1 CA Native Plants for Rain Gardens and Vegetated (Infiltration) Swales - Western L.A. County I Scientific Name Common Name Size Flower/ season Light ++ Soil Water Zone + Availability Notes Plants for the Bottom and Lower Edges of the Rain Garden/Swale (can take occasional flooding) Perennials and Ground-cover Plants Alisma plantago-aquatica Common Waterplantain 2-4 ft tall 1-2 ft wide White/Su FS Any 2-3 to 3 Water plant sources Shallow water or mud; weedy Alisma triviale Narrow-leaf Waterplantain 2-3 ft tall 1-2 ft wide White/Su FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2; water plant sources Shallow water or mud X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa 1 ft tall & wide White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Any incl clay 2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16 Shallow water X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall & wide Cream/Su PS Well- drained 1-2 to 2-3 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Tolerates seasonal flooding X Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum Fringed Willow Herb 2-5 ft tall Pink/Su-F PS any 2-3 to 3 2, 10 Can become weedy X Frankenia salina Alkali heath 1-3 ft tall spreading Purple/Su FS Any 2 to 3 2, 8, 10, 20, 21, 24 Tolerates salt, alkali cond. X *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide Red/Sp-Su FS/PS/ FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic; shallow water X *Lobelia dunii Dunn’s Lobellia 1 ft tall 1-3 ft wide Lavender/ Su-F PS Any 3 6, 8, 13 UCR Bot. Garden Toxic: shallow water or pondside X Mimulus cardinalis Scarlet Monkeyflower To 3 ft Red/Sp-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19 Easy; shallow water X Phyla nodiflora Lippia < 6 inches spreading White-pink/ Sp-Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 8, 46 Good ground cover Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering X Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri Coulter's Goldfields < 1 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS any 1 to 2-3 5, 10 Good for water gardens; salt tolerant X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower 1-5 ft tall Yellow/W- Spr FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 Lush with pretty flowers
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Plants for S. California Rain gardens & infiltration swales
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CA Native Plants for Rain Gardens and Vegetated (Infiltration) Swales - Western L.A. County
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Plants for the Bottom and Lower Edges of the Rain Garden/Swale (can take occasional flooding)
Perennials and Ground-cover Plants
Alisma plantago-aquatica Common
Waterplantain 2-4 ft tall
1-2 ft wide White/Su FS Any 2-3 to 3
Water plant
sources
Shallow water
or mud; weedy
Alisma triviale Narrow-leaf
Waterplantain 2-3 ft tall 1-2 ft wide
White/Su FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2; water plant sources
Shallow water or mud
X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa 1 ft tall & wide
White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Any incl clay
2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16 Shallow water
X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall & wide
Cream/Su PS Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18
Tolerates
seasonal flooding
X Epilobium ciliatum ssp.
ciliatum
Fringed Willow
Herb 2-5 ft tall Pink/Su-F PS any 2-3 to 3 2, 10
Can become weedy
X Frankenia salina Alkali heath 1-3 ft tall spreading
Purple/Su FS Any 2 to 3 2, 8, 10, 20, 21, 24
Tolerates salt, alkali cond.
X *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide
Red/Sp-Su FS/PS/ FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic; shallow water
X *Lobelia dunii Dunn’s Lobellia 1 ft tall 1-3 ft wide
Lavender/ Su-F
PS Any 3 6, 8, 13 UCR
Bot. Garden
Toxic: shallow
water or pondside
X Mimulus cardinalis Scarlet
Monkeyflower To 3 ft Red/Sp-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3
3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19
Easy; shallow water
X Phyla nodiflora Lippia < 6 inches spreading
White-pink/ Sp-Su-F
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 8, 46 Good ground cover
Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering
X Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri
Coulter's Goldfields < 1 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS any 1 to 2-3 5, 10 Good for water gardens; salt
tolerant
X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower
1-5 ft tall Yellow/W-Spr
FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16
Lush with pretty flowers
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)
X * Carex barbarae Santa Barbara
Sedge 1-2 ft tall
to 3 ft w
Evergreen
sod sedge FS/PS Any 2 to 3 3, 8, 13, 16
May be invasive
(containerize)
* Carex nudata California Black-flowering Sedge
1-3 ft tall Cool-season sod sedge
PS/ FSH
Sandy 2 to 3 3, 4 Can grow in water, stream
X Eleocharis macrostachya
Pale Spikerush 1-2 ft tall spreading
Cool-season, sod sedge
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3
2, 3, 7, 8, 10,
13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 24
Shallow water
Eleocharis montevidensis var.
montevidensis
Sand Spikerush 1-2 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season,
sod sedge FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 9, 13, 20 Shallow water
X Equisetum hyemale subsp. affine
Common Horsetail 2-4 ft tall 1-6 ft w
Perennial rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 4, 8, 13
Will grow in
standing water; contain
X Equisetum laevigatum Smooth Horsetail 2-5 ft tall spreading
Perennial FS/PS Clays best
2-3 to 3 8
Will grow in
standing water; contain
X
Hordeum
brachyantherum ssp.
californicum
CA Meadow Barley 1-2 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season
bunch FS any 1-2 to 2-3 5, 10, 13, 16 streamside
X Isolepis (Scirpus)
cernuus
Fiber Optic Grass;
Miniature Tule 1 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Cool-season, sod rush;
cut back in winter
PS/ FSH
Sandy
best 2-3 to 3 3, 4, 13
good for pond
edges
X Juncus acutus ssp.
leopoldii Spiny Rush
2-5 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season,
sod rush FS/PS
Any incl.
alk./salty 2-3
2, 3, 10, 14,
16
Sharp tips;
shallow water
X Juncus balticus Baltic Rush 1-3 ft tall
1-2 ft w. Sod rush FS
Any incl.
alk./salty 2-3 3, 16 Shallow water
X * Juncus bolanderi Bolander’s Rush 1-2 ft tall Perennial rhizome rush
FS Any incl.
salty 2-3 to 3 1, 13
Showy
seedheads
X Juncus bufonius var
bufonius & congesta Toad Rush
< 1 ft tall
& wide Annual rush FS
Any incl.
salty 1-2 to 3 10, 16
X * Juncus effusus Bog/Common Rush 1-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial rhizome rush
FS/PS
Any; sandy best
1-2 to 3 1, 3, 4, 7, 8,
13, 14
Good around pools; ‘Quartz Creek’
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Juncus mexicanus Mexican Rush < 1 ft tall & wide
Perennial rhizome
rush FS
Any incl. salty
1-2 to 2-3 3, 10, 14, 16 Shallow water
X Juncus oxymeris Pointed rush 2-3 ft tall & wide
Perennial
rhizome rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 8, 39 Nice flowers; pondside
X Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide
Spreading/
bunching perennial rush
FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19
‘Carmen’s Gray’ is blue-gray;
shallow water
X Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall
3-8 ft wide
Spreading/ bunching
perennial rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14
Showy; Good
for wet planter, pondside
X Juncus torreyi Torrey’s Rush 1-3 ft tall spreading
Spreading
perennial rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14
Showy; Good
for wet planter, pondside
X Typha angustifolia Narrowleaf Cattail 3-5 ft tall spreading
Bunching perennial
FS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 20 Shallow water, pond side
X Typha domingensis Southern Cattail 3-8 ft tall spreading
Bunching perennial
FS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 10, 14 Shallow water, pond side
X Typha latifolia Common Cattail Bunching perennial
FS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 10, 13, 16
Shallow water, pond side
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Plants for the Upper Edges and Berms (these plant like slightly drier conditions, but fine with seasonal moisture)
Trees and Large Shrubs often used as trees
X *Alnus rhombifolia White Alder 50-75 ft t
20-40 ft w. Green/Sp FS/PS
Any incl.
clay 2-3 to 3 3, 6, 8, 13, 14 Tol. flooding
* Betula occidentales Water birch 25-35 ft t.
15-25 ft w Green/Sp FS/PS Most 2-3 to 3 8, 11, 14
Tolerates seas.
flooding
X * Celtis reticulata/ C.
laevigata var. reticulata Netleaf hackberry
10-30 ft t.
20-30 ft w. Green/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained 1-2 to 2-3
5, 8, 10, 16,
19, 30, 31, 45 Edible fruits
X * Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud 6-20 ft tall 10-15 ft w
Magenta/ Sp
FS/PS Any incl clay
2 to 2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16,
19
Tol. seasonal flooding
X * Chilopsis linearis ssp.
arcuata Desert Willow
5-25 ft tall
and wide Pink/ Sp-F FS/PS
Any well-
drained 1 to 2
1, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
Showy flowers;
streamside
X Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
Blue (Mexican)
Elderberry 8-25+ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained 1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12-14, 16, 19
Edible berries;
upper bank
Large Shrubs (> 6 ft tall; including those for screens and hedges)
X * Amorpha fruticosa False Indigo 6-12 ft 4-10 ft w.
Purple-
brown/ Sp-Su
FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 1, 6, 13, 14 Can be weedy;
cultivar: ‘Dark
Lance’
X Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat To 10 ft Pink-white/
all year FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2
Upper stream
banks
X ** Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’
Pigeon Point Coyote Bush
6-12 ft T to 10 ft W
Buff-White/ Su-F
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter
flooding
1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20
Upper bank
X * Carpenteria californica
Bush Anemone 6-8 ft tall 6-12 ft W
White-Yellow/ Spr
PS/FSH Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14, 19
Showy, fragrant flowers
X * Cephalanthus
occidentalis Buttonbush
5-12 ft tall
4-8 ft wide Cream/Sp FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 11, 13
Good for
pondside
X Cornus glabrata Brown Dogwood < 18 ft tall
to 10 ft w White/Sp FS/PS/ FSH Clay best 2-3 1, 13 Streamside
> 20 ft White/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13 Upper bank
X Vitis girdiana Desert Grape > 25 ft White/Su PS any 2-3 2, 3, 10, 13, 20
Upper bank
Perennials and Ground-cover Plants
X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained
1-2 to 2-3 most streamside
X * Aquilegia formosa Western
Columbine 1-2 ft
Red-yellow/Su
PS/FSH Well-drained
2 to 3 1, 3, 5, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20
Streamside
X * Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Bearberry; Kinnickinnick
1 ft tall spreading
Pink/Sp FS/PS Well-drained
2-3 1, Mid- to upper bank
X Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort 2-4+ ft tall
& wide Crème/Su PS
Well-
drained 1-2 to 2-3
3, 5, 10, 12,
14, 16, 18
Tolerates seasonal flooding
X Asclepias fascicularis Narrow-leaf Milkweed
2-3 ft Cream-pink/Su
FS/PS Sandy 3 - winter
1-2 1, 3, 10, 14
Needs seasonal flooding
X Asclepias speciosa Showy Milkweed 2-3 ft tall
2-4 ft wide Pink/Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 2, 8, 19
Tol. Flooding; Monarch host
plant; silvery
** Aster chilensis ‘Point St. George’
Point St. George Coast Aster
1-3 ft tall spreading
Lavender/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 1, 8, 11, 13 Good habitat plant
X Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis < 3 ft White/Su-F FS/PS Any incl. clays
2-3 1, 13 Upper bank
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I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
** Baccharis ‘Centennial’ Centennial
Baccharis 2-3 ft tall
5-6 ft wide
White/F Female - seeds
FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 8,
Baccharis pilularis X B.
sarathroides hybrid
X * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium var. repens
Creeping Oregon Grape
1 ft tall < 6 ft wide
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH Any; acidic
1-2 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 Good habitat; edible berries
** Berberis (Mahonia)
aquifolium ‘Compacta’
‘Compacta’ Oregon
Grape 2-4 ft tall 2-4 ft wide
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH Any; acidic
1-2 to 2-3 1, 13 Good habitat; edible berries
X Boykinia rotundifolia Round-leaved
Boykinia 1-4 ft tall &
wide White/Su PS/FSH Any 2-3 to 3 12
Streamside;
pond edge
X Clinopodium (Satureja)
douglasii Yerba buena
< 6 in
spreading White/Sp-Su PS/FSH
Well-
drained 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14 Streamside
X * Clinopodium (Satureja) mimuloides
Monkeyflower Savory
1 ft tall 2-4+ ft w
Red-Or/ Su-Fa
FS/PS Well-drained
2-3 to 3 3, 8 hummingbird plant;
streamside
X
Epilobium canum
(Zauschneria californica)
CA Fuschia 1-3 ft 3-5 ft wide
Orange/F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19
Tolerates winter
flooding; streamside
X *Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy ½ ft Lavernder/ Sp-Fa
FS/PS/FSH Well-drained
2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14
Attractive flowers, foliage
X ** Erigeron glaucus
‘Arthur Menzies’ & 'Wayne Roderick'
Seaside Daisy
Daisy < 1 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Lavender-
blue/Sp-F FS/
PS (hot)
Well-
drained
1-2;
2-3(sun) 1, 3, 6, 8
Silvery foliage;
streamside
X * Fragaria chiloensis (Pacific) Coast
Strawberry < 1 ft
spreading White/Sp-Su PS
Sandy
best
1-2 to
2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
edible fruit;
streamside
X * Fragaria vesca (californica)
CA/Wood Strawberry
< 2 ft spreading
White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20 Edible fruit; upper bank
X Grindelia camporum Large Gumplant 2-3 ft tall 3-5 ft wide
Yellow/ Sp-Fa
FS Well- drained
1-2 1, 2, 6, 12, 16 Spreading
X Grindelia hirsutula var. hirsutula
Hairy Gumplant 1-2 ft tall & wide
Yellow/ Sp-Su
FS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 10 Butterfly plant
X * Grindelia stricta var
platyphylla Coastal Gumplant
1-3 ft tall
3-4 ft wide Yellow/Su FS Any 2 to 3
1, 2, 3, 5, 10,
13
Lower to mid-
bank
X Heliotropum curassivacum
Seaside Heliotrope < 2 ft 4-8 ft w.
White-purple/Sp-F
FS/PS
Any;
alkali best
2-3 2, 10, 16
Seasonal
flooding; toxic foliage
8
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X
* Heuchera maxima
(incl. many cultivars & hybrids)
Island Alumroot 1- 3 ft
White/Spr PS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays
1-2 to
2-3
1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14
X * Heuchera micrantha Crevice Alumroot 1-3 ft Pink/Spr PS/PS/ FSH See note 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8 Well-drained soil
X * Iva hayesiana San Diego Marsh
Elder 2-4 ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays
1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13 Banks
X Jaumea carnosa Salty Susan < 1 ft tall
2 ft wide Yellow/Sp-F FS
Sandy
best 2-3 to 3 1, 2, 13, 20
Seasonal
flooding
X Limonium californicum California Sea-Lavender
1-2 ft tall and wide
Purple/Su-F FS
Any;
sand to clay
2-3 to 3 10, 14, 16
Tolerates
seaside conditions
X *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide Red/Sp-Su FS/PS/ FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19
Toxic; shallow
water
X *Lobelia dunii Dunn’s Lobellia 1 ft tall 1-3 ft wide
Lavender/ Su-F
PS Any 3 6, 8, 13 UCR
Bot. Garden
Toxic: shallow water or
pondside
X Lomatium utriculatum Common Lomatum 2-3 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS
Any, incl. clays,
alkali 2-3 to 3 30 Pollinator plant
Mimulus moschatus
(var. moniliformis)
Musk
Monkeyflower 1 ft tall &
wide
Yellow/
Sp-Su FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 8
leaves: boiled
as greens
X * Monardella
macrantha Red Monardella
1-2 ft tall &
wide Red/Su-F PS best
Any; no
alkali 2-3
1, 6, 8, 13, 14,
19
Hummingbird plant; scented;
‘Marion Sampson’
X Oenanthe sarmentosa Water parsley 2-4 ft tall & wide
White/Sp FS/PS Most 2-3 to 3 39 Butterfly/ pollinator plant
X * Oenothera californica CA Evening Primrose
< 1 ft tall 3-8 ft wide
White/Sp FS/PS (best) Sandy/ rocky
2 to 2-3 10, 13, 16
Scented
flowers; mid to upper bank
**Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Margarita
Bop’
‘Margarita BOP’ Penstemon
1-2 ft tall 2-3 ft wide
Purple/Su FS Well-drained
2-3 1, 3, 6, 13 Streamside or bank
X Pluchea odorata ssp.
odorata
Sweetscent;
Saltmarsh Fleabane
1-3 ft tall &
wide
Lavender/
Su-F FS
Sandy
incl. Alk 2-3 6, 10, 16
Tolerates seasonal flooding
X Potentilla glandulosa Sticky Cinquefoil 1-2 ft tall & wide
Yellow/ Sp-Su
PS Well-drained
2 to 3 1, 6, 12, 13 Seasonal flooding
9
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Pseudognaphalium
californicum
California
Everlasting 2-4 ft White/Sp FS/PS
Any, incl.
clay 1-2
1, 2, 10, 13,
16 Sweet-scented
X
Pseudognaphalium
canescens ssp. beneolens
Wooly Everlasting 1-2 ½ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Any, incl. clay
1-2 1, 2, 16 Spreads; gray foliage
X Rumex salicifolius var.
salicifolius Willow Dock
2-3 ft tall &
wide
Pink bract /
Su FS
Well-
drained 2 to 3 10, 13 (? var.) Seaside fine
X Scrophularia californica
ssp. floribunda CA Bee Plant 2-3 ft Red/Spr PS 2-3 to 3
1, 5, 8, 10, 12,
13, 16 Afternoon shade
X Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora
Dwarf Checker Mallow
To 1 ½ ft Pink-lavender/
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 19
* Silene californica Indian Pink 1-2 ft tall 2-4 ft wide
Red/Su PS/FS Well-drained
2-3 19 difficult
X Silene laciniata Indian Pink 1-3 ft Red/Sp-Su FS/PS Sandy or
rocky
1-2 to
2-3 12 Moist banks
X Solanum xanti Purple (Chaparral)
Nightshade 2-4 ft tall
Purple/Sp-
Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13
Berries very
poisonous
X Solidago californica California Goldenrod
2-4 ft tall spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 14
Tolerates
seasonal flooding
X Solidago spectabilis var. confinis
Southern Goldenrod
3-6 ft tall spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10
Tolerates
seasonal flooding
X Stachys bullata
California
Woodmint (Hedgenettle)
1-4 ft Pink/Spr-Su PS Well-
drained 2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14
Tolerates
seasonal flooding
X Stachys rigida var. rigida (Stachys
ajugoides)
Rigid Woodmint
(Hedgenettle) 1-2 ft Pink/Spr-Su FS/PS Clay 2-3 to 3 1, 13
Tolerates seasonal
flooding
X * Thalictrum fendleri
var. polycarpum
Mountain
Meadowrue 3-5 ft tall
2-3 ft wide White/Su PS/FSH
Well-
drained 2-3 to 3
1, 3, 8, 10,
12-14, 19
Well-drained
soils
X * Venegasia carpesioides
Canyon Sunflower 4-6 ft tall 2-4 ft wide
Yellow/Sp-F PS Any 2 to 2-3 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 24
Long-blooming; seeds for birds
10
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering
X Calandrinia ciliata Red Maids < 1 ft tall 1-2 ft w.
Bright pink/Sp
FS Any
2-3 to 3 2, 5, 10
Good for water gardens
X Clarkia unguiculata Elegant Clarkia 2-5 ft tall Pink-purple/
Sp-Su FS/PS any 1 to 2-3
2, 5, 10, 13,
16
Needs drought
for seeds
X Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata Miner’s Lettuce 1 ft tall White/Sp-Su PS/FSH any 1-2 2, 5, 10 Edible leaves
X Collinsia heterophylla
var. heterphylla Chinese Houses 1-2 ft tall
Purple-white
Sp-Su PS/FSH any 1-2
1, 5, 10, 13,
16
Well-drained
soil
X Helenium puberulum Rosilla;
Sneezeweed 1-5 ft tall
1 ft wide
Yellow-
brown/ Su FS any 2-3 to 3 6, 13, 21
Edible;
pollinator plant;
X Helianthus annuus Common (Annual)
Sunflower 5-8 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2
2, 10 (local
var.) easy
Lasthenia coronaria Royal Goldenfields < 1 ft tall Yellow/W-Sp FS any 1 to 2-3 10, Moderately salt
tolerant
X Lupinus bicolor Miniature Lupine < 1 ft tall Blue/white FS/PS any 1- 2-3 2, 5, 10, 13 Pretty purple flowers
X Mimulus brevipes Widethroat Yellow Monkeyflower
2-3 ft tall Yellow/W-Spr
FS/PS Sandy or rocky
1-2 to 2-3
10, 13 Many blooms
X Oenothera elata ssp.
hirsutissima & hookeri
Hooker’s Evening
Primrose 5+ ft tall Yellow/Su FS
Well-
drained 1-2 to 2-3 2, 10, 16
Abundant reseeders; pond
edge
X Pseudognaphalium (Gnaphalium)
bioletta/bicolor
Two-tone Everlasting
1-3 ft tall White/W-Sp FS/PS Any 1 to 1-2 1, 10, 12, 16 Butterfly plant
X Plantago erecta California (Dotseed) Plantain
< 1 ft tall White/green FS/PS any 2-3 2, 14, 16, 24 Pond edge
Bulbs and Corms
X Iris douglasiana Douglas iris 1-2 ft Purple/Sp PS See note 1 to 2 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16
Drought tolerant if
mulched
X Ranunculus californicus California
Buttercup < 2 ft
Yellow/
Sp-Su PS sandy 1-2 to 3 1, 13
Very well-
drained soils
X Sisyrinchium bellum Western Blue-eyed
Grass 1-2 ft
Purple-
yellow/Sp FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3
1, 2, 3, 9, 10,
13, 14, 16, 18
Pretty little
flowers
X * Sisyrinchium
californicum Yellow-eyed Grass 1-2 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS/PS Any 2 to 3
3, 5, 8, 13, 14, 20
Pond-edge plant
11
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)
Agrostis exarata Spike Bentgrass 1-4 ft tall Cool-seas. perennial
bunchgrass FS/PS Not alkali 1-2 to 3 10, 16 Pond-edge
X * Calamagrostis
nutkaensis Pacific Reed Grass
3-4 ft tall &
wide
cool-season
bunchgrass FS/PS
Well-
drained 2-3 to 3 1, 4, 5, 8, 13
Can plant
densely
X * Carex pansa (C.
praegracilis sometimes mislabled as this)
Sand Dune Sedge 1 ft tall
shear 1-2 time/ yr
Cool-season clump sedge
FS/PS Very sandy
2 to 2-3 3, 4, 6, 8
Tol. seasonal
flooding; streamside
X Carex praegracilis Clustered Field Sedge/CA Meadow
Sedge
1-2 ft tall Cool-season, sod sedge
FS/PS Clays best
2-3 1, 2, 4, 7, 13 Shallow water
X * Carex spissa San Diego Sedge 2-4 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Cool-season,
sod sedge FS/PS/FSH
Clays
best 1 to 3
1, 7, 8, 9, 10,
13 Streamside
X Carex tumulicola Berkeley Sedge 2 ft tall & wide
Cool-season, sod sedge
FS/PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13
Streamside
X * Danthonia Californica California Oatgrass 2-3 ft tall Cool-season perennial
bunchgrass FS/PS any 2 to 3 6, 8, 10
Evergreen; tol. walking; good
for small areas
X * Deschampsia
cespitosa Tufted hairgrass
1-2 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3
1, 4-8, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18 streamside
X Deschampsia elongata Slender Hairgrass 2-4 ft tall
Cool-season
perennial bunchgrass
PS/ FSH any
2-3 to 3
1 – dies back
5, 10, 13, 16
Fine-texture;
seasonal flooding
X * Deschampsia
holciformis (D. cespitosa
ssp. hociformis)
Pacific Hairgrass 1-3 ft tall
Cool-season
perennial bunchgrass
FS any 2-3 to 3 5, 8, 10, 13, 16
Salt-tolerant
X *Festuca idahoensis Blue Bunchgrass < 1 ft tall & wide
Cool-season bunchgrass
FS/PS any 2 to 3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20
Streamside
X * Festuca rubra Red Fescue 1-2 ft tall spreading
Cool-season
bunch/sod grass; can mow
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16
Easy; Blue-
green; ‘Molate’ ‘Patrick’s Point’, ‘Jughandle’
X Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide
Spreading/ bunching perennial
rush
FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19
‘Carmen’s Gray’
is blue-gray; shallow water
12
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/ season
Light++ Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes
X Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall
3-8 ft wide
Spreading/ bunching
perennial rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14 Showy; Good for wet planter, pondside
X Juncus xiphioides Iris-leaf rush 1 ½ ft tall
spreading
Spreading
rush FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16
Best in contained; shallow water
X Koeleria macrantha Prairie Junegrass 1-3 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass FS/PS
Any; sandy best
1-2 to
2-3
1, 5, 8, 10, 13,
16, 19 Showy
X Leymus triticoides Creeping Wild Rye < 3 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season perennial
sod-grass; light mow
FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 14,
16
Great vernal swale or
streambank; spreading
X * Muhlenbergia rigens Deergrass 2-4 ft tall & wide
Perennial bunchgrass
FS Any 1-2 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16
seasonal
flooding; streamside
X Sporobolus airoides Alkali sacaton 2-3 ft tall
2-4 ft wide
Warm-
season bunchgrass
FS/PS
well-
drained best
2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16 Salt-tolerant;
alkali fine
1/1/15
I : X = Gardening Information Sheet : http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html * may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant ** horticultural cultivar ++
light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade + Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;
2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn) Availability: numbers correspond to the Plant and Seed Sources List at: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/where-to-purchase-native-plants.html