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

Like many other species of salvia, Hummingbird Sage is a magnet for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and --- of course --- hummingbirds! This attractive sage is notable for its bold pink and red flowering spikes and pleasant fragrance. It spreads by rhizomes and over time can cover a large area, making it a popular groundcover plant.

Hummingbird Sage grows well in shade and part-shade. In its natural environment, it's often found under trees and large shrubs. It is drought tolerant and can survive without summer irrigation once established. Some supplemental water will keep the foliage green.

Attractive, hardy, and easy to grow, the Blue Elderberry is also an important food source for California wildlife. In spring, large clusters of cream-colored flowers attract butterflies and bees. The abundant blue berries provide food for birds and other animals. Humans can eat the fruit as long as it's cooked.

This fast-growing shrub is tolerant of a variety of growing conditions, although it does best in sun and well-drained moist, rich soil. It can grow to the size of a small tree, up to 30 feet tall but is easily shaped with pruning.

Sambucus racemosa is a species of elderberry known by the common names red elderberry and Red-berried Elder. It is native to Europe, northern temperate Asia, and North America across Canada and the United States. It grows in riparian environments, woodlands, and other habitats, generally in moist areas. Sambucus racemosa is often a treelike shrub growing 2-6 metres (6. 6-19. 7 ft) tall. The stems are soft with a pithy center. Each individual leaf is composed of 5 to 7 leaflike leaflets, each of which is up to 16 centimeters long, lance-shaped to narrowly oval, and irregularly serrated along the edges. The leaflets have a strong disagreeable odor when crushed. The inflorescence is a vaguely cone-shaped panicle of several cymes of flowers blooming from the ends of stem branches. The flower buds are pink when closed, and the open flowers are white, cream, or yellowish. Each flower has small, recurved petals and a star-shaped axis of five white stamens tipped in yellow anthers. The flowers are fragrant and visited by hummingbirds and butterflies. The fruit is a bright red or sometimes purple drupe containing 3 to 5 seeds. Varieties and subspecies are: Sambucus racemosa subsp. kamtschatica - red elder, native to Northeastern Asia. Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa - Rocky Mountain elder, native to the Western United States and Western Canada, including the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. Sambucus racemosa subsp. pubens - American red elder, native to Eastern North America
Sambucus racemosa subsp. racemosa - European red elder. Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa - Pacific red elderberry. Sambucus racemosa subsp. sibirica - red elder, native to Siberia. Sambucus racemosa subsp. sieboldiana - Japanese red elder

Sambucus racemosa is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use as a shrub or small tree in traditional and wildlife gardens, and natural landscape design projects. Cultivars in the nursery trade include: Sambucus racemosa 'Black Lace' - burgundy foliage, Sambucus racemosa 'Lemon Lace' - golden yellow and green foliage, Sambucus racemosa 'Lemony Lace' - golden green foliage, with red new growth, Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherland Gold' - green foliage, with bronze new growth. It received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

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.

Hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus), known as tule in California, is a tall, perennial sedge native to freshwater marshes across North America. It belongs to the Cyperaceae family and thrives in wetland environments, forming dense stands along shorelines. The plant has thick, rounded green stems with long, grass-like leaves that grow in clusters. These dense stands create a natural buffer against wind and water forces, reducing shoreline erosion and helping to stabilize wetland ecosystems.

Hardstem bulrush provides essential habitat for a variety of wildlife. Red-winged blackbirds commonly nest among the stalks, while reptiles and amphibians find shelter within the dense vegetation. Fish use the submerged stems and root systems as nursery areas, benefiting from the protection provided by the plant’s structure. Additionally, Hardstem Bulrush contributes to water filtration by working with symbiotic microbes to sequester excess nutrients, improving water quality in wetland areas.

For Indigenous peoples, tule has been a valuable resource for thousands of years. The plant is traditionally harvested to make sleeping mats, baskets, cordage, and even canoes. It is also used to construct walls for homes and serves as a food source. These cultural practices highlight the ecological and practical significance of this native wetland plant.

Slender Bulrush (Schoenoplectus heterochaetus) is a rare native grass that grows in southern and northern California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 4.9 feet, with active growth during the summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the late summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in marshes and wet places, at elevations from - feet.

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.

Scutellaria siphocampyloides is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name grayleaf skullcap. It is endemic to California, where it is widespread throughout the mountain and coastal regions; it is absent from the deserts and the Central Valley. It can be found in forest and woodland habitat, and a variety of open habitat types. It is a perennial herb producing an erect stem or cluster of stems up to about half a meter tall from a system of thin rhizomes. The stems are coated in short, flattened hairs which sometimes have resin glands. The oval leaves are oppositely arranged. The lowest leaves are borne on short petioles. Flowers emerge from the leaf axils. Each flower is held in a calyx of sepals with a large ridge or appendage on the upper part. The tubular corolla can be up to 3. 5 centimeters long and has a large upper and lower lip. The upper lip is folded into a beaklike protrusion and the lower has three wide lobes. The corolla is pale lavender to deep purple in color, sometimes with white mottling on the lower lip.

Sedum lanceolatum is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family known by the common names spearleaf stonecrop and lanceleaf stonecrop. It is native to western North America and occurs in western Canada and the United States. It is distributed from Alaska to Arizona and New Mexico and as far east as South Dakota and Nebraska. It grows in exposed, rocky mountainous habitat at moderate and high elevations, up to 4048 meters in the Rocky Mountains. The plant persisted and evolved on sky islands and nunataks in these ranges during glaciation events during the Pleistocene epoch.

Sedum laxum is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family known by the common name roseflower stonecrop. It is native to southwestern Oregon and northwestern California, where it can be found in rocky mountainous habitat. It is a succulent plant forming basal rosettes of oval or oblong leaves up to 3 centimeters long. The inflorescence is made up of one or more erect arrays of many flowers. The flowers have reddish or yellowish petals up to 1. 3 centimeters long each.

Heckner's Stonecrop (Sedum laxum ssp. heckneri) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in Northern California, primarily in the North Coast, the Klamath Mountain Range and North Coast Range regions. It tends to grow in rocky outcrops, at elevations from 200-6600 feet.

Sedum oreganum is a species of succulent plant of the genus Sedum. It grows along the Pacific Coast of North America from Alaska to far northern California. The plant, known by the common name Oregon stonecrop, grows in many types of rocky habitat, including coastal bluffs and cliffs and the talus of higher inland mountains. Media related to Sedum oreganum at Wikimedia Commons

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.

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

Sedum stenopetalum is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family known by the common name wormleaf stonecrop. It is native to western North America from British Columbia and Alberta to northern California to Wyoming. It can be found in many types of rocky habitat, such as cliffs, talus, and steep ridges. It is a succulent plant producing mats or clumps of lance-shaped, linear, or three-lobed leaves each under 2 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a short, erect array of one to many flowers with lance-shaped petals up to a centimeter long. The petals are yellow, sometimes with red veins.

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 flaccidus, formerly recorded as Senecio douglasii (in honor of the botanist David Douglas) member of the daisy family and genus Senecio also known as Threadleaf Groundsel (and Bush Senecio, Creek Senecio, Shrubby Butterweed, Comb Butterweed, Smooth Threadleaf Ragwort, Mono Ragwort, Douglas Ragwort, Douglas Groundsel, Sand Wash Groundsel, Felty Groundsel, Old Man, Yerba Cana, Squawweed or Cenicillo) is a native of the southwestern Great Plains of North America. Threadleaf ragwort is a fast growing, short lived (3 to 6 years) bushy perennial shrub growing to 4 feet 6 inches ; common in gravelly washes, dry creek beds, along roads & trails and mostly away from the coast.

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.

Arrowhead Butterweed (Senecio triangularis) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 4 feet, with active growth during the summer and fall. Flowers are yellow and striking, and bloom in the mid summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in wet meadows and streambanks in open places, at elevations from 4000-11000 feet.

Senna armata is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names spiny senna and desert senna. It is native to the desert regions around the intersection of Nevada, Arizona, eastern California and northern Baja California, where it grows in sandy and rocky habitat, such as arroyos. It is a shrub growing up to a meter tall, its grooved, branching stems often narrowing to thorns at their tips. The spiny branches are coated in tubular hairs which help protect it from hot desert air. The spine-tipped leaves are each made up of two to four pairs of small leaflets. The leaves are ephemeral, dropping soon after emerging, leaving the shrub naked most of the time. Flowers occur singly or in small clusters in leaf axils. They are fragrant and showy, with five petals in shades of yellow to salmon pink, each measuring roughly a centimeter long. The fruit is a legume pod up to 4 centimeters long.

Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), also commonly known simply as redwood, is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia, trees in the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). The evergreen needles cover long branches that drape gracefully over the characteristic rust-colored bark of its trunk. These are the tallest trees on earth, with the tallest reaching at almost 380 feet, and a trunk at 26 feet around.

Redwood cones are small compared to other evergreens but are valuable food sources for wildlife. Coast redwood supports many animals, insects, amphibians and birds. The endangered Marbled Murrelet lives in the branches of old-growth redwood trees. The redwood grows within 30 miles of the coast in California and southwestern Oregon. It relies on ample fog and cool temperatures in the summer, and rainy winters. It also grows best when it has company; redwoods support each other with a network of roots and fungi.

If you are lucky enough to live in or near the redwood forest, there is little you need to do for the maintenance of your mature trees. When the inner needles turn brown and shed in late summer, know that this is normal. Even "evergreens" shed old leaves from time to time. Allow the needles to remain on the soil after they fall; they will protect the soil and add important nutrients back into the soil as they break down. When planting a new redwood, site it in moist soil, and away from buildings, where falling branches won't damage structures.

Sidalcea calycosa is a native annual herb in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family that grows in central and northern California from the coast to the central valley and Sierra foothills. It tends to grow in marshes, vernal pools and other wet places, at elevations from sea level to 3,900 feet. There are two recognized subspecies. Ssp. rhizomata (Pt. Reyes Checkerbloom) is a rare plant found only along the coast in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Sidalcea calycosa is most often seen as an annual, but if conditions are right it may become a weak perennial growing from a rhizome. In the garden it needs a very wet area and not too much competition. If conditions are good it will spread.

Pt. Reyes Checkerbloom (Sidalcea calycosa ssp. rhizomata) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast and Central Coast regions. It tends to grow in marshes and wet places, at elevations from 0-3900 feet.

Sidalcea hickmanii is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known generally by the common name chaparral checkerbloom. Sidalcea hickmanii is endemic to California, where it grows in the Central Coast Ranges, the Transverse Ranges and parts of the northern coast. There are four subspecies, most of which are separated geographically. The plant grows in chaparral and other habitat, sometimes on serpentine soils. This perennial herb produces a rough-haired stem up to a meter tall with a woody caudex at the base. The leaves have wide, fan-shaped blades which have rippled edges or divisions into narrow lobes. The inflorescence is an array of several racemes of flowers. Each has pinkish to purplish petals up to 2. 5 centimeters long. Subspecies. Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. anomala - Cuesta Pass checkerbloom is a rare subspecies known only from the vicinity of the Hwy. 101 Cuesta Pass in the southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in San Luis Obispo County, where it is limited to serpentine substrates. It has deeply lobed to almost compound leaves. While rare it becomes locally abundant in areas recently burned by wildfire. Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. hickmanii - Hickman's checkerbloom is limited to the Santa Lucia Mountains of Monterey County. Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. parishii - Parish's checkerbloom is a rare subspecies which has a disjunct distribution in the Transverse Ranges. It is known from the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Santa Barbara, as well as the San Bernardino Mountains on the inland eastern side of the greater Los Angeles Basin area. Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. viridis - Marin checkerbloom is known from Marin County and the northern San Francisco Bay Area, several hundred miles from the other subspecies.

Checker Bloom (Sidalcea malviflora) is a common native perennial herb in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, the Sierra Nevada and Sacramento Valley regions. It tends to grow in meadows and open flats, at elevations from sea level to 7,500 feet. It has bright green palmate leaves and 1" deep pink flowers arranged vertically on a spike. There are several recognized subspecies with different geographic ranges and slightly differing characteristics.

This plant tolerates a wide variety of soils, and prefers damp winter conditions and dry summer conditions. It is most often started from seed and sometimes behaves like an annual.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers 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.

Checker Mallow (Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora) is a common native perennial herb that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the High Sierra Nevada and Sacramento Valley regions. It tends to grow in dry, open places, at elevations from 0-7500 feet.

Sidalcea stipularis is a rare species of flowering plant in the mallow family, known by the common name Scadden Flat checkerbloom. The plant is endemic to Nevada County in eastern California. It is known from only two occurrences on Scadden Flat in the Sierra Nevada foothills, near Grass Valley. It grows in marshy habitats. Sidalcea stipularis is a rhizomatous perennial herb, producing a bristle-haired stem up to 65 centimeters tall. The leaves have oval, unlobed blades on petioles and are evenly spaced along the stem. Each is accompanied by short stipules. The inflorescence is a headlike cluster of flowers with a cuplike skirt of hairy bracts. Each flower has five pink petals about 1. 5 centimeters long each. Threats to this rare species include the invasion of Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) into its habitat. One of the two occurrences is next to a road where there is heavy CalTrans activity. The plant has no federal protection but it is a state-listed endangered species in California, which means that killing or possessing this species is prohibited unless permitted by the California Department of Fish and Game (California Fish and Game Code Section 2080).

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.

Cardinal Catchfly (Silene laciniata ssp. laciniata) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California at elevations from 0-3900 feet. Silene laciniata ssp. californica is found primarily in the northern part of the state and the Sierra foothills. Ssp. laciniata is primarily found along the central to southern coast. It forms a thick taproot from which an upright or straggling, branching and slightly sticky stem emerges. Larger leaves are typically held on the lower portion of the stem and are triangular or lance shaped. The flowers, though small, are dramatic; though the common name suggests they are pink, in fact they are typically a deep crimson. Very common in its preferred habitat, often in the partial shade of boulders, taller grasses or larger shrubs. Sometimes only the flowers are visible through surrounding vegetation.

Silene parishii is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name Parish's catchfly. It is endemic to southern California, where it is known from several of the local mountain ranges, including the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and San Jacinto Mountains. It grows in rocky, forested habitat, sometimes in the alpine climates of the higher peaks. It is a perennial herb growing from a woody, branching caudex and taproot, sending up several decumbent or erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall. The oppositely arranged leaves line the stems, the largest ones located at the middle of each stem. Leaves are lance-shaped to nearly oval and up to 6 centimeters long. They are thick and leathery, and sometimes glandular and sticky. Each flower is encapsulated in a tubular calyx of fused sepals which may be nearly 3 centimeters long. It is greenish with ten veins and a coating of glandular hairs. The five petals are yellowish in color and each has about six long, fringelike lobes at the tip.

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

Sisyrinchium elmeri is a species of flowering plant in the iris family known by the common name Elmer's blue-eyed grass. It is endemic to California, where it is known from many of the mountain ranges from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the San Bernardino Mountains. It grows in moist habitat types such as meadows and bogs. Sisyrinchium elmeri is rhizomatous perennial herb takes a clumpy form, its narrow stems growing up to about 20 to 30 centimeters tall. It is medium green and nonwaxy, and it dries to a dark green or brownish color, but does not turn black. The flat, narrow leaves are grasslike. The flower has six tepals measuring roughly a centimeter long. They are yellow to yellow-orange with dark brown veining. The fruit is a dark brown capsule. Sisyrinchium elmeri is rhizomatous perennial herb takes a clumpy form, its narrow stems growing up to about 20 to 30 centimeters tall. It is medium green and nonwaxy, and it dries to a dark green or brownish color, but does not turn black. The flat, narrow leaves are grasslike. The flower has six tepals measuring roughly a centimeter long. They are yellow to yellow-orange with dark brown veining. The fruit is a dark brown capsule.

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.

Solanum wallacei, also known as Wallace's nightshade, Catalina nightshade, Northern island nightshade, or Wild Tomato, is a perennial plant that produces purple flowers, but otherwise resembles a tomato plant. The foliage and purple-black berries are poisonous. This rare plant is native to canyons and hillsides on Santa Catalina and Guadalupe Islands. It blooms in April and May.

Purple Nightshade (Solanum xanti) is a poisonous shrub with deep blue purple flowers blooming from winter through spring. Purple Nightshade has dark green foliage, and the form is loosely spreading or trailing. To promote a bush form, prune leggy branches in late summer or fall.

This plant likes sun to part shade in coastal gardens and shady spots inland. It is very drought tolerant but will tolerate modest summer watering. Though it prefers rocky soil or loam, it will grow in any relatively well drained soil.

It is noted for being deer resistant and hosts numerous moth and butterfly species.
The green berries, though toxic to animals, attract birds.

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 elongata, commonly called West Coast Canada goldenrod or Cascade Canada goldenrod, is a North American species of flowering plants in the sunflower family. It is native to western Canada, western United States, and northwestern Mexico, primarily in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja California, with a few populations in Nevada and Idaho. It grows in the Coast Ranges, the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades, and other mountain ranges in the region. Solidago elongata is a perennial herb up to 150 cm (5 feet) tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. One plant can produce 500 or more small yellow flower heads in a large branching (sometimes drooping) array at the top of the plant.

Solidago lepida , the western Canada goldenrod or western goldenrod, is a North American plant species in the genus Solidago of the sunflower family. It is widespread across much of Canada, the western United States, and northern Mexico. Solidago lepida is a perennial herb up to 150 cm (5 feet) tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. Leaves have coarse teeth and are on the stem rather than at the base. One plant can sometimes produce as many as 800 small flower heads, each with 7-22 ray florets surrounding 2-13 disc florets.

Rocky Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata) is a native perennial herb that grows in central and northern California. It is short-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 1 foot, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are yellow and striking, and bloom in the late summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in slopes and meadows, at elevations from 8000-12500 feet.

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.

Threenerve Goldenrod (Solidago velutina) is a native perennial herb in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family that is very widespread in western North America and is found in almost every county in California. Recent taxonomic changes have expanded the scope of S. velutina to include S. californica and S. sparsiflora which were previously considered by many to be distinct species. Some sources may still refer to these as separate species, but they are now formally recognized as subspecies. In the garden this plant may appear somewhat unruly, especially in winter when it is deciduous. It is best used where a wild look is desired. The yellow-gold flowers in late summer are showy and attract a large number of insects, as well as some birds.

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.

Sorbus scopulina is a species of rowan that is native to western North America, primarily in the Rocky Mountains. The common name of this species is often given as 'Greene mountain-ash', and is so named in honor of American botanist Edward Lee Greene. Throughout the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Northwestern portions of this rowan's habitat, it is commonly called Cascade Mountain-ash, sometimes listed as Sorbus scopulina var. cascadensis.

Alkali Cord Grass (Spartina gracilis) is a rare native grass that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the White and Inyo Mountains, the Sierra Nevada East and Mojave Desert regions. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are yellow and bloom in the late summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in alkaline lake shores, at elevations from 3300-6900 feet.

Louis Hamilton Desert Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Louis Hamilton') is an evergreen perennial with gorgeous, glowing red flowers that bloom almost non-stop. This is a fast growing heat-loving perennial with fuzzy gray-green foliage.

This mallow takes little additional water in summer and tolerates almost any soil type, but prefers well-drained soils. It's best to cut it back hard after flowering to encourage fresh growth and a fuller appearance. It works well on slopes and makes an excellent specimen plant for any desert-themed garden, with blooms that attract butterflies and bees..

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