Our Plants (List)

This widespread California endemic is found in coastal mountains and the Sierra foothills from Monterey County north. It occurs locally in both the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. It grows in the familiar form of a spreading clump of grass-like leaves. The leaves range in length from 8…

This little iris is endemic (i.e. found there and nowhere else) to the far northwestern part of California. In typical iris fashion, it grows in an expanding clump of strap-like leaves. The lavender to white flowers are rather large for this little iris. Toughleaf iris prefers soil of medium drainage,…

This small iris is thought to be a hybrid of Munz’s iris and the Del Norte County iris, Iris innominata, or Douglas iris, Iris douglasiana. Like many hybrid irises, its exact parentage is unknown. It grows in a widening patch with fairly stout leaves to a height of about 12…

This hardy little shrub grows in our coastal mountains from the SF Bay area to San Diego County and into Baja, Mexico. It becomes more common as one moves south in its range. In Santa Clara County it is a rare find in the Diablo Range, especially Alum Rock County…

Menzies’ goldenbush is a tough member of dry plant communities in coastal and interior coastal areas from the SF Bay Area south into Baja. The several varieties all share shiny, fleshy leaves and bright yellow flowers. The sedoides variety occurs along the immediate coast from San Luis Obispo County south….

Coast bladderpod is one of California’s best native plants for the garden. It grows vigorously as an open rounded shrub to about six feet. The compound leaves are waxy and gray, displaying well against the slightly furrowed silver bark. The leaves produce a light scent which elicits mixed reactions. The…