When landscaping your yard, native plants are always a solid choice. They’re better adapted to grow in the local climate and soil, and they have developed a fantastic symbiotic relationship with regional wildlife. Whether you’re along the coast, in the foothills, or battling the heat in Southern California, we’ve assembled more than two dozen of the best California native plants for your Golden State landscape.
Native flowering plants
Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)
Commonly known as penstemon, beardtongue plants produce long-lasting, showy flowers. California has many native species of beardtongue that bloom in the early spring in stunning shades of purple, pink, white, and red. The plants get their nickname from the pollen-free stamen that protrudes from its tubular flowers, which makes them look similar to a bearded iris.
Penstemon is a staple in many perennial gardens. These workhorse plants are drought-tolerant, and they’ll survive in poor, rocky soils as long as they’re well-draining. Just make sure to give them plenty of space; they don’t like rubbing elbows with their neighbors.
- USDA hardiness zones: 3-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: 1 inch per week in the summer
- Soil: Well-draining sandy or rocky soils
- Mature height: 6 inches to 4 feet
Where to buy beardtongue:
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Blue-eyed grass is both a native flowering plant and grass. It produces blue to purple-blue flowers from January to July and serves as a great ornamental grass, albeit a shorter one.
Numerous light green leaves form tufts or clumps. Blue-eyed grass goes dormant in the hot summer months if they don’t receive supplemental moisture. Water specimens twice a month, and they’re good to go. Blue-eyes grass readily self-seeds and is low-maintenance.
- USDA hardiness zones: 4-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Water needs: Twice per month once established
- Soil: Prefers moist loam but will tolerate sand or clay
- Mature height: 1 to 2 feet tall; 3 inches wide
Where to buy blue-eyed grass:
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
California fuchsia is a popular, fire-resistant native with scarlet, trumpet-shaped flowers. This low-lying perennial blooms during the hottest months and is common in the foothills and coastal areas.
This beauty is cold-tolerant down to zero degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, it will bounce back stronger in the spring if you cut specimens to ground level once they’re done flowering in the fall. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) notes that California fuchsia is a top choice to attract hummingbirds to your pollinator garden.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant but benefits from supplemental moisture during drought
- Soil: Sand, clay, or California’s serpentine soils
- Mature height: Up to 1.5 feet tall; 3 feet wide
Where to buy California fuchsia:
California milkweed (Asclepias californica)
The California milkweed is one of the state’s 15 native milkweed species, most of which host the beautiful monarch butterfly. These drought-tolerant wildflowers have thick, white, hairy stems that add interest to your flower garden. Round clusters of tiny flowers bloom in the spring and summer, ranging in color from lavender to bright pink, white, or lilac.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant
- Soil: Sand or clay
- Mature height: Up to 3 feet
Where to buy California milkweed:
- Wings of Change, California Milkweed (Asclepias californica)
- Moosa Creek Nursery, California Milkweed
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
The brightly colored California poppy doesn’t need an introduction. Growing across most of the state, gardeners prize it for its yellow, orange, and golden blossoms. The California state flower blooms from February to September, surviving as an annual or perennial depending on your winter climate.
California poppy prefer full sun. These easy-to-grow beauties don’t require fertilizer and are drought-tolerant. However, they will go dormant during the summer if they don’t get a little extra water.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-10
- Life cycle: Tender perennial
- Sun: Full sun; tolerates partial shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant
- Soil: Sand, well-draining
- Mature height: 18 to 24 inches tall and wide
Where to buy California poppy:
- Outsidepride Eschscholzia californica California Poppy Native Garden Wild Flower Seed
- Green Acres Nursery & Supply, California Poppy
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
A member of the aster family, yarrow produces tiny clusters of fragrant white flowers through the spring and summer. Its delicate leaves have a feathery shape and lacy texture, giving the plant an airy appearance. It’s often included in butterfly gardens because of its dependability and low-maintenance needs.
Common yarrow goes by many names: old man’s pepper, nosebleed plant, devil’s nettle, and thousand-leaf. It thrives in poor, rocky soils, making it a great addition to your xeriscape garden.
- USDA hardiness zones: 3-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to full shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant
- Soil: Tolerates most soil types
- Mature height: 1 to 3 feet
Where to buy common yarrow:
Island alum root (Heuchera maxima)
Island alum root, aka Jill-of-the-rocks, thrives in many gardens across mainland California but is only native to the Channel Islands off its coast. It grows best in coastal areas where it’s humid, and the temperatures are moderate.
Hummingbirds love island alum roots’ tiny, bright pink flower clusters that bloom in the spring. Additionally, it looks beautiful even when it isn’t blooming thanks to attractive foliage, and makes a fantastic addition to your garden or under your favorite oak trees.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to full shade
- Water needs: Low, may require water in the summer
- Soil: Well-draining sand or rock
- Mature height: 1 to 2 feet
Where to buy island alum root:
- Neel’s Nursery, Heuchera maxima Island Alum Root
- Landscape Plant Source, Island Alum Root
- Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, Heuchera maxima, “Alum Root”
Mountain violet (Viola purpurea)
Mountain violet, also known as goosefoot violet, is a true violet, but its flowers aren’t violet or purple. Instead bright yellow flowers bloom in the spring. However, mountain violet’s leaves have a purple tint and are shaped like a goose’s foot.
Mountain violet has several subspecies that grow throughout California and into Wyoming. When growing naturally, it prefers lower elevations. It is deer-resistant and a host plant for many butterfly varieties.
- USDA hardiness zones: 6-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant; water during bloom period
- Soil: Silt or sand
- Mature height: 10 to 12 inches tall
Where to buy mountain violet:
Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Salvia is heat- and drought-tolerant. It produces tall, narrow flower spikes with beautiful blooms in shades of white, pink, red, purple, and blue. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators to your yard, and its blossoms appear from the late spring to early summer, usually lasting through early fall. Salvia grows well in hot, dry climates, and it offers gorgeous, often pungent, scented foliage.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant
- Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic
- Mature height: 1.5 to 5 feet tall
Where to buy salvia:
Native ground covers
Baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
Baby blue eyes and its delicate, blue, cup-shaped flowers can be found throughout much of California, up to 6,500 feet in elevation. This low-to-the-ground, spreading plant has succulent stems and produces flowers early in the season, often just after the snow recedes. Baby blue eyes bloom for several months, making them a gorgeous addition to hanging baskets or massed as border plants.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant
- Soil: Sand or loam
- Mature height: 6 inches tall; 12 inches wide
Where to buy baby blue eyes:
Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum californicum)
Also known as Sierra mint, mountain mint is the only Pycnanthemum species native to California. Mountain mint grows in California’s mountains and foothills and blooms from June to September. In many ways, it acts as a typical mint plant (including growing rampantly if not contained) and will die back to the soil surface when cold weather rolls into your neighborhood.
- USDA hardiness zones: 6-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Partial shade
- Water needs: Moist soil
- Soil: Moist, well-draining
- Mature height: 3 feet tall and wide
Where to buy mountain mint:
Squaw carpet (Prostrate ceanothus)
Squaw carpet is an evergreen ground cover typically found growing in the wild on open slopes and under Douglas fir and Ponderosa pines. It prefers mild temperatures under 80 degrees Fahrenheit and is not cold-hardy. Small bluish-purple flowers appear in clumps across the top of squaw carpet from March to June, fading as the summer temperatures begin to climb.
- USDA hardiness zones: 6-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Medium; plants need extra water during hot months
- Soil: Well-drained sand or loam
- Mature height: 6 inches tall; 8 feet wide
Where to buy squaw carpet:
Native vines
Dutchman’s pipe vine (Aristolochia californica)
Dutchman’s pipe vine is the only pipe vine native to the state, growing streamside and in woodland habitats in Central and Northern California. Saxophone-shaped flowers that look like they came out of a Dr. Suess story bloom from late winter to early spring. Plants can be trained to climb a trellis.
Its flowers emit an unpleasant odor that attracts many insects. The insects crawl inside the green and purple striped, pipe-shaped flowers and pick up pollen, carrying it to their next destination.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Partial shade
- Water needs: Medium
- Soil: Tolerates most soil types
- Mature height: Over 20 feet long
Where to buy Dutchman’s pipe vine:
- Grassy Knoll Plants, Aristolochia californica 4″ pot
- California Flora Nursery, Aristolochia californica
Pacific pea (Lathyrus vestitus)
The evergreen Pacific pea vine prefers damp woodlands and forests. It blooms from March to May, producing “pea flowers.” Its showy flower clusters can have up to 15 densely packed blooms, ranging from bright violet to pale purple or white. These fast-growing vines climb fences and trellises and reach eight feet tall. They are the host plants for the arrowhead blue and silvery blue butterflies.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Well-drained, sand or clay loam, neutral to slightly alkaline
- Mature height: 6 to 8 feet tall; 3 feet wide
Where to buy Pacific pea:
Purple western morning glory (Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata)
The purple western morning glory is a perfect plant for homeowners needing a fast-growing, quick-climbing vine. Within a short time, this California native can grow up to ten feet tall and wide. It is sometimes called Pacific false bindweed or coastal bluff morning glory.
In the late spring and early summer, purple western morning glory produces pinkish-white flowers that darken to deep shades of lavender. Hummingbirds and pollinators love its blossoms that open at dawn and close at dusk.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant once established
- Soil: Adaptable
- Mature height: 10 feet tall and wide
Where to buy purple western morning glory:
- Native Here Nursery, Calystegia purpurata ssp. Purpurata
- California Flora Nursery, Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata
Native grasses and sedges
Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
Deer grass is a common perennial scattered across the low-elevation Southwestern United States. Also known as deer muhly, its light green to purple blades cascade in a waterfall or fountain shape as the tips grow tall, and the weight makes them bend over. Tall flower stems appear on this robust grass in the spring, turning into creamy white seed heads that attract birds through the summer.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to full shade
- Water needs: Drought-tolerant once established
- Soil: Prefers sand or gravel; tolerates clay, serpentine, and moist well-drained soil
- Mature height: 4 to 5 feet tall and wide
Where to buy deer grass:
Giant wild rye (Leymus condensatus)
Giant wild rye is a towering species of wild rye grass with distinctive silver-green foliage. This fountain grass grows in large clumps or bushes that are often used in place of shrubs in a landscape design.
“Canyon prince” is a nursery-bred variety that is a popular cultivar for home planting; you won’t find it growing in the wild. Giant wild rye can be pruned back any time of the year if it becomes floppy.
- USDA hardiness zones: 6-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Drought tolerant but withstands moist, but not water-logged soils
- Soil: Adaptable
- Mature height: 3 to 4 feet tall; flower spikes can reach 8 feet
Where to buy giant wild rye:
- Moosa Creek Nursery, Leymus condensatus Giant Wild Rye
- Theodore Payne Foundation Store, Elymus condensatus – Giant Wild Rye (Plant)
Pacific rush (Juncus effusus ssp. pacificus)
A true rush, the Pacific rush is a wetland perennial that thrives in moist soils and is commonly called bog rush or soft rush. From July to September, it produces insignificant yellowish-green to light-brown flowers. They appear in one-sided clusters located slightly below the blade tips. Pacific rush is deer resistant, making it a great addition to yards with significant grazing pressure.
- USDA hardiness zones: 4-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Partial sun
- Water needs: Moist soil
- Soil: Adaptable, mildly acidic to neutral
- Mature height: 4 feet tall
Where to buy Pacific rush:
Round-fruited sedge (Carex globosa)
Round-fruited sedge grows in the coastal woodland areas of California. It prefers moist soils and tolerates seasonal flooding. Round-fruited sedge establishes quickly and is great for stabilizing soil on slopes or as a filler among shrubs or under oak trees. Early in the season, this short-stature sedge displays green-brown spikelets, and small, round, green fruits from April to June.
- USDA hardiness zones: 3-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Shade
- Water needs: Prefers moist soils
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet tall
Where to buy round-fruited sedge:
Native trees and shrubs
Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica)
The bush anemone is one of the rare native plants on this list. It’s endemic to Fresno and Madera counties. During the summer, this member of the hydrangea family has anemone-shaped, white flowers with yellow centers. Bush anemone is an evergreen shrub, offering color to your landscape no matter the season.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Medium
- Soil: Adaptable
- Mature height: 6 to 10 feet
Where to buy bush anemone:
- Green Acres Nursery & Supply, Bush Anemone ‘Elizabeth’
- Neel’s Nursery, Carpenteria californica Bush Anemone
Bush monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)
The bush monkey flower has dark green sticky leaves, so it’s commonly called a sticky monkey flower. California has several different cultivars, so you can find the shrub in different sizes and colors. It blooms in the late winter through summer, producing light orange flowers that sometimes appear white or red.
Pro tip: Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage frequent blooming, and prune or pinch back new growth in the spring to keep the shrub more compact and bushy.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Well-draining clay, loam, or sand
- Mature height: 3 to 5 feet
Where to buy bush monkey flowers:
- Neel’s Nursery, Mimulus aurantiacus var. puniceus Red Bush Monkeyflower
- Landscape Plant Source, Sticky Monkey Flower
Chaparral mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus)
With pale pink flowers and white hairy leaves that take on a dreamy, silvery color, this native mallow species is a beautiful addition to your landscape. The evergreen shrub can produce thousands of blossoms on a single plant.
Chaparral mallow grows quickly and is great for stabilizing slopes. It attracts pollinators, including hummingbirds, butterflies, and small birds. You can prune shrubs to keep them from growing out of control.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Low to medium
- Soil: Adaptable; well-draining
- Mature height: 3 to 16 feet
Where to buy chaparral mallow:
- Plant Material, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Chaparral Mallow
- Theodore Payne Foundation Store, Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus – Chaparral Mallow (Plant)
Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
Despite its name, coffeeberry, also known as California buckthorn, won’t provide you with a cup of joe, although the seeds inside this evergreen shrub’s berries do resemble coffee beans. California coffeeberry is widespread across most of the state, and depending on the timing, you can see berries ranging from green to red to black.
Give this red-branched shrub plenty of room to grow since it reaches up to 15 feet tall and wide. Coffeeberry has a dense growth habit and can be pruned into a desired shape, making this a fantastic, fire-resistant hedge.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Fun sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Twice per month once established
- Soil: Adaptable
- Mature height: 6 to 15 feet tall and wide
Where to buy coffeeberry:
Common manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita)
The beautiful common manzanita evergreen shrub produces gnarled branches covered in purplish-red bark and delicate lantern-shaped white flowers. Also known as whiteleaf manzanita, blush-colored berries deepen in color as the summer progresses. It makes a dramatic addition to a landscape.
Pro tip: While there are upwards of 100 cultivars, subspecies, and hybrid manzanitas in California, many believe the common manzanita is the best all-around plant.
- USDA hardiness zones: 8-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Once per month in the summer
- Soil: Adaptable
- Mature height: 6 to 20 feet tall; 10 feet wide
Where to buy common manzanita:
- Native Here Nursery, Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. Manzanita
- Theodore Payne Foundation Store, Arctostaphylos manzanita – Common Manzanita (Plant)
Silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons)
Silver lupine, aka white-leaf bush lupine, is a mounding, spreading shrub. The quick-growing shrub grows all over California, teeming with upright clusters of pea-shaped flowers in blue or purple. It blooms from the winter to the summer and attracts various pollinators.
Silver lupine brings color and interest to your landscape year-round and grows best in full sun. It tolerates poor soils, making it an excellent choice for those spots in your yard where nothing seems to grow well.
- USDA hardiness zones: 6-10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Once or twice a month
- Soil: Dry, sand or rock
- Mature height: 3 to 5 feet
Where to buy silver lupine:
- Neel’s Nursery, Lupinus albifrons Silver Bush Lupine
- Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds, Lupinus albifrons Silver Bush Lupine
Valley oak (Quercus lobata)
If you’ve got some extra room and are in the market for an oak tree, consider valley oak. This deciduous California native is ideal for larger landscapes, reaching up to 100 feet tall with a span of 50 feet. It is the largest native North American oak, providing shelter for wildlife, insects, and birds. Valley oaks prefer full sun and deep, fertile soil but will grow well in other soils if they get enough moisture.
- USDA hardiness zones: 7-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Twice a month during the summer
- Soil: Deep and fertile but will tolerate other soils as long as adequate moisture is present
- Mature height: Up to 100 feet tall; up to 50 feet wide
Where to buy valley oak:
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
Few native trees put on a show like the western redbud. Depending on the size, this plant is considered a small tree or large shrub. In the spring, it showcases heart-shaped, light green leaves and stunning clusters of bright pink flowers.
Western redbuds grow at a moderate rate and prefer sites close to water where they’ll see cooler winter temperatures. Birds, butterflies, and moths are highly attracted to this tree.
- USDA hardiness zones: 6-9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Medium; water weekly
- Soil: Adaptable
- Mature height: 10 to 20 feet tall and wide
Where to buy western redbud:
- Landscape Plant Source, Western Redbud
- Dancing Oaks Nursery and Gardens, Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud
Native plants for California cities
If you’re interested in finding native plant species geared toward your city, Lawn Love has some helpful guides:
You can also refer to Calscape, the California Native Plant Society for more resources on native California plants.
FAQ about California native plants
What are California’s USDA hardiness zones?
As the third-largest state, California is broken down into Southern and Northern planting zones. California’s South covers hardiness zones 5a to 11a, while the North ranges from 5a to 10b.
Why are native plants important?
Native plants have a beneficial relationship with native wildlife. They work together and depend on each other. Native plants provide habitat and food for important pollinators, and the pollinators move pollen from one flower to another.
Native plants are low maintenance, have fewer disease and insect problems, and need less water and fertilizer.
How many native plants are there in California?
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California has approximately 6,500 native plants.
Need some help with your California landscaping?
Whether you need help designing a drought-tolerant yard filled with natives or you need help caring for your plants, let Lawn Love connect you with a local landscaper dedicated to giving you the best yard possible.
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