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More information »	Artemisia californica 'Montara' (California sagebrush) Selected by Roger Raiche at Montara Ridge in San Mateo County. Forms a mound of finely cut fragrant foliage to around 2 ft. tall by 3 ft. (or more) wide. Requires full sun with decent drainage and is drought tolerant once established. Occasional summer water helps retain fresh look. Thrives in coastal environments. Deer resistant.
More information »	Artemisia douglasiana (mugwort) Mugwort is native to many plant communities where there is at least some year round moisture: streams and riverbanks, road cuts, ditches, and moist meadows. A stout, rhizomatous perennial with aromatic foliage that is green on top and silvery beneath. The flowers are small and not particularly showy. The foliage is beautiful and fragrant with a long history of medicinal uses. Plant in sun to light shade where it will grow 3 ft. tall and spreading to form a colony. Well watered plants can grow even taller. Provides excellent cover and seeds for birds. Deer resistant.
More information »	Artemisia pycnocephala (sandhill sage) Plant description coming soon.
More information »	Artemisia pycnocephala 'David's Choice' (sandhill sage) An exceptionally fine selection of a coastal native. Forms a dense silky mound of silvery foliage 4 - 6 inches tall and up to 2 ft. wide. The floppy flowering stems rise a foot above the foliage and are interesting but not real showy. Shear back for longer life. Sun and drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
More information »	Artemisia pycnocephala 'Dr. Seuss' (sandhill sage) In deference to this selection’s whimsical form, we have named it in honor of the children’s author who truly embodies “whimsical”. Soft, silvery, ferny foliage slowly spreads across the ground on woody branches with unusually tall flower stalks reaching up to 3 feet in height. As the stalks arise, the base is thickly covered in the showy foliage, getting narrower as it approaches the flower buds, giving the plant its unusual form. The small flowers are pale yellow and open in late spring and into summer. Provide good drainage and plant in full sun to light shade. Deer resistant.
More information »	Artemisia suksdorfii (coastal mugwort) Rhizomatous perennial with sturdy upright stems of whitish-gray felted foliage. Native to coastal California where it grows in seasonal drainages near the ocean. Growing 1 1/2 ft. to 3 ft. tall and spreading to form small colonies of beautiful wooly foliage with a pleasant sage scent. The tiny flowers are not particularly showy but are attractive to pollinators. Useful in informal gardens for sunny areas with some summer moisture. Probably best in areas with some coastal influence. Cut to the ground annually to freshen and make room for new spring growth. Deer resistant.
More information »	Aruncus dioicus (goat's beard) Native to stream sides and moist woods from Mendocino County, California north to Alaska. A bold and showy perennial looking like a giant astilbe. Forms dense clumps of finely divided foliage with arching, feathery plumes of white flowers 3-5 ft. tall in summer. Requires regular moisture and part shade where it makes a striking specimen or accent plant in the woodland garden. Dies back to its roots in winter. The frothy flower plumes attract an array of tiny little pollinators and the seed heads on female plants are an important food source for birds. Said to be deer resistant.
More information »	Asarum caudatum (wild ginger) Native to the deep shade of forest floors, this evergreen perennial forms a handsome low groundcover. The large, deep green, heart-shaped leaves appear to hover over the ground, creating a lush, almost tropical effect. The unusual flowers which nestle under the leaves are normally maroon, but occasionally white, with long spidery tails. Thrives in the deep shade under redwoods, competing well with the aggressive roots and dense duff. The ginger scented leaves are deer resistant.
More information »	Asarum caudatum 'Alba' (white-flowered wild ginger) An interesting form of the native, shade loving wild ginger. Calling the flowers white is a stretch, they are more of a wasabi-green rather than the usual maroon color of the species. The intriguing long tailed flowers are hidden beneath the glossy heart shaped leaves and would need to be planted on a wall, slope or container to make them easier to view. Wild ginger prefers shade and moisture where it will form a low spreading groundcover.
More information »	Asarum marmoratum (marbled wild ginger) Plant description coming soon.
More information »	Asclepias cordifolia (heart leaf milkweed) Description coming soon.
More information »	Asclepias eriocarpa (Kotolo milkweed) More diminutive than showy milkweed at 1-3 feet, this long-blooming species has similar broad, greyish leaves and creamy, pink-accented flower clusters. Like other milkweeds, it is a larval host for the monarch butterfly. A great choice for habitat gardens in dry, sunny areas, providing nectar for a wide array of pollinators from late spring into fall. Usually found in rocky soils throughout parts of Southern California and in foothill areas north of the San Francisco Bay. Spreads to form colonies with minimal supplemental water. Deer resistant.
More information »	Asclepias fascicularis (narrowleaf milkweed) Our most common native milkweed is found in meadows and on the banks above ponds. Its flowers are held in umbels of a pale mauve color. They form at the top of 1 - 3 ft. tall slender stems that die back in winter to a perennial rootstock. Its wandering roots form small colonies. Drought tolerant, it prefers seasonally moist soils and likes moderate water in the garden. The narrow leaves are the preferred larval food for the Monarch Butterfly. Full sun to part shade. Unlikely to be bothered by deer.
More information »	Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed) Bold and beautiful native milkweed that forms a large patch of tall stems with broad pale green leaves. Fragrant clusters of pinkish-purple flowers, followed by interesting seed pods. Spreads by underground shoots. Great in semi-dry naturalistic plantings. Host to Monarch butterflies. Deer resistant.
More information »	Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) This small fern is found in rocky habitats almost worldwide, though uncommon in California, where it is found only in Del Norte County. Tiny, dark green, oval leaves line the black stems of this diminutive evergreen fern. The narrow fronds form short tufts under 8 inches tall that spread slowly. Easy to grow, this little cutie is perfect for tucking into a shady rock garden, wall or container planting. Best in gritty, well drained soils with regular to moderate summer irrigation. Deer resistant.
More information »	Aster x frikartii 'Monch' (aster) A particularly fine hybrid from the 1920’s, valued for its long display of clear lavender-blue daisies on stout, upright foliage, to around 2 ft. tall and wide. Easy to grow in full sun with good drainage and regular to moderate water. A wide variety of bee species visit this perennial, foraging for nectar and pollen. Attractive to butterflies too. Its long bloom period, May through October, make it a wonderful color accent and a powerhouse in the pollinator garden.
More information »	Aster (Eurybia) radulinus 'Gilliam Creek' (rough-leaved aster) This charming woodland aster makes its home in bright, dryish woods from the Channel Islands all the way up to the Oregon border and into the northern Sierras. Normally a shy, dainty little forest dweller, this selection from Sonoma County is far more robust, featuring large clusters of white-petaled daisies with white centers which turn yellow with age, and finally a deep maroon. Flower stalks reach up to 2 ft. high, much taller than is typical for the species. Serrated, deep green leaves form a high mat on this slowly spreading ground cover. An excellent plant for dry, woodland gardens, but will also tolerate moderate irrigation. One of the few excellent pollinator plants for the lightly shaded garden.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) 'Fanny's' One of our last to bloom, this Aster is smothered in one inch blue daisies in Autumn. Grows 3 -4 ft. tall and wide. Easy and dependable, in full sun with regular to moderate summer water. Awesome pollinator plant attracting all sorts of bees and butterflies.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) 'Little Carlow' (aster) Quickly becoming a favorite, this aster grows to about 4 ft. tall. Rich lavender-blue daisies cover this plant in late summer. Best with regular water in full sun. A butterfly favorite - highly attractive to all sorts of pollinators.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) 'Raydon's Favorite' (aromatic aster) A fine late blooming Aster thought to be from eastern Tennessee, with compact aromatic foliage and dazzling bright blue-purple daisies. Forms a dense mound 18 – 24 inches tall and wide, with flowers nearly covering the foliage when in full bloom. Plant in full sun with regular to moderate summer water. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) chilensis (California aster) This native aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) is found throughout much of Sonoma County, usually in moist soils. Here its form is far more slender or gracile than the burly Point St. George clone. It spreads as widely as the previously mentioned clone but with a lighter touch, integrating itself well with native grasses and bulbs. Its summer to fall blossoms are white to lavender blue and provide excellent nectar for butterflies and beneficial insects. 1-2 ft. tall and spreading. Sun to light shade. Moderate to little summer irrigation.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) chilensis 'Olema White' (white California aster) The classic lavender/purple flowers of the California aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) are replaced with clear white in this unusual selection which we found near the town of Olema in Marin County. In summer and into fall, a profusion of flowers bursts forth on this VIGOROUSLY spreading native perennial. An extremely adaptable groundcover reaching up to 2 ft. tall. Accepts regular to very little irrigation and full sun to light shade. This prolific bloomer is a bee magnet and also enjoyed by butterflies. Tolerant of clay and periodic flooding. Looks best when sheared to the ground after blooming.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) chilensis 'Point Saint George' (California aster) A low growing vigorous native perennial, reaching up to 6 inches in height and spreading widely and aggressively. Covered with soft lavender daisies over a long period, summer through fall, often into winter. Careful thought should be given to its placement, this plant really spreads. Far too vigorous for many settings, perhaps best used in large containers or contained areas or in large, naturalistic plantings. For sunny areas with at least a little summer water. Will tolerate flooding and periodic inundation. An excellent nectar source for bees and butterflies and seeds for birds. Also known as: Symphyotrichum chilense 'Point Saint George.'
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) chilensis 'Purple Haze' (California aster) A Santa Barbara Botanic Garden selection of the coast aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) which offers a deeper shade of lavender blossoms than normally seen. Blooms late summer through fall and often into winter with 1 inch medium-lavender daisies opening from dark purple buds. Grows 1 - 3 ft. high and SPREADS VIGOROUSLY by rhizomes. Use this to advantage to stabilize soils, as a ground cover or in a large scale meadow planting where it tolerates many soil types in full sun to light shade. Appreciates some summer water though it is drought tolerant. Keeping it dryish will slow its spread. An easy to grow bee and butterfly favorite.
More information »	Aster (Symphyotrichum) ericoides 'Monte Cassino' (white heath aster) We got this vigorous aster from a cut flower grower - the sprays of small white daisies make excellent “cuts”. The plant grows 3 - 4 ft. tall and almost as wide, blooms toward the end of summer, profusely. Easy to grow - full sun, regular watering to look its best, but fairly thrifty in heavy soils. The asters are bee and butterfly favorites.