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Calocedrus decurrens  incense cedar
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Calocedrus decurrens

(incense cedar)

Cinnamon colored bark and a distinctly conical form distinguish this lovely conifer known for its appealing woodsy scent. Bright green, scale-like leaves drape from the ends of branches in dense clusters with small, flattened cones.Native to rocky areas throughout California. Slowly grows to become a large tree not suitable for a small garden. Requires decent drainage and occasional deep waterings when young. Enjoys full to part sun.Striking when planted as a single specimen or when combined with broadleaved trees such as maples and oaks. Deer resistant.
Calochortus luteus  yellow mariposa tulip
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Calochortus luteus

(yellow mariposa tulip)

This showy mariposa lily offers vibrant, golden-yellow flowers, often with reddish brown markings at the base of each of the three petals. The upward facing, bowl-shaped flowers seem to hover over grasslands on stems reaching one to two feet tall. In early winter, grass like leaves emerge from the soil, followed by the butterfly-favored blossoms in late spring and early summer. Once the flowers are done, this native bulb will go dormant. Plant in full sun to light shade with well-draining soil. Allow to go completely dry in the summer. Said to be one of the easiest of the mariposa lilies to grow in gardens. 
Calochortus tolmiei  pussy ears
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Calochortus tolmiei

(pussy ears)

Description coming soon!
Calochortus uniflorus 'Cupido' large flowered star tulip
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Calochortus uniflorus 'Cupido'

(large flowered star tulip)

While many Calochortus are known to be challenging in the garden, this selection is quite easy and blooms in abundance! Blue-grey, iris-like leaves emerge in the winter, followed by soft lavender-pink, tulip-like flowers in late spring. After flowering they will go dormant. Plant in full sun to light shade. Very drought tolerant but will tolerate occasional irrigation. This rare species has a surprisingly wide-ranging distribution, from the coast to the mountains of Northern California. Attracts native pollinators.
Calycanthus occidentalis  western spice bush
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Calycanthus occidentalis

(western spice bush)

Native along streams, rivers and moist places in California. This attractive deciduous shrub is well worth growing. Bright green aromatic foliage with interesting maroon-red flowers in spring-summer that resemble small waterlilies and have a wine-like fragrance. Can be grown as a multi-stemmed small tree, trimmed hedge or left alone to become a large background shrub. 5 - 12 ft. tall and wide. Part-shade is ideal.  Tolerates full sun with lots of moisture in somewhat cooler areas.  Accepts full shade but will grow more slowly with a more open habit. Regular to moderate water. Somewhat deer resistant.
Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata  purple western morning glory
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Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata

(purple western morning glory)

Lush, slender-stemmed vine with gray-green heart-shaped leaves scrambles up, over, or through any support provided. From late spring through early summer the plant is decorated with trumpet-shaped blossoms ranging in color from white to pink to purple. This deciduous vine can grow up to 10 ft. tall and wide. Sun to light shade, most soils, moderate to occasional watering for best appearance. Native throughout the Coast Range of California.
Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata 'Palomarin' purple western morning glory
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Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata 'Palomarin'

(purple western morning glory)

Large flowers which open pinkish-white and darken to a rich lavender distinguish this selection which we discovered near Bolinas in Marin County. This vigorous, deciduous vine spreads quickly to climb over fences and shrubs with clasping stems and grey-green, arrow-shaped leaves. Reaches a height of up to 10 ft. or so and can spread at least as wide. In late spring and early summer, the morning glory flowers put on quite the display, opening at dawn and then closing at dusk. Does great in full sun but also enjoys a little shade, especially in hot, inland areas. Likes moderate irrigation but will become somewhat drought tolerant once established. Hummingbirds and native pollinators are drawn to the flowers. 
Camassia leichtlinii 'Alba' great camas
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Camassia leichtlinii 'Alba'

(great camas)

Description coming soon!
Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii  great camas
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Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii

(great camas)

Similar to the common camas, but with larger, star-shaped flowers ranging in color from soft to dark violet-blue on stems up to 3 ft tall. Native to grasslands and moist meadows that dry out in the summer. Also found in open, well lit woodlands. Easy to grow in full sun to light shade in a variety of soil types, including heavy clay. Allow to go dry after seed is set, where it will go completely dormant. This eye catching beauty is appealing to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. An excellent container plant and cut flower. Deer resistant.
Camassia quamash  common camas
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Camassia quamash

(common camas)

Camas lily is a beautiful native bulb, producing stunning displays of sky blue to violet-purple, star-shaped flowers. Found throughout much of the western United States, growing in moist meadows and grasslands that dry out in the summer. Important species to native peoples, who encouraged the bulb through fire management. Historical accounts describe fields of blue from the massive floral displays. Easy to grow in full sun to very light shade and tolerant of a wide variety of soils, including heavy clay. Long, slender leaves give way to erect racemes of blossoms, to 2 ft. tall in late spring. Allow to go dry once seed set commences. Dormant in the winter. An excellent container plant and cut flower. A favorite of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
Campanula garganica 'Dickson's Gold' golden Adriatic bellflower
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Campanula garganica 'Dickson's Gold'

(golden Adriatic bellflower)

Brighten your garden with this gorgeous golden perennial. Forms a tight mat of bright golden foliage 3 - 6 inches tall and slowly spreading to form a small mat. Clear blue upward facing, star-shaped flowers on trailing stems in early summer. Excellent small scale accent plant for the rock garden, wall or container planting. Best with light shade and regular water.
Campanula garganica 'W. H. Payne' Adriatic bellflower
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Campanula garganica 'W. H. Payne'

(Adriatic bellflower)

Rich, true blue flowers with a prominent white eye - blooming over a long period in early summer, sometimes longer in cooler regions. A good small scale groundcover or wall plant. Does well in containers too. Requires protection from hot sun with regular water.
Campanula muralis  (C. portenschlagiana) Dalmatian bellflower
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Campanula muralis (C. portenschlagiana)

(Dalmatian bellflower)

This low growing evergreen perennial is native to the Dalmation Mountains of Croatia. Free flowering, trailing plant, growing 6 inches tall by around 24 inches wide. Late spring brings a  profusion of violet-blue bell-shaped flowers that cover the small deep-green scalloped leaves. Perfect as a small scale ground cover for lightly shaded areas with regular to moderate watering. Can grow in full sun on the coast, but prefers shade from the hot afternoon sun. Can spill over walls or containers. An easy care flowering accent.    
Campanula prenanthoides  California harebell
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Campanula prenanthoides

(California harebell)

Plant description coming soon.
Campanula rotundifolia  harebell
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Campanula rotundifolia

(harebell)

This charming little perennial is found growing around the world in the Northern Hemisphere, including Northern California. Forms a basal mound of small, heart-shaped, green leaves with slender flowering stems rising to about a foot tall. Sweet, little, pendant, lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers, bloom sporadically in the summer and into the fall. Grow in lightly shaded woodland settings with gravelly soils and regular moisture. Perfect rock garden, crevice or container plant. Bee pollinated.
Cardamine californica  milk maids
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Cardamine californica

(milk maids)

One of California's most widespread and earliest spring wildflowers, often beginning to bloom in the winter. Found in somewhat shady locations in a number of plant communities, this slender perennial has rounded basal leaves. Flower stems 10 inches to 20 inches tall are topped with four petaled flowers of pure white to soft pink. This sweet harbinger of spring is easy to grow given a little shade and winter rain. After flowering and setting seed it dies back to its roots where it goes dormant until next year's rains awaken it. Good under oaks.
Carex amplifolia  bigleaf sedge
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Carex amplifolia

(bigleaf sedge)

Plant description coming soon.
Carex barbarae  basket sedge
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Carex barbarae

(basket sedge)

Widely distributed native sedge that is an important traditional basket fiber plant. Bright green sharp blades in clumps 1 - 3 ft. tall and spreading. Oval-shaped tufts of small reddish-brown flowers on spikes at the tip of the flowering stems. An attractive sedge, though it can be invasive. For sunny or partly shaded areas with regular to moderate moisture. Drought tolerant in clay soils or with some shade.  Handsome container plant too. Often used in bio swales and riparian restoration. Deer resistant.
Carex densa  dense sedge
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Carex densa

(dense sedge)

While uncommon in nurseries, this semi-evergreen sedge forms green tussocks which are very useful in seasonally moist meadows and open woodlands. Elongated, chunky seed heads rise above the dense leaf blades on slender stalks up to 2 ½ ft. tall. The foliage reaches 1 to 2 ft. high and slowly spreads to form small clumps. Useful for smaller gardens where you want a sedge that doesn’t spread super vigorously. Tolerates summer drought in somewhat heavier soils. A little extra irrigation will keep this sedge more evergreen. Native to much of California and north to Washington. Deer resistant.
Carex globosa  round-fruit sedge
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Carex globosa

(round-fruit sedge)

Here is a sturdy and useful woodland sedge native to well-drained soils in wooded areas. Grows 6 - 12 inches tall and spreads slowly to form bright green tussocks. Useful as a filler among shrubs or trees in filtered shade where it tolerates drought; but some summer water will keep it looking fresh for longer. Great under oaks. Deer resistant.
Carex mertensii  Mertens' sedge
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Carex mertensii

(Mertens' sedge)

This is one of our most ornamental native sedges, forming clumps up to 2 ft. wide with gracefully arching leaves radiating out from the center. Tall flower stalks reaching up to 3 ft. high sit well above the foliage with dangling, soft, fuzzy inflorescences perched elegantly from the tips. The Mertens’ sedge hales from moist meadows and bright woodlands in the Klamath Mountains of Northern California, but does well in lowland climates as long as it is kept moist. Plant in light shade. Combines beautifully with columbines, angelicas, cardinal and seep monkeyflowers, and fringecups. Will go dormant in winter, only to remerge with lush green growth in the spring. Deer resistant. 
Carex nudata  torrent sedge
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Carex nudata

(torrent sedge)

Native to below the high water mark along perennial water courses. Forms a bright green, dense, arching mound with interesting black flowers in spring. Best in moist soils, full sun to light shade. 1 - 2 1/2 ft. tall and wide. Lovely yellow fall color in colder locations. Winter deciduous. Beautiful in containers too. Deer resistant.
Carex obnupta  slough sedge
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Carex obnupta

(slough sedge)

From moist coastal sites to shady redwood forests comes this tall sedge, one of the tallest of our native sedges. Spreads vigorously to form dense drifts up to 4 feet in height. One of the more shade tolerant sedges, the slough sedge can grow under the darkness of a redwood canopy but will also accept full sun as long as it has access to moisture. A great plant for naturalizing in moist areas. Used by native peoples for basket making.  
Carex pansa  California meadow sedge, dune sedge
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Carex pansa

(California meadow sedge, dune sedge)

A durable spreading sedge which can be used as a lawn substitute or unmowed meadow. Growing 8 -12 inches tall and spreading by rhizomes to form dense colonies of curling dark green foliage. The foliage is evergreen in mild climates and grows well in full sun to partial shade with regular to occasional water. Too much drought causes summer dormancy. Flowers appear in early spring but are not real showy. Deer resistant.
Carex praegracilis  field sedge, clustered field sedge
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Carex praegracilis

(field sedge, clustered field sedge)

Similar to Carex pansa but growing taller. The fine textured grass-like blades can reach 12 inches tall and spreads freely by rhizomes to form a thick weed smothering groundcover. Useful for meadows, green roofs, bio-swales, erosion control and as a lawn substitute. Can be left natural where it has a lush tousled appearance or trimmed occasionally for a low turf-like appearance. Tolerates drought, inundation, poor soils, salt spray, heat, cold, shade and foot traffic. Plant in sun to light shade where it requires some summer moisture but far less than a conventional lawn. Will go summer dormant if allowed to get too dry. Deer resistant.

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