A. densiflora “Sentinel”
Evergreen shrub
Great quantities of pink and white flowers in early spring. Soft greyish leaves. Clay soil tolerant. Attracts hummingbirds and native butterflies.
Full Sun
Arctostaphylos “St. Helena”
Evergreen Tree
Large with red twisting trunk/branches. Small pink flowers in late winter are followed by small red berries in spring. Keep dry in summer once established.
Arctostaphylos “Sunset”
A. pajaroensis x A. hookeri
Evergreen shrub
Medium compact mounding shrub. Dense with grey-green leaves and pink flowers spring into summer.
Arctostaphylos “Vandenberg”
A. rudis “Vandenberg”
Evergreen shrub
Dense foliage forms a deep green garden backdrop, or perfect as a hedge. Clusters of small pink flowers in spring.
Arctostaphylos “Warren Roberts”
A. pajaroensis “Warren Roberts”
Evergreen shrub
Deep pink flowers in spring. Upright and dense with slate blue leaves in summer.
Arctostaphylos morroensis
Evergreen shrub
Endangered in its native range in Southern California, it grows well in coastal gardens throughout the state. Lavender flowers with red berries.
Arctostaphylos refugioensis
Evergreen Tree
Native to California’s Central Coast. Upright form, relatively fast-growing (for a Manzanita). Dense with reddish-green leaves and white flowers spring into summer. Tolerates heavy clay soils.
Arctostaphylos rudis
Evergreen shrub
Dense foliage forms a deep green garden backdrop, or perfect as a hedge. Clusters of small pink flowers in spring.
Arctostaphylos viscida
Evergreen shrub
This species is characterized by sticky grey-green foliage, white flowers and smooth red bark. Edible berries.
Armeria “Alba”
A. maritima “Alba”
Groundcover Perennial
Prefers coastal, sunny location or partial sun inland, but can handle most conditions. Fully drought-tolerant only at coast. White pom-poms will reach up to 12″. Can handle sandy soils or clay.
Armeria “Nifty Thrifty”
A. maritima “Nifty Thrifty”
Groundcover Perennial
Variegated chartreuse green foliage. Prefers coastal, sunny location or partial sun inland, but can handle most conditions. Fully drought-tolerant only at coast. Pink pom-poms will reach up 12″. Can handle sandy soils or clay.
Armeria “Rubrifolia”
A. maritima “Rubrifolia”
Groundcover Perennial
Dark burgundy foliage. Prefers coastal, sunny location or partial sun inland, but can handle most conditions. Fully drought-tolerant only at coast. Pink pom-poms will reach up to 12″. Can handle sandy soils or clay.
Armeria maritima
Groundcover Perennial
Prefers coastal, sunny location or partial sun inland, but can handle most conditions. Fully drought-tolerant only at coast. Pink pom-poms will reach up to 12″. Can handle sandy soils or clay.
Armeria maritima “Bloodstone”
Groundcover Perennial
Slow spreading, tufted grass-like clumps of dark green leaves. Blooms in spring with dark pink pom-pom flowers. Can handle sandy soils or clay.
Artemisia “David’s Choice”
A. pycnocephala “David’s Choice”
Semi-Evergreen Perennial
Very fine silver foliage mounds to 18″ high. Deer resistant.
Artemisia “Silver Mound”
Semi-deciduous perennial
Dense mound of soft feathery sliver-grey foliage. Useful in rock gardens and as a border plant.
Artemisia arborescens
Evergreen Perennial
Billowing mounds of fragrant silver foliage. A fast grower perfect for coastal gardens. Sprays of yellow blooms in spring. Deer resistant. Summer drought.
Artemisia californica
Herbaceous Perennial
Prefers coastal, sunny location with little to no water once established. Grows in clay, though shows fussiness if wet in the summer. Great wildlife plant.
Artemisia frigida
Semi-deciduous Perennial
Dense mound of soft wooly sliver-grey foliage. Fragrant and useful in rock gardens or as a border plant. Tiny yellow flowers in summer.
Artemisia glacialis
Alpine Herbaceous Perennial
Needs lots of sun and very good draining rocky soils. Careful not to overwater – plant does not like wet roots. Can be used as an herb. Divisions can be taken from the rootball. Yellow flowers on 12″ stalks poke up mid-summer. Used medicinally for “mountain sickness.”
Artemisia tridentata
Herbaceous Perennial
Aromatic silver foliage with tiny cream or yellow clusters of flowers. Soft new growth that matures to a woody stem. A nitrogen fixing plant.
Asclepias cancellata
Herbaceous Perennial
Upright shrub with glossy leaves and creamy whiter flowers which mature to cottony seed pods. Attracts lots of butterflies. Deer-resistant.
Asclepias curassavica
Semi-woody Perennial
Brilliant red/yellow blooms atop each stem in fall. Green leafy stems. Can be grown as an annual; collected seeds can be planted in spring.
Asclepias fascicularis
Herbaceous Perennial
Large, narrow leaves. Pinkish white flowers. Coastal Clay Soils-tolerant. Attracts Monarch Butterflies.
Asclepias speciosa
Evergreen Perennial
Large gray leaves with astounding pink flowers that give the impression of fireworks. Attracts butterflies, as well as provides them with protection from predators after feeding.
Asclepias subulata
Herbaceous Perennial
Nearly leafless stems do great with very low water in very fast draining soils. Unusual pale creamy-yellow flowers at the ends of each stem. Attracts butterflies.
Asclepias tuberosa
Herbaceous Perennial
Dies back in winter and re-sprouts from its underground tuber each spring. The brilliant orange or red flower clusters appear in midsummer followed by attractive green pods. Prefers full sun but can handle light shade.
Aster alpigenus
Perennial Herb/Wildflower
A small violet or lavender flower perched atop unbranched stems with narrow leaves, above low grouping of last year’s leaves. Many blooms in late winter through spring.
Babiana stricta
Deciduous Bulb
Fans of sword-shaped leaves which emerge in mid-winter, spikes of blue to violet flowers emerge in the spring. Flowers and foliage die back by summer. Keep dry when dormant.
Baccharis pilularis “Pigeon Point”
Evergreen shrub
Small oval bright green leaves, low spreading branches, tiny white flowers. Very adaptable. Deer-resistant, easy to prune. Many pollinators.