One of two recognized varieties of the species Ribes aureum, all known by the common name Golden Currant, it is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub 6-10 feet tall. It is native to the inland mountains of California, primarily the Sierras. It tends to have a more upright form than Ribes aureum var gracillimum. It blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers that gradually turn red. Flowers often have a fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Leaves are green, shaped similarly to gooseberry leaves, and turn red in autumn. The plant is deciduous from late December to early February. The shrub produces berries about half an inch in diameter from an early age. Ripe fruits, amber yellow to black in color, are edible, and attract a wide range of birds. This plant is recommended for higher elevation gardens.

Ribes aureum var gracillimum, known by the common name Golden Currant, is a species of small to medium-sized deciduous shrub that grows 3-6 feet tall. It's native to the coast and foothill regions of California, growing most commonly in the southern foothills of the Transverse Range, and more rarely in the coastal ranges as far as the Mendocino National Forest. It blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers, often with a pronounced fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. The flowers attract hummingbirds and monarch butterflies. Leaves are green, shaped similarly to gooseberry leaves, turning red in autumn. The plant is deciduous from late December to early February. The shrub produces berries about half an inch in diameter from an early age. Ripe fruits, amber yellow to black in color, are tasty, and attract a wide range of birds.

While Golden Currants are fairly drought tolerant once mature, they grow best in areas with somewhat more ground water, such as the bottom of slopes, near creeks or canyon bottoms, or near irrigated areas. On the coast, they prefer full sun, and inland, part shade. They do best when surrounded by mulch, and grow well under oak trees and in mixed chaparral. When Golden Currants are thriving, they self-seed and spread out from the original plant and can serve as a groundcover.

Hillside Gooseberry (Ribes californicum) is an easy to grow native shrub. Hillside Gooseberry tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from sea level to nearly 6,000 feet. It will reach 4 to 8 feet high and 2 to 6 feet wide. The dangling flowers, which appear in spring, are pink, purple or yellow. The branches bear spines, so keep this in mind when deciding the planting location.

This plant will grow in part-shade, in sandy or rocky soil, and requires little water once established.

The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and the berries make it a valuable wildlife plant, especially to birds. It hosts several butterfly species, including the Tailed Copper, Hoary Comma and Oreas Comma.

Ribes divaricatum is a species of currant known by several common names, including spreading gooseberry, coast black gooseberry, and wild gooseberry. It is native to the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. It is a shrub sometimes reaching 3 meters in height with woody branches with one to three thick brown thorns at leaf nodes. The leaves are generally palmate in shape and edged with teeth. The blades are up to 6 centimeters long and borne on petioles. The flower cluster is a small cluster of hanging flowers, each with reflexed purple-tinted green sepals and smaller, lighter petals encircling long, protruding stamens. The fruit is a berry up to a centimeter wide which is black when ripe. It is similar to Ribes lacustre and Ribes lobbi, but the former has smaller, reddish to maroon flowers and the latter has reddish flowers that resemble those of fuchsias and sticky leaves. The fruit was food for a number of Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest, and other parts of the plant, especially the bark, was used for medicinal purposes.

Ribes indecorum is a species of currant known by the common names white-flowered currant and white chaparral currant. It is native to the southern California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges, from around Santa Barbara County in California south into northern Baja California.

It is an erect shrub approaching three meters in maximum height. The stem is fuzzy and glandular in texture. The deciduous leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long. The thick, wrinkly blades are divided into three to five toothed lobes, and are hairy, glandular, and aromatic. The inflorescence is a loose raceme of 10 to 25 flowers. The flower is roughly tubular with the white or pink-tinged sepals spreading open to reveal smaller whitish petals inside. Flowers bloom in late winter / early spring, and have an exceptionally pleasant fragrance, among the best of any California native.The fruit is a hairy, sticky very attractive berry that can be orange, purple, pink or red, and are under a centimeter wide.

White Flowering Currant is very drought tolerant once established, but still does does best in part shade, or in spots that retain slightly more moisture, such as creek sides, north or east facing slopes, or adjacent to boulders. Best to avoid direct summer water after this plant is established. It'll go nearly completely summer deciduous, and then spring back to life with the start of the rainy season.

Ribes malvaceum, called "chaparral currant", is a member of the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry family). It is endemic to California. It occurs below 1500 meter in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest ranging from Baja California to the San Francisco Bay area and inner Northern Coastal Ranges. Less than 2 meters tall, this perennial shrub lacks the characteristic nodal spines which are demonstrated on the stems of many other members in the genus Ribes. The leaf blades (20-50 millimeter) are densely hairy and double toothed. Bright pink flowers produce edible purple berries.

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

Horticultural selection from Ribes malvaceum var. malvaceum. Dancing Tassels is a beautiful summer deciduous shrub for shady areas. Growing to 6 feet tall, this vase shaped shrub has soft green lobed leaves and peeling red-brown bark. The small, pinkish white flowers are jammed together on pendulous, chandelier-like 4 inch clusters. Dancing Tassels was selected for use in the garden by the Rancho santa Ana Botanical Garden because it sports the longest flower clusters of the species. It is originally from Bryce Canyon on san Clemente Island. Chaparral Currant blooms earlier in winter than the Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), providing hummingbirds an outstanding nectar source in late fall and early winter. It is also more sun and drought tolerant than R. Sanguineum. After its long flowering period, Dancing Tassels produces dark blue fruits that appeal to a large variety of songbirds and human jelly makers. Tailed Copper butterflies also use it as a larval plant. In coastal areas plant in full sun or part shade, inland it needs filtered shade. It is not finicky about soil type, but it needs good drainage. 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 on san Clemente Island by Bart O' Brien and Tom Hayduk of Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

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

The canyon gooseberry (Ribes menziesii) is a distinctive plant found only in California and Oregon. There are five to six varieties of the species found across the low elevation mountains of California, especially the Coast Ranges, and the coastal canyons and foothills, into southern Oregon. It can be found in the chaparral plant community. It is in the genus which includes gooseberries and currants. The canyon gooseberry is an aromatic deciduous shrub with very prickly branches growing up to two meters in height. It has somewhat rounded, hairy, hairy green leaves. Its showy hanging flowers have sepals which are reflexed, or folded backwards along the length of the flower. The sepals are fuchsia or purple. The petals are white and extend forward to form a loose tube from which the stamens emerge. The plant fruits purple gooseberries which are edible but are mainly seeds with little fruit. The plant's spines also make collecting fruit unpleasant. The plant is sometimes used as an ornamental in areas of proper climate, such as coastal California, for its attractive spring blooms. The rest of the year, however, the plant is brown and less attractive so it is not in very great demand for garden displays.

Sierra Currant (Ribes nevadense) is a native shrub in the Grossulariaceae (Currant/Gooseberry) family that grows primarily in the mountainous interior regions of the state. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 6 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are red and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in open places, at elevations from 3,000-10,000 feet but is said to perform well at lower elevations. It is moderately drought tolerant but can also tolerate more water.

Ribes quercetorum is a species of currant known by the common names rock gooseberry, oak gooseberry and oakwoods gooseberry. It is native to the mountains and hills of California from the San Francisco Bay Area south into Baja California and east into Arizona. Ribes quercetorum grows in woodlands, chaparral, and dry desert slopes and canyons. It is a spreading shrub producing arching stems up to 1. 5 meters (5 feet)long, the nodes along the stems bearing 1 to 3 spines each up to 1. 5 centimeters (0. 6 inch) long. The lightly hairy, glandular leaves are up to 3 centimeters (1. 2 inches) long and are divided into a few lobes which are toothed or lobed at their tips. The inflorescence is a raceme of 2 or 3 small flowers. Each flower has five reflexed yellow sepals around a tube-shaped ring of smaller cream-colored petals. The fruit is an spherical, edible black berry just under a centimeter (0. 4 inch) in diameter.

Sierra Gooseberry (Ribes roezlii) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 5 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are dark green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-9200 feet.

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a stunning fast-growing native shrub for shady areas. It grows upright with a vase shape, 6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide. Its dangling tassel-like flowers are dark pink to red and emerge in winter through spring. With its broad bright green leaves, it is useful as a background plant under oaks or other trees. The fruit is a dark purple oval berry.

Red Flowering Currant will grow in rocky and acidic soil and prefers good drainage. Near the coast it is flexible as to water and exposure. Inland it prefers more water and shade.

Hummingbirds love the flowers and the plant hosts several butterfly species. Birds love the seeds.

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.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection from the pacific Northwest.

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

Pink-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum), also known as Blood Currant, is a fast-growing shrub with beautiful pendant pink flowers that bloom from winter to spring. This variety, primarily found along the coast and in the Coast Ranges of California, grows upright with a vase-shaped form, reaching up to 10 feet in height and 6 feet in width. The fruit is a dark purple, oval berry, edible but with an insipid taste, making it more suitable for birds.

It thrives in part sun to shade and well-draining acidic soil but adapts to a variety of soils. While it needs some summer water in hot inland areas, it is more drought-tolerant near the coast. This shrub attracts hummingbirds and insects, while its berries are enjoyed by fruit-eating birds. It also hosts up to 80 species of butterflies and moths.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected by Roger Raiche on Inverness Ridge in Marin Co.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Introduced by Native sons Nursery from seedling on their property.

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. Selection from Tranquillon Ridge in santa Barbara, under bishop pines. Introduced by Native sons Nursery.

Redflower Currant (Ribes sanguineum var. sanguineum) is a native shrub that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast, the Klamath Mountain Range and North Coast Range regions. It tends to grow at elevations from 1000-7200 feet.

Fuchsia flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum) is a deciduous shrub in the Gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). It has small, dark green, glossy leaves and thorns along the branches. The beautiful fuchsia-red flowers hang down in abundance from the branches throughout the bush. The tube-shaped flowers with their protruding stamens and stigmas look a little like red-dressed ballerinas dancing in a line.

The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. Birds and other small mammals enjoy eating the berries. The numerous thorns make it unpalatable for deer. Fuchsia flowered gooseberries naturally grow in Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, and shady Woodlands. It prefers growing in the shade of oaks or larger shrubs, in seasonally moist locations. In the garden, plant it behind evergreen perennials or low shrubs, to hide the bare stems in summer. Site it away from walkways to avoid getting scratched by the thorns. The long-blooming, spectacular flowers make this shrub worth the months of bare stems and thorns. 

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Catalina currant (Ribes viburnifolium) is an evergreen shrub with handsome, aromatic, dark green leaves. Small clusters of rose pink flowers bloom in late winter to mid spring, followed by small red fruits later in the spring.  This moderate to fast-growing shrub has an open wide-spreading form, growing 3 to 4 feet tall and spreading to 6 feet wide.  It may be pruned to restrain its sprawling tendencies

It will grow in part shade to shade, is adaptable to various soil types and takes occasional to moderate water. It is a good choice for planting underneath an oak canopy, growing low to the ground and extending long reddish stems horizontally where the tips may root and establish new growth centers.  The plant yields small red fruits later in the spring that attract birds. Catalina currant hosts a large number of butterflies and moths. Hummingbirds and insects are attracted to the flowers. 

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers shade in coastal sites, and shade in inland sites. Selected from spooner's Mesa (san Diego County) along the Tijuana River estuary near Mexico by Dylan Hannon.

With charming open-faced blooms in shades of pink that range from near-white to magenta, the California Wildrose (Rosa californica), a native rose species, adds beauty to any garden or landscape. Its fragrant flowers bloom abundantly through spring and summer. The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. In fall, it produces deep red rose hips that provide food for birds.

California Wildrose is easy to grow. It can tolerate low-water conditions but benefits from supplemental irrigation, especially during summer. It grows in different soil types, although it does best in moist, loamy soil. This shrub can form large thickets, making it a good choice for barrier planting. Pruning is not necessary when it has room to grow. Otherwise, light shaping keeps it from overgrowing small spaces.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection introduced by suncrest Nurseries.

Also known as the baldhip or dwarf rose, the wood rose is a woodland shrub that grows best in shady or sun-dappled areas. Delicate, fragrant blooms in shades of pink and lavender are flat and open-faced. The stems are covered in long, straight spines and vibrant green leaves.

The flowers attract butterflies and bees. After blooming, the hips are a food source for birds. The wood rose is a good plant selection for a waterwise dry shade garden. It is drought tolerant and has low water requirements.

The Nootka Rose, Rosa nutkana, is a rose which is native to the Pacific Northwest. It takes its name from the Nuu-chah-nulth people, who are commonly though incorrectly known also as the Nootka. In California it is most commonly found near the coast from Sonoma County to Del Norte County. Like other wild roses, it prefers moist areas and will become a large, impenetrable thicket. The spines can be rather dangerous so don't plant near walkways. One plant association in which this rose occurs is the Ponderosa shrub forest.

Woods' Rose (Rosa woodsii) is a native shrub that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in mountainous areas including the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges. It is fast growing and long-lived, grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are pink, striking and very fragrant, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 3500-11500 feet. It has straight sharp thorns.

Woods' Rose needs moisture, but once established can be watered once a month in the summer. It tolerates clay but does best in moist loamy soil. Because of the spines and its tendency to sprawl, it can be pruned annually in winter.

Birds are attracted to the fruits, and Woods? Rose hosts a number of butterflies & moths, a likely total of 58.

Rubus leucodermis (Blackcap Raspberry, Black Raspberry, or Whitebark Raspberry, and native: Blue Raspberry) is a species of Rubus native to western North America, from British Columbia, Canada south to California, New Mexico and Mexico. It is closely related to the eastern Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 0.5-2 meter tall, with thorny shoots. While the crown is perennial, the canes are biennial, growing vegetatively one year, flowering and fruiting the second and then dying. Like with other dark raspberries, the tips of the 1st year canes (primocanes) often grow downward to the soil in the fall, and take root and form tip layers which become new plants. The leaves are pinnate, with five leaflets on leaves strong-growing stems in their first year, and three leaflets on leaves on flowering branchlets with white, seldom light purple flowers. The fruit is 1-1.2 centimeter diameter, reddish-purple, dark blue to nearly black when ripe, and has high contents of anthocyanins and ellagic acid.

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) is a perennial in the Rose family and is related to raspberries and blackberries. Spreading through underground rhizomes, the thornless canes can create a dense stand that is topped by large, maple-like leaves. In the spring, large white flowers bloom above the leaves. A bright red, edible fruit that resembles a raspberry (or a thimble, as the name suggests), ripens in summer.

Bees and other pollinators are attracted to the flowers, and the leaves are a host plant for many different species of butterflies and moths. Birds and other mammals eat the berries.

Thimbleberries grow in partly-shaded forest openings and on moist woodland canyons or slopes. Use Thimbleberry for erosion control on slopes in a forested garden; near shady creeks or streams; or on the north side of a house. Thimbleberry can be used as a native plant substitute for non-native berries in an edible garden or food forest.

Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry) is a species in the Rose family native to the west coast of North America from west central Alaska to California. In California it is found primarily along the coast from Santa Cruz County northward, typically in moist areas under tree canopy. It is a shrub growing to 1-4 meter tall, with perennial, not biennial woody stems (unlike other species). It forms large, dense patches given favorable conditions. The leaves are trifoliate, 7-22 centimeter long, the terminal leaflet larger than the two side leaflets. The leaf margins are toothed. The flowers are 2-3 centimeter diameter, with five purple petals; they are produced from early spring to early summer. The fruit, which is edible, matures in late summer to early autumn and resembles a large yellow to orange-red raspberry 1.5-2 centimeter long with many drupelets.

Its spines are less menacing than others in the Rubus genus, making it more suitable for the garden. However, it tendency to spread means that it needs plenty of room. Its deep, rhizomatous root growth makes it a useful plant for bank stabilization

California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), also known as Pacific Blackberry, is a valuable wildlife plant. The fruit is a favorite of many species of birds and mammals, including black bear. (Ursinus is Latin for bear.) The sweet berries are also edible to humans, although they should be picked with care, as the stems are very prickly. The berries can be eaten raw or cooked. The spreading habit of this shrub provides cover for a wide variety of birds and small mammals. In the wild, deer, rabbits, and other animals eat new shoots and foliage.

California Blackberry is easy to grow in the garden. It tolerates a range of soil types and sun exposures, including shady sites under trees and tall shrubs. It can grow in nutrient-poor soil but does require a moderate to high amount of water to thrive, especially in summer. This shrub can spread up to 6 ft in width, making it a useful groundcover plant. As with harvesting fruit, care should be taken when weeding and pruning. For safety, it's best to plant California Blackberry away from walkways and other high-traffic areas.

Salix exigua (Sandbar Willow) is a deciduous shrub reaching 13 to 23 feet in height. The leaves are narrow, green, to grayish with silky white hairs when young. The flowers emerge as yellow or white catkins in late spring, after the leaves appear. The fruit is a cluster of capsules, each containing numerous minute seeds embedded in shiny white silk.

Like most willows, Sandbar Willow it is moisture-loving. It will tolerate a variety of soils and poor drainage. It grows in full sun and spreads by shoots to form dense colonies so it will eventually spread to occupy any wet soil that it can reach. Use with other wetland trees, shrubs and grasses.

It is host to a wide variety of pollinators, including butterflies, moths, and some gall-forming wasps. Some birds, such as the Least Bell's Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, prefer to nest in large, dense willow thickets.

Goodding's Black Willow (Salix gooddingii) is a common native tree that grows throughout the state in wetland areas. It has a moderate growth rate and is moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 15-40 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the early spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in streamsides, at elevations from sea level to 2,000 feet. It performs in a wide variety of locations, from the south coast to the central valley and perennial streams in desert areas. It tolerates some alkalinity and salinity as well as generally poor water quality. Due to its size and water requirements, this is not a common garden tree but is useful in restoration projects, bioswales, and other constructed wetlands. Like other willows it is an important wildlife plant.

Salix hookeriana is a species of willow known by the common names dune willow, coastal willow, and Hooker's willow. The plant is native to the west coast of North America from Alaska to northern California, where it grows in coastal habitat such as beaches, marshes, floodplains, and canyons. S. hookeriana is a shrub or tree growing up to 8 m (26 ft) tall, sometimes forming bushy colonial thickets. The leaves are up to 11 cm long, generally oval in shape, wavy along the edges, and hairy to woolly in texture with shiny upper surfaces. The inflorescence is a catkin of flowers up to 9 cm long, with the female catkins growing longer as the fruits develop. This willow may hybridize with similar species. The Latin specific epithet hookeriana refers to Sir Joseph D. Hooker. The plant is native to the west coast of North America from Alaska to northern California, where it grows in coastal habitat such as beaches, marshes, floodplains, and canyons.

Red willow (Salix laevigata) is a fast-growing native tree commonly found along creeks and wetlands throughout California, from sea level to 5,000 feet. It thrives in consistently moist areas and is often used for erosion control, restoration projects, and bioswales.

This mostly deciduous tree has flexible reddish twigs, shiny green leaves with pale undersides, and yellow catkins in spring. Female trees produce cottony seeds that are dispersed by wind. Its variable form includes multiple twisting trunks that often sprawl along creek beds before growing upright.

Red willow is an important habitat tree, providing food for butterflies like the Western tiger swallowtail, mourning cloak, Lorquin’s admiral, and hairstreaks. While not typically used in residential gardens, it is an excellent choice for wetland landscapes

Salix lasiandra is a native willow tree that grows in virtually every county of the state in wetland-riparian areas. It is a suckering willow that will extend its roots and spread into any area that has sufficient moisture. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of Salix lucida, and some sources may still refer to it by that name. There are two recognized Varieties: Var. lasiandra is widespread. Var. caudata (Shining Willow) is less common and restricted to the Sierras and northward. Like all willows, this species prefers alluvial soils with plenty of water. It is not often seen in residential gardens but is useful in restoration projects, bioswales, and other consistently wet areas.

Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis) is an abundant and widespread native small tree or shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. Arroyo Willow likes water and in the garden must have constantly moist soil. It is a fast-growing small tree, reaching 15 to 30 feet high and 5 to 10 feet wide. The leaves are long and thin. Being deciduous, Arroyo Willow is leafless part of the year. The flower is a yellowish catkin that becomes a fluffy white mass of seeds.

Willows (Salix spp.) are very important wildlife plants, used by birds, insects, amphibians and mammals. Numerous insects, especially wasps, lay their eggs on willow leaves, forming galls. These galls are usually not harmful to the plant and should not be viewed as pests.

Arroyo Willow grows in full sun in a variety of soils, as long as it has adequate drainage. It is recommended as erosion control near streams. Spreading by root runners it can be invasive in moist areas. Gardeners with a bog or pond use it with other wetland plants such as Maple, Spicebush, Dogwood, Currant, and California Wildrose. It can be pruned or sheared in winter to form a hedge.

Salix scouleriana, or Scouler's Willow, is a species of willow native to western North America. Other names occasionally used include fire willow, Nuttall willow, mountain willow, and black willow. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, depending on the environment, usually with multiple stems that reach 2 to 7 meter in height in dry, cold, high elevation, and other difficult environments, and 10 to 20 meter in favorable sites. The stems are straight and support few branches generally resulting in narrow crowns. The root system is fibrous, deep, and widespread. The thick sapwood is nearly white, and heartwood is light brown tinged with red. Stem bark is thin, gray or dark brown with broad, flat ridges. Twigs are stout and whitish green. The leaves are oblance-shaped to elliptic, 5-12.5 centimeter long, mostly short-pointed at the tip and tapered toward the base with entire to sparsely wavy-toothed margins. They are dark-green and nearly hairless above, and white- or grayish-hairy below. It is dioecious, having male and female flowers on different trees. The flowers are tiny, grouped in pussy willow-like catkins. The anthers, two per flower, are yellow, sometimes tipped with red; pistols are red. The fruit is light reddish-brown, long-pointed capsules about 0.75 centimeter long. At maturity, they open to release a white fluff with tiny imbedded seeds.

Sitka Willow (Salix sitchensis) is a native tree or shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 23 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and bloom in the . Leaves are light-green and deciduous. It tends to grow in edges of lakes and streams and wet meadows, at elevations from 3300-11200 feet.

Native to Southern California's coastal sage scrub region, White Sage (Salvia apiana) is one of the state's most important Salvia species. White Sage is fragrant, with silver-white leaves, and clusters of white flowers with lavender streaks. Young leaves start off green and turn white as they get older.

White Sage is deeply rooted in the cultures and lifeways of Indigenous communities of Southern California and northern Baja, the only region this sage naturally occurs in the world. This plant's limited wild populations are under threat from poaching, climate change, and development.

Nursery-grown White Sage is a valuable pollinator plant in the garden. The small white flowers are a favorite of carpenter bees, bumble bees, and hummingbirds. In Latin, "apiana" means of or belonging to bees. The blooms are accented by silvery-white foliage. White Sage is a drought-adapted low-water shrub that grows best in full sun. Pruning helps keep it neat and compact.

Horticultural selection from salvia apiana.

This sage has light purple flowers and is even more aromatic than White sage or a Cleveland sage. Its leaves are similar to white sage but are slightly smaller and darker. It is a very attractive shrub to place along fences and at the back of a garden bed. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. It is thought to be a cross between Salvia apiana and Salvia clevelandii, coming from Rancho Santa Ana (now California Botanic Garden).

Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) is a small, evergreen shrub in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). The small gray-green leaves are very fragrant, as are the whorls of purple flowers. One shrub can perfume the whole garden on a warm, summer afternoon. Hummingbirds adore the nectar from the tubular flowers. It also attracts butterflies, bees, moths, and other pollinators. This is an important food source during the heat of summer.

It is native to chaparral and coastal sage scrub in Southern California, where it survives on annual rainfall alone. Plant Cleveland sage on well-drained flats, bluffs or gentle slopes for best results. Limit summer water to no more than once per month; although, no irrigation in summer after a year or two is best. This sage is arguably one of the most fragrant. Several cultivars and hybrids that are often available in nurseries are 'Winnifred Gilman', 'Allen Chickering', 'Aromas', 'Pozo Blue', and 'Whirly Blue', and 'Celestial Blue'.

Horticultural selection from salvia clevelandii. Powerfully fragrant and incredibly long blooming, Alpine Cleveland sage is also the cold-hardiest variety of its species, tolerating temperatures well below freezing. Due to its long bloom time, the Alpine variety is a particularly good addition to wildlife gardens. Use it as a screen or border shrub. The flower spikes are attractive in cut-flower arrangements. This variety was discovered growing wild on a rocky, south-facing slope of san Diego's Cuyamaca Mountains near the small town of Alpine. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selection from san Diego County (Alpine).

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Introduced by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Originally collected by sean Hogan, parker sanderson, and Bart O'Brien from a coastal terrace south of Erendira in Baja California, Mexico.

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. Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic 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. 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.

Whirly Blue sage is a hybrid of salvia clevelandii and s. leucophylla and sports aromatic grey-green foliage and rich violet flowers that appear on 1 to 2 foot blooming stems. It is a dense growing shrub, 4-5 feet tall, with an even greater spread.
The larger flower whorls and the deeper color of the flowers distinguish 'Whirly Blue" from both salvia 'Allen Chickering' and salvia 'Aromas'. Whirly Blue sage is great for dry, sunny spots and appreciates well-draining soil. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies enjoy its flowers and we enjoy its leaves in tea. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.