Monardella australis is a perennial herb growing in a small tuft and producing long, sometimes erect flowering stems. The pale green or grayish leaves are oval or lance-shaped and often toothed.

The plant is endemic to southern California, in the Greater Los Angeles Area. It is known only from populations in the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains of the eastern Transverse Ranges, and the adjacent San Jacinto Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges. Its habitats include the red fir forest and yellow pine forest on the higher slopes of the ranges.

A great butterfly plant for a rock garden or other small space. Inland, protect from afternoon sun. Both leaves and flowers are fragrant. Distasteful to deer.

Horticultural selection from Monardella macrantha. 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.

Monardella frutescens is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name San Luis Obispo monardella. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the sand dunes and scrub on the coastline of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. It is a perennial herb producing several purple stems. The thin, narrow, wavy-edged leaves are 1 to 5 centimeters long and borne in clusters along the stem. The flower cluster is a head of several flowers blooming in a cup of papery purplish to straw-colored leafs. The flowers are purple to pink in color. This species sometimes hybridizes with its relative, Monardella crispa, which shares its habitat.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden. Introduced by Cal Flora Nursery from sonoma County (Russian River).

Monardella antonina is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name San Antonio Hills monardella. It is endemic to California, where its two subspecies are restricted to narrow sections of the Central Coast Ranges. The distribution of ssp. antonina is unclear, but it is mainly found in chaparral and wooded slopes in Monterey County. The rarer ssp. benitensis, the San Benito monardella, is a serpentine soils endemic which is mainly limited to the barren hills near the ghost town of New Idria in San Benito County. This is a pale green, rhizomatous, hairy perennial herb coated in whitish hairs. The oppositely arranged leaves are oval in shape and generally toothed. The flower cluster is a head of several flowers up to 1.5 centimeters wide with a base of leaflike leafs. Each flower is lavender in color. It has two long upper lobes and three lower with four long, protruding stamens at the center.

Willowy Monardella (Monardella viminea) is an extremely rare native perennial herb in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family that grows exclusively in San Diego County. Most of the world's willowy mint grows on the eastern side of the Miramar marine base or in nearby canyons. Its habitat consists of ephemeral streams: the bed, the edge, or the bench within a few feet of the bed. This species was formerly classified as a subspecies of Monardella linoides, and some sources still list it that way.

Despite its rarity and protected status, this plant is easy to grow in gardens and is often available from nurseries. It has a delightful mint fragrance. The pink to lavender flowers are attractive and does well in containers. Monthly irrigation keeps it evergreen and enables it to rebloom at any time of the year.

Montia parvifolia is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family known by the common names littleleaf minerslettuce, small-leaved blinks and small-leafed montia. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Montana, where it grows in moist to wet areas in several types of mountain habitat. Montia parvifolia is a perennial herb growing erect to about 40 centimeters tall from a matted, branching caudex base. It spreads via leafy stolons with sprouting bulblets. The fleshy oval leaves are alternately arranged and measure up to 6 centimeters in length. The inflorescence at the tip of the stem bears 1 to 12 flowers each with five pink or white petals up to 1. 5 centimeters long. Montia parvifolia is a perennial herb growing erect to about 40 centimeters tall from a matted, branching caudex base. It spreads via leafy stolons with sprouting bulblets. The fleshy oval leaves are alternately arranged and measure up to 6 centimeters in length. The inflorescence at the tip of the stem bears 1 to 12 flowers each with five pink or white petals up to 1. 5 centimeters long.

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

California Spineflower (Mucronea californica) is a rare native annual herb that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow in sandy places, at elevations from 0-4600 feet.

This native bunchgrass, Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a popular plant choice for groundcover and lawn replacement applications. It's an attractive, low-water grass that's very easy to grow. Deergrass does best in sandy soil and full sun, but it is versatile enough to tolerate shade and a variety of soil types.

The leaf blades are pale green, and in spring the plant produces tall spikes of yellow flowers. The seeds provide food for birds in summer. Plant this large mounding grass in groups for an impressive display.

Nama rothrockii is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name Rothrock's fiddleleaf. It is native to the mountains and plateaus of eastern California and western Nevada and Arizona, where it grows in several types of local habitat. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb with erect and spreading stems up to about 30 centimeters long. It grows in colonies of clumpy individual plants. It is hairy to bristly, hairy, and sticky in texture. The lance-shaped to narrowly oval green leaves are 2 to 6 centimeters long and lined with regular teeth. The flower cluster is a somewhat spherical head of flowers with densely hairy sepals. Each funnel-shaped flower is about 1.5 centimeters long and a centimeter wide at the face. The flowers are pink, light to deep purple, or pale blue in color.

Navarretia atractyloides is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name hollyleaf pincushionplant. It is native to the coastal mountain ranges of western North America from Oregon through California to Baja California, where it grows in open areas in local habitat types. It is similar to Navarretia hamata, but lacks the skunky scent of that species, can be more short-glandular than some of those plants, or have lighter blue pollen and indented corolla lobes around San Diego and Orange Counties. N. atractyloides is a hairy annual herb approaching 30 centimeters in height. The leaves are ovate or linear. The flower cluster is a head filled with spine-toothed, leaflike bracts. The flowers tucked amidst the bracts have purple-pinkish corolla lobes and yellow throats, or, in the southern end of the distribution especially, they have white or pinkish white corolla lobes, with reddish veining in their tubular throats or completely pale yellow throats. The flower is just under a centimeter long and has a five-lobed corolla.

Navarretia hamata is a highly variable species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name hooked pincushionplant. It is native to the coastal mountains and valleys of California as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area and as far south as Baja California. It is often a member of the chaparral flora. It is a hairy annual herb that has a spreading or erect stem up to about 30 centimeters tall. It usually has a strong skunky scent. The leaves are divided into narrow, sharp-tipped lobes, the ones at the tip of each leaf hooked. The flower cluster is a head filled with green, leaflike bracts. The light pink, hot pink, white/blue, or purple flowers are tubular, typically have five-lobed limbs, and are 1.5 centimeters long.

The plant blooms for about a month at the end of the rainy season in southern California.

Navarretia pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name downy pincushionplant. It is native to southern Oregon and to the central mountain ranges of California, where it can be found in open mountainous habitat. It is a hairy, hairy annual herb producing a reddish or brownish stem up to about 33 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves are divided into many linear or needlelike lobes, sometimes clustered. The upper leaves are hairy, the lower generally hairless. The flower cluster is a cluster of many flowers surrounded by leaflike leafs and coated with downy or hairy hairs. Each flower is just over a centimeter long and blue in color with a purplish throat.

Navarretia squarrosa (skunkweed, California stinkweed ) is a spreading annual plant from North America which is noted for its skunk-like odour. It grows to between 10 and 60 centimeter in height and has tubular lilac pink to deep blue flowers up to 12 millimeter in diameter in dense terminal heads, encircled by a spiny sepals and leafs. The leaves are pinnately lobed and spiny. The species is native to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California, and is naturalised elsewhere, including Australia and New Zealand.. It is commonly found at elevations of less than 800 meters on open, wet, gravelly flats and slopes.

Neltuma odorata, commonly known as Honey Mesquite, is a species of small to medium-sized flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, but has been introduced to at least a half-dozen other countries. The IUCN considers it as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species. However, in California's Central Valley and deserts it is an important habitat plant for many species of wildlife. Honey Mesquite has a rounded crown and crooked, drooping branches with feathery foliage and straight, paired spines on twigs. In some settings it will remain a low growing shrub forming dense thickets that are used as refuge by rabbits, quail, and other animals. In other settings it grows as a tree that reaches 20-30 feet, rarely as tall as 50 feet. It is highly adapted to arid environments with a very deep taproot (up to 100 ft.) to reach underground water. The fruit is a nutritious "bean pod" that is valued by many animals and is eaten by Indigenous Peoples of the desert. It has spines and caution should be used when deciding where to plant it. It is an essential plant for the desert wildlife garden.

Named for the five purple spots that adorn each flower petal tip, Fivespot (Nemophila maculata) is a cute and cheerful annual that's native to California's Sierra foothills. Fivespot is a member of the Borage family. It is related to Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), another popular native annual. But it is not related to Desert Fivespot (Eremalche rotundifolia).

Fivespot's appealing white and purple flowers bloom in early spring and attract bees, butterflies, and other insects. Fivespot is a low, compact plant, making it a good choice for containers and small beds. It likes sun or partial shade and does best in loose, nutrient-rich garden soil. Since it is native to cooler regions of California, it tolerates cold temperatures but needs afternoon shade and supplemental moisture in hot, dry climates. Fivespot seeds are often included in wildflower seed mixes and the plant will self-sow in the garden.

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), a common annual of California, Oregon, and Baja California, is a popular garden plant. It is a spring-blooming wildflower that gets its name from the bright blue flowers of two of the three varieties that are recognized. One variety, var. atomaria, is found in the north coast and has almost pure white flowers.

It can occasionally be found outside its native range as an introduced species, in Alaska, for example. Baby Blue Eyes grows virtually throughout California at heights from sea level up to almost 6500 feet in many types of habitat. It is easy to grow from seed along with other annuals in a wildflower meadow or in openings between trees and shrubs.

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

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

Nicotiana obtusifolia, or desert tobacco, is a plant native to the southwestern United States (from California to Utah to Texas) and Mexico. It is a woody perennial herb growing up to about 80 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves have blades up to 10 centimeters long, the lower ones borne on short petioles, the upper ones smaller and clasping the stem. The funnel-shaped flower is white or green-tinged, its tubular throat up to 2.6 centimeters long.

Nolina bigelovii, Bigelow's nolina or beargrass, is a flowering monocot plant in the Ruscaceae (Butcher's-broom) family that is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It grows in the driest desert areas and at elevations up to 1500 meters, primarily in the Mojave Desert. The genus Nolina has undergone several taxonomic changes. Despite its appearance and common name of Beargrass, it is not a grass. Both the foliage and flowers resemble Yuccas which are in a different family. It was previously grouped in the Liliaceae (Lily) family. The trunklike stem may exceed 2 meters in height, part of which may be underground. In maturity it may branch. The stiff, shreddy leaves are arranged in rosettes about the stem, with up to 150 per rosette. The bases are thick and fleshy and much wider than the rest of the blade. The treelike flower cluster may approach 4 meters in height. The tiny flowers each have six whitish petals a few millimeters in length.

Nolina parryi (Parry's Nolina or Giant Nolina) is a flowering plant in the family Ruscaceae. It grows in the upper elevations of the Peninsular Range, the Mojave Desert and the southern Sierra Nevada.up to 2100 meters. It can exceed two meters in height, its flower cluster reaching 4 meters. The trunk is up to 60 centimeters in diameter. Leaves are borne in dense rosettes, each with up to 220 stiff linear leaves up to 140 centimeters long and 4 broad. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants; the flowers are white, produced on the tall plume-like flower cluster that normally appears in late spring. The fruit is a delicate, papery, three-lobed pod.

This plant requires fast draining soil and dry slopes. It needs full sun. This plant is extremely drought tolerant, and after established, it should survive the dry months with no supplementary water. Since it's primarily a desert plant, it's evolved to handle summer monsoons, and tolerates occasional water (1x per month).

Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) is an evergreen tree in the beech family (Fagaceae), which includes beeches, oaks, and chestnuts. Despite producing acorns, it is not a true oak. It was formerly classified as Lithocarpus, and some sources may still use that name. Native to the western United States, tanoak grows from southwest Oregon to California, as far south as the Transverse Ranges.

Tanoak is slow-growing but remains a moderate size in garden settings. Unfortunately, it is highly susceptible to sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum), which has caused significant mortality within its range.

This tree provides critical habitat for wildlife. Its dense foliage offers cover for resting, hiding, and nesting, while its acorns are an important food source for birds such as Steller’s jay, band-tailed pigeon, varied thrush, and acorn woodpecker.

There are two recognized varieties of tanoak:

• N. densiflorus var. densiflorus – the more common variety
• N. densiflorus var. echinoides – a shrubbier form found in the northern part of its range.

Oemleria cerasiformis, also known as the Osoberry and Indian Plum, is the sole species in genus Oemleria. It is a shrub native to the Pacific coast and ranges of North America, from British Columbia, Canada to Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.A. It is among the first plants to leaf out and flowers early in the spring. It reaches a height of 1.5-5 meter and has lance-shaped leaves 5-12 centimeter long. Native Americans ate them, made tea of the bark, and chewed its twigs to use as a mild anesthetic and aphrodisiac.

Oenothera californica is a species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) family known by the common name California Primrose. It is native to parts of the southwestern United States and Baja California, where it can be found in chaparral, higher elevation deserts and woodlands. It is a perennial herb producing a spreading or upright stem up to 80 centimeters long. Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves, while older ones have leaves along the stem, lance-shaped to nearly oval in shape and up to 6 centimeters long. Flowers occur in the upper leaf axils, drooping in bud and becoming erect as they bloom. The four petals are white, fading pink, and may exceed 3 centimeters long. There are three subspecies of this plant, one of which, the rare Eureka Dunes evening primrose (ssp. eurekensis), is a federally listed endangered species. It is sometimes listed as its synonym, Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis. This subspecies is known from only a few occurrences in the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in Inyo County, where it grows alongside another dune endemic, the endangered Eureka Valley dune grass (Swallenia alexandrae). The other two subspecies are common.

California Evening Primrose (Oenothera californica ssp. californica) is a native perennial herb that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow in sandy or gravelly places, at elevations from 0-6200 feet.

Oenothera caespitosa, known commonly as tufted evening primrose and fragrant evening primrose, is a perennial plant of the genus Oenothera native to much of western and central North America. It produces a rosette of lobed or toothed leaves each up to 36 centimeters long around a woody caudex.

Oenothera deltoides is a species of evening primrose known by several common names, including birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, and devil's lantern. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in sandy habitats from desert to beach. The plant is grayish with basal, deltoid leaves. The large white flowers turn pinkish as they mature. When the plants die, the stems curl upward and form the "birdcage" for which the common name is derived.

Antioch Dunes Evening Primrose (Oenothera deltoides ssp. howellii) is a rare (federally endangered) native perennial herb that grows in Central California, primarily in the SF Bay region. It tends to grow in dunes, at elevations from 0-5900 feet.

Hooker's Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri) is a native perennial herb in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) family that grows primarily along the coast between San Francisco and San Diego and northern Baja. It is fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 5 feet, with active growth during the summer. Flowers are yellow and striking, and bloom in the late summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. Its form may be either upright or sprawling. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from sea level to 7,000 feet where it is a pioneer species. However, it is also somewhat drought-tolerant in garden situations. In the wild it is usually crowded out over time by more woody trees or shrubs. It spreads by prolific seed production, which also makes it attractive to many seed-eating birds.

Olneya tesota is a perennial flowering tree of the Fabaceae family, legumes (peas, beans, etc), which is commonly known as Ironwood or Desert Ironwood. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Olneya. This tree is part of the western Sonoran Desert complex in the Southwestern United States, which includes flora such as palo verde, saguaro, ocotillo, brittlebush, creosote bush, and mesquite. The Desert Ironwood grows as a bush or tree and reaches heights of about 10 meters (33 feet), and average trunk diameters of about 60 centimeter (24 inches); in exceptional sites in larger protected washes, greater height and more massive.

Named for its broad, flat leaf pads, Beavertail Pricklypear (Opuntia basilaris) is a medium sized cactus that's known for its vibrant magenta flowers. While the pads do not have the long spines of other cactus species, they do have small barbs that can be painful when touched. Beavertail Pricklypear blooms profusely in spring and early summer. The bright flowers attract pollinators and provide visual interest in a xeric landscape.

This succulent is native to the Southwestern desert regions of the US. It also grows in Mexico where it is called Nopal. Indigenous peoples consumed the fruit, leaf pad buds, and seeds. Beavertail Pricklypear requires minimal supplemental irrigation. Plant in full sun in sandy, well-draining soil. This cactus grows in clusters that can spread up to 6 ft wide. The pads can shrivel in the summer but will plump up during the winter rainy season. Dead pads can be removed, otherwise little maintenance is needed.

A species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal prickly pear. Commonly confused with Opuntia semispinosa, which has longer, sometimes spineless pads. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat. It generally occurs in dense clumps spreading several meters wide and up to a meter tall. It seldom hybridizes with Opuntia oricola. The branches are made up of orbicular flat segments up to 22 centimeters long. It is covered in clusters of yellowish spines 2 to 4 centimeters long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is purplish red, up to 5 centimeters long, and less spiny than Opuntia oricola fruit. An important wildlife plant.

Ornithostaphylos is a monotypic plant genus which contains the single species Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia, the Baja birdbush or Baja California birdbush. It is a member of the Heath family (Ericaceae), and it shares many characteristics with other members of this family such as the manzanitas and summer holly. This is a very rare shrub native to only one population very near the border in coastal San Diego County, where it is threatened by border enforcement activities. It is reportedly more common in northern Baja California but also threatened by expanding urbanization there. It is considered rare due to these threats and its extremely limited distribution. Where it exists in the wild, it is found in chaparral below 4,000 ft. However, it has been in garden cultivation since the 1960's. This bush has long, narrow, leathery evergreen leaves with edges rolled under. The bark on the branches is thin and the younger branches and twigs are reddish in color. Older plants develop a basal burl from which it will resprout after fire or branch dieback. Although it is very drought tolerant, it does well with some summer water. The bush bears rounded, lantern-shaped white flowers on drooping pedicels. Though not widely available, it is a beautiful plant that should be used more often.

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

Oxytheca perfoliata is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family known by the common names roundleaf punctureleaf and roundleaf oxytheca. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it is a common plant of the deserts and some woodland and valley areas. It is an annual herb producing a leafless stem up to about 20 centimeters in maximum height in the spring; during the winter the plant is a small rosette of oblong or spoon-shaped leaves a few centimeters wide. The plant is red-veined green, or often brown to maroon or magenta in color. The flower cluster atop the stem is punctuated by nodes at which the leafs are fused to form a cup or band up to about 2.5 centimeters wide. At the end of each branching of the stem is a similar cup of leafs partially fused around a cluster of flowers. The leafs are tipped in spinelike awns. The flowers are white to yellow-green and hairy in texture.

Paeonia californica (California Peony or Wild Peony) is one of two species of Peony native to North America. It is endemic to southwest California, United States, where it grows on dry hillsides in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities of the coastal mountains of Southern and Central California, on the coastal slope of the mountains, from Monterey County southward. It is often seen as an understory plant among chaparral shrubs. Some authorities consider it a subspecies of Paeonia brownii which is found in the northern Sierra and Klamath mountains. It is not a rare species in the wild, but uncommon in gardens because it is very particular about conditions. It needs a dry summer dormancy, and normal garden watering will kill it.

Windpoppy is a genus of annual plant in the family Papaveraceae. It was formerly included in the monotypic genus, Stylomecon heterophylla, but it has been reclassified to the Papaver genus which includes a few other poppies native to California and north western Mexico. It's flowers are distinctly different from California Poppy. The petals of Windpoppy are more crinkly and bright red-orange with dark centers. In the wild it is found in foothill area of the Sierras and Coast Ranges from the Bay area to San Diego. It makes a nice oak understory planting.

Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia floridum) is a native tree in the Fabaceae (Legume) famly that grows in the Sonoran Desert region of California, Arizona and Mexico. It tends to grow in washes, bajadas and flood plains, at elevations from 0-3600 feet. It is also one of the most popular trees for desert gardens. The Palo Verdes were formerly classified in the genus Cercidium, and some sources may still refer to it that way. The leaves are small and readily dropped in response to dryness. The common name refers to the green bark of the trunk and limbs which are capable of low-level photosynthesis when the tree is leafless. The attractive flowers are yellow-gold and appear in spring but can also appear in response to summer rainfall. The seed pod resembles Mesquite and is valued by numerous animals. The seed pods were also ground and eaten by native people, but it is said to be less tasty than Mesquite. The tree has spines on the newer, slender branches. A popular hybrid of this species is known as 'Desert Museum' and has no spines. Parkinsonia florida is fast growing and drought tolerant. Supplemental watering encourages faster growth but may result in weak limbs and shortened life span. It is recommended to reduce or discontinue supplemental water after the tree becomes established. In recent years Palo Verde has become more popular for non-desert gardens and appears to perform well in many settings.

Parkinsonia microphylla (Yellow Palo Verde or Foothill Palo Verde) is a rare species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family that is native to the southwestern United States (southeastern California, southern Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (Sinaloa, Sonora, Baja California). The Palo Verdes were previously classified in the genus Cercidium, and some sources may still refer to it by that name. It is a bristling, upright-branching tree, mostly found on rocky slopes. It has a very restricted range compared with other species in this genus, and it is included on CNPS list 4.3. The species is slow-growing, sometimes living for several hundred years. It typically grows to heights of around 5 meter, although rarely it can reach 6-7 meter tall. Like others in the genus it has chlorophyll in the bark which allows photosynthesis to continue when the tree is leafless. It also has spines on the newer, slender stems. The leaves are yellowish green, very tiny, and during extensively dry and hot periods the tree will shed them. The flower is yellow or cream colored and typical of the genus. The fruit is a typical Legume seed pod. Like other Palo Verdes, it is an important tree for wildlife.

Pedicularis densiflora, known commonly as Warrior's Plume, is a plant of the lousewort genus in the broomrape family. It is a perennial herb with stout, green or sometimes reddish or magenta stems and fern-shaped leaves, and long spikes of deep red to bright pink flowers with toothed petals. Like others of its genus, it is a root parasite, attaching to the roots of other plants to obtain nutrients and water. This species is a facultative parasite, or hemiparasite, in that it can live without attaching to another plant but will parasitize if presented with the opportunity. It often parasitizes plants of the heath family, such as manzanita. Warrior's Plume is native to California and Oregon in western North America and is found in forests and woodlands at low elevation.

Pellaea andromedifolia is a species of cliff brake fern known by the common name coffee fern. It is native to California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. This plant does not have the immediately recognizable sharply pointed leaflets on its fronds that many other ferns have. Its leaves bear rounded or oval-shaped segments widely spaced along the rachis. Each segment may curl under along its edges. The leaves are green when new, then turn red, purplish, or brown. Some individuals of this species are diploid and reproduce sexually, while some are triploid or tetraploid and reproduce by apogamy (growth of a plant from a gamete without fertilization).

Pellaea mucronata is a species in the Pteridaceae (Fern) family known by the common name Bird's Foot Cliffbrake. It is native to much of California, and parts of Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California, where it grows in various types of rocky habitat. There are two recognized subspecies in California. Ssp. californica is limited to California, while ssp. mucronata can be found outside the state's borders. Each leaf is 7 to 45 centimeters long and is borne on a thin petiole. It is composed of a thin, straight, brown rachis lined with widely spaced leaflets. The leaflets are divided into small narrow terminal segments, or these may be subdivided into another set of segments. The smallest segment is up to about a centimeter long and is green to dark purplish in color. The edges may be rolled under. The sporangia are located under the edges. It is reportedly very heat and cold tolerant. This could be a useful fern in rock gardens in most parts of the state.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Hybrid of p. Spectabilis x p. centranthifolius.

Penstemon azureus is a species of penstemon known by the common name azure penstemon. It is native to the mountains of Oregon and northern California, where it grows in coniferous forests and woodlands. It is a perennial herb, woody toward the base, with many thin branches reaching up to about 70 centimeters in maximum height. The oppositely arranged leaves are linear or lance-shaped, the ones higher on the plant clasping the stem. The flower cluster produces several hairless tubular flowers in shades of blue to lavender measuring up to 3.5 centimeters long.

Scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) is a striking perennial herb in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae), known for its bright red to orange-red tubular flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds. Native to California, it grows widely across northern, southern, and central regions.

This drought-adapted plant thrives in rocky, well-drained soils, making it a perfect addition to rock gardens, slopes, and pathways. It requires little supplemental water once established and blooms profusely in the spring. The upright, slender stems can reach over a meter in height, with thick, smooth leaves arranged in pairs along the stem.

Beyond hummingbirds, scarlet bugler also attracts bees and butterflies, contributing to a vibrant and pollinator-friendly garden. Its vivid flowers and minimal water needs make it an excellent choice for low-maintenance native plant landscapes.

Penstemon clevelandii is a species in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known by the common name Cleveland's Beardtongue. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in mountain and desert habitat such as scrub, woodland, and chaparral. It is found primarily on the eastern slope of the Peninsular Range. It is a perennial herb with upright, branching stems 70 centimeters in maximum height. The thick leaves are oval in shape, sometimes toothed, 2-6 centimeters in length, and sometimes clasping or encircling the stem. The flower cluster produces tubular flowers with expanded, lipped mouths. The flower is pink to magenta in color, up to 2.4 centimeters in length, and somewhat hairy on the outer surface. The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Overall this is a very attractive, hardy plant for inland southern gardens.

Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) is a striking perennial with bright red, tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. Native to Southern and Central California, it thrives in desert mountains and the Mojave Desert at elevations of 4,900–9,200 feet.

This heat-loving, drought-tolerant plant is ideal for rock gardens, desert landscapes, and interior valleys. Its long, scarlet flower spikes add vibrant color while supporting pollinators in dry, sunny gardens.

Penstemon floridus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Panamint beardtongue. It is native to the lower mountain and plateau areas of eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in canyons, arroyos, and sagebrush scrub. It is a perennial herb producing erect stems sometimes exceeding one meter tall. The thick leaves are lance-shaped to oval, usually toothed and somewhat wavy, and arranged in pairs with bases clasping the stem. The hairy flower cluster produces showy flowers up to 3 centimeters long and tubular in shape with a wide throat becoming narrowed at the lipped mouth. The flowers are bright pink with darker lining inside. There are two varieties of this species. Austin's beardtongue, var. austinii, is named for Stafford Wallace Austin, collector of plants and husband of writer Mary Hunter Austin.

Austin's Beardtongue (Penstemon floridus var. austinii) is a native perennial herb that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow in gravelly washes and canyon floors, at elevations from 3300-7900 feet.

Rose Penstemon (Penstemon floridus var. floridus) is a native perennial herb that grows in Central California, primarily in the White and Inyo Mountains and Sierra Nevada East regions. It tends to grow in gravelly washes and canyon floors, at elevations from 5200-7900 feet.

Penstemon fruticiformis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Death Valley beardtongue. It is native to the deserts and nearby mountains of eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in rocky scrub and woodland habitat. It is known from scattered occurrences around Death Valley, and only one of the two varieties occurs on the Nevada side of the border. It is a perennial herb producing spreading, multibranched, hairless and waxy stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall. The thick leaves are generally lance-shaped, folded and rolled, and up to 6.5 centimeters in length. The flower cluster produces several white or pale pinkish-lavender flowers between 2 and 3 centimeters long. The mouth of the flower bears a stark, dark line on each of its three lower lobes, nectar guides for its pollinators which probably include native bumble bees.

Penstemon grinnellii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Grinnell's beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in several mountain ranges from those around the San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Nevada to the Peninsular Ranges near the Mexican border. It is a perennial herb producing upright stems growing to 85 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves are oblong, up to 9 centimeters in length, folded lengthwise and curved backward. The hairy flower cluster produces several tubular purple-tinged white or violet flowers 1 to 2 centimeters long. The mouth of the flower has three lower lobes streaked with dark lines, a hairy throat and a long-haired, protruding staminode.

Foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus) is a stunning perennial with profuse clusters of blue to magenta tubular flowers. Foothill penstemon can be found in all major coastal mountain ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. It occurs in many local habitat types from grassland to chaparral to forests.

Foothill penstemon is a wonderful addition to front of borders. Blooming begins in May and continues for a month or two. Taking off dead flower stalks will induce more flowering. The plant’s stems can exceed 3 feet and may become woody at the base. Several cultivars have been developed for use in summer-dry climate and other low-water-use gardens, including 'Electric Blue,' 'Margarita BOP,' and 'Blue Springs' which may grow only 12 to 18 inches tall. 

This is a fast-growing, easy and hardy flowering plant that requires moderate water and sun to light shade. It is adaptable to different types of soil so long as drainage is good.  

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

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

Margarita BOP Penstemon is a low-growing, evergreen perennial prized for its long-lasting, vibrant blue-to-rose-purple flowers. Thought to be a hybrid of Penstemon heterophyllus and Penstemon laetus, its name comes from where it thrived with little care—“Bottom of the Porch.”

This adaptable plant flourishes in various garden settings, from borders to rock gardens and slopes. It is drought-adapted once established and benefits from cutting back spent flower spikes to encourage reblooming. A magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, margarita BOP penstemon is an excellent choice for pollinator-friendly landscapes.

Penstemon incertus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Mojave beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in many of the southeastern mountain ranges, including the southern reaches of the Sierra Nevada, the Tehachapis, and the mountains of the Mojave Desert region. It is a member of the flora in scrub and woodland, among Joshua Trees and in sandy washes. It is a rounded, branching, erect shrub reaching one meter in maximum height. The thick leaves are linear to lance-shaped with rolled, untoothed edges and reaching up to 7 centimeters. The hairy flower cluster produces several wide-mouthed tubular or funnel-shaped flowers measuring 2 to 3 centimeters long. The flowers are blue-purple, hairy on the outer surface and mostly hairless inside except for the hairy staminode.

Penstemon laetus is a species of penstemon in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known by the common names Gay Penstemon and Mountain Blue Penstemon. It is native to the inland mountains of Oregon and California, where its distribution extends from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the Transverse Ranges. It is found at elevations from 750 ft. to over 8,000 ft. where grows in forest, scrub, and other mountain habitats. It is a perennial herb growing erect to about 75 centimeters tall, its base becoming woody. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters long. The hairy flower cluster bears blue or purple flowers up to 3.5 centimeters long. The wide-mouthed tubular or funnel-shaped flower is hairy on the outer surface and mostly hairless on the inside. There are two recognized varieties in California, all commonly known as Mountain Blue Penstemon.