Deciduous Shrub
Beautiful displays of fragrant golden-yellow flowers in late spring attract hummingbirds. Edible berries. Good fall color. Well adapted to our dry summers and wet winters. Tolerates heavy clay soil.
Water
Ribes aureum v. gracillimum
Semi-perennial shrub
Flowers attract hummingbirds, berries attract other birds. Golden flower clusters in spring fade to red. Best in coastal gardens but keep protected from wind. Inland keep cool under tree canopy.
Ribes indecorum
Deciduous shrub
Beautiful sprays of fragrant white flowers in early spring. Attracts hummingbirds. Very drought tolerant once established, great under oaks. Native to the southern California Coast Ranges.
Ribes malvaceum
Deciduous shrub
Winter blooming hummingbird plant, blooms Oct-Mar. Spectacular pendant pink flower clusters. Deep green leaves. Woody branches have peeling red bark as they age. Requires part shade inland.
Ribes nevadense
Deciduous shrub
Flowers attract hummingbirds, berries attract other birds. Soft pink flower clusters in early spring through summer. Creeksides. Tolerates wet or dry conditions. Dormant in fall.
Ribes roezlii var. cruentum
Deciduous shrub
Stunning deep red flowers hang down from clusters in Spring. Spiny Gooseberries come next.
Ribes sanguineum
Deciduous shrub
Flowers attract hummingbirds, berries attract other birds. Spectacular bright red flower clusters in early spring. Clay soils tolerant, grows near oaks. Plant towards wet section in native garden.
Ribes speciosum
Evergreen Perennial shrub
Glossy green leaves, spiny stems, red trumpet flowers late winter through spring. Semi-deer-tolerant. Hummingbirds go wild! Tolerates clay soils.
Ribes viburnifolium
Evergreen Perennial Shrub
Dark green, heavily scented foliage with red stems. Tolerates clay soil. Semi-deer-tolerant. Edible fruit.
Romneya coulteri
Semi-deciduous Perennial Shrub
Spectactular giant California poppy blooms on top tall stems. Difficult to establish, needs good drainage, but easy to care for.
Rosa minutifolia
Deciduous shrub (Summer deciduous if dry)
Open, small-leafed coastal California rose. Long, curving canes produce small, pink flowers with dense thorns in spring. Well-draining soil preferred. Perfect in coastal garden settings.
Rosularia platyphylla
Tight cluster of small rosettes, fast growing. Forms taproot.
Rudbeckia “Cherokee Sunset”
R. hirta “Cherokee Sunset”
Perennial Daisy
Beautiful autumn colors, rusty red and orange 3-4″ flowers. Blooms summer-fall. Dead-head the spent bloom for a full 2nd flush. Divide every 2-4 years.
Rudbeckia “Indian Summer”
R. hirta “Indian Summer”
Perennial Daisy
Stunning large flowers, 6-7″ across. Blooms yellow-orange summer-fall. Dead-head the spent bloom for a full 2nd flush. Divide every 2-4 years.
Rudbeckia “Prairie Sun”
R. hirta “Prairie Sun”
Perennial Daisy
Large 5″ flowers, yellow and gold with a light green eye. Blooms summer-fall. Dead-head the spent bloom for a full 2nd flush. Divide every 2-4 years.
Ruellia “Katie Purple”
Deciduous Perennial
Clusters of purple trumpet-shaped blooms on top of plant.
Ruellia makoyana
Herbaceous Perennial
A “wild desert tropical,” can be used as a low mounding garden plant, or cascades nicely in a hanging basket and as a houseplant. Magenta blooms summer through fall.
Rumohra adiantiformis
Evergreen Fern
The beautiful deep green fronds rise from creeping rhizomes to create a dense, low plant cover. Great for shaded areas in the landscape and in hanging baskets.
Rumohra adiantiformis “Iberia”
Evergreen Fern
Deep green fern with leathery leaves. Cut foliage for indoor centerpieces. Can be grown in hanging baskets. Protect from hard frosts.
Ruschia karrooica
Green stems, prominent joints, small lavender flowers on the tips of each stem.
Ruschia pulvinaris
Sweet smelling small magenta flowers on the stem tips, especially in spring and autumn. Trailing stems good for rock gardens and hanging baskets. Can form a mounding field.
Ruschia uncinata
A winter grower forming a dense mat several feet wide. Rounded grey-blue stems that send out blooms of small 1/2″ purple and pink flowers in the spring. Great container plant or in rock gardens.
Russelia “Flamingo Park”
R. equisetiformis “Flamingo Park”
Semi-Deciduous Perennial
Evergreen sub-shrub, with arching leaves and stunning pink coral flowers spring through fall. Tolerates wind and even deep shade. Will spill over edge of a large container, or garden wall.
Russelia equisetiformis
Semi-Deciduous Perennial
Evergreen sub-shrub, with arching leaves and stunning red coral flowers spring through fall. Tolerates wind and even deep shade. Will spill over edge of a large container, or garden wall.
Russelia X “St. Elmo’s Fire”
Semi-Deciduous Perennial
Fairly upright shrubby form. Red flowers spring through fall. New cultivar.
Sabal riverside
Palm Tree
First Identified in Riversaide, CA. Fast growing, cold tolerant, drought tolerant. Gigantic blue-green fan shaped fronds. Grows well at coast.
Salvia “Kaleidoscope”
S. clevelandii “Kaleidoscope”
Evergreen perennial/shrub
Fragrant grey-green leaves. Strongly fragrant lavender blue flowers. Deer resistant, attracts butterflies.
Salvia “Winifred Gilman”
S. clevelandii “Winifred Gilman”
Evergreen perennial/shrub
Fragrant grey-green leaves. Strongly fragrant lavender blue flowers. Deer resistant, attracts butterflies.
Salvia “Allen Chickering”
Evergreen perennial
Fragrant leaves make a nice tea. Lavender flower whorls make this a Bay Area garden favorite. Deer resistant, attracts butterflies, fragrant flowers.
Salvia “Amethyst Bluff”
S. leucophylla “Amethyst Bluff”
Evergreen perennial/shrub
Easy to grow. Fuzzy white-gray leaves and dark rosy-pink flowers make this a standout. Deer resistant, attracts butterflies, fragrant flowers.