Our Plants (List)

Euphorbia is a genus with worldwide distribution, encompassing plants of many different forms. In California it is represented by a few perennials and shrubs. The cliff spurge is most common in coastal plant communities of northern Baja, but is occasionally found in San Diego and Orange Counties and the Channel…

The Euphorbia genus is worldwide in distribution, represented by plants of widely varying forms and cultural needs. The Baja spurge is one of 50 species native to the Baja Peninsula. It grows as an upright shrub with a woody base, linear green branches with small leaves. The branches form a…

This member of the sunflower family is widespread in California and beyond. It grows as a dense expanding patch of upright stocks with alternating narrow leaves. In the spring these are topped with umbels of bright yellow flowers that attract an array of pollinators. Western goldenrod is usually found near…

Apache plume is native to the Southwest and northern Mexico. In California it is found primarily in the eastern portion of San Bernardino County. Although a desert native, apache plume does quite well in a variety of settings as long as it is given soil of adequate drainage and mostly…

This little barrel cactus is native to coastal areas of San Diego County and Baja. It is generally wider than it is tall and grows in time to about 18 inches. The flesh is dark green with thick ribs supporting clusters of red-tinted spines. Like many cactuses, the spring flowers…

California fescue is found in montane settings from Los Angeles County north into Oregon. It is a fine grass for many settings in the garden, especially since it thrives in partial shade. California fescue grows as an upright bunch grass with apple- to gray-green blades. The flower heads are narrow…

This highly adaptable bunchgrass grows in many plant communities in the Northwest into Canada. In California it grows in both the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges down to about the latitude of San Jose. It is not native to Santa Clara County, though I suspect it’s up there in the…

‘Siskiyou Blue’ is aptly named for the blue hue of its thin, gently arching foliage. This grass forms a clean rounded clump that remains tidy with age. In the late spring, ornate seed heads rise above the foliage with white, open heads that show well against a dark background. ‘Siskiyou…