Our Plants (List)

The chaparral mallow occurs in two populations, one in the SF Bay Area, the other in the coastal mountains from Santa Barbara County into Baja, Mexico. Currently there are four recognized varieties, but this is a highly variable plant so the distinctions are likely to change. The ‘Casitas’ selection is…

Fremont’s mallow is one of my favorite members of one of my favorite plant families, the mallows. It grows in open, dry areas in the interior coastal mountains and lower Sierra foothills from Shasta County to San Bernardino County. Its growth form varies with the growing conditions. In chaparral it…

This beautiful bush mallow is a rare find in the coastal mountains of Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. This selection was made in the Hanging Valley region along Arroyo Seco Road in the Ventana Wilderness. It grows as a dense thicket of upright branches and lobed olive-green leaves. The…

The laurel sumac is emblematic of the coastal sage scrub and chaparral from San Luis Obsipo County into Baja. It presents a lush appearance year round in a rounded to upright structure. The leaves mature from red to dark green. Laurel sumac’s late-spring flower clusters are quite fragrant, attracting an…

This little cactus is found growing on rocky hillsides in coastal sage scrub in San Diego County. Here it is joined by the coast barrel cactus, Ferocactus viridescens, and the golden cereus, Bergerocactus emoryi. Its range in California makes an unusual leap over the peninsular ranges to continue in the…

Maurandella antirrhiniflora, Roving Sailor, is a rare plant in California, growing only in the Providence Mountains of eastern San Bernardino County. It will grow to only a height of about 2 feet if given support. The small medium-green leaves are shaped like a spear head (hastate) and are densely spaced…

This unusual grass grows as a short upright bunch grass over much of the western US and Canada. In California it seems to favor the Sierra Nevada but has been spotted in many other locations, including Santa Clara County. The “Oniongrass” moniker arises from the corm (bulbous stem) that develops…

This beautiful melic grass grows in much of California in many plant communities. Its preferred habitat is areas with at least a half day of sun in meadows and woodlands. This is a cool season grass, emerging in the winter from late summer dormancy. The blades are wide and upright,…

The coastrange melicgrass is widespread in the southern half of California into Baja, Mexico. It forms an open mound of arching, light green blades to about 12 inches or so. It tends to expand via rhizome and seed to form a small stand, though it is not invasive. In spring…