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More information »	Penstemon rostriflorus (Bridges' penstemon) A wonderful addition to the dry garden, bringing late summer color through abundant, bright red, tubular flowers. Growing 24 – 36 inches tall and wide, with attractive, glossy foliage, that takes on red and bronze tones in winter. A late blooming Penstemon, beginning in July, provides copious nectar for hummingbirds as well as bees, butterflies, and moths. Tolerant of wide range of soils and conditions, plant in full sun to light shade with occasional water. Drought tolerant once established.
More information »	Penstemon rydbergii (meadow penstemon) A widespread species native to much of the western United States, including California, growing in mountainous regions in moist meadows and along streams. Forms a low rosette of bright green leaves topped with flower stems 1 -2 foot tall. The small, lavender-purple, tubular flowers are clustered in whorls on dense spikes. The blossoms offer an excellent source of nectar and pollen to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, as well as a larval food source for a number of butterfly species. Considered easy to grow and long lived. Plant in full sun to light shade with regular moisture. Somewhat winter deciduous. Deer resistant.
More information »	Penstemon speciosus (royal penstemon) Found in higher elevation localities of inland Northern California, royal penstemon is a vibrantly colorful addition to the dry, full sun garden. In summer, the large, saturated blue-purple florets are held in clusters on stems rising almost 2’ tall above a low, evergreen rosette of glossy, strap-like foliage, reaching 1' -2' wide. Attracts a multitude of pollinators. Does best with decent soil drainage, and inland sites that provide seasonality—colder winters, and hotter summers. Drought-tolerant once established.
More information »	Penstemon spectabilis (royal penstemon) A spectacular Penstemon native to dry, gravelly slopes of southern California and northern Baja. Demanding good drainage and full sun, this perennial grows 3 ft. or more tall with striking displays of lavender-purple tubular flowers. A challenging species with a sensational floral display, but can be short lived in northern California. Performs best in hot inland gardens. Take care not to over water. Highly attractive to hummingbirds as well as bees and butterflies.
More information »	Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mt. penstemon) Showy perennial, native to a number of states in the Rocky Mountains, where it grows in sage brush and coniferous forest communities. Forming clumps of neat evergreen foliage 8 - 10 inches tall by 36 inches wide. Mid to late spring brings flowering stems 2 foot or so above the foliage with deep blue-purple tubular flowers. Considered one of the easier to grow, tolerating heavier soil and moisture better than many Penstemon species. Still, good drainage is best with little summer water once established. Plant in full sun to light shade in hot regions. Very cold tolerant. Penstemons are attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
More information »	Penstemon venustus (Venus penstemon, elegant penstemon) This jewel of the mountains displays richly toned, trumpet-shaped flowers of blue to lavender held on stalks reaching 1 – 3 ft. tall. Dark green, serrated leaves form a low mound up to 2ft. wide over time. Hummingbirds love the tubular flowers as do bees. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage and water infrequently. While native to much of the West, this penstemon doesn’t quite make it into California.
More information »	Perideridia gairdneri (yampah) An interesting and rarely cultivated native perennial that grows in grasslands and meadows in central to northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Narrow leaves emerge in the spring giving way to lovely 4 ft. tall flowering stems topped with umbels of delicate white flowers in the summer. Looks particularly nice in mass and livens up a meadow or grassland planting that may be waning in summer. Entice the anise swallowtail butterfly with a NATIVE larval food source. Plant in full sun to light shade with a little water. Allow to go dry after flowering.
More information »	Perideridia kelloggii (yampah) An interesting and rarely cultivated native perennial that grows in grasslands and meadows in central to northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Narrow leaves emerge in the spring giving way to lovely 4 ft. tall flowering stems topped with umbels of delicate white flowers in the summer. Looks particularly nice in mass and livens up a meadow or grassland planting that may be waning in summer. Entice the anise swallowtail butterfly with a NATIVE larval food source. Plant in full sun to light shade with a little water. Allow to go dry after flowering.
More information »	Petasites frigidus var. palmatus (western coltsfoot) A bold, beautiful and AGGRESSIVE creekside native, found in coastal and montane regions in California, north to Alaska, where it grows along shady creek banks. The large, almost tropical, palmate leaves spread from thick creeping rootstocks to form large colonies. Flowers before the foliage fully emerges in the spring with flat topped clusters of white to pink flowers on 1-2 ft. tall stems. Requires shade and plenty of water and is useful as a soil stabilizer. To control its spreading nature, use in containers or in contained areas. It won't spread into areas which are dry. Dies back to the ground in the winter. Flowers attractive to a wide range of beneficial insects.
More information »	Petasites palmatus 'Golden Palms' (golden western coltsfoot) Here is an exciting introduction of the western coltsfoot with wonderful golden foliage. Native to streamsides in low elevation forests, the broadly palmate leaves spread by creeping rhizomes. Careful thought should be given to its placement as it can be invasive. This bold foliage plant is great in containers or contained areas with regular water and part shade. Dies back to the ground in winter.
More information »	Phacelia bolanderi (woodland phacelia) Easy to grow perennial for part shade and a little summer water. Native to slopes and canyons of coastal forests in northern California. Forms low mounds of soft foliage 6 - 8 inches tall by 2 ft. or so wide. Pretty powder blue-purple one inch flowers late spring into summer offer nectar to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The seeds are enjoyed by songbirds. Though somewhat short-lived, it often reseeds. Appears to be deer resistant.
More information »	Phacelia californica (California phacelia) A low elevation species inhabiting bluffs, open slopes, road cuts and canyons of our inner and outer Coast Ranges down through the central coast. Forms perennial clumps of crinkled gray leaves. Stout stems rise above the rosette one foot to 18 inches tall with large coils of lavender flowers. Excellent rock garden subject. Plant in sunny areas with good drainage where it will be drought tolerant, and will do fine with a little summer water. Phacelias are great for attracting bees and butterflies.
More information »	Phacelia campanularia (desert bluebells) This ANNUAL is endemic to washes in Southern California deserts. Amazing, royal blue flowers make a show stopping display a top foliage 6-10 inches tall. Surprisingly adaptable, requiring well drained soils , full sun and dryish conditions. Excellent in containers too. Bee favorite.
More information »	Phacelia grandiflora (large-flowered phacelia) Native to southern California coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities, this native ANNUAL is often a fire follower. Fast growing to 3 ft. tall and topped with clusters of large fragrant blossoms of lavender- blue. Abundant nectar and pollen is highly attractive to bees and a great addition to the habitat garden. Plant in full sun with a little water to encourage long blooming. Often self sows.
More information »	Phacelia imbricata (imbricate phacelia) Native to dry slopes and open woodland throughout much of California, this rarely-offered perennial phacelia thrives in heat. Creamy-white flowers form curly clusters atop stalks ranging from 1 to 3 feet. Bees and butterflies find them irresistible. The soft, dense foliage hugs the ground in an up-to-2-ft-wide mound. Plant in full sun to light shade in areas with good drainage and minimal irrigation once established. Drought tolerant.
More information »	Phacelia tanacetifolia (tansy leaf phacelia) A robust ANNUAL increasingly used in agriculture as a pollinator attracting cover crop. This native covers the ground and flowers abundantly producing high quality pollen and nectar which is highly attractive to bees and beneficial insects. Fast growing frilly foliage grows 1-4 ft. tall and wide topped with clusters of small lavender-blue cup shaped flowers. Sun to light shade, decent drainage and drought tolerant. Occasional water during flowering will keep it going longer.
More information »	Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile' (mock orange) This is the much sought after true ‘Belle Etoile’ with abundant profuse clusters of white flowers with a mauve flush inside. Wonderfully fragrant. The new stems of this deciduous shrub are mahogany colored. Can grow to 6 ft. or so tall. Sun to light shade in hottest areas. Moderate to occasional summer water. Bee and butterfly favorite.
More information »	Philadelphus lewisii 'Covelo' (western mock orange) Sweetly fragrant, pure white blossoms with yellow stamens cover this desirable, deciduous native shrub in late spring, attracting bees and butterflies. Reaches to 8 ft. tall and wide with a vaguely umbrella shape. This selection is somewhat denser than 'Marjorie Schmidt', in both foliage and flower, with leaves that are less serrated. Enjoys full sun to light shade and moderate to occasional summer water. Tolerant of clay soil. Works well in a conatainer.
More information »	Philadelphus lewisii 'Goose Creek' (western mock orange) This native mock orange is a large deciduous shrub up to 8 ft tall and wide with sweetly fragrant white flowers in late spring and early summer. The cultivar 'Goose Creek' offers unique, fully double flowers, discovered near the Smith River in Del Norte County. Useful as a specimen or in mixed plantings. Sun to light shade, moderate to little water when established.
More information »	Philadelphus lewisii 'Marjorie Schmidt' (western mock orange) This native mock orange was selected by Roger Raiche and Ron Lutsko in Shasta County. It caught their eye while driving along Route 36 west of Red Bluff, as being larger-flowered and more floriferous than surrounding shrubs. Large deciduous shrub up to 8 ft tall and wide with fragrant white flowers in early summer. Sun to light shade, most soils, moderate to little water once established. Flowers attractive to bees and butterflies.
More information »	Phyla nodiflora (lippia / turkey tangle frog fruit) Vigorous, spreading ground cover native to California, North America and other parts of the world. It's a tough one, able to survive a wide range of conditions and soil types. Tolerates both drought and flooding, but best with occasional deep watering in full sun to very light shade. Flowers heavily over a long period with charming little heads of mauve-pink, lavender and white blossoms, delighting an assortment of bees and butterflies. This dense, carpeting plant makes a serviceable ground cover or lawn-like replacement, tolerating moderate foot traffic and occasional mowing. May look rough in the winter, but quickly recovers in spring. Free flowering and pollinator friendly.
More information »	Physocarpus capitatus (western ninebark) Handsome, deciduous shrub favoring wooded streamsides in California. Grows vigorously 4 - 8 ft. tall and wide. After leafing out in the spring, the shrub looks spiraea-like, covered with small clusters of white flowers followed by red capsular fruits. Best with light shade and some summer water, but will accept full sun in cooler areas. Keep bushy and in bounds with pruning.
More information »	Physocarpus capitatus 'Siskiyou Beauty' (western ninebark) Description coming soon!
More information »	Physocarpus capitatus 'Tilden Park' (prostrate western ninebark) A prostrate form of the native ninebark from San Bruno Mountain. Makes a good groundcover about 3 ft. tall and spreading widely. Deciduous stems sprout beautiful green foliage with white flower clusters in spring. Sun to light shade with summer water, but will tolerate dryish conditions once established.
More information »	Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce)