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Quercus berberidifolia(scrub oak)Description coming soon!
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Quercus chrysolepis(canyon live oak)Handsome evergreen oak, native from Oregon to Baja, between sea level and 9,000 feet, the most widely distributed oak in California. With its wide range comes a wide variety of characteristics. Rainfall, temperatures and soil type and depth all affect its physical expression. With adequate moisture and deeper soils, it grows a rounded, spreading crown, 20 - 60 ft tall. The shiny, dark-green leaves have fuzzy gold or silvery hairs on the underside, and can sport both smooth or toothed leaf margins. Oaks are habitat powerhouses, offering food and cover for a huge variety of wildlife and insects. The Western tiger swallowtail and California sister are just two butterflies that use oaks as host plants along with a myriad of bird species and mammals. Plant in full sun to light shade where it will be completely drought tolerant once established.
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Quercus douglasii(blue oak)This is the oak of California’s interior, where hot and dry summer conditions prevail. A small or medium sized oak, often growing 15 to 30 feet tall, it can reach a maximum height of 60 feet. The canopy is compact and round with bluish-green lobed leaves. The acorns are oval shaped with shallow caps. Grows slowly but is long lived. A well sited oak is a gift to future generations of humans as well as a myriad of wildlife. Plant in full sun where it will be extremely drought tolerant once established.
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Quercus durata(leather oak)Plant description coming soon.
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Quercus garryana var. breweri(Brewer's oak)Plant description coming soon.
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Quercus garryana var. garryana(Garry oak, Oregon white oak)Plant description coming soon!
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Quercus kelloggii(California black oak)Beautiful in all its seasons, the native black oak makes a fine specimen, alone or in mass. Found mostly in foothills and low mountains away from the immediate coast, often in association with conifers, from California to Oregon. Growing 35 - 80 ft tall, this graceful, deciduous tree starts the spring with gorgeous, rosy-pink new growth. The soft pink leaves soon mature to a lustrous, shiny, dark green and are deeply lobed with pointed tips. Gold-green catkins dangle from the branch tips in the spring, leading to plump acorns, set deep in their scaly cups. In the autumn, the bold, leathery leaves take on golden hues before they fall. Oak trees are the ultimate habitat plant, offering food and cover for a myriad of species, including invertebrates, mammals and birds. Plant in full sun to light shade where it will be drought tolerant once established.
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Quercus lobata(valley oak)This majestic oak once covered the Santa Rosa Valley and many other fertile valleys throughout the state. Becomes large and picturesque with long drooping branches and beautiful thick, checked bark. Best in deep soils with room to develop. Wonderful planted for wildlife. Deciduous, long lived. Oaks are some of the greatest trees for birds. Oak titmice, acorn woodpeckers, and many other species utilize them for nest sites, cover, insects and acorns.
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Quercus pacifica(island scrub oak)Plant description coming soon!
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Quercus suber(cork oak)Native to the Mediterranean and North Africa, this evergreen oak is very similar to our native Coast Live Oak. Very picturesque with age, its thick corky bark adds much interest and character even to young trees. An excellent bonsai subject or shade tree. Widely adaptable with good drainage. To 30 ft. or more with great age. Drought tolerant.
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Quercus tomentella(island oak)The rarest of all California oaks, an ancient relict of the mainland, now confined to the Channel Islands, off the coast of southern California. Island oak is a small evergreen tree with a rounded canopy, 25 to 40 foot tall. Beautiful dark-green, shiny, leathery leaves with prominent parallel veins are edged with widely spaced teeth. Whitish woolly hairs cover the growing tips, undersides of leaves, and the caps of the 1 inch long acorns. A natural for gardens with coastal influence where it will be drought tolerant once established. Tolerant of many soil conditions, but attains full stature in deeper soils in sheltered locations. Oaks provide beauty, shade and food and cover for a wide array of wildlife.
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Quercus vacciniifolia(huckleberry oak)Description coming soon!
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Ranunculus californicus(California buttercup)Cheerful harbinger of spring, this western native grows in vernally moist sites in a number of plant communities throughout California. Easy to grow perennial, sports bright green succulent foliage topped with slender stems 1 to 2 ft. tall and wide. A profusion of shiny, bright yellow blossoms bloom freely until soil dries out. Goes dormant with drought, returning in spring, often reseeding. Full sun to light shade. Excellent early pollen and nectar source, attractive to bees and other beneficials.
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Ranunculus occidentalis(western buttercup)Native to open woodlands and meadows, this buttercup often occurs under deciduous oaks and buckeyes or on edges of forests. Perennial, with basal foliage, the flower stems rise 12 to 20 inches with bright yellow shiny petals. Has been surprisingly adaptable. Does fine with moderate summer irrigation, where it stays evergreen and long blooming. Once established can be allowed to go summer dry, where it will go dormant after setting seed, and returning with the winter rains.
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Rhamnus crocea(spiny redberry)An under-used evergreen shrub native to chaparral, woodland, and coastal-sage scrub communities in California. Spiny redberry can grow up to 6 feet tall and wider, but is typically in the 2 - 4 ft. height range, spreading to 6 ft. or more across. Small, leathery, dark-green ovate leaves give this tough shrub a delicate look once established. The flowers on both male and female plants are inconspicuous, blooming from late winter into early spring. Female plants produce sporadic, jelly-like red berries. Great for dappled light under oaks, or a dry, shady woodland slope with California fescue. Can tolerate more sun near the coast, but prefers afternoon shade inland. Drought-tolerant once established. Larval host for a multitude of butterflies and moths, including the pale tiger swallowtail butterfly, Ceanothus silk moth, and Hermes copper butterfly. Deer resistant.
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Rhamnus ilicifolia(hollyleaf redberry)A handsome evergreen shrub with small, dark green, leathery, serrated leaves. Found in the foothills and mountains of southern and central California, the Sierras and west of the Sacramento Valley up to 3,500 feet. Slow-growing, reaching 6-10 feet tall and wide, with a somewhat open, upright habit. Male and female plants are separate, producing inconspicuous yellow-cream flowers from spring into early summer. Female plants produce sporadic, gelatinous red fruits. Hollyleaf redberry can be planted in full sun to shade, but prefers a bit of relief from the afternoon sun in inland sites. It requires decent drainage and is drought-tolerant once established. Larval host for the pale swallowtail butterfly. Reportedly deer resistant.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica(California coffeeberry)Description coming soon.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Ed Holm'(dwarf California coffeeberry)Prized by gardeners for its low, dense habit and shiny, leathery leaves. This special selection of coffeeberry was discovered along Skyline Dr. in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains. Clusters of small, creamy flowers are produced from spring through fall and are followed by penny-sized, deep purple fruits. Over time, 'Ed Holm' will reach a height of up to 3 ft. and a width up to 6 ft.. Plant in full sun to light shade. Protect from the hot afternoon sun in hot areas and give moderate to infrequent irrigation. The blossoms are a favorite of bees.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Eve Case'(California coffeeberry)This well known cultivar of coffeeberry was introduced to the trade in 1975 by Saratoga Horticultural Foundation. A handsome evergreen with broad leathery leaves growing to 6 ft. tall and wide, though mature specimens can reach 8 ft. or more tall under ideal circumstances. The small yellow-green flowers are not showy but attract an array of pollinators. The berries start out green and age to burgundy-black and are attractive to small mammals and birds. A larval food source for pale swallowtail butterfly. Adaptable, grows in sun to light shade. Drought tolerant but appreciates occasional summer water.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Gumdrop'(California coffeeberry)This somewhat diminutive selection of our native coffeeberry was discovered as a seedling from a plant found on Montara Mountain, south of San Francisco. We thought the dense form and evocative, gumdrop shape was deserving of this sweet moniker. Only reaches to about 5 - 6 ft. tall and wide and offers attractive slightly concave, dark green, leathery leaves, not unlike its close relation ‘Leatherleaf’. Will accept full sun in somewhat cooler locations but enjoys a little shade in hotter regions. Occasional to infrequent irrigation once established. The small, yellowish flowers which appear in spring and summer are extremely popular with bees, and the juicy, purple fruits which follow are enjoyed by birds.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Leatherleaf'(California coffeeberry)Another fine Roger Raiche selection, this coffeeberry cultivar is well worth growing. The leaves are particularly dark and broad with a mounding habit growing 5 - 6 ft. tall and wide. The tiny flowers attract a wide array of pollinators. Larval food source for pale swallowtail butterfly. The handsome fruits go green to red to black and are enjoyed by small mammals and birds. Plant in sun to light shade. Drought tolerant once established though occasional summer watering is helpful. An adaptable and useful shrub for both formal and naturalistic plantings.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Mound San Bruno'(California coffeeberry)Selected by Roger Raiche on San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County, this is one of the most reliable coffeeberries. Grows 6 ft tall and wide, with narrow leaves and a compact habit. For full sun to part shade, will accept water, but is quite drought tolerant once established. Flowers are loved by pollinators, especially bees. A larval food source for the pale swallowtail butterfly. Provides black juicy fruit in the fall for thrushes, jays, mockingbirds, robins, bandtailed pigeon and purple finch. May grow to as much as 8 ft. tall with moderate water and good drainage in cooler areas.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Olema'(California coffeeberry)We discovered this large, dense form of our native coffeeberry near the town of Olema in coastal Marin County. While it reached up to around 15 ft. tall and wide in nature, it has been a little slow to do so in the ground here at the nursery. After about 4 years, it’s reached a height of about 9 ft. This selection of coffeeberry is ideal for a tall hedge or screen where an evergreen shrub is needed to create privacy. Grows well in full sun somewhat near the coast but will need a little shade in hot, inland sites. Occasional to infrequent irrigation once established. Coffeeberries are some of the best habitat plants. The small, yellowish flowers are adored by bees in spring and summer, while the plump, purple fruits that follow are relished by birds.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Salt Point'(California coffeeberry)A beautiful selection of our native coffeeberry from the northern Sonoma Coast featuring a very dense and mounding habit. Here at the nursery this cultivar has slowly grown to 6 ft. tall and wide. Provide full sun to partial shade and moderate to occasional water when established. Produces black, juicy fruits in the fall for thrushes, jays, mockingbirds, robins, bandtailed pigeon and purple finch. Flowers attractive to pollinators, especially bees. Used as a larval food source by the pale swallowtail butterfly.
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Rhamnus (Frangula) californica 'Seaview'(dwarf California coffeeberry)This highly sought after selection of our native coffeeberry stays low and compact only reaching 2 – 3 ft tall and up to 6 ft wide. The tidy, deep green leaves form dense rosettes with small cream-colored flowers appearing from spring through summer. Deep purple “berries” form dense clusters in the summer and fall. Enjoys full sun to moderate shade and moderate to occasional water once established. An excellent habitat plant for bees and birds.
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