Acer circinatum (Vine Maple) is a species of maple native to western North America, from southwest British Columbia to northern California, usually within 300 km of the Pacific Ocean coast. It most commonly grows as a large shrub growing to around 5-8 meters tall, but it will occasionally form a small to medium-sized tree, exceptionally to 18 meters tall. The shoots are slender and hairless. It typically grows in the understory below much taller forest trees, but can sometimes be found in open ground, and occurs at altitudes from sea level up to 1,500 meter.

Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to the Pacific Coast and parts of inland California. It provides dense summer shade and brilliant fall color in colder regions. Its signature feature is its massive, lobed leaves, which can grow nearly two feet across.

This tree thrives with moisture and adapts to various soils, though it prefers good drainage. While it can grow too large for small gardens, it is well-suited to natural landscapes. Pruning should be done in winter.

Bigleaf maple supports wildlife by providing food for birds, small mammals, and mule deer, while its leaves sustain numerous insects.

Box elder (Acer negundo), sometimes called boxelder, is a type of maple tree commonly found growing in moist areas near streams and rivers. Box elder is a deciduous tree with pinnate compound leaves (small leaflets that branch out of a single stem). The leaves turn yellow in the fall. Clusters of small flowers appear in spring. The flowers on female trees develop winged fruits called samaras. The flowers attract pollinators and the seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.

Box elder is an attractive tree that provides shade and visual interest in the landscape. Some gardeners prefer male box elders because they are less messy than female trees. Gardeners should also be aware that this tree sends out suckers which can become weedy and invasive. This fast-growing tree needs a large planting area as it can reach over 50 ft tall - and nearly as wide - when mature. It also requires a moderate to high level of moisture, including weekly supplemental irrigation in summer.

Box elder gets its name from its wood, which is used to make boxes and crates. The wood pulp is used in paper making. Like other maples, the tree's sweet sap can be cooked into a syrup.

Yarrow is an all-star, popular plant choice among California native gardeners, including beginners! It is durable and easy to grow in a wide range of soil types and has low moisture requirements. It reseeds and spreads quickly, making it a good groundcover plant for lawn replacement.

Yarrow's abundant white flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other insects. It is a staple in native pollinator gardens throughout the state. Yarrow has many alternative common names, including soldier's woundwort and nosebleed plant. They reflect its long history as an important medicinal plant.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Achillea millefolium from the northern Channel Islands. Achillea millefolium 'Island Pink' is a perennial Yarrow that spreads by rhizomes. Island Pink is native to Santa Cruz Island and is distinguished from our common White Yarrow by its bright pink flowers. Dark green foliage is topped with clusters of bright pink flowers on 1-1/2' tall stems, over a long season. Best in full sun if coastal, part shade inland. Tolerant of drought, swamp and alkali conditions, or rocky to clay soils. This is a nectar plant for butterflies and other pollinators. Plant in meadows, or flower borders for a splash of color.

Good habitat value, providing nectar for bees and butterflies. The foliage is deer resistant. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden from sonoma Co. near Windy Ridge above Mattole River.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Acmispon amiericanus is a native annual herb in the Fabaceae (Legume) family that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California in most habitats except desert. It tends to grow in streambanks and wet places, at elevations from sea level to 7,900 feet, often in disturbed areas. As with other members of this genus, it is not often used in gardens but is useful for restoration projects.

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, chinaberry, doll's eye) is a poisonous herbaceous flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to North America. They are found growing in shady areas with moist to wet soils, open forest or dry slopes. In Alaska it ranges from the Kenai Peninsula, through Kodiak Island, Bristol Bay, and up the Yukon River. Ecology. Plants are slow growing and take a few years to grow large enough to flower. The western subspecies is ssp. arguta, and the northern subspecies is ssp. rubra. These subspecies are not well differentiated, and in many locations, each grades in to the other over much of their ranges. The foliage is rarely consumed by grazing animals. The poisonous berries are harmless to birds, the plants' primary seed disperser. Uses. This plant is grown in shade gardens for its attractive berries and upright clump forming habit. Native Americans used the juice from the fruits of various baneberry species to poison arrows, and used the root as a herbal remedy for menstrual problems. The root of this species has been used as a strong alternative to Black Cohosh, (Cimicifuga racemosa) for menstrual cramping and menopausal discomfort. Toxicity. These open woodland plants grow 40 cm (16 in) to 80 cm (31 in) tall. The leaves are coarsely toothed with deeply lobed margins. Plants commonly have hairy veins on the undersides of the foliage. Each stem will have either three leaves that branch near the top, or will have three compound leaves and one upright flowering stalk from one point on the main central stem. Plants produce one to a few ternately branched stems which bear clusters of flowers having 3 to 5 sepals that are petal-like and obovate in shape and remain after flowering. The petals are deciduous, falling away after flowering is done. They are clawed at the base and 2. 5 mm to 4 mm long and spatulate to odovate in shape. Flowers have numerous stamens and they are white in color. After flowering green berries are produced. The fruits are ellipsoid shaped berries containing several seeds.

Chamise, or Greasewood, (Adenostoma fasciculatum), a member of the Rose family, is a flowering plant native to California and northern Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the chaparral biome, sometimes forming monotypic stands.

Chamise is an evergreen shrub with dry-looking stick-like branches. The leaves are quite small, sprouting in clusters from the branches. Its leaves are shiny with flammable oils, especially in warmer weather. Chamise is said to be highly flammable but can be more fire-resistant with occasional watering. The branches terminate in bunches of white tubular flowers.

Chamise is one of the best plants for anchoring a slope and resisting erosion, due to its wide-spreading and deeply-penetrating roots. In maturity, it develops a large burl from which it will resprout after fire or severe pruning. In the wild, it is the host plant of a common root parasite, Chaparral Broomrape.

There are three recognized varieties of this plant. Adenostoma fasciculatum var. fasciculatum is found throughout the range of the species. Adenostoma fasciculatum var. obtusifolium is found only in San Diego and Orange Counties. Adenostoma fasciculatum var. prostratum, a low-growing form, is found primarily on the northern Channel Islands. A cultivar known as 'Black Diamond' (Adenostoma fasciculatum 'Black Diamond') is popular and widely available.

Horticultural selection from Adenostoma fasciculatum from Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in the san Francisco Bay Area near Concord. Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for use in the garden. Cuttings from Black Diamond Mines Regional park (Contra Costa County).

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden from san Nicolas Island by Tree of Life Nursery.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selection from santa Cruz Island.

Adenostoma sparsifolium (Redshanks or less commonly, Ribbonwood) is a multi-trunked tree or shrub in the Rosaceae (Rose) family that is native to dry inland slopes or chaparral of Southern California and northern Baja California below 6,000 ft. Shaggy falling shanks or ribbons of bark are one of the strongest characteristics of the tree, hence the common names. Redshanks are closely related to the more abundant Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). Members of this genus are very deep rooted and important slope stabilizers. The foliage is feather-like, allowing the trunk and main branches to show through. The flowers are small but attractive. The fruit is an achene which is valued by small birds. Red Shank is an attractive garden tree, especially when planted in a small grouping.

Banksianum Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris 'Banksianum') is an uncommon cultivar or clone of the native Southern Maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) that was selected for horticulture.

This fern has a graceful form, with mature arching fronds 12 to 18 inches tall and wide. The fronds divide to display bright green broadly triangular shaped leaflets on the black leaf stems. This fern grows best in loamy, medium to slow draining soil that's consistently moist. It's good in containers receiving regular watering, and adjacent to water features. In the ground it can tolerate infrequent irrigation and be relatively fairly drought-tolerant because if necessary it can recede in summer dormancy to return when moisture is available.

It prefers shaded areas with bright indirect light in coastal and inland gardens. It is evergreen to about 20 degrees F, but will rebound after colder frosts.

Adiantum jordanii is a perennial species Pteridaceae known by the common name California maidenhair. It is native to California and Baja California. It grows in shaded woods, usually in wetter spots such as moist rock outcropping and lower parts of north facing slopes. It can take a little sun near the coast or full shade inland. Each trailing leaf may reach over half a meter in length and is made up of many rounded green segments. Each segment has two to four lobes and it may split between the lobes, the underside of each segment bearing one to four sori. It remains evergreen with regular water or will go dormant if allowed to dry out in summer but should recover. It forms a slowly expanding clump. Adiantum jordanii is a host for the Sudden Oak Death pathogen, and for this reason it may be difficult to find in native plant nurseries.

California Buckeye (also known as California Horse-chestnut) is a large shrub or small tree. It is typically multi-trunked and spreads out, with a crown as broad as it is high. California Buckeye is a species in the Sapindaceae family that is endemic to California; it is the only buckeye native to the state.

California Buckeye has gray bark that is often coated with lichens or mosses. It has dark green leaves that can be prone to damage from both spring freezing or snow and summer heat. It tends to leaf out in early spring, followed by creamy-white to pale pink-flower spikes. Some say the flowers resemble candles from afar and butterflies love them!

It has large, shiny round nut-like fruit that appear in late summer and drop in late fall to early winter. Be careful when using this plant in the garden, because all parts of the fruits are toxic.

This plant is very drought tolerant and does well on dry slopes, but looks better with some water. Native (white-flowered) varieties seem to have lower water requirements and are tolerant of recycled water.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selection for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Allium amplectens is a species of wild onion known by the common name narrowleaf onion. It is native to western North America where it grows in woods and especially in clay and serpentine soils. It grows from a pinkish-brown bulb and sends up a naked green stem topped with an flower cluster. When closed the flower cluster is wrapped in bright pink to magenta leafs. It opens to produce between 10 and 50 shiny white to pale pink flowers, each under a centimeter wide. The six stout stamens and the ovary are white or tinted pink or lavender. It is a fairly widespread species.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Allium anceps, known by the common names twinleaf onion and Kellogg's onion, is an onion that is native to the Great Basin of North America. It is widespread in Nevada and adjacent portions of California, Idaho and Oregon. It grows in relatively small and isolated areas, but growth is typically dense, often to the exclusion of all other vegetation. It has two flat and narrow leaves which first appear in late winter, and grow up to 10 centimeter in length. It has a pink or purple flower head which grows on a separate stalk starting in mid-spring. By early summer the above-ground portions of the plant die, and there is little evidence of the plant's existence throughout much of the year. The bulb is white with a yellow or brown husk, and approximately 1 centimeter in diameter. It is edible, although it has a strong oniony taste.

Allium crispum is a species of wild onion known by the common name crinkled onion. It is endemic to California, USA, where it grows along the Central Coast, often in clays and serpentine soils. This onion grows from a bulb one to one and a half centimeters wide and sends up naked green stems topped with flower clusters of many flowers, each on a short pedicel. The flowers are magenta in color and have six triangular petals. The inner three petals are smaller and crinkled like cloth and may curl under.

Allium dichlamydeum is a species of wild onion known by the common name coastal onion. It is endemic to California where it grows on sea cliffs on the coastline in the northern half of the state. The coastal onion grows from a brown or gray bulb one to one and a half centimeters wide. It has a stout naked green stem surrounded by 3 to 6 long onion leaves. Atop the thick stem is an flower cluster of five to 30 flowers. Each flower has six oval-shaped dull-pointed petals in shades of bright magenta to fuchsia and each flower is about a centimeter wide.

Allium falcifolium is a species of wild onion known by the common name scytheleaf onion. It is native to northern California and southern Oregon, where it grows in heavy, rocky soils, especially serpentine soils. The scytheleaf onion grows from a reddish-brown bulb one to two centimeters wide. The reddish or yellowish green stem is flattened such that it is thick in the center and thin along the edges. There are usually two leaves, which, as its common name suggests, are curved like the blade of a scythe The stem is short and topped with an flower cluster of 10 to 30 flowers, each of which is one to one and a half centimeters wide. Each flower has six pinkish, red-purple, or white-streaked purple petals.

Allium haematochiton is a North American species of wild onion known by the common name redskin onion. It is native to northern Baja California, Sonora, and southern California as far north as Kern County. It grows on the slopes of the hills and mountains, such as those of the Peninsular Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and southern California Coast Ranges. . Allium haematochiton has a small rhizome associated with clusters of brightly colored red bulbs. From these grow several naked green stems, each with a few withering, curling leaves. Atop each stem is an inflorescence of several flowers, each on a short pedicel. Each flower is just under a centimeter wide and white to pinkish with dark midveins. There are six stout stamens around a white or pink ovary. USDA Plants Profile 

Allium lemmonii is a species of wild onion known by the common name Lemmon's onion. It is native to the western United States, particularly higher-elevation areas in the Great Basin. Lemmon's onion grows from a bulb one and a half to two centimeters wide and has a short, flattened stem which is thin along the edges. Atop the stem is an flower cluster of 10 to 40 flowers which may be white to pink. The stamens may be light or dark in color. The ovary has a distinctive ridged mound shape in which all of the ovary parts appear melded together. This is a common plant in its native range. It favors dry clay soils.

Allium parvum is a species of wild onion known by the common name small onion. It is native to the western United States where it is a common member of the flora in rocky, dry areas, especially in talus. This onion has a bulb one to two and a half centimeters wide and bears a relatively short stem for an onion species, reaching a maximum of 12 centimeters tall. The two leaves are sickle-shaped. Atop the stem is an flower cluster of fewer than 30 flowers, which are generally pale pink with prominent dark midveins. This plant was a food and flavoring for the Paiute people.

Allium praecox is a species of wild onion known by the common name early onion. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of southern California and Baja California, including the Channel Islands, where it grows in shady areas in clay soils. This onion grows from a brownish or grayish bulb between one and two centimeters long. It produces a stem up to 60 centimeters long and two or three long, keeled leaves about the same length or sometimes a little longer. The flower cluster holds up to 40 flowers, each on a long pedicel up to 4 centimeters long. The flowers are purple-veined pink and dry to a papery texture as they age.

Allium tolmiei is a species of wild onion native to the northwestern United States, and found in Lassen, Trinity and Modoc counties in California. It has white or pink flowers, and thick curving green leaves. Allium is the onion genus, with 600-750 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. Tolmie's Onion is one of them. William Fraser Tolmie (aka "Dr. Tolmie") (February 3, 1812 - December 8, 1886) was a Canadian surgeon, fur trader, scientist, and politician. He was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1812 and by 1833 moved to the Pacific Northwest in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Plants bearing his name include Tolmie's star-tulip (Calochortus tolmiei) and Tolmie's onion (Allium tolmiei).

Tolm's Onion (Allium tolmiei var. tolmiei) is a uncommon native perennial herb that grows in Northern California, primarily in the Warner Mountains and Modoc Plateau regions. It tends to grow in rocky clay flats, at elevations from 4900-7200 feet.

Allium unifolium, the one-leaf onion or American garlic, is a North American species of wild onion. It is native to the coastal mountain ranges of California, Oregon, and Baja California. It grows on clay soils including serpentine, at elevations up to 1100 m. Allium unifolium, despite its name, usually has 2-3 flat leaves up to 50 cm long. Bulbs, though, are usually solitary, egg-shaped, up to 2 cm long, often formed at the end of rhizomes spreading out from the parent plant. Scapes are round in cross-section, up to 80 cm tall. Flowers are up to 15 mm across; tepals usually pink but occasionally white; anthers yellow or purple.

Alnus incana (Grey or Speckled Alder) is a species in the Betulaceae (Birch) family with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In California it is found primarily in the Sierras. It is a small to medium size tree 15-20 meter tall with smooth grey bark even in old age, its life span being a maximum of 60-100 years. The leaves are matte green, ovoid, 5-11 centimeter long and 4-8 centimeter broad. The flowers are catkins, appearing early in spring before the leaves emerge, the male catkins pendulous and 5-10 centimeter long, the female catkins 1.5 centimeter long and one centimeter broad when mature in late autumn. The seeds are small, 1-2 millimeter long, and light brown with a narrow encircling wing. The Grey Alder has a shallow root system, and is marked not only by vigorous production of stump suckers, but also by root suckers, especially in the northern parts of its range. The wood resembles that of the black alder, but is somewhat paler and of little commercial value.

White alder (Alnus rhombifolia) is a fast-growing deciduous tree in the birch family (Betulaceae), native to western North America at elevations of 300–7,900 feet. It thrives in moist soils, often found along streambanks and other wet areas.

This tree provides excellent shade, with dark green leaves in summer that drop in winter. In early spring, before the leaves emerge, white alder produces noticeable male catkins, which hang in clusters and release large amounts of pollen. The female catkins mature in autumn, resembling small cones that may persist on the tree for up to a year.

White alder is heat and wind tolerant but requires deep watering to establish. Its roots can be invasive, so it should be planted with caution, especially near structures or small residential gardens. However, it is an excellent choice for woodland plantings and riparian areas.

This tree has high wildlife value. It serves as a larval food plant for the Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and provides habitat and food for various bird species.

Alnus rubra (red alder) is a deciduous broadleaf tree in the Betulaceae (Birch) family native to western North America. In California it is found primarily along the coast from San Luis Obispo County northward. In southern california Alnus rhombifolia is the more commonly found alder. Red Alder is the largest species of alder in North America and one of the largest in the world, reaching heights of 20-30 meters. The official tallest red alder (1979) stands 32 meters tall in Clatsop County, Oregon (USA). The name derives from the bright rusty red color that develops in bruised or scraped bark. The bark is mottled, ashy-gray and smooth, often draped with moss. Large trees are often unbranched for a considerable distance from the ground. The leaves are ovate, 7-15 centimeter long, with bluntly serrated edges and a distinct point at the end; the leaf margin is revolute, the very edge being curled under, a diagnostic character which distinguishes it from all other alders. The leaves turn yellow in the autumn before falling. The male flowers are dangling reddish catkins 10-15 centimeter long in early spring, and female flowers are erect catkins which develop into small, woody, superficially cone-like oval dry fruit 2-3 centimeter long. The flowers are wind pollinated, and a large amount of airborne pollen is produced in early spring. The seeds develop between the woody leaves of the 'cones' and are shed in the autumn and winter.

Surface roots can be problematic if the tree receives frequent, shallow watering. Better to water deep and infrequently. Established trees with deep roots can be surprisingly drought tolerant. This is a large tree that requires plenty of space. Best suited for restoration or large gardens with bioswales or streams.

Ambrosia psilostachya is a species of ragweed known by the common names Cuman ragweed, perennial ragweed, and western ragweed. It is native to most of North America including all of southern Canada, nearly all of the continental United States, and the northern half of Mexico. It is a common plant in many habitat types, including disturbed areas such as roadsides. It can be found in parts of Eurasia as an introduced species. This is an erect perennial herb growing a slender, branching, straw-colored stem to a maximum height near two meters, but more often remaining under one meter tall. Leaves are up to 12 centimeters long and vary in shape from lance-shaped to nearly oval, and they are divided into many narrow, pointed lobes. The stem and leaves are hairy. The top of the stem is occupied by an flower cluster which is usually a spike. The species is monoecious, and the flower cluster is composed of staminate (male) flower heads with the pistillate heads located below and in the axils of leaves. The pistillate heads yield fruits which are achenes located within oval-shaped greenish-brown burs about half a centimeter long. The burs are hairy and sometimes spiny. The plant reproduces by seed and by sprouting up from a creeping rhizome-like root system. This plant had a number of medicinal uses among several different Native American groups.

Amorpha fruticosa is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by several common names, including desert false indigo and bastard indigobush. It is found throughout eastern Canada, northern Mexico, and most of the continental United States. In California it is native to the southwestern part of the state with scattered occurrences in the central valley. A. fruticosa grows as a hairy, thornless shrub which can reach 3 to 4 meters in height and spread to twice that in width. It is somewhat variable in morphology. The leaves are made up of many hairy, oval-shaped, spine-tipped leaflets. The flower cluster is a spike-shaped raceme of many flowers, each with a single purple petal and ten protruding stamens with yellow anthers. The fruit is a legume pod containing one or two seeds.

This plant likes moist (but not saturated) areas, and will spread wherever it finds suitable moisture. It is loosely branched and can become leggy with age; it needs plenty of room to spread out. Its spreading tendency and fibrous root system make it useful for bank stabilization. It is winter deciduous so will be less attractive for several months out of the year. It is the host plant for the Southern Dogface butterfly.

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is a native perennial herb in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family that grows primarily in northern and central California. It is fast growing and short-lived. It grows in an upright form, with active growth during the spring and summer.

Flowers are yellow and striking, blooming in early summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. Pearly Everlasting tends to grow in disturbed or recently burned places, at elevations from 0 to 8500 feet. This species is not to be confused with those plants in the genus Pseudognaphalium that are similar in appearance and also known as Everlasting.

Yerba mansa or lizard tail, is a perennial flowering plant within the family Saururaceae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Anemopsis. It is native to southwestern North America. In early spring numerous tiny white flowers are borne on a cone which is surrounded by 4-9 large white spoon-shaped bracts that look like petals. As it matures, the visible part of the plant develops red stains, eventually turning bright red in the fall. Yerba mansa means "calming herb" in Spanish (yerba = "herb"; mansa = "calm or tranquil").

Yerba Mansa requires moist soil, so best to plant in streambeds, seeps or other damp areas. It goes dormant and basically disappears from late summer to early winter, and re-sprouts from the roots in late winter. It produces beautiful white flowers in the early spring that remain on the plant until it starts to go dormant in late summer. It will often spread out like a carpet throughout the damper soil, and choke out any other plants in the area, and in particular while it's blooming, it's quite beautiful.

Aquilegia eximia is a species of columbine known by the common name Van Houtte's columbine. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the moist forests of the Coast Ranges. This is a perennial herb growing from a thick caudex and varying in height, reaching a maximum height near 5 feet. The lower leaves are divided into large, leaflike segments up to 1.5 to 2 inches long and a lobed oval in shape. Leaves farther up the stem are not segmented but may be deeply lobed. The flower cluster bears a large, nodding columbine flower. Each flower has five bright red to orange-red flat sepals up to 1 inch long, and five petals which are hollow spurs 0.5 to 1.5 inches long, bright orange-red on the outer surface and lighter orange to yellow inside. The mouth of each hollow petal tube is up to a centimeter wide. The sepals and petals are generally reflexed back toward the stem and the five pistils and many thin stamens extend forward from the center of the flower.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Garden selection of stream side species (Aquilegia formosa).

A horticultural selection of hybrid manzanita, crossing Arctostaphylos bakeri ssp. bakeri and Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel'. Hybrids of Arctostaphylos bakeri ssp. bakeri and Arctostaphylos densiflora are common in the wild. This medium sized Manzanita is distinguished by it's dark red almost purple bark and deep pink flowers. This evergreen shrub delights hummingbirds, butterflies and bumblebees who are attracted to the bell shaped pink flowers that cover the plant in late December, early January. Baby Bear has a reputation as a shrub that is easy to grow and tolerates most soils. It will reach 6'-8' with a similar spread. Ideal as a hedge or foundation shrub.
Introduction: Bert Wilson, Las Pilitas Nursery Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden by Bert Wilson, Las pilitas Nursery believed to be A. Standfordiana x densiflora hybrid.

Emerald carpet manzanita (a hybrid of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Arctostaphylos nummularia) is an evergreen groundcover that forms a dense mat of lush dark green foliage. It has red stems and white flowers in January and February, possibly earlier, attracting hummingbirds.

This plant is drought adapted and easy to care for. It tolerates clay soils but likes a rich, well-draining and acidic soil to look its best. It prefers sun in coastal sites, with some summer water, and part shade in inland sites.

Howard McMinn Manzanita (Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn') is an evergreen shrub in the Heath family (Ericaceae). One of the last manzanitas to bloom, this medium-sized, fine-textured shrub has small leaves and tiny pink flowers that appear in late winter through spring. As it matures it will open up and reveal more of it's twisting, red colored branches.

It is a popular choice for gardens due to its tolerance for different soils, summer watering, pruning, and shearing. Combine with other species of manzanitas for a long bloom season. Howard McMinn is tolerant of different types of soils, however, waterlogged soils should be avoided. Stop irrigating after it is established; generally after one or two years. Extra irrigation in summer will result in a short-lived shrub. Prune in fall to remove dead or dying wood, or to improve the shape. Howard McMinn takes shearing well and can be used for a hedge. Plant in full sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade if planted inland. Although manzanitas are naturally found in chaparral or open woodlands, this cultivar is one of the most tolerant of garden conditions.

Moths, hummingbirds, butterflies are attracted to the flowers, and animals eat the berries. Deer may eat the berries but generally leave the plant alone. The fruits are also edible for people. Traditionally they were dried and ground for a type of granulated sugar. They were also used to make cider. Manzanita is spanish for little apple, and the fruits do indeed resemble little apples.

Arctostaphylos hybrid. A medium size manzanita with all the characteristics of one of the larger species packed into a smaller specimen. If you love the look of the open-form, red-barked large manzanitas but have limited space then Ian Bush will be ideal. Ian Bush is a fast growing plant to about 4' and tends to stabilize at about 5'. It has beautiful green foliage with smooth red bark. The effect of the foliage is that it causes the pink flowers to really stand out at the end of the stems. The foliage almost creates a picture frame for each of the of flower clusters. It is thought to be a hybrid of Arctostaphylos densiflora and Arctostaphylos pungens. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. possible hybrid of A.densiflora x A. pungens.

John Dourley Manzanita is much loved for its reddish bronze new growth, blush-colored berries, and muted green color of older leaves. It is a low, mounding shrub that makes a great understory for mature trees, or a foundation plant for large planters, parkways, banks, or hillsides. Manzanitas provide nectar for hummingbirds, berries for songbirds and wonderful habitat for other native critters.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for use in the garden
(A. Silvicola x stanfordiana x bakeri hybrid).

This upright form, evergreen shrub has a showy trunk that is purple-brown and grey-green foliage.Its many pink flowers attract hummingbird,bees and pollinators in winter and early spring. Mama Bear will reach 6'-8' high and spread about 4'-6' It is though to be a natural hybrid of A. densiflora x manzanita.
Introduction: Bert Wilson, Las Pilitas Nursery Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Hybrid of A. densiflora x A. manzanita.

Pacific Mist Manzanita (Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist') is a spreading ground-cover manzanita with pointed gray-green leaves and white flowers in late winter. It is a hybrid of undetermined manzanita species, possibly including Arctostaphylos silvicola.

This manzanita is fast-growing for its species and tolerates dry shade, a rare characteristic for manzanitas. It thrives in coastal gardens, especially in beach sand, but will also do well in heavier soils. It is easy to grow and tolerant of various garden conditions, though it requires pruning at least twice a year to keep it in check. Pacific Mist Manzanita is a great choice for planting over retaining walls or in containers.

The white flowers attract hummingbirds, while the berries are a favorite of birds, making it a valuable plant for wildlife-friendly gardens. This hybrid was introduced by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in 1981 and is speculated to be a cross of Arctostaphylos silvicola and another species.

Arctostaphylos bakeri is a species of manzanita known by the common name Baker's manzanita. It is endemic to Sonoma County, California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodlands of the North Coast Ranges. It is sometimes a member of the serpentine soils flora. This is a shrub growing one to three meters in height. Its smaller twigs are bristly and hairy or hairy to woolly. The dark green leaves are generally oval in shape and up to 3 centimeters long. They may be hairy, rough or fuzzy in texture, and dull or shiny in appearance. The plentiful flower clusters hold crowded clusters of urn-shaped manzanita flowers. The fruit is a hairless drupe up to a centimeter wide. Arctostaphylos bakeri does best in nutrient-poor clay or loam soils that retain more water. While it can usually tolerate occasional summer water, it is best to stop all summer water after the first year. Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds' is the standard form of this manzanita available at native plant nurseries.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos bakeri ssp. bakerii. Tolerates a wide variety of soils, but is fairly intolerant of summer water or added fertilizer. Louis Edmunds manzanita brings the form and characteristics of a large manzanita tree in a compact form much more suited to smaller gardens and landscapes. This shrub grows to a height and spread of 6 to 8 foot, with an upright form and evergreen foliage. Attractive purple bark provides year-round beauty, supplemented by pink flowers in the spring. This manzanita has gray-green foliage that contrasts beautifully with the deep purple bark. This adaptable specimen plant is known to be garden tolerant, able to grow in heavy clay soils or serpentinite, and also tolerant of loam or even decomposed granite. Adorned with pink flowers in spring, it's a delight to the hummingbirds and a fabulous addition to any landscape.

Horticultural selection A. bakeri: origin = north coast, selected by Louis Edmunds intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1962. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected from sonoma County by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Arctostaphylos catalinae, the Santa Catalina Island manzanita, is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family. It is endemic to California, where it grows wild only in the Channel Islands, specifically, Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands. This is a tall, bristly manzanita with a well defined trunk that is adapted to the stiff, saline breezes of the island bluffs in its habitat. It does not develop a basal burl and so does not sprout from the base after a fire. However, like other Manzanitas, the seeds germinate readily after fire. It is an attractive Manzanita that deserves to be used more often in coastal gardens.

Arctostaphylos cruzensis is a species of Heath (Ericaceae) known by the common names La Cruz manzanita and Arroyo de la Cruz manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California, where it grows in the sand of the coastline in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. It is considered rare due to its limited distribution. This region experiences summer fog that is an important part of its water budget. This is a very petite manzanita which grows flat on the ground or shaped into a low mound. The stem is covered in red shreddy bark. The small, pointed oval leaves are bright green and sometimes slightly toothed or with a fringe of hairs along the reddish edges. The flowers are very pale pink and urn-shaped with tapered throats. The fruits are hairy drupes up to a centimeter in diameter and containing angular seeds.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos densiflora. Harmony manzanita (A. densiflora 'Harmony') is an evergreen shrub suitable for a mounding groundcover or a low hedge. Harmony has astonishingly beautiful smooth red bark, a feature accentuated by the plant's larger-than-typical, softly pointed green leaves. It grows densely 2- 3' high with a 6'-8' spread, and takes shearing well. In spring, Harmony is illuminated with a multitude of tiny pink lanterns; the masses of urn-shaped flowers draw in hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Harmony manzanita tolerates many types of soil, including clay, sand, loam, and gravel. This easy to grow low shrub is able to withstand wet winter conditions including flooding while preferring dry summer conditions. Very cold tolerant. Drought and heat tolerant, it is a selection from the dry climate of sonoma county. On the coast, Harmony manzanita takes full sun, and inland would appreciate some afternoon shade to look its best. Very low water needs once established. A dependable variety of manzanita, tolerant of many garden conditions. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Sonoma County--Selected for use in the garden.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos densiflora in the foothills of the north coast mountains. Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel' is a medium manzanita that flowers heavily. It is related to Arctostaphylos Howard McMinn and offers much of the same garden tolerance as McMinn. Sentinel has grayer foliage and is taller with a more upright habit than Howard McMinn. Height at maturity six to eight feet with a spread of five feet. Sentinel will tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions including heavy, rich soils but is much happier in sandy loam or sand and is more drought tolerant than the other Arctostaphylos densiflora cultivars. 'Sentinel' is one of the best performers in beach sand, while also being known as very clay tolerant. Like most other manzanitas it does not tolerate salt spray. 'Sentinel' has red bark and seems to be one of the faster growing manzanitas growing to full size in a couple of years.

Horticultural selection A. densiflora: origin = north coast foothills; intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1962 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for use in the garden; introduced by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.