California Natives

California native plants are those that grew within the boundaries of California prior to European exploration. When talking about California native plants, we include plants that are naturally occurring crosses and subspecies as well as cultivated selections that include California native plant parentage. California boasts well over 6,000 native species, subspecies, and selections of native plants, making it one of the most species-rich regions in the world. While Annie’s Annuals and Perennials may not offer each and every species of California native plant, we do offer a huge selection of garden-ready native plants all year round!

California native plants are a fantastic addition to any and every garden! With California’s exceptional plant diversity, the state offers a wealth of plants as varied as they are beautiful. Beyond the exquisite color and texture they contribute to the garden, they help to support a diversity of wildlife. Native plants in bloom and fruit provide an important food source to the many birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife that inhabit your region. Plant life offers shelter and habitat materials for a near endless array of wildlife, including birds and amphibians. Much of the wildlife populating the state of California have evolved to feed from or reside in specific plants. By growing a wide variety of native plants, you will be establishing a safe and nourishing environment for them.

When deciding which California native plants are right for your garden, you should first consider your garden conditions. Keep in mind exposure to sun, seasonal high and low temperatures, watering practices, and soil type. You should also factor in how much care and maintenance you want to perform over the course of the year. California offers a remarkably diverse collection of native plants that grow in near countless environments. Finding the right California native plant is as simple as matching plant needs to your growing environment. Check out our plant listings, where we offer growing guidelines and maintenance suggestions for each of our plants. This will provide all the information you will need to match plant requirements to your garden. The final step is to choose native plants that will match the style of your garden and home. No matter the color palette, garden style, or growing conditions, Annie’s Annuals and Perennials will have the perfect California native plants for your landscape.

How frequently you will need to water your California native plants can vary significantly based on the season and weather you are experiencing, the soil type your plants are growing in, the type of plants, and their maturity. Generally, California natives will require deep and regular water for their first year or two. The regularity with which you water to establish your plants should take into consideration the current temperatures and rainfall as well as your soil type. Clay soils retain water much longer than sandy soils and therefore will require less frequent watering. We suggest checking soil moisture levels to establish a sense of when irrigating is necessary. Once California native plants are well established, most will require deep but infrequent watering. Again, the frequency can vary depending on soils and weather, so don’t forget to check the soil from time to time to get a sense of how the water is behaving in the soil profile.

With very few exceptions, California native plants do not need fertilizers. In fact, some plants may respond poorly to fertilizers. Plants such as Ceanothus may initially respond to fertilizers by putting on rapid lush growth, but often the practice of fertilizing these plants will decrease their lifespan. Native plants have adapted to native soils and will likely not need fertilizers to flourish in your landscape.

Most native plants can be maintained without the use of any pesticides. By creating a garden with a diverse collection of native plants, you will help to support a wide array of wildlife, including beneficial insects, birds, and if you’re very lucky, amphibians! These populations can help to manage pest levels enough that that potential damage will not have a significant or lasting impact on plant health or vigor. We always suggest carefully monitoring plants for pest infestations. If you find pests are outpacing your beneficial allies and pose a significant threat to your landscape, you can use organic or conventional pest controls as you would in a traditional garden. Be sure to use all treatments as directed on their packaging.

Some of our most cherished and popular California native plants are those that are easy to grow, support diverse wildlife, provide outstanding flower displays each year, and are perfectly adapted to grow in our California Gardens. Below we’ve put together a list of our most popular native plants. Don’t forget, Annie’s is the best place to find the most popular California native plants as well as our state’s most rare and hard-to-find garden curiosities, so whether you’re new to gardening with natives or an old pro looking for new plants, check out Annie’s Annuals and Perennials’ selection of California native plants.

Monkey Flowers (Mimulus) are a surefire way to keep your garden brimming over with fun and flirty flowers from spring through fall. They are easy to grow and are an effortless fit for flowering cottage gardens.

Buckwheat (Eriogonum) are second to none at attracting pollinators to your garden. California is home to many species of Eriogonum and Annie’s Annuals and Perennials has spent years curating an outstanding selection of Buckwheat that will thrive in your garden. Whether it’s the deep pink blooming E. grande var. rubescens or the sulfer yellow flowers of the E. nudum ‘Ella Nelson’s Yellow’, you and the pollinators will take delight.

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) are THE most popular annual at Annie’s! These true-blue sweethearts are an absolute delight in containers or at the edge of a garden bed. This beauty naturally occurs in spring throughout much of lower-elevation California but will bring seasonal charm wherever you live!

Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor) is one of the most delicate yet striking of California annuals. Its soft, ferny foliage and lovely purple star-shaped flowers are sure to find a spot in your heart – and garden! One of their most striking features is only noticeable up close, but if you take a look, you’ll see the anthers are covered in turquoise pollen!

Ceanothus are beloved evergreen shrubs that come in many shapes and sizesw with glorious flower shades from soft lavender to periwinkles to deep blue. The larger Ceanothus varieties are often used as foundational and structural shrubs for the garden to be built around, while some of the smaller ones can be planted here and there for year-round texture and early spring color. Whatever your planting need, there is almost certainly a Ceanothus to fill it!

Sages (Salvia) are abundant throughout the natural landscape of California. They are largely heat and drought tolerant, and their flowers attract a wide range of pollinators. You are probably familiar with White Sage (Salvia apiana), which has a strong and unique fragrance and is known more for its leaves than its flowers (which bloom in magnificent white spikes in spring), but native Salvia come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and fragrances from spicy to sweet! The ever-popular Salvia ‘Pozo Blue’ is a cross between two species of Sage, the leucophylla and clevelandii: this beauty is mid-size (4’x4’), blooms in lovely whorled flowers of violet-blue, and has a fragrance that blends the best of Salvia’s sweet and spicy qualities.

California native plants can absolutely be used for fire-resistant landscaping. Many plants native to California grow in areas where fire is a natural part of the ecosystem, such as chaparral communities. Because of this, they have adapted to periodic burning and are more resistant to fire damage. Some species even depend on fire to regenerate. Planting with native species is an important part of mitigating property damage in the event of fire, especially if living in the wildland-urban interface. The rules of keeping a clear defensible space between plantings and structures will be a critical component of designing with the potential of fire in mind.

Native plants are the ideal plants for attracting pollinators as they will be most likely to attract the broadest range of pollinators that are native to your region. Many birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife have adapted over many years to coexist with particular plants – think of the relationship between Monarchs and Milkweeds (Asclepias). California native plants are a critical component of a diverse and ecologically balanced and thriving landscape. Below we’ve listed some of our favorite native plants for supporting pollinators and attracting them to the garden.

Buckwheats (Eriogonum) are a can’t-fail, pollinator-attracting powerhouse. They are host plants for a number of butterflies, bees, moths, and other pollinators, as well as a fall-time food source for birds that feast on their seeds.

Ceanothus are loved by people and pollinators alike. We love them for their knockout winter and spring floral show and their year-round, dense green foliage. California Lilacs and Buckthornes will produce endless clusters of small flowers that range from deep sapphire blue to clear white, with every powdery blue and purple in between. These blooms will bring butterflies, bees, and other pollinators to the garden. Don’t forget, Ceanothus will also host many butterflies in their larval stage, so don’t be too quick to smoosh those caterpillars you spot.

Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) are as charming in blooms as they are rugged in form and nature. With their delicate-appearing, bell-shaped flowers born in late winter and early spring, Manzanitas serve as an important pollen and nectar source at a time of year when pollinators have little else to feast on.

Sages (Salvia) are abundant throughout the natural landscape of California. They are largely heat and drought tolerant, and their flowers attract a wide range of pollinators. You are probably familiar with White Sage (Salvia apiana), which has a strong and unique fragrance and is known more for its leaves than its flowers (which bloom in magnificent white spikes in spring), but native Salvia come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and fragrances from spicy to sweet! The ever-popular Salvia ‘Pozo Blue’ is a cross between two species of Sage, the leucophylla and clevelandii: this beauty is mid-size (4’x4’), blooms in lovely whorled flowers of violet-blue, and has a fragrance that blends to best of Salvia’s sweet and spicy qualities.

California Fuchsia (Zauschneria) are magnets for attracting hummingbirds! With their long, fluted, red to orange flowers, Zauschnerias will be humming with pollinators all through the long days of summer and fall.

California native plants benefit local wildlife by providing food, shelter, and materials for building habitats. While many insects, birds, and other wildlife are generalists in their feeding and nesting habits—meaning they will feed on seed, pollen, nectar, or fruit with little concern for the plant’s species—some wildlife will only feed from a single species or small selection of species, either throughout their life or during part of their life cycle. Growing native plants in your garden will not only support a wide host of generalists, but also wildlife with a more fixed diet. Your garden will play a critical role to local wildlife that requires the sustenance or shelter of our grand native plants.

Growing California native plants is an excellent way to conserve water. Plants native to California have adapted to thrive in the weather and soil conditions that they are exposed to in California. This means that in many cases you will not need to provide supplemental water once plants are established. An added water-conservation benefit of growing California natives is that plants which have developed in local soils will not require the use of supplemental fertilizers. By eliminating the use of fertilizers, we are eliminating the risk of nutrient and chemical runoff which is capable of negatively impacting both ground and surface water. By using native plants, we can significantly reduce water use and protect the water resources in our community.

If your California native plant isn’t thriving, we suggest evaluating the plant’s current growing conditions and comparing with its recommended growing conditions. Things to keep in mind when evaluating a plant’s growing condition are light exposure, soil, available water, pests, and disease. Don’t forget to take into account seasonal conditions. Some native plants may drop their leaves during the height of summer. This is not necessarily a sign of failing health; in some plants it is a response to seasonal conditions that makes them better adapted to experiencing drought. If you find that you are not growing your plant under the right conditions, do what you can to correct the growing conditions, or consider moving the plant to a more appropriate space during the mild conditions of winter.

At Annie’s, we offer an exceptional selection of annual and perennial California native plants.