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Abies concolor  white fir
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Abies concolor

(white fir)

Plant description coming soon.
Abies grandis  grand fir
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Abies grandis

(grand fir)

Grand indeed. Glossy, dark green needles and a symmetrical form make this native fir one of our choicest conifers. Native from coastal Sonoma County, just south of the Russian River, north to British Columbia and east to the Rockies. Grows up to a foot a year and is not suitable for the small garden. Plant in full sun along the coast but protect from hot afternoon sun in the interior. Occasional deep waterings are required when young. Combines well with redwoods and bigleaf maples. Often used as a Christmas tree.
Abies magnifica  red fir
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Abies magnifica

(red fir)

Plant description coming soon.
Abutilon palmeri  Indian mallow
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Abutilon palmeri

(Indian mallow)

Lovely, tangerine-orange flowers and fuzzy, grey-green, heart-shaped leaves make this evergreen native a real treat for the gardener. The cup-shaped blossoms appear throughout spring, attracting butterflies, followed by striking seed pods which can accent flower arrangements. A smallish shrub, reaching 4 – 5 ft tall and wide, suitable for full sun or part shade. Plant in soil with decent drainage and water infrequently once established. While native to Southern California, it does well in our area in places which don’t drop below 25F in winter.
Acer  circinatum  vine maple
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Acer circinatum

(vine maple)

Deciduous shrub or tree 5 to 20 ft. tall, native to moist woods and streambanks in the coastal mountains of northern California to British Columbia. Attractive in all seasons: bare reddish twigs in winter, delicate lobed leaves in spring and summer, and good color in autumn. Wonderful in the woodland setting, under tall conifers where its fall color will stand out. A natural with ferns and other woodland plants that receive dappled to part shade and regular to moderate summer water. Can be espaliered too.
Acer glabrum  Sierra maple
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Acer glabrum

(Sierra maple)

Plant description coming soon.
Acer macrophyllum  bigleaf maple
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Acer macrophyllum

(bigleaf maple)

This stately and picturesque tree is native to stream banks and moist canyons from Southern Alaska to the foothills of California. A large, round-topped tree with large dark green lobed leaves and smooth silver-gray bark. Fast growing 30 ft or more tall. One of the few native trees to offer good fall color. Sun to partial shade, occasional to regular water. When planting in a sunny location, protect the trunk from sun-scald with a dilute application of white latex paint.
Acer negundo var. californicum  box elder
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Acer negundo var. californicum

(box elder)

The box elder at maturity features a broad canopy supported by thick branches and a wide, gray trunk. In spring, the silky pink inflorescences hang from the tips of the branches as the leaves begin to emerge. Quickly grows to a height and width of up to 50 ft. Often used as a restoration plant in riparian zones. Full sun to part shade. Enjoys regular moisture. Deer seem to leave it alone once established.
Achillea  filipendulina 'Coronation Gold' fernleaf yarrow
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Achillea filipendulina 'Coronation Gold'

(fernleaf yarrow)

A sturdy perennial forming a mat of large, fern-like leaves spreading to 3 ft. wide. Flat topped, bright golden-yellow flowers up to 4 inches wide appear on long stems 2 - 3 ft. high. Make excellent cut flowers both fresh and dried. This selection is noted for being more compact than the typical species. Plant in full sun with moderate to little summer water. Yarrows are a good nectar source for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Tough and drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium 'Calistoga' yarrow
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Achillea millefolium 'Calistoga'

(yarrow)

Featured in California Native Plants for the Garden, this selection of native yarrow is from the rugged Palisades above the Napa Valley. Silver gray foliage is topped with creamy white flowers around 1 ft. tall. Its growth is more restrained than many selections of yarrow. Attractive to pollinators. Best with sun, good drainage, and moderate to little summer water. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium 'Island Pink' yarrow
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Achillea millefolium 'Island Pink'

(yarrow)

A color variant of the normally white California native yarrow from Santa Cruz Island. Dark green ferny foliage topped with clusters of bright pink flowers on 18 inch stems over a long period. Sun to partial shade, occasional to moderate water. Good habitat value, providing nectar for bees and butterflies. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium 'King Range' yarrow
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Achillea millefolium 'King Range'

(yarrow)

The seed for this selection of our native yarrow was from the aptly named Windy Ridge above the scenic mouth of the Mattole River. The parent plants were very stout with foot tall stems and huge inflorescences of creamy white. It has been very vigorous in cultivation so far. Best with sun, good drainage, and moderate summer water. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet'
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Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet'

This yarrow is getting rave reviews for its deep-red flowers produced atop grey-green ferny foliage. Spreading 2 foot or so wide with flowers rising 2 – 2 ½ feet tall. Best in full sun with moderate to occasional watering. Popular with bees and butterflies. Often deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium 'Sonoma Coast' yarrow
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Achillea millefolium 'Sonoma Coast'

(yarrow)

This is a local selection from the Sonoma County coast near Salmon Creek. Bright green foliage is topped with white flowers in dense heads on compact stems to around 1 ft. tall. Can bloom over a long period, spring through fall, depending on conditions. Best in sunny areas with some summer water, though it is drought tolerant.  Flowers attract butterflies and other insects. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea  millefolium 'Terracotta' yarrow
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Achillea millefolium 'Terracotta'

(yarrow)

This hybrid yarrow forms a mat of grey-green ferny foliage 2 - 3 ft. wide with interesting earth-tone color flowers. The long lasting flower clusters simultaneously sport peachy-yellow tones through burnt orange, on sturdy non-floppy stems to around 2 ft. tall. Plant in full sun with moderate to occassional summer water once established. Bees and butterflies love yarrows, but they are not deer favorites. Excellent cut flowers too.

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Achillea millefolium var. steensii

(Steens Mountain yarrow)

Tucked away in southeastern Oregon is an ancient ridge known as Steens Mountain. From those decaying glacial cirques comes this special little yarrow. Distinctive for its low,dense green foliage and short flower stalks reaching a height of about 6 inches. The flowers are white with umbels about two inches wide. Blooms from spring through autumn. A useful diminutive yarrow for the rock garden or small space. Doesn’t spread as aggressively as its lowland kin but forms nice dense mats. Provide full sun and water occasionally once established. Deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium - inland form - Lake County seed source  yarrow
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Achillea millefolium - inland form - Lake County seed source

(yarrow)

A vigorous and easy to grow perennial, yarrow grows native throughout California in many plant communities. This crop is grown from seed collected from a hot inland site in Lake County. In this form, flower stems rise 18 inches above the gray ferny foliage bearing white flowers in flat topped clusters. Plant in a sunny location with moderate to a little water. Spreads by rhizomes and can form sizable clumps if happy. A good addition to the habitat garden where the flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies and the foliage provides winter forage for birds. The foliage is deer resistant.  
Achillea millefolium - inland form - Napa County seed source  yarrow
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Achillea millefolium - inland form - Napa County seed source

(yarrow)

A vigorous and easy to grow perennial, yarrow grows native throughout California in many plant communities. This crop is grown from seed collected from a hot inland site in Napa County. In this form, flower stems rise 18 inches above the gray ferny foliage bearing white flowers in flat topped clusters. Plant in a sunny location with moderate to a little water. Spreads by rhizomes and can form sizable clumps if happy. A good addition to the habitat garden where the flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies and the foliage provides winter forage for birds. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea millefolium - inland form - Sonoma County seed source  yarrow
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Achillea millefolium - inland form - Sonoma County seed source

(yarrow)

A vigorous and easy to grow perennial, yarrow grows native throughout California in many plant communities. This crop is grown from seed collected from a hot inland site in Sonoma County. In this form, flower stems rise 18 inches above the gray ferny foliage bearing white flowers in flat topped clusters. Plant in a sunny location with moderate to a little water. Spreads by rhizomes and can form sizable clumps if happy. A good addition to the habitat garden where the flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies and the foliage provides winter forage for birds. The foliage is deer resistant.

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Achillea millefolium - Montara Mountain form

(yarrow)

We discovered the parent of this giant seed strain on the lower slopes of Montara Mountain in San Mateo Co.. With broad, white flower clusters reaching up to 4 ft. high, this is the largest yarrow we've encountered. While seedlings can vary, we have high hopes for this new introduction. Give full sun and moderate to infrequent irrigation. Potentially an excellent spreading perennial for a tall meadow. Attracts all sorts of pollinators. The green, fuzzy leaves are usually considered to be deer resistant.  

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Achillea millefolium - Tomales Point form

(yarrow)

Extremely large leaves up to 10 inches long distinguish this form from most other local yarrow selections. While most yarrow from our coastline have very green leaves, this strain is remarkably gray.  From spring through autumn, large white flower clusters sit upon stalks about 2 feet in height. Water occasionally in areas away from the coast and provide full sun. The foliage is deer resistant.
Achillea x lewisii 'King Edward' dwarf woolly yarrow
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Achillea x lewisii 'King Edward'

(dwarf woolly yarrow)

Low carpet forming perennial with fragrant olive-green foliage, spreading to around one foot wide. Spring time brings butter-yellow flowers on short stems which rise 6 inches or so above the dense mat of foliage. The dwarf size makes it a good candidate for edging, rock garden or container planting. Requires good drainage, full sun with moderate watering. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.    
Acmispon (Lotus) glaber (scoparius)  deerweed
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Acmispon (Lotus) glaber (scoparius)

(deerweed)

Bees go nuts over the bright-yellow flowers of this California native. From spring and into summer you can find this plant covered in blooms at the edges of chaparral throughout much of California. The intricate, pea-shaped flowers, often colored burnished red as they are pollinated, emerge along wand-like stems. Deerweed usually reaches a height and width of about 2 – 3 ft. Plant in full sun to light shade. Needs good drainage and no summer water once established. A remarkable number of butterflies use this species as a larval host plant, including the bramble hairstreak, orange sulphur, funeral duskywing, silvery blue, acmon blue and the avalon hairstreak.
Actaea rubra  baneberry
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Actaea rubra

(baneberry)

Native to moist wooded plant communities throughout the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. The attractive astilbe-like foliage emerges in the early spring. The tiny white flowers have no petals and are made up of clusters of creamy white stamens. The spikes of vivid, shiny red berries are very showy though poisonous - hence the common name baneberry. A wonderful addition to shady situations with some summer water. Goes dormant in the winter. Deer resistant.

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Actaea rubra - white fruited form

(baneberry)

This is the special white fruited form of the more commonly seen red fruited baneberry. We are not sure how true these will come from seed and suspect there will be some red berries showing up in this crop. So far we have had only white fruits coming from this seed source, but we will have to see how the entire crop develops. Baneberry is a wonderful woodland plant and easy to grow in shady locales with some summer moisture. The foliage is astilbe-like and late spring brings tall flower stems topped with white flowers that have no real petals and are made up of clusters of creamy white stamens. The showy and VERY POISONOUS fruits follow, hopefully in this case white, but may be shiny red. Dies back to the ground in the winter. Deer resistant.

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