Horticultural selection from salvia munzii. This salvia is a small mounding plant with beautiful green foliage and pretty blue flowers. It is a great addition for a bird garden as birds love the blue flowers that come every blooming season. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Pacific Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 18 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the mid summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 0-5900 feet.

Samolus valerandi is a species of water pimpernel native to a very wide area across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Common names include seaside brookweed, brookweed, thin-leaf brookweed, water cabbage, and water rose. The plant can be grown in ponds, bog gardens, and damp areas in the garden. S. valerandi prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils, preferably neutral or basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot tolerate shade and likes a bright, sunny position. It requires moist or wet soil and can even grow in water. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure and is self-fertile. S. valerandi is sometimes grown in aquariums, although they seem to last only a limited time when grown fully submersed.

Sanicula arctopoides is a species of sanicle known commonly as footsteps of spring, bear's foot sanicle or yellow mats. It is a perennial herb found on the west coast of the United States, especially near the ocean. The branches are short and thick and may be prostrate or slightly erect. The leaves are yellowish-green and carrot-like or maple-shaped, and the tiny yellow flowers are borne in umbels with prominent bracts. The plants grow in low matted patches along the ground, resembling "footsteps" of yellow against the background. This is a protected species in some areas.

Sanicula arguta is a species of flowering plant in the parsley family known by the common names sharptooth sanicle and sharptooth blacksnakeroot. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of the central coast and southern California and Baja California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Channel Islands. It grows in many types of local habitat, including California chaparral and woodlands. Sanicula arguta is a perennial herb growing from a thick taproot resembling a turnip. The plant is mostly erect, growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are divided into several sharp-toothed lobes. The inflorescence is made up of one or more heads of bisexual and male-only flowers with tiny, curving, golden yellow petals. The prickly fruits are about half a centimeter long.

Saxifraga mertensiana (Mertens' Saxifrage) is a species of plant in the Saxifragaceae family. It is native to western North America.

Scrophularia atrata is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the figwort family known by the common names black-flowered figwort and darkflowered figwort. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from a section of the Central Coast Ranges in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. It grows in the calcareous and diatomaceous soils of the coastal canyons at elevations not exceeding 500 meters. There have been 44 observed occurrences of this species, but perhaps 25 of these are historic and may no longer exist. This plant is a perennial herb producing an erect, four-sided stem up to a meter tall or slightly taller. It is somewhat hairy to densely woolly in texture. The leaves have toothed oval blades up to 10 centimeters long which are borne on long petioles. The inflorescence is a wide-open panicle with several hairy, glandular branches bearing flowers. The flower has an urn-shaped corolla with a rounded body and an open mouth at the top which is edged with hoodlike lobes. The corolla is deep, dark red to nearly black in color. The fruit is a capsule just under a centimeter long containing many seeds.

California bee plant (Scrophularia californica) is a perennial in the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). The flowers are red to maroon and are so small that they are easy to miss. The wedge -shaped light green leaves are much larger than the flowers.

As the name suggests, bees are extremely attracted to the flowers. An important food source for small wasps and hummingbirds, it is also a host plant for the Chalcedon Checkerspot and Common Buckeye butterflies.

Bee plant grows in several habitats, including Wetland-Riparian, Coastal Sage Scrub, Pine Forests, Chaparral, and Redwood Forest. In moist soils it will form large colonies, but it can also successfully be grown in a pot.

Plant bee plant in the back of a perennial border where the tall stems won't block out shorter perennials, and where it can blend in when not in flower. Bee Plant flowers look like small, red jewels when backlit by the sun.

Scrophularia villosa is a species of flowering plant in the figwort family known by the common name Santa Catalina figwort. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California, where it is known only from Catalina and San Clemente Islands. It grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat. It is a shrub growing between one and two meters tall.

Yellow Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) is a native perennial herb in the Crassulaceae (Stonecrop) family that is found in rocky or mountainous areas over a large part of the state, but more commonly in northern California. It is also found northward to British Columbia. It tends to grow in a hanging or sprawling manner on the face of cliffs or steep rocky outcrops, often in shade, at elevations from 0-7500 feet. The leaves are somewhat thick and succulent. In spring the plant puts up an erect flower stalk with diminutive yellow flowers. This succulent works well in rock gardens in northern California. Plant at an angle so that water does not collect on the crown. In its native setting this plant receives abundant moisture in winter/spring, then remains relatively dry through summer. It is evergreen but may shrivel somewhat in summer.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected by Jenny Flemming from the salmon Mountains in northwestern California.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selection from port Orford, Oregon.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Selaginella bigelovii is a species of spikemoss known by the common names bushy spikemoss and Bigelow's spikemoss. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows in rocky places in many different habitat types, from the coastline to the mountains to the deserts. This lycophyte forms clumps of spreading upright to erect stems up to 20 centimeters long with a few short lateral branches. The linear or lance-shaped green leaves are up to 4 millimeters long, including the tiny rigid bristles at their tips. They are flattened to the stem or stick out just a little. The strobili borne at the leaf bases are yellow-orange in color.

Selaginella wallacei is a species of spikemoss known by the common name Wallace's spikemoss. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Montana, where it can be found in many types of habitat, including open and shaded areas, and wet to dry environments. This lycophyte is variable in appearance, its form depending on the habitat it grows in. It can be spreading with many narrow branches, or a small, dense mat. The forking stems grow up to about 25 centimeters long, but may remain much shorter in dry conditions. They are lined with linear, lance-shaped, or oblong leaves up to 4 millimeters long including the bristles at the tips. The strobili containing the reproductive structures may be quite long, reaching up to 9 centimeters.

Senecio blochmaniae is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names dune ragwort and Blochman's ragwort. It is endemic to the Central Coast of California, where it is known only from the direct coastline of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. It grows in sand dunes and sandy areas on coastal floodplains. It is a subshrub producing several arching stems often well exceeding a meter tall from a thick taproot. The stems are covered in many leaves, which are linear in shape, thick, and measure up to 12 centimeters long. The lower leaves become dry and curl up. The flower heads are lined by about 13 green-tipped phyllaries. They contain many yellow disc florets and each has usually 8 narrow yellow ray florets about a centimeter long.

Senecio californicus is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name California ragwort. It is native to California as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area, and Baja California. It grows in sandy areas in several habitat types, and it is often seen at the coast in habitat such as sand dunes. It is an annual herb growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall or sometimes taller, from a taproot. The stems are solitary or grow in branching clusters. The leaves have linear or lance-shaped blades up to 7 centimeters long. They are sometimes fleshy, especially in plants that occur on the coastline. The inflorescence produces one to ten or more flower heads, which are lined with usually about 21 black-tipped phyllaries. They contain many yellow disc florets and each has usually 13 yellow ray florets about a centimeter long.

Douglas' Groundsel (Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry and rocky or sandy places, at elevations from 0-6500 feet.

Senecio lyonii is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name island senecio. This island endemic is known only from Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California and two of the Channel Islands of California, Catalina and San Clemente Islands. It grows in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral of the islands' hills and canyons. It is a shrub or subshrub growing from a woody taproot and reaching top heights well over one meter. The leaves have blades up to 12 centimeters long which are divided deeply into many narrow lobes. The inflorescence is made up of many clusters of flower heads. Each head has narrow phyllaries usually tipped with black, yellow disc florets and a fringe of yellow ray florets each about a centimeter long.

Sesuvium verrucosum is a species of flowering plant in the iceplant family known by the common names western sea-purslane and verrucose sea-purslane. It is native to the Americas, where it can be found in the southwestern quadrant of the United States, Mexico, and parts of South America. It grows in many types of saline and alkaline habitat types on the coast and inland, including salt marshes and other saline wetlands, alkali flats, and drying desert washes. It is a perennial herb producing many branching prostrate stems up to a metre long, forming a mat up to two metres wide. The herbage is verrucose, covered densely in crystalline bumps. The stems are lined with leaves of varying shapes which measure up to 4 cm long. Flowers occur in the leaf axils. They have no petals, but the five, pointed sepals are generally bright pink to reddish or orange in color with a thick, verrucose outer surface. At the centre of the flower is a ring of stamens around the central ovary. The fruit is a capsule about 500 mm long containing many seeds.

Setaria parviflora is a species of grass known by the common names marsh bristlegrass, knotroot bristle-grass, bristly foxtail and yellow bristlegrass. It is native to North America, including Mexico and the United States from California to the East Coast, Central America and the West Indies, and South America. This grass is a perennial with small, knotty rhizomes. It produces stems 30 centimeters to well over one meter tall. The leaf blades are up to 25 centimeters long and under a centimeter wide. The leaves are whitish-green. The inflorescence is a compact, spikelike panicle up to 8 or 10 centimeters long. Surrounding each spikelet are up to 12 yellow or purple bristles. The bristles stay on the stalk after the seeds drop away.

Salt Spring Checkerbloom (Sidalcea neomexicana) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 2.5 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are purple and striking, and bloom in the mid spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in alkaline springs and marshes, at elevations from 0-4900 feet.

Silene laciniata is a herbaceous flowering plant in the same family as carnations (Caryophyllaceae) that is commonly called Indian-pink, Mexican campion, or Mexican-pink. Many subspecies have been described in the past, and some of these names may still be in use. Presently, there are two recognized subspecies in California. Ssp. laciniata is found in the southern coastal part of the state from San Luis Obispo County to San Diego County and throughout much of the Baja peninsula. Ssp. californica is more often found in the central and northern parts of the state in hilly or mountainous areas including the Transverse Range, the Coast Ranges and the foothills of the Sierras. For gardening purposes, check with your nursery for the proper plants for your area.

Silenes develop a deep taproot that helps them get through a dry summer. They may go summer dormant or may stay green depending on conditions of shade, heat and moisture. The plant is valued for its bright red starburst flowers which are small but eye-catching. Silene often grows vine-like through adjacent plants to display its flowers in unexpected locations. Plant it where the small flowers will be most visible. It deserves to be used more often. The common name Catch-fly refers to the sticky hairy glands on the stems and leaves which sometimes trap tiny insects. It is not clear whether this contributes any nutrients to the plant.
Locate this plant behind something else, and let it grow forward to surprise the viewer with its luminous red flowers.

California Indian Pink (Silene californica) is a native annual herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-5000 feet.

Silene scouleri is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common names simple campion and Scouler's catchfly. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado. There are at least three subspecies which all vary in size, shape, habitat preference, and distribution. Some individuals are difficult to assign to a subspecies. ''Silene scouleri is a perennial herb producing one or more erect stems from a woody, branching caudex. The stem is usually unbranched, or simple, giving the plant its common name. The inflorescence may have few or many flowers in a dense or open cluster. Each flower has a tubular or bell-shaped calyx of fused sepals which has stark purple or green veins. The petals are white, sometimes with a greenish or pinkish tinge, or solid pink. They may have two to four lobes which are wide or narrow, rounded or pointed. Subspecies. Silene scouleri ssp. hallii - Hall's catchfly; in several areas of the Rocky Mountains, especially in Colorado. It has white, greenish, pinkish, or purple-tipped petals with two lobes, often with teeth along the sides. Silene scouleri ssp. pringlei - Pringle's catchfly; in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico, where it grows in mountains and canyons. It is slender and hairy. The petals are white, or green- or purple-tinged, and are deeply divided into fringelike lobes. Silene scouleri ssp. scouleri - Scouler's catchfly; along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to central California, and some areas inland. It grows in coastal prairie, bluffs, and other habitat. Its petals are white or pinkish, with two or four lobes and sometimes lateral teeth.

Silene verecunda is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name San Francisco campion. It is native to western North America, particularly California and Baja California, as well as Nevada and Utah. It grows in a number of habitat types, from coastline to high alpine mountain slopes, and including chaparral, woodlands, and meadows. Silene verecunda is an extremely variable plant. In general, it is a perennial herb growing 10 centimeters to over half a meter tall, usually with several erect stems. It is hairy, and usually glandular and sticky in texture. The lance-shaped leaves are variable in size, the largest ones usually growing at the caudex. Each flower is encapsulated in a tubular calyx of fused sepals which is lined with ten veins. The petals are white or pink and have two lobes in their tips and two appendages at their bases.

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) is a 1-ft-tall perennial herb that grows throughout California, usually in open places where there is some moisture, particularly grassy areas. It can also be found in woodlands and at altitudes up to almost 8000 feet.

Its leaves are grassy and tufted. The flowers are small and purplish-blue, varying somewhat in color from a true blue to a definite purple; occasional white-flowering plants are found. It flowers from January to July. After flowering, it dies back to the ground and is dormant over the summer. It prefers some moisture and good drainage, but will tolerate summer dryness.

It can be propagated by seed, and self-sows. It can also be propagated by division of its rhizomes, and the flower stems can be rooted. It is moderately hardy and will tolerate temperatures down to 20 degrees F.

Blue-eyed Grass is very easy to grow and will easily reseed. Best to plant on flat areas in loamy soils that that hold moisture well.

Even though it goes dormant in the summer in dryer, southern areas, Blue-eyed Grass is more likely to survive the summer drought with occasional watering. It's best to plant this at the edges of landscapes for pops of color.

This plant is on several fire-resistant plant lists, including FireSafe Marin and County of San Diego.

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

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

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

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

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

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. California and Oregon.

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

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

Horticultural selection from sisyrinchium bellum. This grass is a dwarf version of sisyrinchium bellum but shares similar characteristics. It has striking blue-violet flowers on this 6 in to 12 in. grass. It is highly recommended for rock gardens as well as bordering a pathway. It does really well in full sun and doesn't need a lot of water. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

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

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

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

Solanum douglasii is a species of nightshade known by the common name greenspot nightshade. It is native to the northern half of Mexico and the southwestern south-central United States. Its habitat includes scrub and woodland. Solanum douglasii is a perennial herb or subshrub approaching two meters in maximum height. The stem is coated in short, white hairs. The leaves may be up to 9 centimeters long and have smooth or toothed edges. The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped array of flowers with star-shaped white corollas up to a centimeter wide. There are generally green spots at the bases of the corolla lobes. The yellow anthers are a few millimeters in length. Flowers may be seen blooming throughout much of the year. The fruit is a spherical berry up to a centimeter wide. Native Americans used the juice of the berries medicinally, and as dye for tattooing.

Bluewitch Nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum) is a native shrub Solanaceae (Nightshade) family that is widespread in California in various habitats and vegetation communities, at elevations from sea level to 5,200 feet. The stems are densely hairy and branched. The leaves are grey-green, elliptical to oval, and typically smooth edged. The flower is blue to purple in color, consisting of five petals fused together, with contrasting yellow anthers. The fruit is a sphere 12-14 mm in size. Its habit is mounding or sometimes vining, often found climbing up through more woody shrubs. All parts of the plant are toxic to people and some animals. However, it is very attractive to insects. If given occasional summer water it will stay leafed-out and may even continue to flower. If allowed to dry it will be summer deciduous. This is a very tough, hardy plant that will survive on neglect.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden from santa Lucia Mountains.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Solidago confinis, commonly called southern goldenrod, is a North American species of flowering plants in the sunflower family. It is native to California, southern Nevada, and Baja California. Solidago confinis is a perennial herb sometimes as much as 200 cm (80 inches) tall, with a thick, woody underground caudex. One plant can produce up to 320 small yellow flower heads in a showy, branching array at the top of the stem.

Solidago spathulata, the coast goldenrod or dune goldenrod, is a North American species of goldenrod in the sunflower family. It is native to the Pacific Coastal regions of the United States, in the States of Oregon and California. Solidago spathulata is perennial herb up to 50 cm (20 inches) tall with a branching underground caudex. One plant can produce as many as 100 small yellow flower heads in a branching array. The species grows on coastal sand dunes and on hillsides overlooking the Pacific.

California goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. Californica) is a perennial herb that produces masses of yellow flowers when many other plants are dormant, in late summer and fall. It grows fast and produces many flower spikes up to 5 feet tall.  

Birds and pollinating insects love this plant. Throughout California it is found in open, grassy places up to an elevation of 7,500 feet.

This is a very garden tolerant, easy plant. It likes to be wet in winter/spring and dry in summer but can take extra water. Because it spreads from a creeping rootstock California goldenrod may become invasive; give it room.

Spergularia macrotheca is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name sticky sandspurry. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where it grows in many types of moist coastal and inland habitat, often in alkaline and saline substrates. It may be found in marshes, alkali flats, beaches, meadows, seeps, and vernal pools. It is a perennial herb producing a narrow stem up to 40 centimeters long with a woody, thickened base and taproot. They may grow erect or prostrate across the ground. It is covered in sticky glandular hairs, especially in the inflorescence. The stems are lined with fleshy linear leaves, sometimes tipped with spines. The leaves are accompanied by triangular stipules up to a centimeter long each. Flowers occur in clusters at the end of the stem as well as in leaf axils. The small flowers have five pointed sepals and five oval white to lavender-pink petals. The fruit is a capsule containing tiny reddish brown, winged seeds.

Sphaeralcea angustifolia is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names copper globemallow and narrow-leaved globemallow. It is native to the southwestern United States as well as northern and central Mexico, where it grows in desert and plateau habitat. It produces many erect stems, approaching three meters in maximum height. It is woolly or felt-like in texture. The gray-green leaf blades are lance-shaped and measure up to about 5 cm long. They have wavy or slightly lobed edges. The leafy inflorescence bears several flowers each with five wedge-shaped orange petals just under 1 cm in length, and yellow anthers. Media related to Sphaeralcea angustifolia at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Sphaeralcea angustifolia at Wikispecies

Sphaeralcea emoryi is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Emory's globemallow. It is native to the Southwestern United States, California and Northwestern Mexico. It grows in desert habitat and sometimes disturbed areas such as roadsides. Sphaeralcea emoryi can be similar to its relative, copper globemallow (Sphaeralcea angustifolia). It has woolly erect stems that can exceed two meters in height. The gray-green leaf blades are oval to triangular, usually lobed on the edges, and up to 5. 5 centimeters long. The showy inflorescence bears clusters of flowers each with five petals around a centimeter long. The petals are usually orange, or sometimes lavender.

Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) is a moderately fast-growing and moderately long-lived bunchgrass, native to southern and central California. It thrives in a variety of habitats, from coastal areas to foothills, central valley, and desert mountains, typically in locations with slightly more moisture. Its most notable feature is its ability to tolerate alkaline soils, which is reflected in its name. Early settlers viewed it as an indicator of underground water. This grass grows upright to a height of 3 feet, with active growth in spring and summer, producing yellow flowers that bloom in mid-summer. The showy seedheads persist throughout the summer and last for many months. The medium green leaves are deciduous and fall off in winter.

Alkali Sacaton is found in moist, but not saturated, places at elevations ranging from 0 to 6,900 feet. It can tolerate occasional foot traffic, but it should not be considered as a replacement for a lawn in areas that experience regular or heavy foot traffic.

Stachys ajugoides is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name bugle hedgenettle. It is native to western North America, where it can be found in many types of habitat in Oregon, California, and Baja California, especially moist areas. It is an aromatic herb with serrate leaves. The inflorescence is a spike of interrupted clusters of flowers, often in shades of pink. Media related to Stachys ajugoides at Wikimedia Commons

White Hedge Nettle, Stachys albens, is a mint endemic to California. The plant is fuzzy all over, with opposite, triangular, serrate leaves, a square stem, and a fragrant minty smell if bruised. It produces a layered spike of many small white to cream colored flowers with purplish veins. Each flower has a 2-lipped and 5-lobed calyx which is densely cobwebby.

Stachys albens occurs between sea level (0 ft.) and 9000 ft. (2740 m) in nature. It is found in moist to wet riparian, bog, seep, and swamp habitats within the following plant communities: Central, Foothill, and Southern Oak Woodland; Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub;, Valley Grassland; Wetland-Riparian; Yellow Pine Forest; Red Fir Forest; Lodgepole Pine Forest; California Mixed Evergreen Forest; and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland (Mojave and Colorado Deserts).

White Hedge Nettle is very easy to grow in sun (coast-high elevations) to part sun (coast-inland) in regularly watered landscape areas. It is a winter deciduous/dormant perennial plant, and in dryer gardens it may go partially or fully summer dormant/deciduous also. It spreads by rhizomes to the edge of moisture, and in consistently moist garden conditions can become invasive. Stachys albens is a larval host for the Variable Checkerspot. Butterfly.

California Hedgenettle (Stachys bullata) is a perennial evergreen herb in the Mint family. California Hedgenettle is a delicate, attractive flowering plant that performs well in damp, partially shaded areas. It tends to grow in wet, swampy, boggy places, at elevations from sea level to 1,600 feet. The leaves are deep green and tongue-shaped. Two-lipped purple or pink flowers bloom on stalks spring through summer.

Throughout the rest of the year, the plant forms a bushy, spreading groundcover. Like most wetland plants, it spreads to occupy suitably damp land but is easily controlled. California Hedgenettle thrives in partially shaded areas and will tolerate clay soils. While not drought adapted, this plant is a good choice for bioswales, pond margins, and similar areas where a showy, flowering plant may be desired.

California Hedgenettle attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other insects. Despite its common name, it does not form a hedge nor sting like true nettles.