Clarkia williamsonii
“Fort Miller Fairy Fan”

Bold markings color the blooms of this showy native annual in late Spring and early Summer. Some people have described this species as gaudy, but we like a little flash to our flowers, and this species still has its natural grace. The center of the flower is white and the outer part of the petal is lavender with a deep magenta blotch in the center. The flowers seem to glow from within and appear well into Summer if supplemented with additional water on plants that span at least a foot across and are under a foot tall. Drainage is key! Clarkia williamsonii does not tolerate clay very well, but would be a great plant to try to naturalize on a rocky incline and has done beautifully for us at the edge of rock walls in our nursery garden beds. Containers work well, too, of course. Poor soil is fine, and this year’s plants will yield seedlings that will need no additional water to thrive next year! Local all the way from Kern County north to Nevada County.

Sun. Low/Avg.Water. Annual.
All zones

Keckiella cordifolia
“Heartleaf Penstemon”

We’ve got a beautiful crop right now on this rather uncommon California native hummingbird-magnet shrub. Found growing on dry slopes west of the Sierras in Central and Southern California up to Siskiyou County, “Heartleaf Penstemon” is highly heat and drought tolerant. Rather ungainly left to its own devices on flat ground, it’s very nice growing on slopes or as a background plant for a native or dryish garden where it can arch its stems through its neighbors to display its showy 2” long red-orange tubular flowers. Or grow it against a fence and voila! A native fence decoration! Lovely shiny rich green heart shaped foliage stays evergreen with a little Summer watering, especially in mild coastal climates. With no Summer water and colder Winter zones, it will go deciduous but the leaves will turn a pretty red in the Fall. To 3’ to 6’ tall, it forms a mound of foliage from which arise bunches of arching and drooping stems. Cut back in Fall for a more compact plant next season. Best in full sun in coastal areas and part shade inland. Great under oaks. Host plant for the Variable Checkerspot Butterfly. Sand and clay tolerant.

Sun/Brt. Shade. Avg/Low water. Native Perennial.
No Summer Water
USDA zones 6b-11

Mimulus naiandinus
“Berro Rosado”

Blushing monkeys! This is a very sweet, long blooming (Spring through Fall) easy to grow Chilean native that blooms first year from seed. We think it’s very loveable, and the hummingbirds give it a big thumbs-up! It enjoys regular water (and in fact is so water-tolerant that it could probably withstand standing in water!) and average to rich soil in part shade to sun. It grows to just about a foot wide and tall, and dies back to the ground during Winter. Ours easily over-wintered in the garden and was blooming by late March! Fab! Reseeds, but not excessively. Mimulus naiandinus would be a good container subject, shady perennial border addition and would be the perfect thing to plant under the garden faucet.

Part Shade/Sun. Avg. water/Moist. Perennial.
USDA zones 9-11

Rhagodia spinescens
“Australian Saltbush”

Since our visitors are always searching for new groundcovers and since we try so hard to help out, we are so happy to introduce you to “Australian Saltbush.” Rough and tough, carefree and happy as a clam with heat, drought and salty seaside conditions, here’s your chance to snag something solid besides Juniper and Rosemary for those troublesome sights. With no Summer water, especially in Southern California, it stays nice dense and low to 18” tall and 4’ across. Here in Northern California it can spread to 4’ tall and 8’ across with Summer irrigation – but can easily be pruned into a low, dense shape if need be. Basically no water keeps it shorter. Against a fence it will grow vertically, replacing the need for a vine or something to block the view of your neighbor who likes to parade around in his undies. It’s tolerant of shade too and even THRIVES UNDER EUCALYPTUS! Evergreen, it’s completely covered with small, soft, silvery blue-grey leaves making a nice contrast against those Junipers and Rosemary – hee-hee! Would be lovely under olives too, don’t you think? Overall, an excellent choice for hot, dry areas, parking strips, hillsides, dry gardens and seaside gardens. And as a bonus in Fall, you get edible sweet little ruby berries. Warning: A favorite food of Kangaroos! Hardy to 20-25 degrees F.

Sun/Shade. Low/No Summer water. Perennial Shrub.
USDA zones 9-10.

Specularia speculum
"Venus' Looking Glass"

Well, I have been trying to get this awesomely beautiful Mediterranean annual back in our nursery for at least 10 years now as all the seed we received as Specularia speculum since then has turned out to be the wrong plant and butt-ugly to boot! Miraculously, our intrepid seed propagator Anni Jensen happened upon a very old seed packet still hanging around since we were operating out of my backyard. And to our greatest joy, we have this superb annual back in our garden-grubby hands again. Taa-Daa! Fast growing to a bushy ferny 12” tall and at least 12” across, it’s a big-time bloomer covering itself with glowing rich 1” violety purple, open, cup-shaped blooms colored blue in the center with a white eye. Glamorous anywhere in rich, well drained soil and thrives in a container (2 gal + up). Plant it in groups of three or more for a crazy-spectacular show!

Available for a limited time only!

Sun. Avg. water. Annual.
All zones