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More information »	Alnus rubra (red alder) Plant description coming soon.
More information »	Amelanchier alnifolia (serviceberry) A common native shrub or small multi-trunked tree often found growing along seasonal streams. Serviceberries provide a touch of autumn color at Annadel State Park where the leaves turn a lovely butterscotch yellow. The white spring flowers are followed by dark blue-purple fruits coveted by ring neck doves in the wild. Sun to partial shade. Moderate to infrequent water. Many butterflies use this species as a larval host, such as the California hairstreak and the Ceanothus silkmoth.
More information »	Amorpha californica var. napensis (Napa false indigo) A lovely and uncommon native shrub of the pea family, occasionally seen in woodland and chaparral communities in the coast ranges around the San Francisco Bay Area. Offering a delicate, airy quality, this deciduous shrub grows 2-6 ft. tall. Intricate flowers are closely set on slender spikes and are made up of a tiny intense indigo-purple petal with protruding bright orange stamens, charming on close inspection. This rare and threatened shrub is the larval food source for the California dogface butterfly, our state insect! Bees and butterflies nectar on the flowers as well. Best in lightly shaded areas with oocasional to no summer water needed once established. Deer resistant.
More information »	Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting) An adaptable plant with silver-green leaves that are densely white and woolly beneath. The flowers appear in summer and are made up of pearly white papery bracts surrounding yellow centers. The “straw flowers” retain their shape and color and are often used in dried arrangements. Tolerant of almost any soil type, it prefers full sun where it will grow in moist to somewhat dry conditions. Can spread vigorously, perhaps best used in meadow plantings or other naturalistic settings. Grows 1 - 3 ft. tall and spreading. Dies back to the ground in the winter. Larval food source for the painted lady and American lady butterflies. Deer resistant.
More information »	Anemone deltoidea (western white anemone) Rhizomatous perennial native to coniferous forests in the coastal mountains of Northern California through Washington. Forming low colonies, 6 inches or so tall with slender stems holding three leaflets. Simple, pure white flowers with a central shaft of anthers hold themselves just above the foliage. Spreads vigorously and best used with shrubs, ferns or other sturdy subjects. Can romp over smaller perennials. Sweet addition to the woodland garden where it will grow in full to part shade with regular to a occasional summer watering. Good in containers too. Dies back to the ground in winter.
More information »	Anemopsis californica (yerba mansa) An unusual plant - native to wet areas, but adaptable to regular or moderate garden water. The low rosettes of leaves spread into attractive colonies. The white flowers, or actually, flower bracts, are very showy in late spring. Sun to light shade with moisture. Herbalists use roots and leaves for a topical antibiotic and other uses.
More information »	Angelica arguta (sharptooth angelica) A remarkable form of this native mountain Angelica with striking bluish-gray foliage. Umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers sit on stalks up to 6 feet in height. Needs moderate irrigation and dappled shade inland. Combine with native Heleniums, lilies and columbines to create a beautiful woodland flower patch. Great for native pollinators. A larval food source for the anise swallowtail butterfly.
More information »	Angelica breweri (Brewer's angelica) From the Sierras and the Klamath mountains comes this elegant member of the carrot family. Clear white flowers perch like little stars in flat-topped clusters up to 10 inches wide. Flower stalks can reach 6 feet in height with green serrated leaves forming 2 foot tall mounds at the base. Enjoys dappled shade away from the coast and moderate water. Great for native bees and butterflies. A larval food source for the anise swallowtail butterfly.
More information »	Angelica californica (California angelica) Striking stalks up to 6 ft. tall hold flat topped clusters of white flowers above low growing emerald-green leaves. This uncommon member of the carrot family needs only occasional water once established. Naturally occurs under the dappled shade of oaks where it cohabitates with ferns, hound's tongue,yerba buena and woodland strawberries. Excellent for attracting beneficial insects and is a larval food source for the anise swallowtail butterfly. May go summer dormant when allowed to dry out.
More information »	Angelica hendersonii (bluff angelica) Found in nature on the immediate coast, though well adapted to the watered inland garden. It has the overall look of a stout cow parsnip with creamy white flowers in umbels and pinnately compound leaves of a deep green. Like many umbels, it is a good nectar source for beneficial insects. 4-5 ft. tall. Full sun to light shade. Good drainage with moderate summer water.
More information »	Angelica lucida (sea watch) Large white flower clusters up to one foot across are held on stalks up to 5 feet tall above coarsely dissected leaves. Greener leaves and a more refined character distinguish this species from the more common Angelica hendersonii. While it is rare on the sea cliffs of northern California, sea-watch has a large distribution along coasts throughout the northern hemisphere. Give regular moisture and part shade in areas away from the coast. Attracts bees and butterflies.
More information »	Angelica tomentosa (foothill angelica) This species offers striking, flat-topped clusters of white flowers held up dramatically on stalks reaching up to around 5 ft. tall. Handsome, pinnately compound, gray-green leaves mass at their base. A generally inland angelica found in more or less moist, lightly shaded places, usually on serpentine. It can grow in full sun as long as it has plenty of moisture during the growing season. An important plant for the Pomo for its many medicinal and shamanistic uses. Diverse pollinators utilize the flowers, while the anise swallowtail butterfly uses the stems and leaves as a host plant for the catterpillars. Enjoys moderate water in the garden with a late summer rest (low water).
More information »	Antennaria rosea (rosy pussy toes) A charming, native, mountain dweller which grows among rocks and onto boulders at meadow edges. Forms low mats only a couple of inches high of woolly, gray leaves that creep and cascade. Short flower stems with small, creamy-white and rosy-pink papery bracts, bloom summer into fall. Plant in full sun to very light shade with good drainage and a little summer water. Good addition for the pollinator garden and is the larval food source for a number of butterflies including the American lady. This is one of the few natives which is so low growing you can plant it between stepping stones.
More information »	Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp) Native throughout much of North America, California and our own Santa Rosa Valley. Grows 3 ft. tall and spreads vigorously by roots to form large patches. Small white flowers in summer. Turns beautiful shades of yellow in the autumn then dies back to the ground in the winter. Good for wild meadow or ethnobotanical garden. Important to Native Americans who used the stems for cordage, rope, twine nets etc. Sun to light shade with some moisture. Will tolerate dry conditions after blooming. Very attractive to butterflies. BEWARE! SPREADS VIGOROUSLY!
More information »	Aquilegia caerulea (Rocky Mountain columbine) This beloved Rocky Mountain native perennial is prized for beautiful blue and white, long spurred flowers. Late spring brings tall flower stems rising above the clumps of ferny foliage to around 2 ft. tall. The large, upward facing, two toned blossoms are highly attractive to hummingbirds and hawk moths. Grow Colorado's state flower with light shade and well-draining soils and medium moisture. Can seed about when happy. Often mentioned as deer resistant.
More information »	Aquilegia chrysantha (golden columbine) Native to canyons and moist places in the southwest United States, this free flowering columbine sports large, bright yellow, long spurred blossoms. The nodding flower buds turn upright when fully open, rising 1 - 3 ft above the ferny bright green foliage, attracting hummingbirds and hawk moths. Best with light shade and well drained soil and regular to moderate watering. Will accept more sun and dryness once established when compared with other columbines. When happy, this Rocky Mountain beauty is hardy and long lived.
More information »	Aquilegia eximia (serpentine columbine) Large, orangey-red flowers with yellow stamens adorn this beautiful and uncommon native columbine. The pendant, brightly colored blossoms are larger than those of the western columbine but just as attractive to hummingbirds. Forms a 1 ft. high mound of foliage with flowering stalks reaching up to 5 ft. tall. Native to the Coast Ranges from Mendocino to Ventura Counties often on serpentine soils. Provide full sun to part shade and only water enough to prevent the soil from drying out completely. In areas far away from the coast provide a little shade from the hot afternoon sun. This species is a little more drought tolerant than the more common Western columbine.
More information »	Aquilegia formosa (western columbine) A popular native perennial with fern-like foliage and wonderful, nodding, spurred blossoms of red and yellow. Best with a little shade and moderate to regular moisture, but will tolerate full sun in somewhat cooler climates. The flower stalks reach 1 1/2’ to 3’ tall, with the grey-green foliage forming a mound of about 1 ft tall and wide. Flowers attract hummingbirds, while the seeds are relished by small birds such as sparrows and Juncos. If seed pods are left on the plants, you may get volunteer seedlings in the fall.
More information »	Aquilegia pubescens (Sierra columbine) Found on open, rocky slopes in the southern Sierra Nevadas in sub-alpine and alpine plant communities. Low rosettes of divided, blue-green foliage, sprout from a taproot. Flower stems rise 10 - 20 inches above the fragrant foliage and carry upward facing, nectar rich, long spurred flowers, perfectly positioned for pollinating hawk moths, hummingbirds and butterflies. The flower color is variable and runs the gamut from cream to yellow to pink, often in delicate hues rather than solid colors, except for an occasional pure white. Hybridizes freely with the native red columbine, which invites various shades of red to the flower color possibilities. Grows well in low elevation gardens, given light shade and summer water.
More information »	Arabis blepharophylla (rose rock cress) A charming spring blooming perennial, native to rocky places of coastal scrub, Santa Cruz to Sonoma counties. The neat foliage grows in tight low rosettes and are topped with vibrant rose-purple mustard-like flowers 8 to 10 inches tall. A natural for coastal areas, it requires some relief from the hot sun and additional water inland. Perfect with other non rampant plants of similar requirements on a slope, rock garden, or along a border. Excellent container plant. Good nectar source for butterflies.
More information »	Aralia californica (elk clover, spikenard) A striking and dramatic native perennial for shady areas with regular water. The elk clover boasts tropical looking foliage 4 - 8 ft. tall with stalks of white, ball-like flower clusters followed by purple berries. In the autumn the foliage turns yellow and dies to the ground, returning with exuberance in the spring. Birds relish the fruits. Deer resistant.
More information »	Arbutus 'Marina' Beautiful evergreen with many of the virtues of our native madrone, but much easier to grow. A hybrid of uncertain parentage growing 25 - 40 ft. tall with dark green leathery leaves that have a red blush to the new growth. Flowers in the autumn with showy clusters of rosy-pink urn-shaped flowers. The round red fruits, about one inch across are sparsely produced. Gorgeous peeling cinnamon red bark is another attractive feature. Can be trained as a single trunked tree, multi-trunked specimen, or grown as a screen or tall hedge. Best in full sun with good drainage where it will accept regular water. It is drought tolerant ONCE ESTABLISHED, but is best with occasional (1x or 2x monthly) deep summer waterings. Will tolerate heavy soils if NOT over watered. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds.
More information »	Arbutus andrachne (Greek strawberry tree) Arbutus andrachne, commonly called the Greek Strawberry Tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and southwestern Asia. Very much like our local native madrone, it develops a smooth red bark with a delicate white "bloom" to it, its white flowers become red fruits. Very drought tolerant once established and tolerant of a range of soils, including serpentine. Good drainage, full sun to partial shade.
More information »	Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone) A beautiful native evergreen tree which features handsome, smooth, reddish bark that peels in thin flakes. Leaves are leathery and shiny dark green. Large clusters of white flowers give way to red-orange berries that can remain into winter if the birds don't get them. It can be tricky to establish, necessitating planting in the fall. MUST have good drainage and just enough water to establish. Once established give only infrequent deep waterings or no water at all. Bees and hummingbirds love the flowers.
More information »	Arbutus unedo 'Compacta' (compact strawberry tree) Handsome evergreen shrub or tree with year-round interest. Shiny green foliage with red stems and cinnamon colored bark, grows in a dense rounded form. Abundant flowers and fruits are often present at the same time. Clusters of urn-shaped white flowers bloom in the autumn and are adored by hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Showy and prolific, knobby, one inch fruits, change from orange to red as they ripen. The edible fruits resemble strawberries in their color and size, but their flavor and texture appeal to birds more than humans. Grows 6 – 10 foot tall and wide, in full sun to light shade and is drought tolerant once established. Responds to pruning to accentuate its’ sculptural qualities or to train into a tree form.