Clarkia franciscana
"Presidio Clarkia"

Sometimes we say rare and we mean “hard to come by” and sometimes we say rare and we mean “endangered in the wild” but this plant is squarely in that category of “WOAH. RARE. ENDAGERED. And REALLY, REALLY RARE.” A real local treasure, the “Presidio Clarkia” is found growing in only two locations in the Bay Area (one in the Presidio and one in Oakland) and nowhere else in the world! This lovely local native is highly endangered and we’re so thrilled to be able to offer it to all of you locals! Growing in serpentine soils, this dainty annual is very tolerant of nutrient poor soil and is highly self-pollinated, so you can expect it to reseed readily. Next year, the self-sown seedlings will thrive with no water or care!

Sun. Avg./Low water. Annual.

ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Can only be sold in California.

Puya venusta

We knew this xeric Bromeliad was a hottie, but until a kind nurseryman from New Zealand emailed us, we had no idea how amazingly cold hardy it was! We’re talking SNOW TOLERANT! So now all you reluctant folks in colder zones have no excuse! Sure, it can take a few years for this stunning 3.5’ tall member of the terrestrial Bromeliad family to bloom, but in the meantime, the 12-15” tall foliage rosette of serrated, silvery “pineapple” leaves is spectacular and it’s drought tolerant, deer tolerant, and cold hardy, too!

Sun. Avg./Low water. Perennia
USDA Zones ?-11

Fuchsia arborescens

Long ago, Fuchsias cloaked the Bay Area like a swarm of tiny ballerinas, but then, alas, the mite came and turned Fuchsias from a garden delight into a garden problem. Well, good news! There are still some very attractive and interesting species out there that are resistant to that awful cranky grinch of a mite! This is one of them, and boy is it lovely. Fuchsia arborescens grows 8’ wide and upwards of 10’ tall and blooms throughout much of the year bearing big clusters of open, tubular flowers with flaring pink “skirts.” The leaves are oblong, glossy and fresh green. Ours has reached a height of 6’ in two years, and it just keeps getting better all the time! Rich soil is best.

Part Sun. Avg. water. Perennial Shrub
USDA Zones 9-11