Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Eschscholzia lemmonii is a species of poppy known by the common name Lemmon's poppy. It is endemic to California, where its distribution includes the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, and Transverse Ranges. One subspecies, the Tejon poppy, ssp. kernensis, is limited to the mountains of Kern County surrounding the Grapevine. This wildflower is an annual herb growing from a patch of segmented leaves made up of round-edged leaflets. The erect stalks grow up to 30 centimeters tall and bear orange or dark yellow poppy flowers. The fruit is a capsule 3 to 7 centimeters long containing tiny netted brown seeds.

Eschscholzia lobbii is a species of poppy known by the common name frying pans. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the Central Valley and adjacent Sierra Nevada foothills. Frying pans is a small annual herb growing from a patch of segmented leaves with pointed leaflets. It produces erect stalks up to 15 centimeters in height each bearing a single poppy flower. The petals are about a centimeter long and bright yellow to somewhat orange. The fruit is a capsule 3 to 7 centimeters long containing tiny brown seeds. The plant is named after William Lobb (1809 - 1864), the English plant collector.

Though not used as often as California Poppy (E. californica), this one would be a great choice for Central Valley gardens. Its best use is in a meadow-like patch of annual wildflowers.

Camissonia californica is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name California suncup. It is native to California, Arizona, and adjacent northwestern Mexico, where it grows in scrub and chaparral plant communities. This is an annual herb which produces a basal rosette of leaves and then bolts a slender, erect stem which can exceed 1.5 meters in height. The larger leaves are located in the ground-level rosette; those on the stem are small and thready. The upper stem is an flower cluster bearing widely spaced flowers on long pedicels. Each flower is a cup of four bright yellow petals, sometimes with red speckles near the bases. Behind the flowers are four smaller sepals, which are greenish and reflexed back against the pedicel. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule 4 to 10 centimeters long.

Euphorbia crenulata is a species of spurge native to the western United States, especially California and Oregon. Its common name is Chinese caps. Its leaves vary in shape and size but they often curve up and come together to form a bowl shape. The small fruits are green, fleshy, and lobed. The flower has two distinct horns.

Euphorbia spathulata is a species of spurge known by the common names warty spurge and roughpod spurge. It is native to the Americas, where it is widespread in many habitats. Euphorbia spathulata is an annual herb not exceeding half a meter in height with oval-shaped leaves one to three centimeters long. The upper stem may be bright to dull red and is hairless. At the tips of the stems are inflorescences of tiny glandular flowers. The fruit is a rounded green capsule a few millimeters wide with obvious bumps on the surface. It contains light brown netted seeds.

Euthamia occidentalis, known by the common names Western Goldenrod and Western Goldentop, is a deciduous flowering perennial plant. It is native to most of the western states. It is most widespread in California, where it is primarily found at elevations below 5,000 feet, in damp ground along rivers and streams, irrigation ditches, meadows, tidal channels, fresh to brackish marshes, and other wetlands.



Western Goldentop is a spreading rhizomatous plant with thin, tall, and branched stems clad with long, narrow, gray-green leaves. It will usually grow from 4 to 6 feet tall, and can be used for erosion control and bank stabilization. It produces numerous small yellow flower heads that are united into loose, rounded blossom clusters at the ends of the branches. It blooms during late summer and autumn, attracting many bees and other pollinators.

Ferocactus viridescens is a rare species of barrel cactus known by several common names, including coast barrel cactus and San Diego barrel cactus. It is native to southern California and northern Baja California, along a very restricted portion of the coast. Most of its native range is in San Diego County, California, where most of its habitat has already been removed, and much of the remaining habitat is threatened by development, agriculture, and other alterations in its habitat. This cactus is spherical, oblate, or nearly cylindrical, is usually wider than tall, and less than 30 centimeters in height. The flesh is bright green and arranged into several ribs covered in arrays of long spines. The spines stick straight out or may curve a bit, and are red when new, dulling to gray or tan. The cactus blooms in yellow to greenish flowers with red or pink scales. The fruit is yellow or red. Although wild populations are in the immediate vicinity of the coast, it can be grown inland in areas that do not experience regular freezing. It makes a great specimen for the dry coastal garden in the southern counties.

Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) is an elegant, long-lived perennial bunchgrass native to western North America. In California, it thrives in the Sierra foothills and Coast Ranges, growing in dense clumps with soft, fine-textured blades. Its deep root system helps it withstand dry conditions and supports beneficial soil fungi.

This versatile grass is an excellent choice for planting under oaks and pairs beautifully with ferns, Heuchera, and hummingbird sage. It provides valuable forage for wildlife while adding texture and color contrast to the landscape.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected by Nevin smith from Marble Mountains near Boulder peak.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Del Norte County.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Marin County, near Nicasio Reservoir.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Pacific Fescue (Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in disturbed or recently burned, open, sandy places, at elevations from 0-5000 feet.

Festuca octoflora (formerly Vulpia octoflora'), also called six-weeks fescue, pullout grass, sixweeks fescue, eight-flower sixweeks grass, eight-flowered fescue; is an annual plant in the grass family (Poaceae). The common name "six week fescue" is because it supplies about 6 weeks of cattle forage after a rain. Subspecies include Festuca octoflora Walter var. tenella, Festuca gracilenta Buckley, and Festuca tenella Willd. )This bunchgrass is native to North America occurring across a large part of Canada, in all of the lower 48 contiguous United States, and Baja California of Mexico. It grows in open, sunny places between shrubs and in burn areas. It is commonly found in burn areas after a fire. Vulpia octoflora var. hirtella Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora

Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) is one of many species of Festuca native to California. It is a cool-season species of bunch grass (summer dormant) that is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates.

It is a nutritious and palatable forage grass for domestic and wild animals. It is used as a mow-able turfgrass and as a groundcover and can be left completely unmowed for a lush prairie-like look. It spreads by rhizomes. There are three recognized subspecies, and many cultivars have been bred.

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

Horticultural selection from Festuca rubra. This grass is beautiful with soft, blue-green leaves. It is fine-textured and the 'Molate Blue' selection is rather more tolerant of drought and sun than the other Red Fescue selections. It is a cool season grass and requires regular moisture for best appearance. It can be mowed and could be used as a cool season lawn alternative, also, because of its deep root system it is excellent for slope stabilization. 'Molate blue' was selected by David Amme from Point Molate in Contra Costa County.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Tolertates any sun exposure in coast sites, but requires part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Fraxinus latifolia (Oregon ash) is a member of the Oleaceae (Olive) family native to western North America on the west side of the Cascade Range from southwestern British Columbia south through western Washington and western Oregon to central California. It can grow to 25 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of 30-80 centimeter, and it is typically larger in the northern part of its range. Trees can live to 250 years; young trees are fast growing, slowing down in maturity. It is usually found in riparian corridors within forest, woodland, chaparral, or grassland. The compound leaves are pinnate, 12-33 centimeter long, with 5-9 leaflets, each leaflet ovate, 6-12 centimeter long and 3-4 centimeter broad, and often show signs of disease and brown rot, even on otherwise healthy plants. The inconspicuous flowers are dioecious, meaning that male and female parts are contained in separate flowers. The fruit is a samara, 3-5 centimeter long including the wing, and not usually produced until the tree reaches 20-30 years of age. It is also a vigorous stump-sprouter.

Fritillaria agrestis is a species of fritillary known by the common name stinkbells. This wildflower is endemic to California, where it is a rare plant. It grows in heavy soils, particularly clay, in the central part of the state. This lily grows an erect stem reaching about half a meter in height with a clump of 5 to 12 long, narrow leaves clustered around its base. The nodding flower is a cup of six petals, each one to three centimeters long and sometimes curved at the tips. They are white with greenish to pinkish markings on the outer surface and purple-brown on the inner surface. The nectaries inside the flower are long and prominent. The flower has an unpleasant odor.

Fritillaria biflora (Chocolate Lily) is a species in the Liliaceae (Lily) family that is endemic to California and northern Baja. It is found along the coast from Montery County south. Fritillaria biflora is called "Chocolate Lily" because its bell-shaped flowers resemble the color of chocolate. It should not be confused with Arthropodium strictum, which is also called "chocolate lily" but which resembles the scent of chocolate rather than the color. It is an extraordinarily beautiful flower but infrequently available and not easy to grow. It is grown from a bulb that should be planted fairly deep, around 4 in. It needs fast drainage and requires a dry summer dormancy.

Fritillaria liliacea, commonly known as Fragrant Fritillary, is a threatened perennial herb in the Liliaceae family. The range of this wildflower is over parts of southwestern Northern California, USA, especially Solano and Sonoma Counties and at coastal locations south to Monterey County; occurrence is typically in open hilly grasslands at altitudes less than 200 meters in elevation. The bell-shaped white flowers have greenish stripes and are set on a nodding pedicel of about 37 centimeters in height. The blossoms are odorless to faintly fragrant. F. liliacea prefers heavy soils including clays; for example, andesitic and basaltic soils derived from the Sonoma Volcanic soil layers are suitable substrate for this species. This California endemic has been a candidate for listing as a U.S. Federally endangered species, and some of the remaining fragmented colonies are at risk of local extinction, such that the species is considered locally endangered. Example occurrences are: Edgewood Park in San Mateo County and the Sonoma Mountains foothills in Sonoma County. Examples of highly fragmented or extirpated colonies are in San Francisco due to urban development.

Fritillaria pluriflora is a rare species of fritillary known by the common name adobe lily. This wildflower is mainly limited to northern California, but it may exist in southern Oregon. It grows in the adobe clay soils of the foothills and low mountains in the area. It produces an erect stem reaching heights between ten and fifty centimeters. It has up to ten thick, long, oval-shaped leaves with wavy margins, most of which are clustered at ground level. The nodding flower has bright pink petals each one to four centimeters long. At the center of the flower is a pinkish to yellowish nectary and bright yellow anthers.

Galium trifidum is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name threepetal bedstraw. It is native to most of northern and western North America from Alaska eastern Canada to Mexico, where it grows in moist habitat. It is a usually perennial herb forming tangles of thin stems up to half a meter long ringed with whorls of several linear to oval leaves. The flower cluster is a cluster of small white or pinkish flowers, each with usually three petallike lobes in its corolla.

Galium triflorum (also known as cudweed, Sweet-scented Bedstraw, and Fragrant Bedstraw) is a herbaceous plant of the family Rubiaceae. It grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It exists in creeps along the forest floor, with whorled leaves and single fruiting peduncles rising above basal rosettes. There are six leaflets in a whorl below the peduncle. Each peduncle has three fruiting structures, each having a single fuzzy ball. Stems are square. The entire vine does not feel very coarse, but it is rough enough to stick to clothing. This species is sometimes confused with Galium odoratum, a species with traditional culinary uses.

Pleated Gentian (Gentiana affinis) is a native perennial herb that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in meadows, at elevations from 0-7500 feet.

Pleated Gentian (Gentiana affinis var. ovata) is a native perennial herb that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in meadows, at elevations from 0-7500 feet.

Geranium carolinianum is a species of geranium known by the common name Carolina crane's-bill, or Carolina geranium. It is native to North America, where it is widespread and grows in many types of habitat. This is an annual herb reaching just over half a meter in maximum height. It has erect stems covered in spiky hairs. The palmate leaves are several centimeters wide and divided into usually five segments which are each subdivided into elegantly pointed lobes. The inflorescence is a cluster of one to several small flowers. Each flower has five pointed sepals and five notched petals in shades of white to lavender. The fruit has a hairy body and a style up to 1. 5 centimeters long. Noted visitors for nectar include long-tongued bees (Megachile spp. ), short-tongued bees (Halictid), and flower flies (Syrphid) whom in the larval stage can be early cool season aphid control. Mourning Doves have been observed eating the seeds.

Gilia capitata is a species of flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae (Phlox) family known by the common names bluehead gilia and blue field gilia. It is native to much of western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, and it can be found on the eastern side of the continent as an introduced species. In California it is widespread, occurring along the coast and in the Sierras. It grows in many habitats, especially in sandy or rocky soils. This wildflower is somewhat variable in form and appearance, with eight recognized subspecies. The branching, leafy stems reach anywhere from 10 to 90 centimeters in maximum height and sometimes having hairy hairs on the fleshy herbage. The leaves are divided into toothed or lobed leaflets. Atop the branches of the thick stem are spherical flower clusters of 50 to 100 small flowers. Each flower has a throat opening into a spreading corolla which may be white, pink, lavender, or light blue. The stamens protrude slightly from the flower's mouth and are white with white, blue, or pink anthers. In the garden it is best use in a meadow-like setting with other annuals. It is frequently included in wildflower seed mixes.

Gilia clivorum is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common names purplespot gilia and many-stemmed gilia. It is native to California and Arizona. This common wildflower bears a number of erect stems reaching 6 to 30 centimeters in maximum height. It is leafy especially on the lower part of the stems, with each leaf divided into small lance-shaped leaflets.

Gilia latiflora is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common names hollyleaf gilia and broad-flowered gilia. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the deserts and mountains of the southern part of the state. Gilia latiflora adds lavender to the colorful carpet of spring wildflowers on the sandy washes of the region. The plant starts from a basal rosette of frilly leaves, each of which is made up of many narrow-toothed lobes. The stem is generally too small to notice; instead the plant is scapose, sending stemlike inflorescences directly up from the ground. Gilia latiflora adds lavender to the colorful carpet of spring wildflowers on the sandy washes of the region. The plant starts from a basal rosette of frilly leaves, each of which is made up of many narrow-toothed lobes. The stem is generally too small to notice; instead the plant is scapose, sending stemlike inflorescences directly up from the ground. Each multibranched inflorescence is green to reddish in color and approaches half a meter in maximum height. These are topped with fragrant flowers one to three centimeters across. Each flower is lavender to purple with a white throat from which protrude a long style and several shorter stamens.

Gilia minor is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name little gilia. It is native to the Mojave Desert and it is also present in the coastal Santa Lucia Mountains of central-southern coastal California. This wildflower grows short, branching, spreading stems to 20 centimeters in length. The leaves are mainly located in a basal rosette at the ground and are sparsely distributed along the stems as well. The herbage may have a coating of white cobweb-like fibers and hairlike glands. This wildflower grows short, branching, spreading stems to 20 centimeters in length. The leaves are mainly located in a basal rosette at the ground and are sparsely distributed along the stems as well. The herbage may have a coating of white cobweb-like fibers and hairlike glands. The inflorescence holds one to several small flowers, each under a centimeter wide and bright lavender in color. The throat of the flower is white or yellowish with purple veining and the style and stamens protrude slightly.

Gilia nevinii is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name Nevin's gilia. It is known only from the Channel Islands of California and Guadalupe Island off Baja California, where it grows in seaside canyons and flats. This is an erect herb with a hairy stem up to about 40 centimeters tall lined with deeply lobed leaves. The hairy flower cluster produces yellow-throated lavender flowers 8 to 14 millimeters wide, each with protruding stamens tipped with blue anthers.

Gilia tenuiflora is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name greater yellowthroat gilia. It is endemic to California, where its distribution spans the central coast and coastal mountains, as well as the Channel Islands. There are several subspecies, including G. c. ssp. arenaria, the sand gilia or Monterey gilia, which is federally listed as an endangered species. It is known from about 24 occurrences around Monterey Bay. Hoffmann's slender-flowered gilia, ssp. hoffmannii, is also federally endangered and is limited to Santa Rosa Island, one of the Channel Islands of California. The multibranched stem emerges from a basal rosette of leaves, each leaf divided into long, straight leaflets. The flower is lavender with a long stigma protruding from the throat. Despite the flower's common name, the throat is generally not yellow in color, but purple to white.

Tricolor gilia (Gilia tricolor) is an annual with a long blooming period. Starting in spring, each plant produces hundreds of half-inch white flowers with blue or lavender edges.  Though small, these flowers look very pretty when massed. They grow on upright stems, about 18 inches tall, surrounded by soft, lacy foliage.

This plant is very easy to grow. It takes full sun, low water and tolerates many different types of soil including clay. It can be planted from seed and re-seeds itself the next spring reliably, and is very attractive to native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Tricolor gilia is also known as bird's-eyes, bird's-eyes gilia. If you sow related but different types of gilia together they will hybridize. 

Githopsis specularioides is a flowering plant known by the common name common bluecup. It is an annual herb which bears very small tubular flowers with white throats and five pointed purple petals. It is found on the west coast of North America from California to British Columbia.

American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is a species of Glycyrrhiza native to most of North America, from central Canada south through the United States to California, Texas and Virginia, but absent from the southeastern states. It is also sometimes known in the United States as "wild licorice", to distinguish it from the related European Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) which is occasionally cultivated. The plant grows in moist soils; although it will grow in heavy soil it prefers sandy soil. It grows to 40-100 centimeter (16-40 inches) tall, and has long tough brown roots which are said to be sweet and were used as food and for medicinal purposes by Native Americans. American Licorice is not sweet from sugar but from glycyrrhizin, the acid ammonium salt of the tri-basic acid, glycyrrhizic acid. Glycyrrhizin may increase blood pressure (aka hypertension) by interfering with cortisol conversion.

This plant slowly spreads by rhizome to form large patches. Bumblebees are attracted to the flowers, and this plant is a host for several butterfly plant. Wild licorice is a rare in native plant gardens, but has lots of value for wildlife, does great in heavy soils, and is tolerant of both shade and full sun. It grows well with other riparian forest species like Leymus triticoides and Carex barbarae.

Gnaphalium palustre, known by the common name western marsh cudweed, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family. The plant is native to much of western North America, where it is common in many habitats and from valley floor to mountain alpine elevations of Western Canada, the Western United States, and Northwestern Mexico. It is found from British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan south as far as Baja California Sur, Arizona, and New Mexico. Gnaphalium palustre is an annual herb growing erect stems which may be short or up to about 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall. The stems and foliage are nearly white due to their coating of woolly hairs. The leaves are small and lance-shaped to scoop-shaped. The inflorescence holds a cluster of flower heads in a nest of woolly fibers. Each head has brownish to pale yellowish phyllaries surrounding a center of many tiny flowers.

Grindelia camporum is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Great Valley gumplant and Great Valley gumweed. The plant is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in a number of habitats including chaparral and woodlands. Its range may extend into Nevada. It is hardy plant that also readily grows in disturbed and altered areas such as ditches and roadsides. Grindelia camporum is a gangly perennial up to 2 m (6 ft. ) in maximum height but usually less. Its erect, branching stems are lined with many stiff, wavy-edged, serrated leaves 2 to 3 cm long. Atop the stem branches are inflorescences of a single large flower head up to 3 cm wide. The head is a vaguely thistlelike cup of green clawlike phyllaries that bend downward. The centre of the head is filled with yellow disc florets and there are usually many yellow ray florets around the circumference. The flower head fills with a copious white exudate, especially during the early stages of blooming. It is a traditional Native American medicinal plant, used by the Indigenous peoples of California and also a major pollinator attractant.

Gutierrezia californica is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common names San Joaquin snakeweed and California matchweed. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows on slopes and plains in a number of habitats. It is found in the Coast Ranges, Transverse Range and Peninsular Range, coming fairly close to the coast in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. It is often seen in very arid settings. This is a small subshrub reaching up to about half a meter in height. It grows clumpy or gangly and generally erect stems in shades of gray and red which are lined with small linear green leaves. At the end of each branch of the stem is an flower cluster of one to three small flower heads just a few millimeters wide. The head contains several yellow disc florets with long, protruding styles and several yellow ray florets around the edge.

Gutierrezia sarothrae is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names broom snakeweed and perennial matchweed. It is native to much of the western half of North America, from central Canada to northern Mexico. It can be found in a number of desert, grassland, and mountain habitats. This is a small, dense, bushy subshrub reaching maximum heights around half a meter. The multibranched stems and twigs are greenish or tan when young and age to woody brown. There are scattered narrow to thready leaves along the branches. The plant flowers abundantly in flower clusters of a few flowers each. The flower is about a centimeter long and bright golden yellow with a center of a few long, protruding disc florets and a fringe of ray florets. The plant is toxic to livestock in large quantities, due mainly to the presence of saponins and concentrated selenium.

Helenium puberulum is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name rosilla. It is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in moist habitats such as riverbanks and meadows. This is an annual or perennial herb varying in size and shape from a low stem with few branches to an erect, spindly stem nearing 1.5 meters tall. Most of the leaves are on the lower part of the plant, with the upper occupied by naked peduncles bearing flower clusters of several daisylike flower heads. Each head is mainly a spherical bunch of disc florets which are yellow when new and darken with age. Some heads also have a few to many yellow ray florets. The fruit is a hairy achene one to two millimeters long.

Helianthella californica is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family known by the common name California helianthella. This wildflower is native to the mountains of California and Oregon. It is a taprooted perennial herb producing erect stems up to about 60 centimeters tall. The many lance-shaped leaves are up to 4 centimeters wide and smooth or slightly toothed along the edges. The flower cluster holds one or more sunflower-like flower heads. Each head has a center of golden disc florets with purple or reddish parts, and a fringe of yellow ray florets one or two centimeters long.

The perennial herb Helianthella castanea is a rare plant endemic to California, and is only found in the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly in and around Mount Diablo State Park. Its common names include Mount Diablo helianthella, Mount Diablo sunflower, and Diablo rockrose. A member of the daisy and sunflower family, the flowers are bright yellow and daisy-like, with ridged petals. The plant grows in clumps of green foliage and sends up flowers on long stems.

Helianthus californicus is a species of sunflower known by the common name California sunflower. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows in many types of habitat. This wild sunflower is an erect perennial growing from a network of tough, woody roots with small rhizomes. It is a sprawling, gangly plant, sending a thin stem to heights between one and three meters or more. The lance-shaped leaves may be 20 centimeters long and are smooth or slightly toothed along the edges. The flower cluster holds several flower heads. Each head is supported by a base covered in long, pointed phyllaries that bend back as the head ages and develops fruit. The flower head has a fringe of golden yellow ray florets, each two or three centimeters long, and a center filled with curly yellow and brown disc florets. The achene is about half a centimeter long.

Seaside heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) is an attractive flowering perennial that's also called salt heliotrope. Seaside heliotrope grows throughout the US. In California, it is commonly found near water sources, in alkaline or saline soils. This plant has a creeping growth habit, although it can grow to around 1.5 ft in height. The leaves and stems are thick and fleshy. The small, bell-shaped flowers grow along curved stalks and are white with yellow centers that turn purple as they mature.

Seaside heliotrope is not generally known for its fragrance, unlike other varieties of heliotrope which are famous for their sweet, almond-like scent. But the blooms are attractive to bees and butterflies, making it a worthwhile addition to the pollinator garden. It grows in full or partial sun in a variety of soil types and does best with occasional supplemental water. It can also be a container garden plant.

Hemizonia congesta is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name hayfield tarweed. It is native to California and Oregon, where it is a common member of the flora in a number of habitats, particularly grasslands and fields. This is a spindly, thin-stemmed annual herb growing erect to 10 to 80 centimeters in height. Like other tarweeds the stem and foliage are hairy and have an odor reminiscent of tar. Most of the long, narrow, pointed leaves are located on the lower portion of the stem below the branching. The flower clusters are covered in hairy hairs and hold daisylike flower heads. Each head has a center of yellowish dark-tipped disc florets and a fringe of bright yellow to white ray florets, often with purplish striping on the undersides. The ray florets are toothed or lobed on the tips, with the middle tooth thinner than the others. There are many subspecies which can vary in appearance.