Common Name

Yarrow

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sun

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Flowers in a wide range of colors.

Photo

Plant Description

A favorite summer bloomer for bright yellow, orange, and pink-to-red, flat blossom clusters. Thin stems rise from basal clumps of lacy foliage. Named varieties vary in height, color, and vigor, some spreading rapidly by underground runners and requiring annual dividing. Cut stems to the ground after flowers fade. Blossom heads are valued in dried arrangements.

Common Name

Arbutus

Category

Tree

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Fall/Winter

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

More tree-like than Strawberry Tree (A. unedo) with prettier rose-pink flowers late summer to winter.

Photo

Plant Description

A garden-worthy relative of madrone with similar moderate growth rate, dark green leathery leaves and cinnamon colored peeling bark. Pendulous, urn-shaped, rose-pink blossom clusters appear most heavily in fall and produce round yellow then red edible but bland fruits. Prune as needed to reduce density of foliage and to expose attractive bark.

 

Common Name

Manzanita

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

No

Notes/Remarks

One of most garden tolerant manzanitas.

Photo

Plant Description

Smooth, dark mahogany bark contrasts with small glossy green leaves on this dense, rounded California native. Pinkish white urn-shaped blossoms hang in clusters from late winter to early spring followed by red berries relished by birds. Tolerates heavy soil but does best with good drainage. Prune shrubs to encourage density; thin out branches to train as a small tree. Other species are shrubs or groundcovers.

Common Name

Barberry

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Some have berries in winter. Many attractive foliage colors such as lime and burgundy.

Photo

Plant Description

A large genus of many species, all valued for low maintenance, delicate yellowish blossoms, colorful berries, and fall color on small leaves. Tough thorns, which discourage traffic, deer, and some gardeners, provide color on bare winter branches. Give good drainage, little or no summer water in clay soil; prune out old wood near the base or at ground level to renew. Considerable variation in size and shape among cultivars.

Common Name

Feather Reed Grass

Category

Grass

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Spring/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Forms dramatic narrow clumps, attractive flowers.

Photo

Plant Description

Handsome clumps of narrow, bright green, arching blades subtend tall sturdy flower stalks topped with feathery plumes that emerge pale pink and turn golden by summer’s end. Compact forms make a dramatic statement when grouped in long rows or planted individually as accents. Cut to the ground before spring growth resumes.   
 

Common Name

California Lilac

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Spring

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Needs good drainage. Huge variety within genus. Generally short-lived.

Photo

Plant Description

The most drought-tolerant of these evergreen shrubs have small, dark green crinkly leaves; those with larger, glossy foliage benefit from summer irrigation and shade inland. In spring, profuse clusters of tiny white, blue, or purple flowers nearly cover branches. Forms vary from groundcovers to large shrubs. Attracts birds and butterflies. Thrives on neglect. Likes good drainage. Little to no summer water. Afternoon shade inland.

Suggested varieties: C. griseus horizentalis (groundcover); ‘Joyce Coulter’ (low shrub); ‘Julia Phelps’ (medium to large shrub); ‘Ray Hartman’ (large shrub/small tree).
A few small-leafed varieties fairly deer resistant: 'Blue Jeans', 'Julia Phelps', 'Joyce Coulter'.

Common Name

Smoke Bush

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Can be pruned to control size and shape. Excellent fall color.

Photo

Plant Description

Loose and airy, grayish buff-to-pink tiny flowers and stems rise above foliage in wispy puffs and persist for months. Purple-leaved varieties make dramatic statements especially as colors change in fall. Good drainage is a must; poor soil is superior to wet or highly fertile ground. Train as a tree or allow many stems to develop. C. obovatus is similar but a much larger tree with superior fall color.

Common Name

Winter Daphne

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Part Shade

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Winter/Spring

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Compact forms available. Extremely fragrant flowers

Photo

Plant Description

Highly perfumed blossoms cover this shrub in winter, but its value continues throughout the year as yellow-edged foliage brightens shaded spots in the garden. For best success, plant in amended, porous but water-retentive soil. Once established, withhold summer water in full shade and water occasionally in part-sun. Tip-prune branchlets as flowers fade.
 

Common Name

Spurge

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Spring/Summer

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Some reseed but seedlings are easy to pull out. Huge size variation amongst species.

Photo

Plant Description

The most ornamental species of this diverse plant group develop showy green bracts in terminal panicles that elongate atop tough stems that must be cut to the ground annually after bloom. New growth appears immediately. A few types are known for burgundy foliage and yellow flowers. Most tolerate dry soil with little or no summer water; some self-sow profusely. When cut, all species release a milky, white sap that can cause dermatitis.

Euphorbias often planted in Sonoma County include:

Euphorbias characias wulfenii, an evergreen perennial with beautiful clusters of lime-green flowers. It is fairly drought tolerant and deer resistant, wants full sun and little water. Grows to 3 ft x 4 ft.

Euphorbia characias 'Tasmanian Tiger' is evergreen with interesting variegated leaves of green centers with white margins. Its flower clusteures are cream with light green centers. Likes partial shade, is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Grows to 2-3 ft high  and wide.

Euphorbias amygdaloides 'Purpurea'/'Rubra' iE. amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ and E. a. ‘Rubra’ bear evergreen, purplish foliage and yellowish green blooms. Full sun, low water, drought tolerant and deer resistant. Grows to 2-3 ft high by 1 ft wide.

(Note that Euphorbia esula, Euphorbia oblongata and Euphorbia lathyris are considered invasive by the California Invasive Plants Council.)

Common Name

Blue Fescue

Category

Grass

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Good planted under native oaks

Photo

Plant Description

An evergreen bunchgrass with blue-green luminescent leaves, California fescue grows in fountain-like clumps with showy 2’-3’ flower stalks. Quite drought-tolerant, it provides good ground cover on slopes with sun or part shade. To maintain its drought tolerance inland, plant under oaks or other deciduous trees or with a north-facing exposure.

Common Name

Toyon

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Large shrub. Excellent fall/winter interest.

Photo

Plant Description

Toyon produces clusters of white flowers in spring followed by profuse bright red berries that persist all winter until eaten by birds, even after they’ve fermented. Light pruning encourages heavier flowering and berry production. Dark green, leathery leaves have prickly margins. Once established, shrubs are long-lived. Good as a specimen shrub or informal screen.

Toyon makes a great hedge, and works well planted with manzanita, coffeberry, ceanothus.

Common Name

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Only hydrangea that tolerates sun and dry conditions. Dramatic flowers, interesting bark and good fall color.

Photo

Plant Description

Burnished fall colors on bold foliage resembling oak leaves and pendulous white flowers in late spring to early summer make this shrub a standout in gardens. Performs best in full sun; less water is needed than for other hydrangea species. Dried flowers and peeling bark are winter highlights. Prune after bloom; cut crowded and weak stems to the ground as they spread to form a clump.

Common Name

Crape Myrtle

Category

Tree

Exposure

Sun

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Decorative bark, summer flowers, and striking fall color.

Photo

Plant Description

Gray-to-brown blotchy but beautiful bark is most attractive on plants trained as small trees with one or more main stems. Year-round good looks are highlighted in mid-to-late summer when terminal flowers appear on branch tips and again in fall as foliage develops brilliant hues. Pruning promotes formation of new branchlets and heavier flowering. For best flower color—white, lavender, pink or cherry red—select plants in bloom. 

Common Name

Sweet Bay

Category

Tree

Exposure

Sun

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Can be grown as a tree or shrub.

Photo

Plant Description

Culinary value of bay leaves is surpassed by overall beauty of this cultivar and its ease of care. Train multi-stemmed plants to form a small tree—one of the best for container culture—or shear dense, dark green foliage as a hedge or topiary. Provide good drainage and ample space to spread. For most gardens, this cultivar is more suitable than the much larger species. 

 

Common Name

Lavender

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sun

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Summer

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Cut back in winter to renew - plants generally need replacing in 4-6 years.

Photo

Plant Description

Prized for fragrance, white or pinkish lilac to purple flower spikes appear in spring or summer. Some varieties repeat bloom in late summer or fall. After flowering, prune single stems or up to one-half of the entire foliage mound. To rejuvenate leggy shrubs, in late fall prune harder into woody growth but only where small green buds are showing. Give excellent drainage, air circulation, and little water.

Suggested varieties: L. angustifolia English lavender (tall stems); L. dentata French lavender
(long bloom); L. stoechas Spanish lavender (good near coast); Lavandula 'Provence' and 'Grosso'.

Common Name

Maiden Grass

Category

Grass

Exposure

Sun

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Spring/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

One of the most well-behaved Miscanthus.

Photo

Plant Description

Plant this grass where it will remain for years to come. Clumps become massive in only two years and are extremely difficult to relocate. Cultivars Adagio and Morning Light are the smallest in comparison to others over 6 feet tall and wide. Flower stalks with flag-like blossoms emerge in late summer; variegated forms are prized. Cut to 4 to 6 inches in late winter; wear gloves and goggles for protection against sharp edges.

Common Name

Deer Grass

Category

Grass

Exposure

Sun

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Native; dramatic accent grass, cut back every few years to freshen

Photo

Plant Description

An excellent specimen plant with spectacular, stiff flower spikes, deer grass is one of the showiest native bunchgrasses. With 8’-10’ roots, it’s a standout choice for erosion control. Very heat and drought- resistant, but it tolerates water, and a wide range of soil and habitat conditions.

Common Name

Pacific Wax Myrtle

Category

Tree

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Good hedge or screen. Birds are attracted to berries.

Photo

Plant Description

This lustrous, dense, tree-like shrub is one of the best native plants for gardens. Amenable to pruning and training, it’s an excellent candidate for hedging or screening. Wax myrtle requires shade and irrigation in dry, inland sites but in maturity becomes drought tolerant in cool coastal regions.

Common Name

Catmint

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Spring/Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Cut back in winter to renew.

Photo

Plant Description

A relative of catnip and often favored by felines, this sprawling perennial blooms repeatedly from late spring through fall in small, lilac blue, two-lipped flowers. To maintain neat appearance, deadhead individual stems or shear plants back by as much as half after each round of bloom; shear to the ground in winter. Divide when clumps become crowded.

Common Name

Fountain Grass

Category

Grass

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Large, feathery plumes; clumps enlarge each year

Photo

Plant Description

A refined, low and compact grass that arches gracefully in slowly spreading mounds. Grass blades are narrow and grayish green, turning straw color after frost. Pearly pink flower tufts like foxtails emerge in spring and fade to pale tan by autumn. Cut clumps to the ground in late winter; divide as needed. Green foliage looks best with summer irrigation.

Common Name

Russian Sage

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sun

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Cut back in early spring to renew.

Photo

Plant Description

Lacy gray-green, finely divided foliage stands out from stout stems rising from a woody base. Lavender blue airy flower spikes on branch tips erupt into bloom in summer and last for months. In winter, stems become silvery white, a standout in the landscape. Plants withstand cold but can be damaged if pruned before the last frost when they should be cut to about 6 inches. Unpruned plants become unstable and subject to breakage. Provide good drainage but withhold fertilizers and all but light summer irrigation. Dwarf cultivars are available.

Common Name

New Zealand Flax

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Moderate

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Good drainage. Some varieties are huge, many different foliage colors available. Great accent plants.

Photo

Plant Description

Fibrous, sword-shaped leaves endow this rugged plant with dramatic qualities year-round. The species P. tenax develops huge clumps with stiff leaves; P. cookianum clumps are lax and sprawling. Numerous named hybrids in a broad range of sizes and colors are more easily accommodated in gardens than the plain species. Plants look best with occasional irrigation and light shade to avoid sunburn. Cut out flower stalks after blooms fade.

Common Name

Chinese Pistache

Category

Tree

Exposure

Sun

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Fall

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Fall color bright orange/red.

Photo

Plant Description

Valued as one of the finest small trees to plant in Sonoma County for shade, drought tolerance, and vibrant fall color despite slow growth, threat from verticillium wilt in irrigated soils, and clean-up of dropped leaflets and fruits. When a male tree is nearby, female trees develop large clusters of attractive orange-red berries in fall.

 

Common Name

Coffeeberry

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

Some

Notes/Remarks

Excellent hedge, screen or specimen. Prune to control size and shape. Some varieties have showy berries.

Photo

Plant Description

Dependable for year-round good looks from dark green leathery leaves and a neat mounding habit. Select named varieties of this local native for low, tall, or spreading forms. All develop inconspicuous flowers and red berries that turn black in late fall. Summer water promotes faster growth; part shade prevents sunburn. Tolerates poor soil but requires good drainage.

Suggested varieties: ‘Eve Case’ (smaller shrub form with large berries); ‘Seaview Improved’ (groundcover); ‘Mound San Bruno’ (very adaptable larger shrub)

Common Name

Rosemary

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sun

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Varies from groundcover to upright or trailing shrubs. Blue flowers in winter attract butterflies and bees.

Photo

Plant Description

Shrubs are either low and sprawling or stiff and upright, but named cultivars vary considerably in spread and flower color. Throughout the rainy season, small blossoms in white, pink, or shades of blue light up deep green needle-like foliage. No water is needed in summer. Begin pruning when plants are young to promote bushiness; side branches will not sprout from bare wood. Roots form along all branches in contact with moist ground.

Popular upright forms include 'Collingwood Ingram' (2-3 ft), 'Blue Spires' (to 3-4 ft), 'Tuscan Blue' (to 5-6 ft). Popular mounding or trailing forms include Prostrata (1-2 ft x 4-6 ft) and  'Huntington Carpet' (1-1.5 ft x 4-8 ft).

Common Name

Sage

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Spring/Summer/Fall

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

Some

Notes/Remarks

Huge genus with much variation. Virtually all suitable for Bay Area.

Photo

Plant Description

Popular ornamentals for drought tolerance and showy floral displays. Tubular, two-lipped blossoms in a wide range of colors on long- and short-lived species attract hummingbirds and bees. Some plants develop woody bases, are hardy and shrublike; others are more tender and should not be cut back until frost danger is past. Local native S. sonomensis and similar S. clevelandii cultivars have aromatic foliage and spread widely as groundcovers.

Common Name

Lavender Cotton

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Drought Tolerant

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Fast growing but short-lived. Trim after flowering, cut back in spring.

Photo

Plant Description

When cultivars of this sub-shrub are grown as foliage plants for either pale gray or bright green color, gardeners often remove the yellow button-like blossoms. They rarely appear, however, when plants are regularly sheared as a soft, low hedge or into rounded shapes. Left untrimmed, shrubby mounds tend to flop over. Renew by pruning hard every year or two. Pungent foliage has sage-like scent.

Common Name

Mexican Bush Marigold

Category

Perennial

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Intensely fragrant foliage; cheerful golden-yellow flowers; prune annually.

Photo

Plant Description

This bushy marigold relative blooms throughout winter into spring. Small, golden orange flowers are carried on tips of slender woody stems that rise from the base. Dark green, finely divided foliage is strongly aromatic when brushed. Cut stems close to the base to renew. Plants are more robust in full sun and with occasional summer water.

Common Name

Germander

Category

Shrub

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Low

Season_of_Interest

Year-round

Deer Resist.?

Yes

Ca. Native?

No

Notes/Remarks

Some are large and shrubby, others much smaller.

Photo

Plant Description

This genus includes low perennial groundcovers to bulky shrubs. Bush germander (T. fruticans) has small gray-green foliage with a silvery cast on a twiggy shrub in nearly constant bloom with tiny lavender-blue flowers. T. x lucidrys (aka T. chamaedrys), a small-leaved, dark green subshrub, bears tiny, rosy purple blossoms on tips of foot-tall stems in summer. Both species are amenable to shearing and hedging, which makes them more attractive than those left to sprawl.

Common Name

California Wild Grape

Category

Vine

Exposure

Sn/Par-Shady

Water

Occasional

Season_of_Interest

Fall

Deer Resist.?

No

Ca. Native?

Yes

Notes/Remarks

Named cultivars available, brilliant fall color.

Photo

Plant Description

Glowing red or yellow autumn colors endear this native vine to California gardens, but leaves may drop before colors turn from green when summer water is withheld. Clinging tendrils allow stems to climb up trellises and across arbors as well as through trees. Named cultivars such as ‘Roger’s Red’ flaunt the most brilliant hues.