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More information »	Malacothamnus jonesii (Jones's bush mallow) A rare endemic from southern Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, growing in foothill woodland and chaparral plant communities. Fast growing shrub, often coming in after fires or disturbance. Growing 4 - 6 ft. tall and wide with beautiful gray foliage, covered in white, velvety hairs. Lovely, soft pink, cup-shaped flowers appear in profusion on the slender branch tips, late spring into summer. Nectar is highly attractive to a myriad of insects, hummingbirds (who seek both nectar and insects), bees and butterflies. Larval food source for the West Coast Lady and Northern White Skipper butterflies. Plant in full sun to ight shade, where it will be drought tolerant once established.
More information »	Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus (Santa Lucia bush mallow) From the hot valleys of the Santa Lucia mountains in central California comes this rare form of the native bush-mallow. Deep pink, cup-shaped flowers appear in late spring and early summer above the fuzzy, light green leaves. Reaches a height of about 6 ft and slowly spreads to form colonies. Give full sun to light shade and provide little to no water once established. A good choice for hot, dry banks with Toyon, Ceanothus and Manzanita. An excellent nectar source for orioles. Deer seem to leave it alone.
More information »	Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus 'Hanging Valley' (Santa Lucia bush mallow) Description coming soon!
More information »	Marah fabacea (wild cucumber, California manroot) Description coming soon.
More information »	Marah oregana (coast man-root, wild cucumber) A native perennial vine found in coastal counties from Santa Clara, California to British Columbia. Growing from a massive, enlarged tuber in forest edges and riparian habitats. The lush-green, palmate leaves with spiraling tendrils clamber along the ground and climb and sprawl over shrubs and trees. White, star-like flowers bloom in the spring and are favored by native bees as well as honeybees. The flowers lead to showy, inflated, bright-green, fruits with soft spines. The generic name Marah comes from the Hebrew word for bitter, in reference to all parts of the plants being extremely bitter to taste. Completely herbaceous, dying back to the woody root in late summer or fall, returning in the spring. Best with part shade. Quite drought tolerant but will accept moderate irrigation. Probably deer resistant.
More information »	Melica californica (California melic grass) Here is a tough and handsome bunchgrass native to the grasslands and oak woodlands of northern and central coast ranges and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Bright green blades grow about one foot tall. The flower spikes are made up of glistening papery bracts and grow 2 - 4 ft. tall. The ornamental flowering culms remain attractive even after this grass has gone dormant, and is also useful as a “cut” in floral arrangements. Tolerant of many soil types, though it requires good drainage. Plant in full sun to light shade where it is very drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
More information »	Melica geyeri (Geyer's oniongrass) This perennial bunch grass is native to many types of habitat in seasonally moist forests and hillsides throughout much of California. Forms a lush, dense bunch of deep-green, broad blades, spreading slowly by rhizomes. The common name refers to the swollen, onion-like corms at the base of the stems. The inflorescence rises 2-3 ft. tall is made up of long, green, narrow spikelets with purple banding. A perfect grass for dappled shade under oaks and firs. Tolerant of some summer irrigation, but can survive the dry season once established. Goes dormant by early autumn. A host plant of the rural skipper and the white-lined sphinx moth. Deer resistant.
More information »	Melica harfordii (woodland melic) A lovely and useful grass native to dryish slopes and canyons of coniferous forests from central California to British Columbia. Forms a loose vertical clump with slightly arching stems 2 to 4 ft. tall. The delicate, narrow flower spikes add a sparkling effect to the woodland garden. Useful in lightly shaded plantings, where it is drought tolerant especially in cooler areas like western Sonoma County. It would benefit from occasional water during the dry season in warmer regions. Adds a nice vertical touch, as a specimen or in mass. Deer resistant.
More information »	Melica imperfecta (small-flowered melicgrass) Native to dry hillsides, chaparral and open woodlands of southern and central California. This dainty native perennial grass grows 1 - 3 ft. tall in flower with narrow, glossy leaves at its base. The slender flower panicles provide a delicate effect, starting out cream and aging to beige. Grows best in cool sun or part shade and responds to some irrigation. Goes dormant if allowed to go summer dry once established, turning green with the winter rains. Useful for lightly shaded meadow plantings and stabilizing slopes. Deer resistant.
More information »	Melica torreyana (Torrey's melic) At its best in winter and early spring, this little northern California bunchgrass is a perfect mound of soft green blades. In full bloom it can reach 1 - 3 ft. tall, followed by typical melic fruit resembling small brown rice grains held close to the stem. Grows in sun and shade in nature, but performs best/longest in the garden in part shade. Will go semi-summer dormant with drought, but will be evergreen with some moisture. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) 'Willit's Apricot' (monkeyflower) This beauty appeared in a Willit's garden, a chance seedling near plantings of multiple monkeyflower hybrids. Standing out with it's large, flaring trumpets of orangy-apricot, it has proven to be a vigorous and willing grower. Growing up to 3 ft. tall and wide, in full sun to light shade and good drainage. Best with occasional deep watering in the summer and pinching to form good support for the abundant flowers. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds work the flowers and the painted lady and checkerspot butterflies use it as a larval food source. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) aurantiacus 'Freezeout Creek' (red sticky monkeyflower) This monkeyflower stood out from all the others, growing on a slope in an opening of a lush redwood forest in western Sonoma County. Instead of the more typical medium-orange, tubular flowers, 'Freezeout Creek', sports larger flowers of velvety, red-orange, fringed with gold on the petal edges. Monkeyflowers are drought tolerant, floriferous shrubs, growing 2 -3 ft. tall and blooming profusely in the late spring and into summer. Plant in full sun to light shade with decent drainage. Drought tolerant once established but responds to occasional summer water, especially when blooming. Benefits from annual pruning and pinching. The flowers are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds and are a host plant for checkerspot and buckeye butterflies. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) aurantiacus 'Mattole Point' (sticky monkeyflower) We can thank the keen eye of Mark Moore of the Humboldt Botanic Garden for this fine selection of our native sticky monkeyflower. Selected from the remote Mattole Point near the mouth of the Mattole River along the Lost Coast. This selection has particularly beautiful foliage and a compact habit with glossy, dark-green, deeply veined leaves. The abundant, orange, tubular flowers are tucked into the dense foliage which grows 2ft. or so tall and wide. Plant in full sun to light shade with good drainage and occasional summer water. Hummingbirds and bees use the flowers and it is a larval food source for checkerspot and buckeye butterflies. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) aurantiacus 'Rodeo Gold' (yellow sticky monkeyflower) Here is a form of sticky monkeyflower that offers, warm yellow, tubular flowers with a golden throat, rather than the more usual orange flowers. This Cal Flora Nursery selection, was found in coastal southern Marin County. Growing roughly 3 ft. tall and wide, plant in sun to part shade, with occasional summer water. Monkey flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. The checkerspot and buckeye butterflies use it as a larval food source. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) aurantiacus 'Russian Gulch' (compact sticky monkeyflower) From the wind swept bluffs of the Sonoma Coast comes this super, compact form of sticky monkey flower. The nodes are quite close together, forming a tight, compact, floriferous shrub of shiny green foliage, 2 ft or so tall. Covered in cheerful, orange, tubular flowers packed into the dense foliage, late spring into autumn. Plant in sun to light shade with good drainage and occasional summer water. Hummingbirds and bees visit the flowers and it is the larval food source for checkerspot and buckeye butterflies. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) aurantiacus 'Ted's Yellow' (sticky monkeyflower) Grows 2 - 3 ft. tall with yellow tubular flowers. Full sun near coast, light shade inland. Good drainage, keep on the dry side and fertilize minimally. Benefits from annual trimming. Larval food source for the common checkerspot and buckeye butterflies. The flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) bifidus 'Esselen' (monkeyflower) We have been impressed with this fine selection from Big Sur, which offers compact habit, shiny green foliage and broad bright-orange flowers over a long period. Plant in sun to light shade with little to occasional summer water. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds all work the flowers and it is a larval food source for the Checkerspot butterfly. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) bifidus 'White' (monkeyflower) This elegant monkeyflower has extra frilly, creamy-white, azalea-like flowers, with soft yellow throats. The abundant blossoms stand out against the slender, deep green foliage and bloom over a long period, late spring and into fall. Reaches about 2 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide. Plant in sun to light shade with good drainage and occasional summer water. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are all drawn to the flowers and it is a larval food source for checkerspot and painted lady butterflies. Great in a container. Deer resistant.
More information »	Mimulus (Diplacus) hybrids (monkeyflower) Over the years we have accumulated a collection of beautiful Monkeyflower hybrids offering an amazing range of colors. From pure white to ivory, different shades of yellow and orange to reds and purple. Blooming profusely in the spring and summer often into autumn, these drought tolerant shrubs make colorful additions to the garden where they can grow in full sun on the coast to part shade inland. Growing 2-3 ft. tall and wide, they benefit from pinching to form a strong framework to support their flower display and keep the brittle plants compact. They require good drainage and respond to occasional watering, but resent drip irrigation systems that deliver water on a regular basis. Deer resistant. Larval food source for painted lady and checkerspot butterfly.
More information »	Mimulus (Erythranthe) cardinalis (scarlet monkeyflower) Native to wet areas throughout the West, this robust perennial can easily grow to 2 ft. tall and wide. Tubular scarlet flowers are a hummingbird favorite and are very showy. Plant in sun to part shade with ample water. Perfect beside a pond, stream or water feature. Trim as needed to keep tidy. The flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds.
More information »	Mimulus (Erythranthe) cardinalis 'Santa Cruz Island Gold' (monkeyflower) An interesting color form of a streamside native found on Santa Cruz Island. Rather than the usual scarlet tubular flowers, this monkeyflower has golden orange blossoms with a band of yellow with red dots at the base of the petals. Plant in sun to part shade with regular water. Perfect beside a pond, stream or water feature. Does well in containers too. Trim as needed to keep tidy. A hummingbird favorite.
More information »	Mimulus (Erythranthe) lewisii - dark flowered form (Lewis' monkeyflower) From cold streams in the Cascade Mountains comes this particularly dark flowered form of Lewis' monkeyflower. Trumpet-shaped blossoms with flared mouths are colored a deep, rich rose-pink, unlike the paler Sierra form. Reaching up to a foot tall and spreading to form small clumps, this moisture-loving monkeyflower enjoys part-shade and decent drainage. Hummingbirds love the flowers. Plant with sedges, blue lobelia and false bugbane for a colorful woodland display filled with texture. Great in a container.
More information »	Monardella macrantha 'Marian Sampson' (scarlet coyote mint) A choice native perennial forming low mats of fragrant dark green shiny leaves. Mid to late spring brings spectacular heads of scarlet tubular flowers which are hummingbird magnets. Well suited for rock garden or container use where good drainage can be provided along with occasional summer water. Appreciates light shade in hot regions. The cultivar ‘Marian Sampson’ is a vigorous and disease resistant selection, but still likely to be short lived, lasting 2 to 4 years. Fantastic accent plant which is deer resistant and attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
More information »	Monardella odoratissima (mountain coyote mint, mountain pennyroyal) Description coming soon!
More information »	Monardella purpurea (serpentine coyote mint) A locally rare and more refined version of our common coyote mint, often with darker flowers, colored purple. Mature plants typically stay under a foot tall, but will get a little wider. Leaves are narrow and dark green, lining burgundy-tinged stems. While native to serpentine soils, it does well in most soils with good drainage. Plant in full sun to part shade and water infrequently. A great, rarely offered native for rock gardens or smaller areas, where butterflies and bees will enjoy the summer blossoms. Deer resistant.