Plant Library

Abies concolor

Verdict: A classic high-elevation evergreen with soft, bluish-green needles. Brings a touch of the high Sierra to the upper foothills.

Ficus carica 'Mission'

Verdict: The taste of California history. Huge trees that produce two crops a year. Gophers love roots, deer ignore leaves.

Quercus douglasii

Verdict: The toughest oak for the hottest, driest rocky slopes. Its bluish-green foliage is a hallmark of the Sierra foothills.

Aesculus californica

Verdict: Famous for its candle-like flower spikes in spring and its silvery, sculptural bark in winter. Goes dormant early.

Festuca californica

Verdict: A reliable native bunchgrass for foothill gardens and restoration sites: deep-rooted, non-aggressive, and excellent for slope stability in oak woodland settings.

Fremontodendron californicum

Verdict: Massive yellow blooms stop traffic. The fuzz on the leaves is irritating, so plant it where people won't brush against it.

Epilobium canum

Verdict: The grand finale of the native garden. Blazes with red trumpets in late summer/fall when everything else is brown.

Eschscholzia californica

Verdict: The quintessential wildflower for sunny, dry spots. It reseeds reliably and requires zero summer water once established.

Artemisia californica

Verdict: A cornerstone shrub for California coastal foothills: aromatic, drought-adapted, and highly valuable for native scrub structure and habitat.

Acaena californica

Verdict: A tough, low-growing native groundcover perfect for stabilizing slopes and filling gaps between stepping stones.

Ceanothus 'Dark Star'

Verdict: Unbeatable cobalt-blue blooms. A smaller, tighter mounding variety perfect for banks and borders.

Frangula californica

Verdict: The reliable workhorse of the native garden. Tidy, evergreen, and blends with anything.

Achillea millefolium

Verdict: A spreading groundcover with feathery foliage. Tough as nails and excellent for suppressing weeds.

Lagerstroemia indica

Verdict: The heat-loving star of summer. Showy flowers when everything else is drab, plus peeling bark.

Muhlenbergia rigens

Verdict: A sculptural bunchgrass that looks good in every season. Bulletproof against heat and deer.

Diospyros kaki

Verdict: A landscape standout with spectacular orange fall foliage. The fruit is crisp like an apple and non-astringent.

Pinus sabiniana

Verdict: The wispy, translucent silhouette of the foothills. Provides quick shade and screening where oaks take decades.

Citrus × meyeri

Verdict: The most cold-hardy lemon, suitable for protected spots in the foothills. Sweet, floral fruit year-round.

Acer palmatum

Verdict: The jewel of the shade garden. Requires protection from our hot afternoon sun and drying winds. this is a test

Phlomis fruticosa

Verdict: Indestructible. Fuzzy grey leaves and whorls of yellow flowers. Suppresses weeds effectively.

Lavandula x intermedia

Verdict: The commercial variety grown in Provence. Huge, long stems and intense fragrance. Very hardy.

Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'

Verdict: The gold standard for garden manzanitas. Tree-like form, mahogany bark, and reliable health make it a focal point.

Rubus ursinus

Verdict: Delicious ground cover that requires little care, and produces sweet fruit year after year

Penstemon heterophyllus

Verdict: The most reliable native penstemon. Electric blue-purple flowers that bloom for months.

Vinca Major

Verdict: Common ornamental escape in historic foothill towns. Non-native and often invasive near water or old homesteads.

Punica granatum

Verdict: Loves the heat, tolerates poor soil, and has beautiful orange flowers. The fruit is a bonus.

Cistus x pulverulentus 'Sunset'

Verdict: A low-growing spreader that covers dry banks with magenta flowers. Fire resistant if hydrated.

Salvia rosmarinus

Verdict: The ultimate Mediterranean shrub. Deer won't touch it, it smells great, and it cooks well.

Prunus salicina

Verdict: The classic backyard plum. Sweet, tart, and juicy. Needs a pollinator for best crops.

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Verdict: The go-to evergreen vine for trellises and fences. Intensely fragrant white flowers in early summer.

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Verdict: California's 'Christmas Berry'. An excellent, dense evergreen screen that feeds flocks of robins and cedar waxwings.

Quercus lobata

Verdict: The undisputed monarch of the California valley and foothills. Requires ample space but rewards you with shade and legacy for centuries.

Acer circinatum

Verdict: A stunning multi-stemmed small tree or shrub with brilliant fall color. Thrives in the shade of larger trees or along creeks.

Cercis occidentalis

Verdict: A four-season stunner: magenta spring blooms, heart-shaped summer leaves, and rusty seed pods in winter.

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Verdict: The Christmas camellia that lights up winter gardens with vibrant red blooms when everything else is dormant. Perfect for festive seasonal interest.