Cream Bush (also called Ocean Spray) is famous for its cascading clusters of fragrant, creamy white flowers. These lovely blooms attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. After blooming, the seeds provide food for birds, and the plant itself provides shelter for birds and small animals.

Cream Bush is an attractive deciduous shrub, commonly found in forest and woodland environments. In the garden, it does well in shade or part shade and adapts to a variety of soil types. Water needs are moderate, and it can enjoy supplemental irrigation in drier areas.

Hordeum brachyantherum is a species of barley known by the common name meadow barley. It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, far eastern Russia, and parts of eastern North America. It can be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species. This is a tufting perennial grass approaching a meter in maximum height. It produces compact, narrow flower clusters 8 to 10 centimeters long and purplish in color. Like other barleys the spikelets come in triplets. It has two small, often sterile lateral spikelets on pedicels and a larger, fertile central spikelet lacking a pedicel.

Otay Mtn. Lotus is a rare native perennial herb in the Fabaceae (Legume) family. It is one of two recognized varieties of Hosackia crassifolia found in California. It is found primarily in the Otay Mountain area of San Diego County and adjacent Baja, although there is also a disjunct population reported in San Luis Obispo County. The more common var. crassifolia also occurs in the same area of San Diego. Otay Mountain Lotus tends to grow in chaparral or disturbed areas at elevations from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. This plant is rarely used in gardens, a little information is available on its cultural tolerances and requirements.

Hosackia gracilis is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family known by the common name Seaside Bird's-foot Trefoil. It is a rare plant native to western North America from British Columbia to California, as far south as San Luis Obispo County, where it grows in moist spots in the coastal mountains and down to the oceanside bluffs. Due to its limited distribution it is included on CNPS list 4.2. It is a perennial herb growing upright or spreading to about half a meter in maximum length. It is lined with leaves each made up of a few oppositely arranged oval leaflets up to 2 centimeters long. The flower cluster is made up of several pea-like flowers each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flower has a bright yellow banner, or upper petal, and bright pink or white lower petals. The fruit is a legume pod 2 or 3 centimeters long.

Menzies' Goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii) is a shrub that blooms when most other flowers are finished.  It flowers in summer and fall, with many thick clusters of yellow flowers standing upright from the stems. The erect branching stems are generally hairy, and vary in color from gray-green to reddish-brown. The leaves may also be hairy.  It grows at a moderate rate up to 3 feet  tall.

This is a tough accent plant that likes full sun and prefers well-draining sandy or rocky soil.

Numerous insects, including butterflies and moths, are attracted to it.

Menzies' Goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides) is a native shrub that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Central Coast, the South Coast and Channel Islands regions. It tends to grow in sandy places, at elevations from 0-400 feet.

Isolepis cernua (syn. Scirpus cernuus) is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names low bulrush, slender club-rush, tufted clubrush, and fiberoptic grass. It is widespread, being native to many regions of the world, including parts of Australasia, Eurasia, Africa, and North and South America.

Southern California black walnut (Juglans californica) is a deciduous tree or shrub-like tree with multiple trunks. It has large, divided leaves and thick bark that is deeply furrowed when the tree is mature. This tree is now endangered in large parts of the southern portion of its natural range, due to development. 

The nuts are edible but hard to remove from the shell so these trees are not planted for agricultural use.  However, birds eat the nuts and like to nest in the branches.  

This hardy tree tolerates heat, smog, and drought and is great on slopes.  It does best in moist areas and can handle garden watering.  Toxins in walnut seeds will typically prevent other plants from growing under the tree, so don't try to put understory plants too close.

Northern California black walnut (Juglans hindsii) is a large, deciduous tree native to central and northern California. It often grows with a single, straight trunk, reaching heights of 30 to 60 feet with a broad, spreading crown. The tree produces smooth, brown nuts with thick shells and small edible nutmeats. It is commonly used as a rootstock for English walnut orchards worldwide, often hybridized as ‘Paradox’ (J. hindsii x J. regia).

With its deep taproot and resistance to frost, Northern California black walnut thrives in warm, sunny environments. Its leaves emerge late in spring, providing dense summer shade. The tree also supports wildlife, offering food and shelter for deer, squirrels, and various bird species.

While prized for its durable wood in furniture-making and gunstocks, it also serves as a beautiful shade tree in larger landscapes.

Juncus balticus is a species of rush known by the common name Baltic rush. It is native to a large part of North and South America. In California it is very widespread and occurs in every county. It is a plant of wetlands and other mesic places, though sometimes found in non-wetland areas. It prefers freshwater but can handle some salinity. It spreads by a rhizome and will occupy any suitably moist area. It will hybridize with many other Juncus species. There is one recognized subspecies at this time, ssp. ater, which also occurs over a large part of the state.

Soft rush (Juncus effusus) is a member of the Juncaceae (Rush) family found growing in wet areas, as indicated by the common name. It is very widespread and native to most continents; for this reason there are a number of native and non-native subspecies and varieties, and numerous synonyms. It grows in large clumps about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall at the water's edge along streams, ditches and ponds and can be invasive anywhere with moist soil. It is commonly found growing in humus-rich areas such as marshes, ditches, fens, and beaver dams. It can be useful around ornamental ponds and bioswales. It is very easy to grow, and is great native alternative to photinia and raphiolepis.

Horticultural selection from Juncus effusus.

Bog Rush (Juncus effusus var. pacificus) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from - feet.

Juncus mexicanus (Mexican Rush) is native to the southwestern quadrant of the United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. It is a plant of moist areas in a great number of habitats, from coast to desert to mountain and from sea level to 10,000 ft. It may be found in standing water or saturated soil. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb which varies in appearance. The thin erect stems reach a maximum height anywhere from 10 to 80 centimeters. The leaves grow from the base of the stem and can exceed 20 centimeters in length. The flower cluster usually sprouts from the side of the stem rather than the tip. The flowers grow on long peduncles. Each individual flower has thick petals with longitudinal stripes which vary in color from bright to dark. It has six stamens with very large anthers, and long stigmas. This species is sometimes treated as a variant of Juncus arcticus or Juncus balticus.

Juncus occidentalis is a species of rush known by the common name western rush. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in wet areas in many types of habitat. This is a bunching perennial herb with thin, stiff stems reaching maximum heights between 30 and 60 centimeters. The wispy leaves grow from the base of the stem and may approach half the stem's length. The flower cluster holds loose bundles of individual flowers and there is usually one long, leaflike leaf extending far past the flowers. Each flower has green-striped brownish to reddish petals each several millimeters long, and six stamens with small anthers. The fruit is a brown capsule which grows encased within the petals.

Juncus xiphioides is a species of rush known by the common name irisleaf rush. It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California where it grows in wet areas in many habitat types. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing erect stems to a maximum height between about 40 and 80 centimeters. It has wide leaf blades for a rush, often exceeding one centimeter in width at the base. The few straw-colored leaves reach up to 40 centimeters in length. The large flower cluster has many clusters of up to 70 flowers each. The flower has very narrow green, red, or yellow-brown, lance-shaped petals and six stamens with very small anthers. The fruit is a brown oblong capsule.

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis var. saxatilis) is a native shrub that grows in central and northern California.

Keckiella breviflora (formerly Penstemon breviflorus) is a species of flowering shrub in the Plantagnaceae (Plantain) family known by the common name Gaping Keckiella. It is native to many of the mountain ranges and foothills of central California, and its range extends just into Nevada. This is a branching, bushy shrub with many thin stems, approaching a maximum height near two meters. Its shiny green leaves are arranged oppositely on the branches, and each is one to four centimeters long, generally lance-shaped and finely serrated or smooth along the edges. The shrub produces tall flower clusters which are loose, hairy spikes of flowers. Each flower is one to two centimeters wide with five pale pink or pinkish-streaked white lobes whose external surfaces have long, shiny hairs. The three lower lobes curl outward from the mouth and under, and the two upper lobes are joined into a lip that curves forward over the mouth. Within the mouth are long stamen filaments bearing anthers, and a flat, hairless, sterile stamen called a staminode.

Lathyrus vestitus is a species of wild pea known by the common name Pacific pea. It is native to western North America, where it is mostly found in the forests, woodlands, and chaparral of California. The ranges of some subspecies extend into Oregon and Baja California. This is a perennial pea vine which varies in appearance across subspecies. Leaves are made up of several leaflets of various shapes up to 4 or 5 centimeters long. The leaves usually bear coiling tendrils and the stipules may be large or small. The flower cluster is a showy array of up to 15 pea flowers, sometimes densely packed together, and usually some shade of bright violet, or light to medium purple, or white.

Humboldt's Lily (Lilium humboldtii) is a stunning, summer-deciduous species that can grow up to 8 feet tall. It produces large, golden-orange flowers marked with dark red or maroon splotches, blooming in June in a pyramidal cluster. The stout stems, sometimes brown-purple, support the vibrant blooms, while the shiny, green leaves grow in star-shaped whorls. After flowering, the plant dies back to its underground bulb by mid to late summer.

Humboldt's Lily thrives in shade or part sun, with soil kept moist in winter and spring. During summer, the plant should be allowed to dry out. It attracts hummingbirds and hosts one species of butterfly and moth.

There are two subspecies: ssp. humboldtii (found in the foothills of the Sierras) and ssp. ocellatum (found in southern California and the Channel Islands), both considered rare.

Prairie Flax (Linum lewisii) usually carries delicate powder-blue flowers on nodding stalks. However, the flowers are sometimes white or lavender. It is a perennial, blooming in summer over a long period. The needle-like leaves make a fine, lacy contrast with the wider blooms. It grows fast to one to one and a half feet tall.

This plant prefers full sun, takes low water, but needs good drainage and does not grow well in clay soil.  

Lonicera conjugialis is a species of honeysuckle known by the common name purpleflower honeysuckle. It is native to the western United States from Pacific Northwest to the Sierra Nevada, where it grows in many types of mountain habitat, especially moist areas. This is a slender shrub often exceeding 1.5 meters in erect height. The lightly hairy leaves are oval to round and 2 to 8 centimeters long. The flower cluster is generally a pair of flowers nestled in a leaf axil toward the end of a branch. Each flower is maroon red to deep purple in color. It has an upper lip made up of four fused lobes, and a single-lobed lower lip. The protruding stamens are tipped with light-colored anthers. The fruit is a pair of bright red berries which are often fused together in a double-lobed unit.

Pink honeysuckle,  (Lonicera hispidula) also known as California honeysuckle, is a native vine or shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family. It grows along the coast from San Luis Obispo County northward, as well as in the Sierra foothills and parts of southern California. Typically found on slopes and streambanks at elevations up to 2,500 feet, this adaptable plant thrives in both moist year-round soils and drier summer conditions with minimal irrigation.

With its vibrant tubular pink flowers, pink honeysuckle is a magnet for hummingbirds. It can climb larger shrubs or trellises when available, or it will sprawl along the ground as a trailing shrub. In late summer, it produces clusters of striking red berries that attract birds, though they may be mildly toxic to humans.

Gardeners should be aware that pink honeysuckle can act as a foliar host for the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, which causes sudden oak death. While it remains a beautiful and easy-to-grow choice for coastal and northern California gardens, care should be taken when planting near susceptible oak species.

Chaparral Honeysuckle is a hardy shrub with a woody trunk which sends up spike flower clusters of yellow honeysuckle flowers. Each flower is about a centimeter long, with prominent stamens extending from the rolled-back lips. The fruits are red, spherical, and shiny. It is quite drought-tolerant, being native to the hot, dry chaparral ecosystems of California and Arizona. It is attractive to hummingbirds. Has an edible, but very bitter berries.

Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) is a member of the Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family that is native to northern and western North America, from southern Alaska to Quebec, and south through the western United States to California and to Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico. 

It is a large shrub with elliptical leaves. Its flowers are tubular, hairy, 1-2 centimeter long. They are produced in pairs; each pair has a pair of reddish basal leaves. The fruit is a black berry 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter; each contains several small seeds.The fruit is edible but bitter and best left to the birds.

In California the two recognized varieties have differing ranges. Var. involucrata has mostly yellow flowers and is found in the Sierra. Var. ledebourii has mostly red-orange flowers and is found along the coast and in the Coast Ranges from Santa Barbara County northwards. It grows at elevations from sea level to 9500 ft.

In the garden, this plant likes regular water but can survive on reduced watering. The flowers are welcome in summer when many other plants have finished blooming.

Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii) is a native shrub that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the North Coast and Central Coast regions. It tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from 0-4900 feet.

Southern Honeysuckle is a species in the Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) family that is endemic to California, where it is known from several areas in mountain and coastal habitats, particularly chaparral. It is a vining shrub that usually climbs on other plants for support. It may exceed two meters in length. It is lined with oval leaves up to 4 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a long, fuzzy spike of light yellow flowers each about a centimeter long. The flower has an upper and lower lip with hairy stamens and style protruding. The fruit is a round red or yellow berry just under a centimeter wide. There are two recognized varieties, var. subspicata and var. denudata. There are subtle differences between the two varieties, and they have overlapping ranges (see separate listings). Var. denudata is the more widespread variety.

The evergreen silver lupine provides year-round interest in the garden. A member of the pea family, it has attractive silver-green leaves that add a pop of color and texture to the garden. In the spring, it boasts large flower spikes that range in color from pale blue to deep purple. The blooms are attractive to pollinators, especially bees.

This stunning shrub prefers dry, sandy, well-drained soil. No need to add compost; silver lupines do best in nutrient-poor soil. Plant in full sun and limit summer water. This plant can be short-lived but does well in the right conditions.

Coastal Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus) is a shrub in the Legume family (Fabaceae). Easily recognized by its spires of bright yellow flowers, it also has purple-flowering forms in the wild, although they are less common. The leaves are gray-green and covered with fine, silky hairs. The palmate leaves are made up of 5 to 7 leaflets. Coastal Bush Lupine supports a wide range of pollinators, especially butterflies and moths.

It is native to coastal habitats such as bluffs, dunes, and slopes, where it provides erosion control. Grow in full sun in very well-drained soil in a yard that can accommodate its large size.

Because it has been widely introduced, there is some uncertainty about its native range; it is thought to be native from Point Reyes National Seashore south to San Luis Obispo County. One of the few native plants that the California Invasive Plant Council has determined is invasive in regions outside its natural range. It's invasive in north coast dunes, especially around Humboldt Bay. With its large number of seeds, Coastal Bush Lupine can become an aggressive spreader in some parts of California; cutting off the dead flower stalks before they form seeds can control this issue.

Lupinus argenteus is a species of lupine known by the common name silvery lupine. It is native to much of western North America from the southwestern Canadian provinces to the southwestern and midwestern United States, where it grows in several types of habitat, including sagebrush, grassland, and forests. This is a perennial herb growing erect to heights anywhere between 10 centimeters and 1.5 meters. It is sometimes silvery-hairy in texture and sometimes nearly hairless. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 9 leaflets each up to 6 centimeters long. They are narrow and linear in shape, under a centimeter wide. The flower cluster bears many flowers, sometimes arranged in whorls. The flower is 5 to 14 millimeters long and purple, blue, or whitish in color. The banner, or upper petal, of the flower may have a patch of white or yellow. The fruit is a hairy legume pod up to 3 centimeters long containing several beanlike seeds.

Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor) is a petite annual wildflower, just 3 inches tall, showcasing clusters of blue and white spring blooms that may vary geographically to magenta or purple.

This adaptable lupine thrives in full sun along the coast and part sun inland, preferring well-drained soil but tolerating various types. Often paired with California poppies, it is typically grown from seed, planted ¼ inch deep in the fall.

Miniature lupine attracts numerous insects and serves as a host plant for the Arrowhead Blue butterfly, making it a charming and ecologically valuable addition to native gardens.

Lupinus chamissonis is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) famly known by a number of common names. It is endemic to California, where it is known from most of the length of the coastline and scattered inland locations. It grows in sand dunes and other immediate coastal habitat. This is a spreading, bushy shrub growing one half to two meters tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 9 leaflets up to 2.5 centimeters long. The herbage is coated in silvery hairs. The flower cluster bears whorls of flowers each about one to 1.5 centimeters long. Each flower is light purple to blue with a yellow spot on its banner. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long.

Lupinus excubitus is a species of lupine known as the grape soda lupine. Its common name refers to its sweet scent, which is said to be very reminiscent of grape soda. This species and its variants are found in the southwestern United States, especially in California, and in far northern Mexico. The plant is a small shrub with gray-green foliage. The fan-shaped leaves are each made up of 7 to 10 narrow leaflets. The raceme flower cluster is a tall stalk of rich purple flowers, each with a bright yellow spot. The occasional variant has white flowers. The fruit is a silky legume pod up to 5 centimeters in length containing mottled brown seeds.

Lupinus formosus, the summer lupine, is a member of the lupine genus Lupinus in the Fabaceae family. This lupine is especially attractive to pollinators due to its summer-fall blooming season. Will spread slowly by rhizome. This species dies back in winter but usually resprouts in early spring. It is native to California. Lupinus formosus has been cited as a poisonous plant. Although it is not endangered it faces eradication in some areas at the hands of cattle farmers as it has been implicated in crooked calf disease. This lupine, along with five others, is poisonous from the time it starts growth in the spring until the seed pods shatter in late summer or early fall. However, the younger the plant the more toxic it is.

Lupinus hirsutissimus is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family known by the common name stinging lupine. It is native to the coastal mountains of Baja California and California as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area, where it grows on dry mountain slopes, including areas that have recently burned. It is an erect annual herb growing 20 centimeters to one meter tall; it may exceed one meter in habitat recovering from wildfire. The stem and herbage are coated in long, stiff hairs that sting skin when touched. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 8 leaflets up to 5 centimeters long and 1 or 2 wide. The flower cluster bears several flowers generally not arranged in whorls. Each flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long and purple to dark pink in color with a yellowish to pinkish spot on its banner. The fruit is a hairy legume pod up to 4 centimeters long.

Lupinus latifolius is a species of lupine known by the common name broadleaf lupine. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Baja California to New Mexico, where it is common and can be found in several types of habitat. There are several subtaxa, described as subspecies or varieties, some common and some rare. They vary in morphology. In general this plant is an erect perennial herb. It grows 30 centimeters to over two meters in height, in texture hairy to nearly hairless. Each palmate leaf is made up of several leaflets, those on larger plants up to 10 centimeters long. The flower cluster bears many flowers, sometimes in whorls. Each flower is one to two centimeters in length, purple to blue to white in color, the spot on its banner yellowish, pinkish, or white. One rare subtaxon, Lupinus latifolius var. barbatus, is endemic to the Modoc Plateau of northeastern California and adjacent territory in Oregon and Nevada. The subtaxon dudleyi is known only from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Lupinus longifolius is a species of lupine known by the common name longleaf bush lupine. It is native to the coastal mountain ranges and hillsides of southern California and Baja California, where it grows in local habitat in the canyons and slopes, such as scrub and chaparral. This is a bushy, erect shrub which can reach a maximum height around 1.5 meters. Each palmate leaf is divided into 5 to 10 leaflets up to 6 centimeters long. The herbage is green or gray-green and coated in short, silvery hairs. The flower cluster is long, narrow raceme of many flowers each between 1 and 2 centimeters in length. The flower is purple or blue, sometimes with a whitish patch on its banner. The fruit is a dark-colored, hairy legume pod containing 6 to 8 seeds.

Lupinus microcarpus (Wide-bannered lupine or Chick lupine), is a species of lupine native to western North America from southwestern British Columbia south to the Mojave Desert in California and Baja California, and also a disjunct population in South America in central Chile and western Argentina. It is very widespread in California, from sea level in the north of the range, up to 1600 meter in the southern part of the state. It is an annual plant growing to 80 centimeter tall. The leaves are palmately compound with 5-11 leaflets 1-5 centimeter long and up to 1 centimeter broad. The flowers are generally pink to purple in color, but can also be between white and yellow; they are produced in open whorls on an erect spike. There are three recognized varieties with overlapping ranges. It is found in many different habitats.

Lupinus nanus ("Sky Lupine", "Field Lupine", "Dwarf Lupin" or "Douglas' Annual Lupine"), is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family native to the western United States. It grows abundantly in chaparral clearings and along slopes in California, Nevada, and eastern Oregon. In California it is most common in the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills. As an annual, it is best grown from seed (see instructions below) and will self-sow. 

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.

Lupinus polyphyllus is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family that is native to a large part of western North America. In California it is found primarily in the Sierras and other northern mountains. It commonly grows along streams and creeks, preferring moist habitats. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with stout stems growing to 1.5 meter tall. The leaves are palmately compound with (5-) 9-17 leaflets 3-15 centimeter long. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, each flower 1-1.5 centimeter long, most commonly blue to purple in wild plants. It is almost always grown from seed.

Lupinus sericatus is a species of lupine known by the common name Cobb Mountain lupine. It is endemic to the North Coast Ranges of California north of the San Francisco Bay Area, where it grows in the forest, woodlands, and chaparral of the slopes and canyons. It easily colonizes disturbed habitat as well. This is a perennial herb growing up to half a meter tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 4 to 7 distinctive wide spoon-shaped leaflets each 3 to 5 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a raceme of several whorls of purple flowers, each flower between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 2 or 3 centimeters long.

Succulent lupine (Lupinus succulentus) is an annual with dark green six-fingered leaves and spikes of purple-blue flowers that bloom in winter to spring. Sometimes flowers are shades of light purple, pink, and white. It grows fast to reach 2 to 4 feet  tall and 3 feet wide. The fruit is a hairy legume pod. Caution: seeds, leaves and stems are toxic.

This plant is popular in gardens because it is the most water-tolerant of all lupines. It prefers full sun and moist clay or heavy soils. The amount of fertility and moisture generally dictates the height of the plant. The seed germinates easily in any season given enough water. Seeds can be treated before planting by pouring hot water over them in a cup and allowing them to soak. They should be planted about a quarter inch deep. The plants compete with weeds and add nitrogen to the soil. Sow in a mass for best effect.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected by Roger Raiche.

Lycium californicum is a sprawling shrub in the Solanaceae (Nightshade) family known by the common names California boxthorn and California desert-thorn. This plant is native to the coast of southern California, including the Channel Islands, from Los Angeles County into northern Baja California, as well as nearby Arizona. This slightly thorny shrub has thick, fleshy, bulbous green leaves and bell-shaped white flowers with purple streaks or spots. It bears bright red shiny berries 3 to 6 millimeters in diameter which are edible and taste like tomatoes. There are numerous relatives in the Lycium genus that are primarily desert plants, but this species is strictly coastal. In the wild it goes completely leafless in summer and appears dead. However, it responds very rapidly to rain and will even leaf out in response to a summer shower. If given continuous garden water it can remain evergreen.

Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) is a large, rounded evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to 20 feet tall and as wide. In bloom, it is intensely aromatic. The lance-shaped leaves have reddish veins and stems. Plumes of small white flowers bloom at the tips of twigs in late spring and early summer. They resemble lilac blossoms. After flowering the tree bears whitish single-seeded fruit. This shrub is named "laurel" because the foliage is reminiscent of bay laurel but it is not in that plant family. It is a key plant in coastal sage scrub and chaparral, and the berries are appreciated by songbirds, especially warblers.

Laurel sumac grows in full sun and is very drought adapted once established, but is not cold tolerant and is not found in areas where freezing temperatures are normal. It is adaptable to many types of soil but prefers well drained soil, either sandy or rocky.

Malus fusca (common name: Oregon crabapple or Pacific crabapple) is a species of crabapple. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California, where it grows in coniferous forests. The fruits are small round apple-shaped pomes. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, however it has an acidic flavor. The fruit can also be used to make pectin. The bark can be used as a herbal medicine. It is also grown in parks and gardens as an ornamental plant.

Malva rosa (Lavatera assurgentiflora) is a mallow with showy flowers that look like small hibiscus flowers. They bloom much of the year. Each flower has five dark-veined deep pink petals.  It is a perennial or shrub in the mallow family, native primarily to the Channel Islands. 

Malva rosa attracts many species of butterfly.

This plant can handle summer irrigation, up to every other week, as long as the soil is well drained. You should prune branches back annually to maintain a compact form.  

Mentha arvensis (Field Mint (/ Pudina in Hindi), Wild Mint or Corn Mint) is a species of mint with a circumboreal distribution. It is native to the temperate regions of Europe and western and central Asia, east to the Himalaya and eastern Siberia, and North America. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 10-60 centimeter (rarely to 100 centimeter) tall. The leaves are in opposite pairs, simple, 2-6.5 centimeter long and 1-2 centimeter broad, hairy, and with a coarsely serrated margin. The flowers are pale purple (occasionally white or pink), in clusters on the stem, each flower 3-4 millimeter long.

Horticultural selection from Mimulus aurantiacus.

Horticultural selection from Mimulus aurantiacus.

Horticultural selection from Mimulus aurantiacus. Trish Monkeyflower is a cultivar of the Bush Monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), a small 1 to 2 foot high shrub with a 2 to 3 foot spread. The foliage is deep green with a slightly sticky feel. The Trish variety sports profuse dusky rose-pink flowers that fade to salmon. These plants flower in early spring inland and can bloom almost year-round on the coast, especially if you take the time to deadhead and encourage more flowering. Best in sun on the coast and in part shade inland where drainage is good and summer water is provided sparingly. It is a favorite for both hummingbirds and butterflies.

Sticky Monkeyflower is a native shrub that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-7500 feet. Has yellow to orange flowers.

Mimulus lewisii (Lewis' Monkeyflower or Great Purple Monkeyflower) is a perennial herb in the Phrymaceae (Lopseed) family. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it grows in moist habitat such as streambanks at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 ft. In California it is found primarily in the Sierras. It is named in honor of Meriwether Lewis. This is a mountain species that requires higher elevations, snow in winter, cool temperatures in summer, and plenty of water. The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. This would be a nice plant if your garden is in Mammoth Lakes or Truckee.

Desert wishbone bush (Mirabilis laevis) is a low-growing, drought-tolerant shrub in the Four O'Clock family (Nyctaginaceae). This species, recently redefined, now includes several varieties previously classified as separate species, such as the well-known California chaparral plant Mirabilis californica. There are currently five recognized varieties, all found in the southern half of California.

This trailing shrub reaches about one foot in height and spreads up to eight feet wide, making it an excellent choice for ground cover in native gardens. Its bright pink to magenta flowers bloom in spring, opening in the morning and afternoon before closing during the heat of the day. After flowering, the plant enters summer dormancy, losing its leaves until cooler weather returns.

Desert wishbone bush thrives in full to part sun and well-draining soils. It is highly drought-tolerant and grows quickly once established. The plant also supports biodiversity, hosting up to seven species of butterflies and moths, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly landscapes.

California Four O'Clock (Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia) is a common native perennial herb that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Central Coast, the South Coast Range and South Coast regions. It tends to grow in grassy places, at elevations from 0-3300 feet. The plant form is dense and mounding, producing a large number of small brightly colored flowers ranging from pink to purple. The plant sometimes goes deciduous in the summer, leaving only winding white twigs until the next rainy season. It may retain some foliage in shady locations and with occasional summer water. It is sometimes difficult to establish, but once established it require little or no attention. It spreads by runners and readily reseeds in native plant gardens.

Mirabilis multiflora is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family known by the common name Colorado four o'clock. It is native to the southwestern United States from California to Colorado and Texas, as well as far northern Mexico, where it grows in mostly dry habitat types in a number of regions. It is a perennial herb growing upright to about 80 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves are oppositely arranged on the spreading stem branches. Each fleshy leaf has an oval or rounded blade up to 12 centimeters long and is hairless or sparsely hairy. The flowers occur in leaf axils on the upper branches. Usually six flowers bloom in a bell-shaped involucre of five partly fused leafs. Each five-lobed, funnel-shaped flower is 4 to 6 centimeters wide and magenta in color.

Monardella macrantha is a species of flowering plant in the Laminaceae (Mint) family known by the common name Red Monardella. It is native to coastal mountain ranges of southern California and Baja California, at elevations from 2,000 ft. to over 7,500 ft. It grows in several habitat types, including chaparral, woodland, and forest. It is a perennial herb forming a low tuft of slender stems lined with thick, shiny green leaves up to 3 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a head of several tubular flowers blooming in a cup of red-tinged green leaves up to 4 centimeters wide. The clustered flowers are bright red to yellowish in color, sometimes exceeding 4 centimeters in length with narrow lobed mouths. It has a reputation for being somewhat difficult to get established and short-lived, but the showy flowers and fragrance make it worth the effort.

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.