Native Plants of California – Trees, Shrubs, Flowers and Succulents
Some of the most exclusive native plants of California include blue-eyed grass, California fuchsia, coastal prickly pear and live-forever, among many others. There are numerous types of plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and succulents that are native to California. You may find a few of these growing in surrounding regions but most are completely indigenous to California.
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California is notorious for extreme heat, wildfires and frequent droughts. So, choosing the right plants for a garden or yard in California can be challenging. This is the reason that expert gardeners, such as Eden, suggest choosing native California plants so you can ensure their survival in the local hot climate. Besides being easier to grow and looking appealing, native California plants also aid the local wildlife and ecosystem.
If you want to make the most out of your yard or garden in California, then you can choose from the list of native California plants, flowers, succulents and trees given below.
Flower/Succulents of California
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Blue-eyed grass gets its name from its grassy leaves and small purple and blue flowers that bloom from late winter through spring. This is an easy-to-grow and fire-resistant flower which makes a perfect colorful addition to your California garden or yard.
This flowering plant grows in full sun and partial shade and flourishes in moist loam soils. It is perennial and can grow up to 1 to 2 feet in height.
Beardtongue (Penstemon)
You can find different varieties of Beardtongue flowers in California. These usually bloom in early spring with different-colored flowers, depending on the species. This flower plant grows well in the full sun and requires well-draining sandy or rocky soils. This is a perennial plant and can grow to 1 inch or 4 feet in height, depending on the species.
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
California fuchsia is a type of willowherb and has thin, bright red-colored flowers. These flowers resemble fuchsia flowers, hence the name. The plant is also called hummingbird flower because it attracts hordes of hummingbirds when it blooms in summer and fall.
This flower plant grows well in full sun and flourishes in any well-draining soil. It is perennial and can grow between 3 and 18 inches in height.
California cholla (Cylindropuntia californica)
Also called snake cholla or cane cholla, the California cholla grows in cylinders that resemble snakes. This plant can grow quite tall and becomes a good groundcover. It is a succulent cactus with spines so it is not recommended for high-traffic areas. However, it blooms with bright green or yellow flowers with purple-red highlights that make it an appealing addition to the landscape.
This succulent grows well in full sun and flourishes in any dry, fast-draining soil. This perennial plant can grow up to 10 feet in height.
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
The California poppy is bright orange and the state-flower of California. It is an easy-to-grow plant as it is drought-resistant and often reseeds itself. The plant flowers in spring and grows abundantly in the cooler parts of the state throughout summer.
This plant grows well in the full sun and flourishes in well-draining sandy soils. This is a perennial plant in mid-winter regions and annual in areas with cold winters. The plant can grow between 4 to 12 inches in height.
Trees/Shrubs of California
Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica)
Bush anemone is a rare plant and restricted to the Fresno and Madera counties of California. In the summer season, it produces tiny white anemone-shaped flowers with bright yellow centers. These flowers attract hordes of bees and butterflies.
This shrub grows in the full sun and partial shade and flourishes in most types of soils. This is an evergreen shrub and can grow between 6 and 10 feet in height.
Buckwheat (Eriogonum)
Buckwheat has over 125 species that are native to California, including the common California Buckwheat. This shrub flowers in late spring and grows rounded clusters of small puffy flowers until the fall. These flowers change their color to white or pink to orange or brown.
This shrub grows in the full sun and flourishes in dry or mostly dry, well-draining soils. This is an evergreen shrub and can grow between 1 and 6 feet in height.
Bush sunflower (Encelia californica)
The bush sunflower is also called the California brittlebush. This shrub belongs to the daisy family and blooms with tiny, yellow flowers similar to daisies, during the late winter and spring. This is an easy-to-grow shrub and grows quite quickly.
This shrub requires full sun or partial shade and flourishes in most types of soils. This is a deciduous type of shrub and can grow between 18 inches to 5 feet in height.
California gooseberry (Ribes californicum)
Also called hillside gooseberry, this plant is one of the native currant plants of the state. You can find it growing abundantly along the Northern and Southern coasts of California. It blooms with small yellow, purple or pink flowers and fruits which are an essential part of the local ecosystem.
This plant grows well in partial shade and flourishes in moist, well-draining soils. It is a deciduous plant and can grow between 3 and 8 feet in height.
California lilac (Ceanothus)
The California lilac is also called buck brush, mountain lilac or wild lilac and has more than 60 shrubs from the buckthorn family. This plant has glossy ovate leaves and blooms with small pink, blue or white flowers that are fragrant and attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
This plant grows well in the full sun but may require some shade in the afternoon in hotter areas. It flourishes well in fast-draining soils. This evergreen plant can grow from 1 to 6 feet in height.
Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
The Coffeeberry shrub has dark green leaves and small, greenish, white or cream-colored flowers which usually bloom in spring and summer. It is a fire-resistant plant and its fruits are attractive to birds. This plant can grow in full sun or partial shade and flourishes in most soil types. This is an evergreen plant and can grow between 6 to 15 feet in height.
To conclude, some of the most exclusive native plants of California include blue-eyed grass, California fuchsia, coastal prickly pear and live-forever, among many others. You can choose the most ideal flowers, trees/shrubs for your yard from the above list.
Contact the landscaping experts of Eden to recommend the best plants to grow in your yard.
Enjoy a beautifully manicured lawn with our timely yard work services that care for your yard according to the season. Call us today!