinquapin | Chrysolepis chrysophylla | F-P | A | 20-60 ft | NW CA evergreen forest tree |
| Pacific Dogwood | Cornus nuttallii | F-P | A | 30-50 ft | |
| River Hawthorn | Crataegus rivularis | F-P | A-W | 10-25 ft | Thicket-forming streamside hawthorn; dark fruit, intermontane West |
| Modoc cypress | Cupressus bakeri | F | D | 20-50 ft | NE CA dry-site conifer |
| Gowen Cypress | Cupressus goveniana | F | A-D | 3-30 ft (shrub in pygmy forest, tree on better soil) | Federally threatened; Monterey Peninsula endemic; nursery stock only |
| MacNab cypress | Cupressus macnabiana | F | D | 10-30 ft | N CA chaparral/serpentine cypress |
| Monterey Cypress | Cupressus macrocarpa | F | A-D | 40-70 ft | Native to just 2 Monterey Peninsula groves; widely planted elsewhere |
| Piute Cypress | Cupressus nevadensis | F | D | 30-50 ft | CA endemic drought-tolerant cypress. |
| Sargent cypress | Cupressus sargentii | F | D | 20-60 ft | N CA serpentine chaparral cypress |
| Singleleaf Ash | Fraxinus anomalus | F | A | 10-20 ft | Small desert ash; useful screening tree for dry sites |
| California Ash | Fraxinus dipetala | F-P | A-D | 10-20 ft | Fragrant 2-petaled spring flowers; very drought tolerant |
| Oregon Ash | Fraxinus latifolia | F | W | 65-80 feet | Tree native to CA |
| Fantex Ash | Fraxinus velutina | F | A | 40 ft | Desert-wash shade tree; tolerates heat and some salinity |
| Southern California black walnut | Juglans californica | F | D | 15-30 ft | SoCal foothill woodland walnut |
| Northern California black walnut | Juglans hindsii | F | A-D | 30-60 ft | Central Valley riparian walnut |
| Arizona walnut | Juglans major | F | A | 20-40 ft | Desert canyon riparian walnut, SE CA |
| California juniper | Juniperus californica | F | D | 10-25 ft | Foothill/desert woodland juniper |
| Western Juniper | Juniperus occidentalis | F | D | 20-30 ft | Ancient, extremely slow-growing high-desert conifer |
| Utah Juniper | Juniperus osteosperma | F | D | 30 ft | Tree native to CA/NV |
| Catalina ironwood | Lyonothamnus floribundus | F-P | A-D | 15-40 ft | Channel Islands, fern-like foliage |
| Oregon Crab Apple | Malus fusca | P | A-W | 15–35 ft | Tree native to CA |
| California wax myrtle | Morella californica | F-P | A | 10-30 ft | Coastal multi-stem evergreen tree/shrub |
| Tan Oak | Notholithocarpus densiflorus | P-S | A | 20–100 ft | Evergreen fog-belt tree; watch for sudden oak death |
| Desert Ironwood | Olneya tesota | F | D | 15-30 ft | Protect from extended frost. Slow grower. |
| Blue palo verde | Parkinsonia florida | F | D | 15-30 ft | Colorado desert wash tree |
| Foothill Palo Verde | Parkinsonia microphylla | F | D | 15-25 ft | Slow, long-lived desert tree; saguaro nurse plant |
| Brewer spruce | Picea breweriana | P | A | 30-70 ft | Klamath Mtns weeping conifer |
| Engelmann Spruce | Picea engelmannii | F-P | A | 80-130 ft | High-elevation conifer; cold-hardy; needs moist, well-drained soil |
| Sitka Spruce | Picea sitchensis | F-P | A | 150-225 ft | Massive coastal conifer; needs cool, moist Pacific-fog conditions |
| Whitebark Pine | Pinus albicaulis | F | D-A | 20-60 ft | High-elevation pine; needs sharp drainage, snowmelt. |
| Knobcone Pine | Pinus attenuata | F | D | 20-80 ft | Fire-adapted serotinous pine; poor rocky/serpentine soils only |
| Foxtail Pine | Pinus balfouriana | F | D | 20-50 ft | CA endemic, subalpine; extremely slow-growing |
| Beach Pine | Pinus contorta | F | D | 20–30 ft | Tree native to CA/NV |
| Coulter Pine | Pinus coulteri | F | D | 40-80 ft | CA endemic pine with massive heavy cones. |
| Colorado Pinyon | Pinus edulis | F | D | 20 ft | Verify sci. name: page says singleleaf but P. edulis is two-needle. |
| Limber Pine | Pinus flexilis | F | A | 20 ft | |
| Jeffrey Pine | Pinus jeffreyi | F | D | 80–130 ft | Dry montane pine; vanilla-scented bark; tolerates serpentine soils |
| Sugar Pine | Pinus lambertiana | F-P | A-D | 130-200 ft | World's tallest pine; longest conifer cones; use rust-resistant stock |
| Great Basin Bristlecone Pine | Pinus longaeva | F | D | 15-30 ft | Longest-lived tree on Earth; extremely slow growing, high alpine rock |
| Pinyon Pine | Pinus monophylla | F | D | 10-25 ft | NV state tree; classic Great Basin/e. CA pinyon-juniper native. |
| Western White Pine | Pinus monticola | F-P | A | 150+ ft | Tree native to CA/NV |
| Bishop Pine | Pinus muricata | F | A | 40–80 ft | Closed-cone CA coastal pine; serotinous cones; fog-belt tree |
| Ponderosa Pine | Pinus ponderosa | F | D | 60-100+ ft | Tree native to CA/NV |
| Four-leaf pinyon | Pinus quadrifolia | F | D | 15-30 ft | Desert mountain pinyon pine |
| Monterey Pine | Pinus radiata | F | A | 50-100 ft | Native to 3 CA coastal stands only; pitch canker threat |
| Gray Pine | Pinus sabiniana | F | A-D | 40–70 ft | Open-crowned CA foothill pine; huge spined cones; drought tolerant |
| Torrey Pine | Pinus torreyana | F | A-D | 30–60 ft | Extremely rare; San Diego/Santa Rosa Is. only; never collect wild |
| California Sycamore | Platanus racemosa | F | A | 40-80 ft | Large riparian shade tree, needs reliable moisture. |
| Arizona sycamore | Platanus wrightii | F | A-W | 30-60 ft | Desert canyon riparian sycamore, SoCal |
| Narrowleaf Cottonwood | Populus angustifolia | F | W | 40 ft | Riparian tree; needs streamside moisture; narrow leaves |
| Fremont Cottonwood | Populus fremontii | F | W | 55 ft | Tree native to CA/NV |
| Quaking Aspen | Populus tremuloides | F | A | 35-50 ft | Fast-growing; brilliant gold fall color; suckers to form groves |
| Black Cottonwood | Populus trichocarpa | F | W | 100-150+ ft | Massive riparian tree; balsam-scented buds, fast growth |
| Honey Mesquite | Prosopis glandulosa | F | D | 25 ft | Desert shade tree; sweet edible pods, deep taproot |
| Screwbean Mesquite | Prosopis pubescens | F | A-D | 15–30 ft | Desert wash tree; coiled screw-shaped pods; needs deep water access |
| Bitter Cherry | Prunus emarginata | F-P | A | 6-8 ft (shrub to small tree) | White spring blooms; bitter cherries feed wildlife |
| Desert apricot | Prunus fremontii | F | D | 8-20 ft | Colorado desert small tree, white spring bloom |
| Sierra plum | Prunus subcordata | F | A | 10-20 ft | Sierra foothill thicket plum |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | F-S | A | 30–50 ft | Tree native to CA/NV |
| Douglas Fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii | F-P | A | 70-250 ft | |
| Smoke tree | Psorothamnus spinosus | F | D | 10-20 ft | Colorado desert wash icon, smoke-gray |
| Coast Live Oak | Quercus agrifolia | F-P | A-D | 30-75 ft | Iconic CA evergreen oak; avoid summer water near trunk |
| Canyon Live Oak | Quercus chrysolepis | F-P | A-D | 3-10 ft shrub to 60-80 ft tree | Evergreen; golden-fuzzy acorns; tree in canyons, shrub on ridges |
| Blue oak | Quercus douglasii | F | D | 20-60 ft | Deciduous foothill oak woodland dominant |
| Engelmann oak | Quercus engelmannii | F | D | 20-50 ft | SoCal coastal foothill woodland oak |
| Oregon White Oak | Quercus garryana | F | D-A | 30-100 ft | Majestic deciduous oak; drought tolerant once established |
| California black oak | Quercus kelloggii | F-P | A-D | 30-80 ft | Sierra/oak woodland; good fall color |
| Valley oak | Quercus lobata | F | A-D | 40-80 ft | Central Valley/riparian icon; huge canopy |
| Island oak | Quercus tomentella | F-P | D | 20-40 ft | Channel Islands endemic, garden-worthy |
| Interior live oak | Quercus wislizeni | F-P | D | 30-75 ft | Evergreen foothill woodland oak |
| Cascara | Rhamnus purshiana | F-P | A | 30 ft | |
| Goodding's Willow | Salix gooddingii | F | W | 30–50 ft | Desert riparian tree, needs perennial water; not for dry xeriscape |
| Red willow | Salix laevigata | F | W-A | 20-40 ft | Central Valley riparian willow |
| Pacific Willow | Salix lasiandra | F | W | 20 ft | Riparian tree/large shrub, good streambank stabilizer. |
| Arroyo willow | Salix lasiolepis | F | W-A | 10-30 ft | Riparian thicket tree statewide |
| Scouler's willow | Salix scouleriana | F-P | A | 15-35 ft | Upland willow, Sierra/montane |
| Coast Redwood | Sequoia sempervirens | F-P | A-W | 200-350 ft | World's tallest tree; coastal fog belt only |
| Giant Sequoia | Sequoiadendron giganteum | F | A | 200 ft | Sierra Nevada giant; needs space; moderate water once established |
| Dwarf Mountain Ash | Sorbus scopulina | P | A | ~13 ft | Mountain shrub/small tree; white flowers, orange-red berries |
| Pacific Yew | Taxus brevifolia | P-S | A-W | 15-50 ft | Shade understory tree; all parts but red aril flesh are highly toxic |
| Western Redcedar | Thuja plicata | P | A-W | 100-175 ft | Majestic long-lived conifer; needs moist, shaded sites |
| California nutmeg | Torreya californica | P-S | A | 20-50 ft | Shade conifer, Sierra/N Coast Range |
| Western Hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla | F-P | A-D | 125-200 ft | |
| Mountain Hemlock | Tsuga mertensiana | P-S | W | 30-100 ft | High-elevation Sierra Nevada/Cascades native conifer. |
| California bay laurel | Umbellularia californica | F-P | A-D | 20-80 ft | Aromatic evergreen, coast/woodland |
| California Fan Palm (Desert Palm) | Washingtonia filifera | F | A-W | 40-60 ft | Desert oasis palm; needs reliable groundwater to reach full size |
California and Nevada Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catclaw Acacia | Acacia greggii | F | D | 20 ft | Thorny desert wash native, important wildlife cover. |
| Rocky Mountain Maple | Acer glabrum | F-P | A-W | 8–25 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| Iodine Bush | Allenrolfea occidentalis | F | W-D | 2-6 ft | Succulent halophyte for alkali sinks; needs saline, alkaline soil |
| Sitka Alder | Alnus sinuata | F | W | 6-16 ft | Large streamside shrub, Klamath/Siskiyou native. |
| White bursage | Ambrosia dumosa | F | D | 1-2 ft | Mojave desert, extreme drought tolerance |
| Cheesebush | Ambrosia salsola | F | D | 3-6 ft | Desert wash shrub |
| Western serviceberry | Amelanchier alnifolia | F-P | A | 6-15 ft | Sierra/NE CA, white spring flowers |
| Utah Serviceberry | Amelanchier utahensis | F | A-D | 6-15 ft | Spring-blooming shrub/small tree; edible berries; drought tough |
| Hairy Manzanita | Arctostaphylos columbiana | F-P | D | 10-15 ft | Narrow NW coastal CA native; very drought tolerant evergreen shrub |
| Eastwood manzanita | Arctostaphylos glandulosa | F | D | 3-8 ft | Common chaparral manzanita |
| Pinemat manzanita | Arctostaphylos nevadensis | F | D | 1-2 ft | Sierra groundcover manzanita |
| Greenleaf manzanita | Arctostaphylos patula | F | D | 3-6 ft | Sierra/Great Basin manzanita |
| Pointleaf manzanita | Arctostaphylos pungens | F | D | 4-10 ft | Chaparral/desert mountain manzanita |
| Kinnikinnik | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | F-P | D-A | 4-12 in (spreading) | Prostrate evergreen groundcover; glossy leaves, pink-white flowers |
| Whiteleaf manzanita | Arctostaphylos viscida | F | D | 4-12 ft | Sierra foothill chaparral manzanita |
| California sagebrush | Artemisia californica | F | D | 2-5 ft | Aromatic coastal sage scrub shrub |
| Silver Sagebrush | Artemisia cana | F | A-D | 3-5 ft | |
| Louisiana Sage | Artemisia ludoviciana | F | A-D | 2-3 ft | |
| Black sagebrush | Artemisia nova | F | D | 1-2 ft | Great Basin aromatic sagebrush |
| Big Sagebrush | Artemisia tridentata | F | A-D | 3-12 ft | Iconic Great Basin shrub; silvery foliage; fall bloomer |
| Four-Wing Saltbush | Atriplex canescens | F | D | 5 ft | |
| Shadscale | Atriplex confertifolia | F | A-D | 1-3 ft | Spiny gray shrub; extreme drought/salt tolerance, winter browse |
| Desert holly | Atriplex hymenelytra | F | D | 1-3 ft | Death Valley/Mojave, silvery foliage |
| Quail Brush | Atriplex lentiformis | F | D | 8 ft | |
| Allscale saltbush | Atriplex polycarpa | F | D | 3-6 ft | Desert alkaline flats saltbush |
| Coyote Bush | Baccharis pilularis | F | D | 1-10 ft | Tough evergreen coastal shrub, groundcover or upright forms. |
| Seepwillow | Baccharis salicifolia | F-P | W-A | 6-15 ft | Fast-growing riparian pioneer; stabilizes wash banks |
| Desert broom | Baccharis sarothroides | F | D-A | 4-10 ft | Desert wash/disturbed area broom shrub |
| Tall Oregon Grape | Berberis aquifolium | F-P | D-A | 3-6 ft | Evergreen holly-like leaves, yellow flowers, blue berries. |
| California Brickellbush | Brickellia californica | F-P | A-D | 2-5 ft | Late-blooming shrub for dry, rocky soil |
| Spicebush | Calycanthus occidentalis | F-P | W-A | 6-12 ft | Riparian, fragrant maroon flowers |
| Bush anemone | Carpenteria californica | F-P | D-A | 4–9 ft | CA endemic, state Threatened; nursery stock only, never wild-collect |
| Island Ceanothus | Ceanothus arboreus | F-P | D-A | 12-25 ft | Largest Ceanothus; huge blue blooms; Channel Islands endemic |
| Mountain whitethorn | Ceanothus cordulatus | F | D | 2-6 ft | Sierra montane chaparral mat shrub |
| Hoaryleaf ceanothus | Ceanothus crassifolius | F | D | 4-10 ft | Chaparral, white flower clusters |
| Buckbrush | Ceanothus cuneatus | F | D | 3-8 ft | Widespread chaparral buckbrush |
| Point Reyes ceanothus | Ceanothus gloriosus | F | D | 1-3 ft | Coastal prostrate groundcover ceanothus |
| Carmel ceanothus | Ceanothus griseus | F | D | 3-8 ft | Coastal groundcover-to-shrub ceanothus |
| Deerbrush | Ceanothus integerrimus | F-P | D | 4-12 ft | Sierra foothill chaparral deerbrush |
| Chaparral whitethorn | Ceanothus leucodermis | F | D | 6-12 ft | Spiny chaparral whitethorn |
| Bigpod ceanothus | Ceanothus megacarpus | F | D | 4-10 ft | Coastal chaparral dominant shrub |
| Pinemat | Ceanothus prostratus | F-P | D | 4-12 in | Mat-forming evergreen groundcover; sharp drainage, blue flowers |
| Greenbark ceanothus | Ceanothus spinosus | F | D | 8-20 ft | SoCal chaparral, spiny branches |
| Blueblossom | Ceanothus thyrsiflorus | F-P | D | 6-20 ft | Coastal ceanothus, blue spring flowers |
| Snowbrush Ceanothus | Ceanothus velutinus | F | A | 3-10 ft | Fragrant, nitrogen-fixing evergreen montane shrub. |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | F-P | W | 6-12 ft | |
| Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany | Cercocarpus intricatus | F | D | 3-10 ft | Slow-growing Great Basin evergreen shrub, very drought tolerant. |
| Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany | Cercocarpus ledifolius | F | D | 8-12 ft | Long-lived evergreen; silvery feathery seed plumes |
| Mountain Mahogany | Cercocarpus montanus | F-P | D | up to 16 ft | Tough slope shrub; spring blooms; browse for wildlife |
| Mountain Misery | Chamaebatia foliolosa | P-S | D | 8-18 in | CA endemic; fernlike sticky groundcover; dry shade under conifers |
| Fern Bush | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | F | A | 6-8 ft | Fern-like foliage; white summer blooms; good for dry banks |
| Green Rabbitbrush | Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus | F | D-A | 3 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| Bush rue | Cneoridium dumosum | F-P | D | 2-5 ft | Coastal sage scrub, citrus relative |
| Blackbrush | Coleogyne ramosissima | F | D | 1-6 ft | Very slow-growing desert shrub; rocky, well-drained soil only |
| Creek dogwood | Cornus sericea | F-P | W-A | 6-15 ft | Riparian statewide, red winter stems |
| Western Hazelnut | Corylus cornuta var. californica | P | A-D | 5-12 ft | |
| Black Hawthorn | Crataegus douglasii | F | W | 20-30 ft | Thorny thicket shrub, good wildlife fruit, n. CA native. |
| Ragged Rock Flower | Crossosoma bigelovii | F | D | 4 ft | Fragrant white blooms; grows from rock crevices, rare in trade |
| Indigo Bush | Dalea fremontii | F | D | 3 ft | |
| Island bush poppy | Dendromecon harfordii | F | D | 5-10 ft | Channel Islands endemic bush poppy |
| Bush poppy | Dendromecon rigida | F | D | 4-8 ft | Chaparral, bright yellow poppy flowers |
| Sticky Monkeyflower | Diplacus aurantiacus | F-P | D-A | 2-4 ft | Evergreen chaparral shrub; orange blooms spring-summer |
| Southern bush monkeyflower | Diplacus longiflorus | F-P | D | 2-4 ft | Chaparral, long tubular flowers |
| Red bush monkeyflower | Diplacus puniceus | F | D | 2-4 ft | Coastal/chaparral, red tubular flowers |
| California Encelia | Encelia californica | F | D | 2-5 ft | Daisy-like yellow blooms; no summer water needed. |
| Brittlebrush | Encelia farinosa | F | D | 3 ft | |
| Nevada jointfir | Ephedra nevadensis | F | D | 2-4 ft | Great Basin/Mojave jointfir, medicinal use |
| Joint Fir | Ephedra trifurca | F | D | 6 ft | Leafless jointed-stem desert shrub; yellow pollen cones |
| Mormon Tea | Ephedra viridis | F | D | 2-5 ft | Evergreen desert shrub; jointed green stems; drought tough |
| Turpentine Bush | Ericameria laricifolia | F | D | 2 ft | Aromatic evergreen subshrub, fall yellow bloom. |
| Rubber Rabbitbrush | Ericameria nauseosa | F | D-A | 2-7 ft | Golden fall bloom; tough roadside/desert shrub |
| Yerba santa | Eriodictyon californicum | F | D | 2-5 ft | Chaparral/foothill, medicinal yerba santa |
| Thick-leaf yerba santa | Eriodictyon crassifolium | F | D | 3-6 ft | Chaparral, woolly thick leaves |
| Santa Cruz Island buckwheat | Eriogonum arborescens | F | D | 3-5 ft | Island endemic, pollinator favorite |
| Flat-topped Buckwheat | Eriogonum fasciculatum v. poliofolium | F | D | 1.5 ft | Low desert buckwheat, excellent pollinator plant. |
| St. Catherine's lace | Eriogonum giganteum | F | D | 4-8 ft | Showy island buckwheat, pollinator magnet |
| Wright Buckwheat | Eriogonum wrightii | F | D | 1.5 ft | Long-blooming subshrub; white blooms age to rusty red |
| Apache plume | Fallugia paradoxa | F | D | 3-5 ft | Desert SE CA/NV, feathery seed heads |
| California Coffeeberry | Frangula californica | F-P | D-A | 3-12 ft | Evergreen; long fruiting season feeds birds; drought tolerant |
| Hollyleaf redberry | Frangula ilicifolia | F-P | D | 6-15 ft | Chaparral, holly-like evergreen leaves |
| Flannel Bush | Fremontodendron californicum | F | D | 6-20 ft | Bright yellow blooms; resents summer water. |
| Graceful Bedstraw | Galium porrigens | P-S | D | 1-3 ft trailing | Scrambling evergreen vine for dry shade; burs cling to fur |
| Coast silktassel | Garrya elliptica | F-P | D | 8-15 ft | Coastal evergreen, dioecious catkins |
| Ashy silktassel | Garrya flavescens | F | D | 4-8 ft | Chaparral/desert mountain silktassel |
| Salal | Gaultheria shallon | F-S | A | 1.5-10 ft | |
| Spiny hopsage | Grayia spinosa | F | D | 2-4 ft | Great Basin desert scrub shrub |
| Snakeweed | Gutierrezia sarothrae | F | D | 1.5 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| Toyon | Heteromeles arbutifolia | F-P | D | 6-15 ft | Evergreen CA native; red winter berries; very drought tolerant |
| Ocean Spray | Holodiscus discolor | P-S | A | 3-20 ft | |
| Desert Lavender | Hyptis emoryi | F | D | 4-8 ft | Fragrant purple flowers, excellent pollinator shrub. |
| Coast goldenbush | Isocoma menziesii | F | D | 2-4 ft | Coastal sage scrub, fall yellow bloom |
| Common Mountain Juniper | Juniperus communis | F | D-A | 3 ft | Low spreading evergreen juniper for rock gardens. |
| Chuparosa | Justicia californica | F | D | 3-5 ft | Drought-deciduous; top hummingbird plant for low desert |
| Yellow bush penstemon | Keckiella antirrhinoides | F | D | 3-6 ft | Chaparral, yellow snapdragon-like flowers |
| Heart-leaved penstemon | Keckiella cordifolia | F-P | D | 3-6 ft | Chaparral vine-like shrub, red flowers |
| White ratany | Krameria grayi | F | D | 2-4 ft | Desert, root-parasitic on nearby shrubs |
| Winterfat | Krascheninnikovia lanata | F | D | 1–3 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| Creosote bush | Larrea tridentata | F | D | 3-8 ft | Dominant Mojave/Colorado desert shrub |
| Malva rosa | Lavatera assurgentiflora | F | D-A | 6-12 ft | Island mallow, fast-growing |
| California Honeysuckle | Lonicera hispidula | P-S | A | 6-15 ft (vine) | Twining vine; pink summer flowers, red berries; needs support |
| Twinberry | Lonicera involucrata | F-P | A | 4-8 ft | Yellow flowers, dark berry pairs; moderate water, fast growing |
| Southern honeysuckle | Lonicera subspicata | F-P | D | vine-shrub 3-10 ft | Coastal scrub twining honeysuckle |
| Silver Lupine | Lupinus albifrons | F | D-A | 2-5 ft | Silvery foliage, purple spikes; good pollinator plant. |
| Desert Wolfberry | Lycium andersonii | F | D | 6 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| Cooper's box thorn | Lycium cooperi | F | D | 3-6 ft | Desert thicket shrub, tubular flowers |
| Creeping Oregon Grape | Mahonia repens | P-S | D-A | 1 ft | Evergreen groundcover; yellow spring flowers, blue-purple berries |
| Chaparral Mallow | Malacothamnus fasciculatus | F | D-A | 5-10 ft | Fast-growing CA chaparral shrub with pink flowers. |
| Laurel sumac | Malosma laurina | F | D | 8-15 ft | Coastal sage scrub/chaparral dominant |
| Indian Plum | Oemleria cerasiformis | F-P | A | 16 ft | Early-blooming shrub; edible plum-like fruit; part shade tolerant |
| Bladderpod | Peritoma arborea | F | D | 3-6 ft | Coastal/desert scrub, yellow flowers |
| Mockorange, Syringa | Philadelphus lewisii | F-P | A-D | 4-10 ft | |
| Littleleaf Mockorange | Philadelphus microphyllus | F | D | 3-6 ft | Fragrant white flowers late spring; tough on rocky slopes |
| Pacific Ninebark | Physocarpus capitatus | F-S | W-A | 4-12 ft | Streamside shrub; tolerates full shade; showy white clusters |
| Mallow Ninebark | Physocarpus malvaceus | F-P | A | 2–3 ft | Shrub native to NV |
| Shrubby Cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticosa | F | A | 4 ft | Bright yellow blooms all summer; tough, cold-hardy shrub |
| Desert Peach | Prunus andersonii | F | D | 3-6 ft | Thorny; pink spring flowers; fruit/pits toxic, not edible |
| Desert almond | Prunus fasciculata | F | D | 3-6 ft | Mojave desert thicket shrub |
| Hollyleaf Cherry | Prunus ilicifolia | F-P | D | 10-25 ft | Evergreen screening shrub/small tree, drought tolerant. |
| Paper flower | Psilostrophe cooperi | F | D | 1-2 ft | Desert, papery persistent yellow bracts |
| Indigo bush | Psorothamnus schottii | F | D | 3-5 ft | Colorado desert wash shrub, indigo flowers |
| Cliffrose | Purshia stansburiana | F | D | 4-10 ft | Desert/Great Basin, cream flowers |
| Bitterbrush | Purshia tridentata | F | D | 2-6 ft | Key wildlife browse shrub, very drought tolerant. |
| Scrub oak | Quercus berberidifolia | F | D | 6-15 ft | Dense evergreen chaparral scrub oak |
| Leather oak | Quercus durata | F | D | 3-8 ft | Serpentine chaparral leather oak |
| Palmer oak | Quercus palmeri | F | D | 6-15 ft | Desert mountain evergreen scrub oak |
| Scrub Oak | Quercus turbinella | F-P | D | 8 ft | Spiny evergreen scrub oak; wildlife cover and acorns |
| Spiny redberry | Rhamnus crocea | F-P | D | 3-8 ft | Chaparral shrub, red berries |
| Pacific Rhododendron | Rhododendron macrophyllum | P-S | A-W | 7-15 ft | Toxic evergreen shrub; WA state flower, shaded acidic soil |
| Lemonade berry | Rhus integrifolia | F | D | 6-15 ft | Coastal sage scrub, tart edible fruit |
| Sugar Sumac | Rhus ovata | F-P | D | 10 ft | Shrub native to CA |
| Squawbush Sumac | Rhus trilobata | F | D | 6 ft | |
| Golden Currant | Ribes aureum | P | A | 4–6 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| California gooseberry | Ribes californicum | P-S | A-D | 3–6 ft | Spiny chaparral shrub; early maroon-white flowers, spiny red berries |
| Wax currant | Ribes cereum | F-P | A-D | 2-6 ft | Spineless, very drought-tolerant; pink flowers, orange-red berries |
| White-flowered currant | Ribes indecorum | F-P | D | 4-8 ft | SoCal chaparral currant |
| Chaparral currant | Ribes malvaceum | F-P | D | 3-6 ft | Winter-blooming, hummingbird favorite |
| Sierra gooseberry | Ribes roezlii | P | A | 2-5 ft | Sierra forest understory gooseberry |
| Red-flowering Currant | Ribes sanguineum | P | A | 6-10 ft | Deep red spring flower clusters; part-shade woodland shrub |
| Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry | Ribes speciosum | P | D-A | 4-8 ft | Coastal chaparral, red fuchsia-like flowers |
| Catalina currant | Ribes viburnifolium | P | D | 1-3 ft | Fragrant evergreen groundcover for shade, Catalina/Baja native. |
| Bald-hip Rose | Rosa gymnocarpa | F | D | 5 ft | Shrub native to CA |
| Nutka Rose | Rosa nutkana | F-P | W-A | varies | Fragrant pink rose; tolerates moist to drier riparian soils |
| Thimbleberry | Rubus parviflorus | P-S | A-D | 6 ft | Thornless bramble; edible berries; good woodland-edge shrub |
| Salmonberry | Rubus spectabilis | F-P | A | 12 ft | |
| Narrowleaf willow | Salix exigua | F | W-A | 6-12 ft | Riparian desert/statewide thicket willow |
| White Sage | Salvia apiana | F | A-D | 3-8 ft | Silvery aromatic foliage; pollinator magnet; needs lean soil |
| Cleveland Sage | Salvia clevelandii | F | D | 3-5 ft | Fragrant evergreen shrub; CA endemic; magnet for bees & hummingbirds |
| Purple sage | Salvia leucophylla | F | D | 3-5 ft | Coastal sage scrub, aromatic purple spikes |
| Black sage | Salvia mellifera | F | D | 3-6 ft | Coastal sage scrub, bee favorite |
| Creeping Sage | Salvia sonomensis | F-P | D | 0.5-1 ft | CA mat-forming groundcover; gray-green foliage; lavender spring spikes |
| Blue Elderberry | Sambucus cerulea | F-P | W-A | 8-12 ft | Showy flower clusters, berries valuable for wildlife. |
| Desert senna | Senna armata | F | D | 2-4 ft | Mojave desert, yellow spring flowers |
| Silver Buffaloberry | Shepherdia argentea | F | D-A | 6–20 ft | Shrub native to CA/NV |
| Russet Buffaloberry | Shepherdia canadensis | F-P | A-D | 3-12 ft | |
| Jojoba | Simmondsia chinensis | F | D | 3-6 ft | Evergreen desert shrub; oily seeds, not edible; very drought tolerant |
| Western Spirea | Spiraea douglasii | F-P | A-W | 3-6 ft | Pink plume flowers, good for wet n. CA sites. |
| California snowdrop bush | Styrax redivivus | P | A-D | 6-10 ft | Sierra foothill chaparral, white flowers |
| Gray horsebrush | Tetradymia canescens | F | D | 1-3 ft | Great Basin sagebrush-steppe shrub |
| Pacific Poison Oak | Toxicodendron diversilobum | F-S | A-D | 1-6 ft shrub; climbing vine to 30+ ft | Not recommended for planting; causes urushiol rash on contact |
| Woolly blue curls | Trichostema lanatum | F | D | 3-5 ft | Chaparral, striking woolly blue flowers |
| Thinleaf Huckleberry | Vaccinium membranaceum | F-P | A | 2-6 ft | Mountain huckleberry; edible fruit; moderate water needs |
| Evergreen Huckleberry | Vaccinium ovatum | F-S | A | 4 ft | |
| Red Huckleberry | Vaccinium parvifolium | F-P | A | 2–8 ft | Shrub native to CA |
California and Nevada Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yellow sand verbena | Abronia latifolia | F | D | trailing | Yellow dune flowers, coastal strand |
| beach sand verbena | Abronia umbellata | F | D | trailing | Pink dune flowers, coastal strand |
| desert sand verbena | Abronia villosa | F | D | trailing | Pink dune/desert flat mats, spring bloom |
| Western Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | F | D-A | 1-3.5 ft | Tough, low-water native with flat-topped white blooms. |
| Vanilla Leaf | Achlys triphylla | P-S | A | 8-16 in | Shade groundcover for northern CA woodlands. |
| Columbian Monkshood | Aconitum columbianum | F-P | W-A | 2-6 ft | Highly toxic (aconitine), all parts; wet meadows/streambanks only |
| Red Baneberry | Actaea rubra | P-S | A | 1-2 ft | Shade woodland perennial; red berries are toxic. |
| narrowleaf onion | Allium amplectens | F | A-D | 6-14 in | White-pink umbels, grassland bulb |
| oneleaf onion | Allium unifolium | F-P | A-D | 1-1.5 ft | Pink umbels, heavy clay-tolerant native bulb |
| Cut-leaf Anemone | Anemone multifida | P | D | 12-18" | Fine, light-green leaves. Pink to maroon flowers. |
| Little Pussytoes | Antennaria microphylla | F | A | 1 ft | Perennial native to CA/NV |
| Rosy Pussytoes | Antennaria rosea | F | A-D | 2-4 in | Mat-forming silver groundcover; rose-pink blooms; host plant |
| Mountain Death Camas | Anticlea elegans | F | A | 1-2.5 ft | Bulb wildflower; all parts toxic, site away from foraging. |
| Western Columbine | Aquilegia formosa | S-P | A | 2–3 ft | Perennial native to CA/NV |
| flatbud prickly poppy | Argemone munita | F | D | 2-4 ft | Large white poppy, spiny leaves, desert/foothill |
| Sea Thrift | Armeria maritima | F-P | A-D | 4–12 in | Coastal bluff tufted perennial; pink pompom blooms; salt tolerant |
| Western Wild Ginger | Asarum caudatum | S | A-W | 4-6 in | Evergreen shade groundcover; glossy leaves, hidden maroon flowers |
| California Milkweed | Asclepias californica | F | A-D | 1-3 ft | Woolly chaparral native, sprawling, dry-summer dormant, monarch host |
| Showy Milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | F-P | A-D | 2-4 ft | Monarch host plant; toxic sap; spreads by rhizome |
| scarlet locoweed | Astragalus coccineus | F | D | 2-6 in | Low mat, bright red pea flowers, desert mountains |
| freckled milkvetch | Astragalus lentiginosus | F | D | 6-14 in | Purple pea flowers, widespread desert/Great Basin |
| Desert Marigold | Baileya multiradiata | F | D | 8-24 in | |
| Woolly Desert Marigold | Baileya pleniradiata | F | A-D | 6–18 in | Toxic to sheep/goats; woolly gray foliage; yellow flowers most of year |
| deltoid balsamroot | Balsamorhiza deltoidea | F | D | 1-2 ft | Large yellow daisies, foothill/valley grassland |
| arrowleaf balsamroot | Balsamorhiza sagittata | F | D | 1-2 ft | Iconic Great Basin yellow daisy, big silver leaves |
| harvest brodiaea | Brodiaea elegans | F | D | 1 ft | Violet-blue flowers, grassland, late spring bulb |
| dwarf brodiaea | Brodiaea terrestris | F | D | 2-6 in | Low violet flowers, coastal/foothill grassland bulb |
| white fairy lantern | Calochortus albus | P-S | A-D | 1-2 ft | Nodding white globes, oak woodland shade |
| Desert Mariposa Lily | Calochortus kennedyi | F | D | 4-20 in | Vivid orange-red desert bulb; dry summer rest, never dig wild bulbs |
| yellow mariposa lily | Calochortus luteus | F | D | 1-2 ft | Golden-yellow bowls, Central Valley grassland |
| sego lily | Calochortus nuttallii | F | D | 1 ft | Nevada state flower, Great Basin, white-lilac |
| splendid mariposa lily | Calochortus splendens | F | D | 1-2 ft | Lavender-pink, coastal/chaparral hills |
| superb mariposa lily | Calochortus superbus | F | D | 1-2 ft | Cream with purple blotch, foothill grassland |
| butterfly mariposa lily | Calochortus venustus | F | D | 1-2 ft | White-purple blotched petals, foothills/chaparral |
| Blue Camas | Camassia quamash | F | W-A | 1-2 ft | Blue spring wildflower bulb; needs moist soil through bloom |
| beach evening primrose | Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia | F | D | 6-12 in | Coastal dune mat, yellow flowers |
| Slough Sedge | Carex obnupta | F-P | W-A | 2–4 ft | Fast wetland sedge; wet-moist soil, sun to shade, forms dense clumps |
| coast paintbrush | Castilleja affinis | F | D | 1-2 ft | Red-orange bracts, coastal scrub, hemiparasitic |
| Desert Paintbrush | Castilleja angustifolia | F | A-D | 6-16 in | Root hemiparasite; needs host shrub/grass; don't dig from wild |
| wavy-leaved paintbrush | Castilleja applegatei | F | D | 6-14 in | Orange-red bracts, Sierra/Great Basin dry slopes |
| purple owl's clover | Castilleja exserta | F | A-D | 6-12 in | Magenta-purple, valley grassland, hemiparasitic annual |
| Scarlet Paintbrush | Castilleja miniata | F-P | A-D | 8-32 in | Root hemiparasite; needs grass/sedge host; don't dig from wild |
| pincushion flower | Chaenactis fremontii | F | D | 4-12 in | White pincushion heads, Mojave desert annual |
| Steve's pincushion | Chaenactis stevioides | F | D | 4-10 in | White-cream flowers, desert flats |
| wavyleaf soap plant | Chlorogalum pomeridianum | F | D | 2-4 ft | Evening-blooming white stars, grassland/woodland bulb |
| Water Hemlock | Cicuta maculata | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Wetland native; all parts highly toxic, site carefully. |
| farewell-to-spring | Clarkia amoena | F | D | 1-2 ft | Pink/white cups, coastal/foothill grassland |
| winecup clarkia | Clarkia purpurea | F | D | 1-2 ft | Wine-purple cups, grassland/foothill annual |
| ruby chalice clarkia | Clarkia rubicunda | F | D | 1-2 ft | Coastal bluffs/grassland annual, pink flowers |
| Elegant Clarkia | Clarkia unguiculata | F-P | D | 1-3 ft | CA endemic annual; clawed magenta petals; self-sows readily |
| Miner's Lettuce | Claytonia perfoliata | P-S | A | 4-12 in | Edible native annual/perennial for shaded, moist spots. |
| Rocky Mountain Beeplant | Cleomella serrulata | F | A-D | 3-6 ft | Fast annual wildflower; bee favorite; low water once established |
| Chinese houses | Collinsia heterophylla | P-S | A-D | 1-2 ft | Pink-purple tiered flowers, oak woodland shade |
| grand collomia | Collomia grandiflora | F | D | 1-2 ft | Salmon-apricot flowers, foothill/montane openings |
| tapertip hawksbeard | Crepis acuminata | F | D | 1-2 ft | Yellow flowers, Great Basin sagebrush steppe |
| Panamint Cryptantha | Cryptantha angustifolia | F | A-D | 2–12 in | Bristly desert annual; self-sows on bare sandy/gravelly ground |
| Indian rhubarb | Darmera peltata | P-S | W-A | 2-4 ft | Huge round leaves, streambanks, striking garden form |
| Sacred Datura | Datura wrightii | F-P | D | 1-5 ft | Huge night-blooming white flowers; all parts toxic; desert xeriscape |
| scarlet larkspur | Delphinium cardinale | F-P | D | 3-5 ft | Red hummingbird flowers, S. CA chaparral |
| Tall Larkspur | Delphinium glaucum | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Purple blooms; needs cool, consistently moist sites. |
| San Bernardino larkspur | Delphinium parryi | F | D | 1-2 ft | Deep blue spikes, chaparral/grassland |
| royal larkspur | Delphinium variegatum | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Blue-purple, Central Valley/foothill grassland |
| golden eardrops | Dicentra chrysantha | F | D | 2-4 ft | Fire-follower, golden flowers, chaparral burns |
| Bleeding Heart | Dicentra formosa | S | W | 1-2 ft | Woodland perennial; pink heart-shaped blooms spring into fall |
| Blue Dicks | Dichelostemma capitatum | F-P | D | 6 in–2 ft | Fire-follower spring bulb; dry summer dormancy required |
| firecracker flower | Dichelostemma ida-maia | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Red-green dangling tube flowers, N. CA woodland |
| Hoary Tansyaster | Dieteria canescens | F | D | 0.5-2 ft | Bushy gray-hairy wildflower; purple fall rays, very drought tolerant |
| bicolor monkeyflower | Diplacus bicolor | F | A-D | 4-10 in | Yellow/white annual, chaparral/desert edge |
| calico monkeyflower | Diplacus pictus | F | A-D | 4-8 in | Desert annual, maroon-spotted yellow flowers |
| Shooting Star | Dodecatheon hendersonii | F | A-W | 6-12 in | Spring ephemeral; magenta-pink reflexed blooms, goes dormant |
| two-horned calicoflower | Downingia bicornuta | F | W | 4-8 in | Vernal pool specialist, blue-white flowers |
| toothed calicoflower | Downingia cuspidata | F | W | 4-8 in | Vernal pool specialist, blue flowers |
| Fireweed | Epilobium angustifolium | F | A | 3-8 ft | Pioneer wildflower; pink-magenta spikes on disturbed/burned ground |
| California Fuchsia | Epilobium canum | F | D | 1-3 ft | Hummingbird magnet; scarlet fall flowers; needs sharp drainage |
| Cut-leaf Daisy | Erigeron compositus | F | D-A | 2-6 in | Low mounding daisy; fine-cut leaves; white-pink rays |
| Leafy Fleabane | Erigeron foliosus | F-P | D | 8 in - 3 ft | Lavender daisies spring-summer; dry chaparral, no summer water |
| seaside daisy | Erigeron glaucus | F | A-D | 6-12 in | Coastal bluff mat, lavender daisies, easy garden |
| Showy Fleabane | Erigeron speciosus | S | A | 1.5 ft | Shade-loving fleabane; lavender daisy blooms; moderate water |
| arrowleaf buckwheat | Eriogonum compositum | F | D | 1-2 ft | Basal arrow leaves, N. CA/Great Basin |
| long-stemmed buckwheat | Eriogonum elongatum | F | D | 2-4 ft | Late-blooming, S. CA chaparral/desert edge |
| California buckwheat | Eriogonum fasciculatum | F | D | 1-3 ft | Classic chaparral buckwheat, long bloom, pollinators |
| desert trumpet | Eriogonum inflatum | F | D | 1-3 ft | Swollen hollow stems, Mojave/Colorado desert |
| coast buckwheat | Eriogonum latifolium | F | D | 1-2 ft | Coastal bluffs, gray leaves, butterfly host |
| slender buckwheat | Eriogonum microthecum | F | D | 1-2 ft | Great Basin/Sierra, small cream-white flowers |
| naked buckwheat | Eriogonum nudum | F | D | 1-3 ft | Tall bare stems, white-pink balls, foothills/mtns |
| cushion buckwheat | Eriogonum ovalifolium | F | D | 3-8 in | Low mat, Sierra/Great Basin rocky slopes |
| sulphur buckwheat | Eriogonum umbellatum | F | D | 6-18 in | Yellow umbels, widespread CA/NV mountains |
| Golden Yarrow | Eriophyllum confertiflorum | F-P | D | 1.5-3 ft | Golden flower clusters Jan-Jul; woolly leaves; not true yarrow |
| Woolly Sunflower | Eriophyllum lanatum | F-P | D-A | 6-24 in | Silvery foliage; gold daisies; good for dry borders |
| Vasey's coyote thistle | Eryngium vaseyi | F | W | 6-14 in | Vernal pool button celery, blue-green |
| scarlet monkeyflower | Erythranthe cardinalis | F-P | W-A | 1-3 ft | Red tubular flowers, streambanks, hummingbirds |
| Lewis monkeyflower | Erythranthe lewisii | F-P | W-A | 1-2 ft | Pink flowers, Sierra/Cascades subalpine streams |
| Sierra fawn lily | Erythronium multiscapoideum | P-S | A-W | 4-8 in | White-pink mottled-leaf bulb, foothill/Sierra woodland |
| White Fawn Lily | Erythronium oregonum | F-S | A | 4-16 in | Spring bulb; white nodding blooms, mottled leaves |
| Sierra fawn lily | Erythronium purpurascens | P-S | A-W | 4-10 in | Pink-purple nodding flower, Sierra snowmelt areas |
| California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | F | A-D | 8-24 in | Orange wildflower; self-sows; needs sharp drainage |
| Beach Strawberry | Fragaria chiloensis | F-P | A | 4-8 in | Coastal groundcover; edible small fruit. |
| checker lily | Fritillaria affinis | P-S | A-D | 1-2 ft | Mottled brown-green nodding bells, woodland bulb |
| Red Dome Blanketflower | Gaillardia pinnatifida | F | D | 8-22 in | Long-blooming SW native; thin rocky/gypsum soils; low water |
| Sweet-scented Bedstraw | Galium triflorum | P-S | A | 6-24 in trailing groundcover | Fragrant shade groundcover for rich, consistently moist soil |
| Northern Gentian | Gentianella amarella | F-P | W-A | 4–16 in | Fringed purple autumn flowers; wet mountain meadows & fens |
| Desert Sunflower | Geraea canescens | F | D | 8–24 in | Mojave/Sonoran annual; gold daisy blooms; drives superblooms |
| Richardson's Geranium | Geranium richardsonii | P | A | 1–3 ft | White purple-veined flowers; aspen groves & moist mountain meadows |
| Sticky Geranium | Geranium viscosissimum | F-P | A | 2-3 ft | Showy pink wildflower; moderate water; good pollinator plant |
| Globe Gilia | Gilia capitata | F-P | D-A | 4 in–3 ft | Round blue flower heads; sandy/rocky soil; self-sows from seed |
| bird's eyes | Gilia tricolor | F | D | 6-16 in | Lavender-purple with dark eye, valley grassland |
| Goodding's Verbena | Glandularia gooddingii | F | D | 6-12 in | Low, drought-tolerant desert wildflower groundcover. |
| Great Valley gumplant | Grindelia camporum | F | A-D | 2-4 ft | Sticky yellow daisies, valley grassland |
| coastal gumplant | Grindelia stricta | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Sticky yellow daisies, coastal bluffs/marsh edge |
| California helianthella | Helianthella californica | F | D | 1-3 ft | Sunflower-like, foothill/montane openings |
| Showy Goldeneye | Heliomeris multiflora | F | A | 2-4 ft | Bright yellow daisies; great nectar plant for bees, butterflies |
| Cow parsnip | Heracleum maximum | F-P | A-W | 4-8 ft | Striking wildflower; sap is phototoxic, causes skin burns in sun |
| hairy golden aster | Heterotheca villosa | F | D | 6-16 in | Yellow daisies, Great Basin/Sierra dry slopes |
| Island alum root | Heuchera maxima | P-S | D-A | 1-1.5 ft | Channel Islands endemic; tough, deer-resistant shade groundcover |
| crevice alumroot | Heuchera micrantha | P-S | A-D | 1-2 ft | Airy white flower sprays, woodland/rocky banks |
| Skyrocket Gilia | Ipomopsis aggregata | F-P | D | 12-30 in | Hummingbird favorite; red trumpet blooms; well-drained soil |
| Douglas iris | Iris douglasiana | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Coastal bluffs/woodland, lavender-purple, easy garden |
| Sierra iris | Iris hartwegii | P | A-D | 6-14 in | Pale yellow-cream, Sierra foothill pine forest |
| ground iris | Iris macrosiphon | P-S | A-D | 4-10 in | Low iris, oak woodland/foothill understory |
| western blue flag | Iris missouriensis | F | W-A | 1-2 ft | Sierra/Great Basin wet meadows, blue-violet |
| California goldfields | Lasthenia californica | F | A-D | 4-10 in | Mass yellow bloom, valley grassland/vernal pool edge |
| yellowray goldfields | Lasthenia glabrata | F | W-A | 6-12 in | Vernal pool/alkaline flats, yellow annual |
| tidy tips | Layia platyglossa | F | D | 6-16 in | Yellow white-tipped daisies, valley/coastal grassland |
| bitterroot | Lewisia rediviva | F | D | 2-4 in | Showy pink rock-garden flower, Sierra/Great Basin |
| Tiger Lily | Lilium columbianum | F | A | 2-4 ft | |
| Humboldt Lily | Lilium humboldtii | P | A-D | 3-8 ft | CA foothill endemic; nursery bulbs only, never wild-dug |
| Sierra tiger lily | Lilium parvum | F-P | W-A | 2-5 ft | Orange-red nodding flowers, Sierra wet meadows |
| meadowfoam | Limnanthes douglasii | F | W-A | 6-12 in | White-yellow cream flowers, vernal pool margins |
| ground pink | Linanthus dianthiflorus | F | D | 2-6 in | Pink fringed flowers, grassland/chaparral openings |
| sand blossoms | Linanthus parryae | F | D | 2-4 in | Low desert annual, white-blue flowers after rain |
| Twinflower | Linnaea borealis | P-S | A-W | 2-4 in | Evergreen groundcover for cool, acidic, shaded sites; slow to spread |
| Blue Flax | Linum lewisii | F | D | 2 ft | Sky-blue flowers all summer; reseeds, short-lived |
| woodland star | Lithophragma affine | P-S | A-D | 6-14 in | Small pink-white stars, oak woodland spring |
| Silvery Lupine | Lupinus argenteus | F | D-A | 1-3 ft | Silvery foliage; blue-purple spikes; fixes nitrogen |
| Arizona Lupine | Lupinus arizonicus | F | D | 8-24 in | Winter-annual desert wildflower; reseeds after rain; toxic |
| miniature lupine | Lupinus bicolor | F | A-D | 4-10 in | Tiny annual lupine, widespread grassland |
| summer lupine | Lupinus formosus | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Foothill/oak woodland perennial lupine |
| broadleaf lupine | Lupinus latifolius | F-P | A-W | 2-4 ft | Sierra/Cascades meadow perennial lupine |
| sky lupine | Lupinus nanus | F | A-D | 6-12 in | Annual carpets of blue; Sierra foothills, valleys |
| Big Leaf Lupine | Lupinus polyphyllus | F | A | 3-4 ft | Tall spiky blue-purple blooms; full sun, moist well-drained soil |
| Coulter's Lupine | Lupinus sparsiflorus | F | D | 4–16 in | Desert annual; mass-blooms in wet winters, toxic if eaten |
| arroyo lupine | Lupinus succulentus | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Showy roadside/valley lupine, easy from seed |
| Common Madia | Madia elegans | F | D | 1-4 ft | Annual tarweed; sticky foliage; yellow daisies through dry summer |
| Starry False Lily | Maianthemum stellatum | P-S | A-D | 8-18 in | Rhizomatous woodland groundcover; starry flowers; berries inedible |
| Pineapple Weed | Matricaria discoidea | F-P | A-D | 2-12 in | Annual; native only in parts of West, weedy elsewhere; pineapple scent |
| American Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | F-P | W-A | 6in-2ft | Native wetland mint; spreads by rhizome; flowers at leaf joints |
| white bractspine blazing star | Mentzelia involucrata | F | D | 4-10 in | Cream flowers in showy bracts, Colorado Desert |
| blazing star | Mentzelia laevicaulis | F | D | 1-3 ft | Large pale-yellow night flowers, Great Basin/desert edge |
| Mountain Bluebells | Mertensia ciliata | P-F | W | 1–4 ft | Streamside wildflower; pink buds open sky blue |
| Monkeyflower | Mimulus guttatus | F-P | A-W | 2-3 ft | Yellow red-spotted blooms; streambanks and seeps |
| Muskflower | Mimulus moschatus | P-S | W | 4-12 in | Needs consistently saturated soil; good for bog gardens. |
| Colorado Four O’Clock | Mirabilis multiflora | F-P | D | 1-3 ft | Magenta trumpet flowers; thrives in desert heat. |
| coyote mint | Monardella villosa | F | D | 1-2 ft | Fragrant purple flower heads, pollinator magnet, chaparral |
| Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora | S | A-W | 3-10 in | Non-photosynthetic; parasitizes fungi; never dig or transplant |
| common muilla | Muilla maritima | F | D | 6-14 in | White star umbels, grassland bulb |
| Purple Mat | Nama demissum | F | D | 3-6 in | Mat-forming desert annual, relies on winter rain. |
| baby blue eyes | Nemophila menziesii | P-S | A-D | 6-12 in | Sky-blue cup flowers, woodland/grassland annual |
| California evening primrose | Oenothera californica | F | D | 4-10 in | White flowers aging pink, desert sandy flats |
| dune evening primrose | Oenothera deltoides | F | D | 6-12 in | White night-blooming, Mojave/Colorado desert dunes |
| Scarlet Beeblossom | Oenothera suffrutescens | F | D | 1–3 ft | Full sun, dry soil; moths pollinate; spreads by rhizomes |
| Oregon Wood Sorrel | Oxalis oregana | P-S | A | 4-8 in | Shade groundcover for redwood/northern CA forest gardens. |
| elephant's head | Pedicularis groenlandica | F-P | W | 1-2 ft | Pink trunk-shaped flowers, subalpine wet meadows |
| scarlet bugler | Penstemon centranthifolius | F | D | 2-4 ft | Narrow red tubular flowers, chaparral/hummingbirds |
| Cleveland's penstemon | Penstemon clevelandii | F | D | 1-2 ft | Magenta flowers, desert-chaparral transition, S. CA |
| Hot Rock Penstemon | Penstemon deustus | F | D | 8-24 in | Rocky slopes; nectar for native bees; very drought tolerant |
| Firecracker Penstemon | Penstemon eatonii | F | A | 3 ft | |
| Grinnell's beardtongue | Penstemon grinnellii | F | D | 1-2 ft | Pink-lavender flowers, S. CA chaparral/desert edge |
| foothill penstemon | Penstemon heterophyllus | F | D | 1-2 ft | Blue-violet flowers, foothill/chaparral, garden favorite |
| mountain pride | Penstemon newberryi | F | A-D | 6-12 in | Mat-forming, rose-red flowers, Sierra/Cascades rock |
| Palmer Penstemon | Penstemon palmeri | F | D-A | 2-4 ft | Fragrant vanilla-scented pink spikes; bees & hummingbirds |
| desert beardtongue | Penstemon pseudospectabilis | F | D | 2-3 ft | Pink-rose flowers, Mojave/Colorado desert |
| Rydberg’s Penstemon | Penstemon rydbergii | F-P | W-A | 8-28 in | |
| Showy Penstemon | Penstemon speciosus | F-P | D | 12-24 in | Showy blue-purple spikes; needs excellent drainage |
| showy penstemon | Penstemon spectabilis | F | D | 2-4 ft | Blue-lavender spikes, S. CA chaparral |
| California bluebells | Phacelia campanularia | F | D | 6-24 in | CA desert annual; vivid blue flowers; mild skin-contact irritant |
| Distant phacelia | Phacelia distans | F-P | D | 6-32 in | SW desert annual; valuable for pollinators; mild skin irritant |
| Silverleaf Phacelia | Phacelia hastata | F | D | 1-2 ft | Silver-gray foliage year-round; white to pale lavender blooms |
| Varileaf Phacelia | Phacelia heterophylla | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Biennial wildflower, coiled flowers; irritant hairs, wear gloves |
| Lacy Phacelia | Phacelia tanacetifolia | F | D | 1-3 ft | Annual desert wildflower; bee magnet; CA/AZ native only |
| sticky phacelia | Phacelia viscida | F | D | 1-2 ft | Deep blue flowers with white eye, chaparral |
| Desert Mountain Phlox | Phlox austromontana | F | D | 2-6 in | Needle-leaved cushion plant; white-pink flowers; needs sharp drainage |
| Douglas's Phlox | Phlox douglasii | F | D | 2–4 in | Spiny cushion plant for scree/rock gardens; needs very sharp drainage |
| Spiny Phlox | Phlox hoodii | F | D | 2-4 in | Mat-forming cushion plant; very drought tolerant groundcover |
| longleaf phlox | Phlox longifolia | F | D | 6-12 in | Pink-white, Great Basin sagebrush steppe |
| showy phlox | Phlox speciosa | F | D | 6-12 in | Pink-lavender, Great Basin/Sierra foothill slopes |
| Texas Frogfruit | Phyla nodiflora | F-P | W-D | 2-6 in, spreading 3+ ft | Mat-forming lawn alternative; butterfly host; tolerates mowing |
| popcorn flower | Plagiobothrys nothofulvus | F | A-D | 6-16 in | White mass bloom, valley grassland spring |
| Sticky Cinquefoil | Potentilla glandulosa | F-P | D | 1-2.5 ft | Rocky, dry sites; sticky glandular foliage; deer resistant |
| Graceful Cinquefoil | Potentilla gracilis | F-P | D | 1-2 ft | Deep-rooted meadow wildflower; silvery leaf undersides; deer resistant |
| padre's shooting star | Primula clevelandii | F-P | A-D | 6-12 in | Magenta reflexed petals, grassland/woodland, early spring |
| Few-flowered Shooting Star | Primula pauciflora | F-P | W-A | 4-16 in | Spring ephemeral; moist in spring, dry-dormant in summer. |
| New Mexico Plumeseed | Rafinesquia neomexicana | F | D | 6-20 in | Winter-spring desert annual; white chicory-like flowers, weak stems |
| California buttercup | Ranunculus californicus | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Glossy yellow flowers, grassland/woodland, early spring |
| Matilija Poppy | Romneya coulteri | F | D | 5-8 ft | CA endemic; spreads aggressively by rhizomes, huge white flowers |
| Roughfruit Berry | Rubus lasiococcus | S | A-W | 2-6 in (spreading) | Thornless shade groundcover; needs moist forest duff |
| California coneflower | Rudbeckia californica | F-P | W-A | 3-6 ft | Tall yellow coneflower, Sierra wet meadows |
| Desert Chia | Salvia columbariae | F | D | 4-20 in | Annual; spiny maroon bract heads; seeds a traditional food |
| Great Basin sage | Salvia dorrii | F | D | 1-2 ft | Silvery leaves, violet-blue flowers, Great Basin icon |
| Hummingbird Sage | Salvia spathacea | P-F | D-A | 1-3 ft | Magenta spring flowers draw hummingbirds; shade-tolerant groundcover |
| Sea Asparagus | Sarcocornia pacifica | F | W | 6-20 in | Salt marsh succulent; needs tidal/saturated soils. |
| yerba buena | Satureja douglasii | S | A-D | trailing | Fragrant groundcover, oak woodland shade |
| California bee plant | Scrophularia californica | P-S | A-D | 2-4 ft | Maroon flowers, pollinator value, woodland edge |
| Annual Checkerbloom | Sidalcea calycosa | F-P | W | 1-3 ft | CA endemic wetland wildflower, poor drought tolerance. |
| checkerbloom | Sidalcea malviflora | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Pink mallow flowers, grassland/coastal bluffs |
| Oregon checkerbloom | Sidalcea oregana | F-P | W-A | 1-3 ft | Pink mallow spikes, Sierra/Cascades meadows |
| western blue-eyed grass | Sisyrinchium bellum | F | A-D | 6-12 in | Blue-violet star flowers, grassland/meadow, easy garden |
| Yellow-Eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium californicum | F-P | W | 1 ft | Bright yellow iris-relative for moist meadows (not a true grass). |
| Northern Goldenrod | Solidago multiradiata | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | |
| gooseberryleaf globemallow | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia | F | D | 1-2 ft | Orange-apricot flowers, Great Basin slopes |
| Orange Globemallow | Sphaeralcea munroana | F | D | 8-32 in | Orange cup flowers all summer; tough on dry slopes |
| Small-leaf Globemallow | Sphaeralcea parvifolia | F | D | 1-3 ft | Orange flowers all summer; dry soil; hairs irritate skin/eyes |
| Globe Mallow | Spharalcea ambigua | F | D | 3 ft | Orange desert wildflower, blooms much of the year. |
| Prince's Plume | Stanleya pinnata | F | D | 3-4 ft | Perennial native to CA/NV |
| Pacific Aster | Symphyotrichum chilense | F-P | A-W | 1–3 ft | Late-blooming coastal wildflower; spreads by rhizome |
| Douglas Aster | Symphyotrichum subspicatum | F-P | A | 1-4 ft | Purple fall-blooming aster, N CA native. |
| star lily | Toxicoscordion fremontii | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | White star flowers, grassland/coastal, early bloom |
| meadow death camas | Toxicoscordion venenosum | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Cream flower spikes, grassland; foliage toxic, note for pets |
| coastal/springbank clover | Trifolium wormskioldii | F-P | A-W | 6-12 in | Native clover, meadow/coastal, pollinator value |
| giant trillium | Trillium chloropetalum | S | A-D | 1-1.5 ft | Maroon mottled leaves, shaded woodland, slow |
| Western Trillium | Trillium ovatum | P-S | A-W | 8-16 in | Never dig from wild; picking the flower can kill the plant |
| butter-and-eggs | Triphysaria eriantha | F | A-D | 4-10 in | Yellow-pink owl's clover, grassland annual |
| golden star | Triteleia ixioides | F-P | A-D | 1 ft | Yellow star umbels, foothill/montane bulb |
| Ithuriel's spear | Triteleia laxa | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Blue-violet umbels, grassland/woodland bulb |
| Cattail | Typha latifolia | F | W | 3-10 ft | Classic wetland/pond-edge native, spreads by rhizome. |
| American Stinging Nettle | Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis | P-S | A-W | 3–7 ft | Stings on contact, wear gloves; native butterfly host plant |
| Inside-out Flower | Vancouveria hexandra | S | A-W | 8-16 in | Shade groundcover; duck-foot leaves; reflexed white flowers May-Jul |
| California corn lily | Veratrum californicum | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Large pleated leaves, Sierra/Cascades wet meadows |
| Early Blue Violet | Viola adunca | F-P | A-D | 3-6 in | Low spreading groundcover; blue-violet blooms; butterfly host |
| Goosefoot Violet | Viola purpurea | F-P | D-A | 2-6 in | Low rock-garden perennial, yellow flowers, very drought tolerant |
| narrowleaf mule's ears | Wyethia angustifolia | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Yellow sunflower-like, valley/foothill grassland |
| gray mule's ears | Wyethia helenioides | F | D | 1-2 ft | Gray-green leaves, yellow daisies, coastal/foothill |
California and Nevada Grasses
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Ricegrass | Achnatherum hymenoides | F | D | 1-2 ft | |
| western needlegrass | Achnatherum occidentale | F | D | 1-2 ft | Sierra/Great Basin bunchgrass, dry slopes |
| Thurber's Needlegrass | Achnatherum thurberianum | F | D | 1-2 ft | Sagebrush-steppe bunchgrass; awned seed can injure grazing animals |
| Thingrass | Agrostis pallens | F-P | D-A | 4 in-2 ft | Fine-textured native lawn substitute; mowable; spreads by rhizome |
| purple threeawn | Aristida purpurea | F | D | 1-2 ft | Purple-tinged bunchgrass, desert/foothill |
| Black Grama | Bouteloua eriopoda | F | D | 4-12 in | Stoloniferous desert grassland grass. |
| blue grama | Bouteloua gracilis | F | D | 1-1.5 ft | Curly seed heads, Great Basin/high desert bunchgrass |
| California Brome Grass | Bromus carinatus | F-P | A-D | 1.5-5 ft | Fast-establishing native bunchgrass; good for erosion control |
| mountain brome | Bromus marginatus | F-P | A-D | 2-3 ft | Native bunchgrass, Sierra/Great Basin meadows |
| Bluejoint Grass | Calamagrostis canadensis | F | W | 3-5 ft | Wet-meadow bunchgrass; purplish-silver plumes in summer |
| bigleaf sedge | Carex amplifolia | P-S | W | 2-3 ft | Broadleaf shade sedge, N. CA streambanks |
| Santa Barbara sedge | Carex barbarae | P | A-W | 2-3 ft | Streamside sedge, basketry use, erosion control |
| torrent sedge | Carex nudata | P | W | 1-2 ft | Clumping sedge on stream boulders/banks |
| California meadow sedge | Carex pansa | F-P | A-D | 4-8 in | Fine-textured lawn-substitute sedge, coastal/inland |
| field sedge | Carex praegracilis | F-P | A-W | 1-2 ft | Spreading rhizomatous sedge, lawn alternative |
| two-tooth sedge | Carex serratodens | F-P | W-A | 1-2 ft | Wetland/vernal margin sedge, Central Valley |
| San Diego sedge | Carex spissa | F-P | W-A | 3-5 ft | Large clumping sedge, S. CA streambanks |
| foothill sedge | Carex tumulicola | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Fine clumping sedge, lawn substitute, woodland edge |
| California Oatgrass | Danthonia californica | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Cool-season bunchgrass for meadows and prairie restoration |
| Tufted Hairgrass | Deschampsia caespitosa | F | W | 2-3 ft (to 4 ft bloom) | Clumping meadow grass; silvery-green plumes age to gold |
| annual hairgrass | Deschampsia danthonioides | F | W-A | 6-18 in | Vernal pool/moist grassland annual grass |
| Slender Hairgrass | Deschampsia elongata | P | A | 2.5 ft | |
| saltgrass | Distichlis spicata | F | W-D | 6-12 in | Alkaline/coastal salt marsh groundcover grass |
| Salt Grass | Distichlis stricta | F | W-A | 1 ft | Salt-tolerant sod grass; good for alkaline, seasonally wet soil |
| common spikerush | Eleocharis palustris | F | W | 1-2 ft | Wetland/vernal pool margins, grasslike rush |
| Canada Wild Rye | Elymus canadensis | F-S | A-D | 2-4 ft | Tough bunchgrass; erosion control; tolerates deep shade |
| squirreltail | Elymus elymoides | F | D | 1-2 ft | Bristly bunchgrass, foothill/Great Basin |
| blue wildrye | Elymus glaucus | F-P | A-D | 2-4 ft | Widespread CA bunchgrass, woodland/grassland restoration |
| Streambank Wheatgrass | Elymus lanceolatus | F-P | D-A | 1-3 ft | Rhizomatous grass, good for erosion control. |
| big squirreltail | Elymus multisetus | F | D | 1-2 ft | Great Basin/desert bunchgrass, bristly awns |
| Slender Wheatgrass | Elymus trachycaulus | F | A-D | 20-40 in | Fast-establishing cool-season bunchgrass; not for desert lawns |
| California fescue | Festuca californica | P-S | A-D | 2-3 ft | Blue-green woodland bunchgrass, shade tolerant |
| Idaho Fescue | Festuca idahoensis | F-P | D-A | 1-3 ft | Classic western bunchgrass, good for dry slopes. |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | F-P | A-D | 1-2 ft | Coastal native fescue, erosion control/lawn use |
| Needle-and-Thread Grass | Hesperostipa comata | F | D | 24-36 in | Fine bunchgrass; sharp seed awns; good for erosion control |
| Pili Grass | Heteropogon contortus | F | D | 1-3 ft | Native bunchgrass of HI & SW deserts; twisted awns |
| Galleta | Hilaria jamesii | F | D | 1-2 ft | |
| Baltic rush | Juncus balticus | F | W-A | 1-2 ft | Widespread wetland rush, Sierra/Great Basin meadows |
| soft rush | Juncus effusus | F-P | W-A | 2-3 ft | Wetland rush, wide CA native range |
| common rush | Juncus patens | F-P | A-W | 1-2 ft | Blue-gray clumping rush, very popular garden plant |
| brown-headed rush | Juncus phaeocephalus | F-P | W-A | 1-2 ft | Wetland margins, coastal/valley |
| basket rush | Juncus textilis | F-P | W-A | 3-5 ft | Tall rush, streambanks, traditional basketry |
| junegrass | Koeleria macrantha | F | D | 1-2 ft | Fine bunchgrass, widespread CA/NV dry slopes |
| Great Basin Wildrye | Leymus cinereus | F | D | 4-6 ft | |
| Giant Wildrye | Leymus condensatus | F-P | D | 3-8 ft | CA endemic bunchgrass; blue-gray foliage; slope stabilization |
| American Dunegrass | Leymus mollis | F | D | 2-5.5 ft | Rhizomatous dune-builder; stabilizes foredunes; salt and wind tolerant |
| beardless wildrye | Leymus triticoides | F | A-D | 1-3 ft | Rhizomatous native grass, Central Valley/alkaline flats |
| coast melic | Melica imperfecta | F-P | D | 1-2 ft | Fine foothill/chaparral bunchgrass, shade tolerant |
| Torrey's melic | Melica torreyana | P-S | D | 1-2 ft | Woodland bunchgrass, N. CA foothills |
| Mountain Muhly | Muhlenbergia montana | F | A-D | 1-3 ft | Key ponderosa pine forage grass; deep roots; needs sharp drainage |
| Deergrass | Muhlenbergia rigens | F | D-A | 2-3 ft | Tough, fountain-shaped bunchgrass, good erosion control. |
| Spike Muhly | Muhlenbergia wrightii | F | A-D | 6 in-2 ft | Slow-establishing bunchgrass; tolerates alkaline/caliche soil |
| nodding needlegrass | Nassella cernua | F | D | 1-2 ft | Foothill/chaparral bunchgrass, nodding seed heads |
| foothill needlegrass | Nassella lepida | F | D | 1-2 ft | Fine-leaved bunchgrass, chaparral/woodland |
| purple needlegrass | Nassella pulchra | F | D | 2-3 ft | California state grass, valley/foothill bunchgrass |
| Vine Mesquite | Panicum obtusum | F-P | A-D | 1 ft | Spreading warm-season grass; low to moderate water needs |
| Desert Needlegrass | Pappostipa speciosa | F | D | 1-2 ft | Drought-tolerant Mojave bunchgrass. |
| big galleta | Pleuraphis rigida | F | D | 1-2 ft | Tough desert bunchgrass, Mojave/Colorado desert |
| Sandberg Bluegrass | Poa secunda | F-P | D | 8-24 in | Early-greening cool-season bunchgrass; very drought tolerant |
| Bluebunch Wheatgrass | Pseudoroegneria spicata | F | D | 1-2 ft | Signature Great Basin bunchgrass, very drought tolerant. |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | F-P | D-A | 2–4 ft | Grass native to NV |
| chairmaker's bulrush | Schoenoplectus americanus | F | W | 2-4 ft | Marsh/vernal wetland, triangular stems |
| panicled bulrush | Scirpus microcarpus | F-P | W | 3-5 ft | Marsh/pond margin bulrush, wide CA/NV range |
| Alkali Sacaton | Sporobolus airoides | F | D | 2 ft | |
| Sand Dropseed | Sporobolus cryptandrus | F | D | 2-5 ft | Tough bunchgrass; drought tolerant; good for sandy dry soils |
| Big Sacaton | Sporobolus wrightii | F | A-W | 3-8 ft | Giant floodplain bunchgrass; tolerates flooding and alkali soil |
California and Nevada Cacti & Succulents
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Agave | Agave deserti | F | D | 1.5 ft | Rosette succulent, dramatic tall flower stalk once in life. |
| Shaw's agave | Agave shawii | F | D | 1-2 ft | SoCal/border coastal bluff agave |
| Utah agave | Agave utahensis | F | D | 1-2 ft | Mojave/Great Basin desert mountain agave |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | F | D | 40-60' | AZ state wildflower; white night blooms May-June; very slow growing |
| Teddy Bear Cholla | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | F | D | 1.5-5 ft | Spiny; detachable joints; keep away from paths/pets |
| California cholla | Cylindropuntia californica | F | D | 1-2 ft | Rare coastal San Diego native; spiny; keep away from paths/pets |
| Golden cholla | Cylindropuntia echinocarpa | F | D | 2-5 ft | Mojave desert golden cholla |
| Pencil cholla | Cylindropuntia ramosissima | F | D | 2-4 ft | Desert pencil cholla, thin stems |
| Giant chalk dudleya | Dudleya brittonii | F | D | 1-1.5 ft | SoCal coastal bluff, striking chalky leaves |
| Canyon liveforever | Dudleya cymosa | F-P | D | 0.5-1 ft | Foothill rock outcrop succulent |
| Ladyfingers | Dudleya edulis | F | D | 0.5-1 ft | Coastal scrub rock succulent |
| Bluff lettuce | Dudleya farinosa | F | D | 0.5-1 ft | N coast bluff lettuce succulent |
| Lanceleaf liveforever | Dudleya lanceolata | F-P | D | 0.5-1 ft | Chaparral rock outcrop succulent |
| Chalk liveforever | Dudleya pulverulenta | F | D | 1-2 ft | Coastal bluff/chaparral chalk liveforever |
| Cottontop cactus | Echinocactus polycephalus | F | D | 1-2 ft | Mojave desert cottontop cactus, clustered |
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | Echinocereus engelmannii | F | D | 0.5-1 ft | Mojave/Colorado desert hedgehog cactus |
| California Barrel Cactus | Ferocactus cylindraceus | F | D | 2–6 ft | Mojave/Sonoran barrel cactus, red spines. Protected, no collecting. |
| Our Lord's candle | Hesperoyucca whipplei | F | D | 3-6 ft | Chaparral, dramatic flower spike then dies |
| Common fishhook cactus | Mammillaria tetrancistra | F | D | 0.3-0.5 ft | Mojave/Colorado desert fishhook cactus |
| Bigelow Nolina | Nolina bigelovii | F | D | 8 ft | Cactus Succulent native to CA/NV |
| Parry's nolina | Nolina parryi | F | D | 3-8 ft | Desert mountain nolina, tree-like form |
| Beavertail cactus | Opuntia basilaris | F | D | 1-2 ft | Mojave/Colorado desert beavertail cactus |
| Coastal Prickly Pear | Opuntia littoralis | F | D | 1-2 ft | Spiny mat-forming cactus; coastal bluffs/sage scrub; avoid paths |
| Plains Pricklypear | Opuntia polyacantha | F | D | 6-12 in | |
| Mojave fishhook cactus | Sclerocactus polyancistrus | F | D | 0.5-1 ft | Mojave desert fishhook cactus, showy bloom |
| Oregon Stonecrop | Sedum oreganum | F-P | A-W | 2-4 in | Low succulent groundcover, Klamath region native. |
| Pacific stonecrop | Sedum spathulifolium | F-P | D-A | 0.3-0.5 ft | Coastal/montane rock stonecrop |
| Banana yucca | Yucca baccata | F | D | 2-4 ft | Desert mountain banana yucca, edible fruit |
| Joshua Tree | Yucca brevifolia | F | A-D | 15-40 ft | Mojave Desert icon; pollinated only by the yucca moth |
| Mojave yucca | Yucca schidigera | F | D | 3-10 ft | Mojave desert yucca, large flower spikes |
California and Nevada Ferns & Vines
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Maidenhair Fern | Adiantum aleuticum | F-S | W-A | 1-3 ft | Fan-shaped fronds on black stems; moist, mineral-rich rock crevices. |
| Southern Maidenhair Fern | Adiantum capillus-veneris | P-S | W | 10-24 in | Delicate fronds; needs constant moisture, calcareous seeps/springs |
| California maidenhair fern | Adiantum jordanii | S | A | 1-2 ft | Woodland shade maidenhair fern |
| California Pipevine | Aristolochia californica | P-F | A-W | 5-20 ft (vine) | Deciduous vine; only host for pipevine swallowtail; toxic, not edible |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium filix-femina | P-S | A | 2-3 ft | |
| Deer Fern | Blechnum spicant | P-S | A-W | 1-2.5 ft | Evergreen; two frond types; needs shade and steady moisture |
| Island morning glory | Calystegia macrostegia | F | D | vine 6-10 ft | Coastal/chaparral morning glory vine |
| Chaparral False Bindweed | Calystegia occidentalis | F-P | D | 2-6 ft | Drought-tolerant native trailing/climbing vine. |
| Stebbins' Morning-glory | Calystegia stebbinsii | F | D | Under 1 ft (trailing) | Federally/CA endangered Pine Hill endemic; not for sale or collection |
| Coville's lip fern | Cheilanthes covillei | F | D | 0.3-0.5 ft | Desert rock lip fern |
| Chaparral Clematis | Clematis lasiantha | F-P | D | 8-20 ft (vine) | CA/Baja endemic vine; dioecious; showy plumed seed heads |
| Virgin's bower | Clematis ligusticifolia | F-P | A | vine 10-20 ft | Riparian virgin's bower vine statewide |
| Buffalo Gourd | Cucurbita foetidissima | F | A-D | 6-12 in tall, 10-20 ft trailing | Sprawling vine, huge taproot; fruit bitter, not edible |
| Coastal wood fern | Dryopteris arguta | P-S | A | 1-3 ft | Coastal wood fern, shady slopes |
| Scouring Rush | Equisetum hyemale | F-P | W-A | 2-5 ft | Evergreen, jointed stems; spreads by rhizome; toxic to livestock |
| Pacific pea | Lathyrus vestitus | F-P | D | vine 2-4 ft | Chaparral/woodland sprawling pea vine |
| Western Honeysuckle | Lonicera ciliosa | P | A-W | Climbing vine, 10-20 ft | Fern Vine native to CA |
| California manroot | Marah fabacea | F-P | D-A | vine 10-20 ft | Woodland/chaparral manroot vine, big tuber |
| Coastal Manroot | Marah oreganus | F-P | A-D | 10-20 ft vine (dies back yearly) | Fast spring vine from huge root; fruit/seeds toxic; early bee forage |
| Coffee fern | Pellaea andromedifolia | F-P | D | 0.5-1 ft | Chaparral coffee fern |
| Bird's foot fern | Pellaea mucronata | F-P | D | 0.5-1 ft | Chaparral rock bird's-foot fern |
| Goldback fern | Pentagramma triangularis | S | A-D | 0.3-0.5 ft | Woodland rock goldback fern |
| California polypody | Polypodium californicum | P-S | A-D | 0.5-1 ft | Coastal rock/oak woodland polypody |
| Licorice fern | Polypodium glycyrrhiza | P-S | W-A | 0.5-2 ft | Epiphytic fern on mossy maples; winter-green, summer dormant |
| Sword Fern | Polystichum munitum | P-S | A | 2-4 ft | Evergreen shade fern for woodland gardens. |
| Bushy spikemoss | Selaginella bigelovii | F | D | 0.2-0.3 ft | Chaparral rock spikemoss (fern ally) |
| Canyon Wild Grape | Vitis arizonica | F | A | 10-20+ ft (vine, with support) | Fern Vine native to CA/NV |
| California wild grape | Vitis californica | F-P | A-W | vine 10-20 ft | Riparian wild grape vine, fall color |
| Rocky Mountain woodsia | Woodsia scopulina | P | A | 0.5-1 ft | Sierra/Great Basin rock fern |
| Giant chain fern | Woodwardia fimbriata | P-S | W-A | 3-6 ft | Moist canyon giant chain fern |
| Sun Exposure | Soil Moisture | Drought Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| F = Full Sun | W = Wet | E = Excellent |
| P = Part Sun | A = Average | G = Good |
| S = Shade | D = Dry | M = Moderate |
| P = Poor |
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Featured photo: California poppy by Shylah Anderson, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
