Archives
Penstemon speciosus Common Name: Royal Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae, Images
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 2'h x 2'w
Flowers: May to July
Flower Color: Blue/Purple
Likes: Full Sun
A mid-level Penstemon. Native to the mid-elevation Sierras. Can use supplemental water the first year then seems to be OK. Nice planted in groups for May - July color. Nice compliment to the other Penstemons.
Arctostaphlyos sp Common Name: Emerald Carpet Manzanita
Family: Ericaceae
Type: Small plant 1'h x 3'w
Flowers: February/March
Flower Color: Pink
Likes: Full Sun
Somewhat drought tolerant. Needs supplemental water inland.
Good as a low ground cover in partial native conditions - between ornamental and a drought landscape. Spreads rapidly. Hybrid between Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Arctostaphylos nummularia.
Arctostaphylos sp Common Name: Ian Bush Manzanita
Family: Ericaceae
Type: Small plant 5'h x 5'w
Flowers: January/February
Flower Color: Pink
Likes: Full Sun
Early bloomer, January and February, in the valley. Very drought tolerant. Grows fast to 4'. Very nice foliage. Hybrid of Arctostaphylos densiflora and Arctostaphylos pungens. Slightly larger than A. densiflora. Good for a small hedge. Attracts hummingbirds. Lots of pink -white flowers. Can be pruned into a small tree. Smooth dark red-brown bark.
Winter / Fall
Iris innominata Common Name: Del Norte Canyon Iris
Family: Iridaceae, (Images)
Type: Small plant 1.5'h x .2'w
Flowers: March to April
Flower Color: White
Likes: Part Shade
Northern California Iris. Small plant with usually yellow flowers. Needs shade and additional water.
Wyethia angustifolia Common Name: Narrowleaf Mull ears
Family: Asteraceae (Images)
Type: Shrub, 1'h x 1'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: Yellow
Likes: Full Sun
Small flowering perennial. Bright yellow flowers on. Dies back each year to retun the next Spring. Groups make great displays of large yellow flowers.
Quercus douglasii Common Name: Blue Oak
Family: Fagaceae (Images)
Type: Tree, 30'h x 20'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: Not distinct
Likes: Full Sun
Common to the Sierra foothills. Decideous medium tree - can grow to 30-40ft. Smaller than Valley Oak - Q. lobata. Light gray foliage with lobed mid-sized leafs. Slow growing. Full sun but can tolerate some shade. Do not water regularly.
Penstemon grinnellii, Common Name: Southern Woodland Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 2.5'h x 3'w
Flowers: Spring to Summer
Flower Color: Lavender, Purple
Likes: Full Sun
Similar to spectabilis but slightly smaller and more compact. Mid/large-sized Penstemon. Flowers Spring well into Summer with moisture. Very hardy. Nice as a single accent or around large rocks. Needs to be pruned to keep it manageable. Very drought tolerant. Summer water every few weeks during the first year to establish. Avoid summer irrigation after established.
Salvia brandegeei Common Name: Santa Rosa Island Sage
Family: Lamiaceae (Images)
Type: Small Shrub, 4'h x 4'w
Flowers: Early Spring to Summer
Flower Color: Blue
Likes: Full Sun
Nice aromatic mid-sized sage. Native to Santa Rosa Island and Baja. Green foliage and bright blue flowers make a nice contrast to lighter foliage Encelia and others. Growth tends to be erect initially and with more weight the branches collapse and spread - normal for this one. Regrows and makes a nice slightly spreading plant. Expect this to need some summer water as the origin is coastal island.
Linanthus californicus Common Name: Prickly Phlox
Family: Polemoniaceae (Images)
Type: Small plant 1'h x 2'w
Flowers: Late Spring
Flower Color: Pink/Purple
Likes: Part Sun
Coastal plant, can use some regular irrigation. Nice surprise during at the beginning of Summer when it blooms. Plant in groups for greater effect.
Lippia (repens) Phy. nodiflora Common Name: Common Lippia
Family: Verbenaceae (Images)
Type: Ground Cover 4"h
Flowers: Summer
Flower Color: Pnk/Wht Flower
Likes: Full Sun
A true grass replacement. Can take walk-on traffic. Green foliage and small attractive flowers - great for pollinators. Spreading.
Mentzelia laevicaulis Common Name: Giant Blazing Star
Family: Loasaceae (Images)
Type: Small plant 2'h x 1'w
Flowers: Late Summer
Flower Color: Yellow
Likes: Full Sun
Blooms late summer into fall. Perennial can be short lived. Star like flowers bring color late season. Avoid summer water after established
Monardella odoratissma Common Name: Mountain Coyote Mint
Family: Lamiasceae Images
Type: Small plant 1'h x 2'w
Flowers: March to July
Flower Color: White, Pink, Blue (varies)
Likes: Part Sun
Found at lower/mid elevations in the Sierra. Distincitive mint fragrance. Easy to grow. Flower color can vary. Smaller, and found at higher elevations, than M. villosa
Penstemon deustus Common Name: Hot Rock Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae, Images
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 1'h x 2'w
Flowers: May to June
Flower Color: Cream
Likes: Full Sun
Small Penstemon that is native to mid-elevations of Northern CA and the NW US. Cream colored flowers nice addition to the other Penstemons. Attracts hummingbirds. Spring flowering.
Penstemon rydbergii Common Name: Meadow Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae Images
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 2'h x 3'w
Flowers: Spring to Summer
Flower Color: Purple
Likes: Full Sun
Penstemon common throughout the Sierras. Typically at mid elevations. Very nice showy flowers in summer at high elevations - earlier at low elevations. Benefits from added water. Common to wet areas but also to high elevation rocky slopes. Needs shade in the valley.foothills.
Winter / Fall
Sisyrinchium bellum (San Simeon) Common Name: White Eyed Grass
Family: Iridaceae (Images) Need to pick thru the images to find the San Simeon
Type: Small plant .5'h x .5'w
Flowers: March to June
Flower Color: White
Likes: Part Shade
Perennial. White flowered smaller version of Sis. Bellum. Very adaptable accent plant. Grows in clumps and can use summer water. Summer dormant. Nice addition to Blue Eyed grass.
Sisyrinchium californicum Common Name: Yellow Eyed Grass
Family: Iridaceae (Images)
Type: Small plant 1'h x .5'w
Flowers: March to June
Flower Color: Yellos
Likes: Part Shade
Nice accent plant. Smaller grass like plant. Coastal Northern CA mountains. Likes part sun and additional water. Early season color into summer dependent on moisture. Member of the Iris Family, spreads with favorable conditions