Native Plant List

These are the California Natives within the Top Plants for Sonoma

Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' Common Name Manzanita Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? No Notes/Remarks One of most garden tolerant manzanitas.	Aristolochia californica Common Name California Pipe Vine Category Vine Exposure Part Shade Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Slow to establish. Pipe vine swallowtail butterfly larva feeds solely on aristolochia.
Artemisia spp Common Name Artemisia Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Low Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Evergreen.	Asclepsis spp Common Name Milkweed, Butterfly Weed Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Cut to ground in late winter.
Aster spp Common Name Michaelmas Daisy Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Cut to ground in late winter.	Baccharis pilularis Common Name Coyote Brush Category Shrub Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Tough plant - withstands harsh conditions. Groundcovers and upright shrubs available.
Bouteloua gracilis Common Name Blue Grama Category Grass Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Moderate Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Reddish flower heads in summer.	Carex spp. Common Name Sedge Category Grass Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Moderate Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Brown or green leaved varieties provide contrast in color and texture.
Carpenteria californica Common Name Bush anemone Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Needs good drainage.	Ceanothus spp Common Name California Lilac Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Needs good drainage. Huge variety within genus. Generally short-lived.
Cercis occidentalis Common Name Western Redbud Category Tree Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Low Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Can be grown as a large shrub or small tree.	Cornus nuttallii Common Name Pacific Dogwood Category Tree Exposure Part Shade Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Dislikes excessive watering, fertilizing and pruning.
Cupressus spp Common Name Cypress Category Tree Exposure Sun Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Scale-like foliage similar to juniper.	Dicentra formosa Common Name Western Bleeding Heart Category Perennial Exposure Part Shade Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Dormant in summer with no water.
Erigeron spp. Common Name Seaside Daisy, Mexican Daisy Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Low Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Cut back in winter to renew; most flower year-round .	Eriogonum fasciculatum Common Name Buckwheat Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Rugged; tolerates heat, wind, drought, salt spray.
Eschscholzia californica Common Name California Poppy Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Native has orange flowers. Cultivars available with pink, white, cream, salmon flowers.	Festuca Californica Common Name Blue Fescue Category Grass Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Good planted under native oaks
Galvezia speciosa Common Name Island Snapdragon Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Frost tender but will recover	Garrya elliptica Common Name Silktassel Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Winter catkins dramatic. Can be pruned to control size and shape.
Heteromeles arbutifolia Common Name Toyon Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Large shrub. Excellent fall/winter interest.	Heuchera spp Common Name Coral Bells Category Perennial Exposure Part Shade Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Non-native species require more water, typically have dramatic foliage.
Iris spp Common Name Iris Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Native types take full sun along coast, some shade inland.	Juniperus spp Common Name Juniper Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Huge variety, from groundcovers to large shrubs. Many landscape uses. Tolerant of many conditions and useful in hot, sunny sites.
Lepechinia spp Common Name Pitcher Sage Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Remove stems in winter at ground level.	Mahonia spp Common Name Mahonia, Oregon Grape Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Striking foliage, good flower display and showy berries. Part shade in hottest locations.
Monardella spp Common Name Monardella Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Requires fast-draining soil; good in native or rock gardens.	Muhlenbergia rigens Common Name Deer Grass Category Grass Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Native; dramatic accent grass, cut back every few years to freshen
Myrica californica Common Name Pacific Wax Myrtle Category Tree Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Good hedge or screen. Birds are attracted to berries.	Penstemon spp Common Name Penstemon Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Cut back in winter to renew; native species require lean soil and little water.
Philadelphus lewisii Common Name Wild Mock Orange Category Shrub Exposure Part Shade Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Single, pure-white flowers. Lovely accent shrub.	Quercus kelloggii Common Name Black Oak Category Tree Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Leaves emerge in beautiful pinkish hues in spring, mature bright green, and turn yellow-orange in fall.
Rhamnus californica Common Name Coffeeberry Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Excellent hedge, screen or specimen. Prune to control size and shape. Some varieties have showy berries.	Rhus integrifolia Common Name Lemonade Berry Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Can be frost-tender inland, spring flowers, summer red fruit.
Rhus ovata Common Name Sugarbush Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Attractive foliage, good form.	Rhus spp Common Name Sumac Category Tree Exposure Sun Water Low Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Brilliant fall color; some species spread by suckering.
Ribes spp Common Name Flowering Currant Category Shrub Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Moderate Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Flowers pink, yellow or white in spring; attracts hummingbirds.	Salvia spp. Common Name Sage Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Low Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Huge genus with much variation. Virtually all suitable for Bay Area.
Sidalcea spp Common Name Checkerbloom Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Pink flowers. Cut to ground and allow to go dormant in summer.	Sisyrinchium spp Common Name Blue Eyed Grass/Yellow Eyed Grass Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Several cultivars available, some variegated.
Sphaeralcea spp Common Name Globe Mallow Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Cut to ground in early spring; little to no summer water only.	Symphoricarpos albus Common Name Snowberry Category Shrub Exposure Part Shade Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Spring flowers followed by long-lasting dramatic white berries.
Tagetes lemmonii Common Name Mexican Bush Marigold Category Perennial Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Intensely fragrant foliage; cheerful golden-yellow flowers; prune annually.	Tellima grandiflora Common Name Fringe Cups Category Perennial Exposure Part Shade Water Moderate Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Foliage resembles piggy-back plant.
Vitis californica Common Name California Wild Grape Category Vine Exposure Sn/Par-Shady Water Occasional Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Named cultivars available, brilliant fall color.	Yucca spp Common Name Yucca Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? Yes Ca. Native? Some Notes/Remarks Some species form woody trunks.
Zauschneria spp (now Epilobium spp) Common Name California Fuschia Category Perennial Exposure Sun Water Drought Tolerant Deer Resist.? No Ca. Native? Yes Notes/Remarks Cut back after bloom to renew. Attractive to pollinators.