1. 1
South Bay and Other S. CA Native Plants for Pots, Containers & Planters
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
Trees and Large Shrubs
X *Acer circinatum Vine Maple
10-25 ft t
and wide
Green/Sp PS/FSH
Well-
drained
2 6, 8, 13
Showy seed;
fall color
** Arctostaphylos
manzanita ‘Dr Hurd’
‘Dr. Hurd’
Manzanita
To 15 ft t
10 ft wide
Pink/W-Sp FS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
3, 6, 8, 11, 13,
32
Evergreen; good in
gardens
x Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat To 10 ft
Pink-white/
all year
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2
X * Carpenteria californica Bush anemone < 10 ft White/ PS
Well-
drained
2-3 to 3
3, 7, 13, 14,
19
X
* Chilopsis linearis ssp.
arcuata
Desert Willow
5-25 ft
tall
and wide
Pink/ Sp- F FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
X Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon
6-10 ft +
4-6 ft w
White/Su
FS/PS/FS
H
Any well-
drained
1-2
1, 3, 5, 7, 9,
10, 13, 14, 16,
18
Berries toxic in
lg. amounts
X
Lavatera
assurgentiflora ssp.
glabrata & assurgentiflora
Island (Rose)
Mallow
8-12 ft
tall &
wide
Magenta/yr
round
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 1, 2, 13
X * Philadelphus lewisii CA Mock Orange
4-10 ft
tall &
wide
White/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
Any, incl
clays
1-2 to 2-3
1, 7, 13, 14,
19
Very fragrant
X Pluchea sericea Arrowweed 5-10 ft t
Purple/Spr-
Su
FS
Any incl
clay
1-2 to 2-3 8, 10, 14
Thicket-
forming; silver
foliage
X
Prunus ilicifolia ssp.
ilicifolia
Holly-leaf Cherries <15 ft t White/Su PS any 1-2
1, 7, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
X
Quercus berberidifolia (Q.
dumosa)
Scrub Oak
10-20 ft
tall, wide
Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 7, 13, 14, 19
Very large
containers
Quercus dumosa var.
elegantula
Coastal Sage Scrub
Oak
3-10 ft
tall
to 15 ft w
Yellow/Sp FS/PS
Sandy
best
1 to 1-2 7, 14
Very large
containers
Quercus pacifica
Channel Island
Scrub Oak
To 15 ft
tall &
wide
Yellow/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 7, 14
Very large
containers

2. 2
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X Salix exigua Narrow-leaf Willow
6-15 ft
12-15
ft.w.
Yellow/Sp FS/PS any
1-2; winter
flooding
1, 2, 3, 14
Spreading via
roots
X Salix lasiolepis Arroyo Willow
8-35 ft
to 35 ft w
Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS any
1-2; winter
flooding
1, 2 spreads
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
Smaller Shrubs (including sub-shrubs) : < 6 ft tall
X * Abutilon palmeri Indian Mallow
2-6 ft tall
& wide
Yellow to
Orange/Sp-
Su
FS
Well-
drained
1-2 1, 8, 13, 14
* Acalypha californica
California
Copperleaf
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Red/Spr FS/PS
Sandy/
rocky
1-2 to 2-3
1, 8, 11, 13,
14
Nice, dense
evergreen
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 Artemisia californica Coastal Sagebrush
3-6 ft tall
& wide
Gold/Su FS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 7-10, 12,
13, 14, 16, 18
'Canyon Gray'
X Artemisia dracunculus California Tarragon;
1-3 ft tall
2-3 ft w
White/F FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 10, 16
Leaves - raw or
a flavoring in
soups, etc.
*Artemisia palmeri
San Diego
Sagewort
2-4 ft tall
& wide
Gold/Su FS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
8, 10, 13, 14,
16, 20, 24
Rare in wilds
X
Baccharis plummerae
subsp. plummerae
Plummer's
Baccharis
< 7 ft tall
Buff-White/
Su-F
FS/PS any
1 to 1-2
Winter
flooding
?
X
* Bahiopsis/Viguiera
laciniata
San Diego
Sunflower
1-2 ft tall
1-3 ft
wide
Yellow/Spr FS any 1 to 1-2
1, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16
X
* Berberis (Mahonia)
aquifolium
Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3
1, 7, 8, 9, 13,
14
‘Compacta’ &
‘Golden
Abundance’
** 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
*Berberis (Mahonia)
nervosa
Cascade barberry
< 2 ft tall
2-4 ft w.
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH any 2 to 3 8
Slowly
spreading
X
* Berberis (Mahonia)
repens
Creeping Oregon
Grape
1 ft tall
< 6 ft w
Yellow/Sp PS/FSH
Any;
acidic
1-2 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14
Good habitat;
edible berries

3. 3
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X *Calliandra eriophylla Pink fairyduster
2-5 ft tall
3-6 ft w
Pink/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
1, 3, 8, 11, 13,
28
Hummingbird
plant
X
Camissonia
cheiranthifolia spp.
suffruticosa
Beach Primrose
(Suncup)
< 3 ft tall
2-5 ft
wide
Yellow/W-F FS/PS
Sandy
best
1-2 to 2
1, 10, 13, 14,
16
X * Ericameria nauseosa Rabbitbush
2-5 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 13, 16
Great for
insects
X
Constancea
(Eriophyllum) nevinii
Catalina Silverlace
3-4 ft tall
2-4 ft
wide
Yellow/Spr-
Su
FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1 to 2-3 1, 6, 7, 13, 14 ‘Silver Canyon’
**Corethrogyne ‘Silver
Carpet’
‘Silver Carpet’
Beach aster
1 ft tall
4-8 ft w
Violet/Sp-Su FS Any 1-2 to 2 8 Ground-covery
X Diplacus aurantiacus Bush Monkeyflower 2-3 ft
Orange/W-
Spr
FS/PS Sandy 1-2
1, 3, 5, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16,
X Diplacus linearis
Chaparral Bush
Monkey Flower
2-3 ft tall
1-2 ft
wide
Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 10, 13,
18
X * Diplacus longiflorus
Southern Bush
Monkeyflower
2-3 ft &
wide
Yellow to
white/ W-Sp
PS (morning
sun OK)
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
1, 3, 6-8, 10-
14, 16, 17, 20,
21, 24, 25, 28
San Gabriels
X Diplacus parviflorus
Island Bush
Monkeyflower
2-3 ft &
wide
Red /W-Sp
PS (morning
sun OK)
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
3, 7, 8, 11-14,
16, 20-24, 26,
28
S. Islands
X Diplacus puniceus
Red Bush
Monkeyflower
2-3 ft &
wide
Darker
orange/Sp
PS (morning
sun OK)
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
3, 7, 8, 10-14,
16, 20, 21, 24,
26, 28
S. Islands; Riv.
& San Diego Co.
X Encelia californica CA Bush Sunflower 2-5 ft Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 8,
10, 13, 14, 16,
19
Good winter
color
X Epilobium canum CA Fuschia 1-3 ft Orange/F FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3
1, 3, 9, 12, 13,
14, 19
Tolerates winter
flooding
X Eriogonum cinereum
Ashy-leaf
Buckwheat
2-5 ft
Pink-white/
Sp-F
FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1 to 2-3
1, 2, 3, 10, 13,
14, 16
Gray foliage
X * Eriogonum crocatum Conejo Buckwheat
1 ft tall
1-3 ft
wide
Yellow/Spr-
Su
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 12, 14,
19
X
Eriogonum
fasciculatum
California
Buckwheat
1-3 ft tall
3-6 ft
wide
Pink/Spr to F FS
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
13, 14, 16, 18,
19

4. 4
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X
Eriogonum giganteum
vars. formosum,
giganteum
St. Catherine’s Lace 3-6 ft
Pink-white/
Su
FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 5, 8, 9,
13, 14, 16, 19
Don’t plant near
native
buckwheats
*Eriogonum kennedyi Cushion buckwheat
< 1 ft tall
1-3 ft w
Pink/Sp-Su FS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
1, 6, 11, 13,
14, 30
Rock gardens;
containers
X Eriogonum parvifolium Coastal Buckwheat 2-4 ft
Pink-creme/
Su +
FS/PS/FS
H
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 10, 13,
14, 16
* Eriophyllum
staechadifolium var.
depressum
Seaside Wooly
Sunflower
1-2 ft tall
2-3 ft
wide
Yellow/Su-F FS
Any well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 10, 16
Tolerates
seaside
conditions
X Euphorbia misera California Spurge
3-4 ft tall
& wide
White-
red/Spr
FS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13
Tolerates
seaside
conditions
X *Fallugia paradoxa Apache plume
4-8 ft tall
5-10 ft w
White/Sp-Su FS/PS Most 1-2 to 2
6, 8, 11, 13,
14, 24, 28, 38
Showy flowers,
seeds
X
Gambelia (Galvezia)
speciosa
Catalina
Snapdragon
2-4 ft tall Red/Spr + FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 7, 8, 9,
13, 14
X
Isocoma menziesii var.
menziesii
Coast Goldenbush
1-3 ft tall
and wide
Yellow/Su-F FS Any 1-2 1, 14
Tolerates
seaside
conditions
X
Malacothrix saxatilis
var. tenuifolia
Cliff Aster
2-4 ft tall
1-3 ft
wide
White/Spr-F FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 1, 10
X * Perityle incana
Guadalupe Island
Rock Daisy
2-3 ft tall
3-5 ft
wide
Yellow/Spr
FS coast
PS
Well-
drained 1-2
1, 7, 13, 14,
19
Evergreen with
silvery foliage
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 Rhus trilobata
Basket Bush; Sour
Berry; Skunkbrush
2-6 ft tall
& wide
Yellow-
green/Spr
PS any 1-2
10, 13, 14, 16,
19
X
Ribes aureum var.
gracillimum
Golden Currant To 10 ft
Yellow/W-
Spr
FS/PS/FS
H
Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 12, 14
Any well-
drained; Birds
eat berries
X
Ribes californicum var.
hesperium
Hillside Gooseberry To 3 ft
Red-
white/W-Spr
PS/FSH
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3
10, 12, 13
(var.
californicum)
Birds eat berries
X Ribes indecorum White Currant To 6 ft White/W-Spr FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2 1, 3, 12, 14 Birds eat berries

5. 5
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant 5-8 ft Pink/W-Spr FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 3, 13, 14, 19 Birds eat berries
X Ribes speciosum
Fuschia-flowered
Gooseberry
3-6+ ft
tall
and wide
dark pink/
FS/PS/
FSH
Well-
drained
2-3;
3 in sun
1, 3, 10, 12-
14, 19
Edible fruits
X
* Ribes sanguineum
var. glutinosum
Red-flowering
Currant
4-10 ft Pink/Spr PS/FSH
Well-
drained
2-3
3, 5, 13, 14,
19
Edible fruits
X Ribes viburnifolium Catalina Perfume 1-3 ft Pink/ PS/FSH See note 2 to 2-3
1, 3, 9, 13, 14,
20
Well-drained
soil
X Rosa californica California Wild Rose
3-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w
Pink/Spr-Su
FS/PS/
FSH
any
1-2;
3 (sun)
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
X *Rosa minutifolia Baja rose
4-6 ft tall
4-5 ft w.
Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 8 Edible ‘hips’
X *Rubus parviflorus
Western
thimbleberry
3-6 ft tall
spreading
White/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 8 Tasty berries
X Rubus ursinus (ssp. ?) Pacific Blackberry
2-4 ft tall
3-10 ft w
White/Spr FS/PS any 2-3 to 3
7, 8, 12, 13,
14
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
X * Salvia clevelandii
Fragrant
(Chaparral) Sage
2-5 ft
Purple/lavn
Showy
Spr-Su
FS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 9, 10,
13, 14, 16, 19
‘Betsy Clebsch’,
‘Compacta’,
‘Winifred
Gilman’
X * Salvia dorii Desert sage
2-3 ft tall
3-4 ft w
Purple/Sp-Su FS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
6, 8, 10, 38,
48
Gorgeous
blooms
** Salvia hybrids
‘Aromas’, ‘Ponzo
Blue’, ‘Vicki Romo’
Sages
Mostly <
2 ft.,
compact
Purple/lavn
Showy
Spr-Su
FS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2 1, 8, 13, 14 Try
X * Salvia munzii San Diego Sage
2-3 ft tall
3-4 ft w
Blue/Su FS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3
1, 3, 6, 8, 13,
14, 16, 17
Fragrant like
Black Sage;
‘Baja Blue’,
‘Emerald Cascade’
X
Symphoricarpos albus
var. laevigatus
Common
Snowberry
3-5 ft,
spreading
White/Spr PS
Clays,
loams
2-3 7, 9, 13, 19
Fruit may be
toxic to humans
X Symphoricarpos mollis Snowberry
2-4 ft tall
& wide
Pink/W-Spr PS/FSH any 2-3 to 3 13, 14 mulch
X
Urtica dioica ssp.
holosericea
Hoary Nettle
3-6 ft tall
spreading
Pink/Spr-F PS
Rich soils
ok
2-3 1, 10, 13, 16
Serious allergy
on contact

6. 6
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
*Vaccinium ovatum
California
huckleberry
3-5+ ft
tall & w
Pink/W-Spr PS
Well-
drained
pH 4-5
2 to 2-3 5, 8, 11, 37
Edible berries;
needs organic
mulch; ‘Blue
Madonna’
X * Verbena lilacina
Cedros Island
Verbena
2-4 ft tall
3-5 ft
wide
Lilac/Spr-F FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3
1, 3, 8, 9, 13,
14
Lovely year-
round; showy
flowers
X * Xylorhiza tortifolia Mojave woodyaster
1-3 ft tall
2-3 ft w
Lilac/Spr, F FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2
8, 10, 13, 16,
38, 48
Showy aster
flowers
Perennial Vines – Note: most CA native vines can be grown in a large pot
X Calystegia macrostegia
California Morning
Glory
To 30+ ft White/Spr-F
PS
FS
coastal
Well-
drained
2-3
1, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16
Invasive; can
look weedy;
‘Anacapa Pink’;
‘Candycane’
X Keckiella cordifolia
Climbing
Penstemon
3-4 ft
Red-Or/
Sp-Su
PS/FSH any 1-2
1, 3, 7, 10, 12,
13, 14
Excellent for
hummingbirds
X Lathyrus vestitus
Wild Sweetpea;
Canyon Pea
3-9 ft
Purple-
white/ Spr
PS/FSH any 1-2 1, 8, 13
Good under
trees; drought
deciduous
X
Lonicera hispidula var.
vacillans
Western
Honeysuckle
5-18 ft Pink/Spr-Su PS/FSH clay 2-3
1, 5, 13, 14,
19
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
X * Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 3-5 ft Yellow/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 7, 13, 19
X
Lonicera subspicata
vars. denudate &
subspicata
Santa Barbara &
Southern
Honeysuckles
3-8 ft
Cream/Spr-
Su
PS/PS/FS
H
any 1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 12, 13,
14
Edible fruit
X
** Vitis californica
‘Roger’s Red’
‘Roger’s Red’
California Grape
> 20 ft White/Spr FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13
Herbaceous Perennials
Many herbaceous perennials do fine in large pots or planters (see Herbaceous Perennials list). Listed below are some that are particularly
good for pots.
X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft
White/Spr-
Su
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3 most Alkali soils fine
X * Agastache urticifolia
Nettleleaf Giant
Hyssop (Horse
Mint)
2-5 ft tall
& wide
Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained
2 to 2-3 6, 13, 19 Great bee plant
X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa
1 ft tall &
wide
White/Sp-Su PS/FSH
Any incl
clay
2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16
Tolerates
flooding

7. 7
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X
* Armeria maritima
ssp. californica
CA Sea Thrift
(Pinks)
< 1 ft tall
& wide
Pink/Sp PS most 2 to 3 5, 6, 8, 13, 24
Best along
coast; pretty
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
X Asclepias fascicularis
Narrow-leaf
Milkweed
2-3 ft
Cream-
pink/Su
FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 10, 14
Needs seasonal
flooding
X
* Clinopodium (Satureja)
chandleri
San Miguel Savory
1-2 ft tall
2-3 ft
wide
White/Spr PS/FSH
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3
3, 14
minty
X
Clinopodium (Satureja)
douglasii
Yerba buena
< 6 in
spreading
White/Spr-
Su
PS/FSH
Well-
drained
2-3 to 3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14
* 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
X
Delphinium parryi ssp.
maritimum & parryi
Parry’s Blue
Larkspur
1-5 ft
Blue-
purple/Spr
FS/?PS
Well-
drained
1 8, 20
Good under
oaks
X * Delphinium cardinale Scarlet Larkspur To 6 ft Red/Spr-Su FS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 10, 16, 19
X *Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy ½ ft
Lavernder/S
pr-Fa
FS/PS/FS
H
Well-
drained
2-3
1, 3, 5, 6, 7,
9, 13, 14
Attractive
flowers, foliage
X
* Eriogonum grande
var. rubescens
Red Buckwheat
1-2 ft tall
2-4 ft
wide
Red-pink/Su-
F
FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 5, 7, 8, 14
Tol. moderate
salt, alkali soils
X
Eriophyllum
confertiflorum var.
confertiflorum
Golden Yarrow 1-3 ft
Gold-yellow/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
Sandy
best
1-2
1, 3, 6, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
Tol. moderate
salt, alkali soils
X Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS Any 2 to 3 13, 16
Butterfly plant;
can be invasive
X
* Fragaria chiloensis
ssp. pacifica (and cultivars)
(Pacific) Coast
Strawberry
< 1 ft
spreading
White/Sp-Su PS
Sandy
best
1-2 to
2-3
1, 3, 8, 13
Let dry between
waterings;
edible fruit
X
* Fragaria vesca
(californica)
CA/Wood
Strawberry
< 2 ft
spreading
White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20 Edible fruit
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

8. 8
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X
Horkelia cuneata ssp.
cuneata
Wedgeleaf Horkelia
< 1 ½ ft t
2 ft wide
White/Spr-
Su
FS/PS sandy 1-2 to 2-3
1, 2, 6, 10, 13
(ssp. puberula)
Dies back in
summer
drought
X * Hosackia gracilis Harlequin lotus
< 1 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
Yellow-pink/
Sp
PS Any 2-3 to 3 5, 13, 19
Enchanting
flowers
X * Iva hayesiana
San Diego Marsh
Elder
2-4 ft tall
4-6 ft w
Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH
Any, incl.
clays
1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
X * Lewisii cotyledon Siskiyou bitter-root
< 1 ft tall
1 ft wide
Magenta/Su PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2
5, 8, 10, 16,
19, 30, 31, 45
Lovely bright
flowers
X Limonium californicum
California Sea-
Lavender
1-2 ft tall
and wide
Purple/Su-F FS
Any;
sand to
clay
2-3 to 3 8, 10, 14, 16
Tolerates
seaside
conditions
X *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower
1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide
Red/Spr-Su
FS/PS/
FSH
any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic
X Mimulus cardinalis
Scarlet
Monkeyflower
To 3 ft Red/Spr-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3
3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16, 19
easy
X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower 1-5 ft
Yellow/W-
Spr
FS Any 2-3 to 3
1, 3, 5, 8, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
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
* Monardella villosa
(ssp. subserrata)
Coyote Mint
1 ft;
spreading
Pink/Spr-Su PS See note 1-2
1, 3, 8, 13, 14,
19
Well-drained
soil best
X * Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel
< 1 ft tall
2-4 ft
wide
Pink/Sp PS/FSH most 2-3 to 3 2, 11, 24
Nice, spreading,
woodsy
* Penstemon
centranthifolius
Scarlet Bugler 1-3 ft
OR-Red/
Sp-Su
FS
Well-
drained
1
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14
May be difficult
X * Penstemon eatonii
Firecracker
Penstemon
1-3 ft &
wide
Red/Sp-Su FS
Well-
drained
1
1, 3, 6, 8,
10, 11, 13
Very showy
X * Penstemon grinnellii
Grinnell’s
Penstemon
1-2 ft Purple/Su FS
Well-
drained
1
1, 6, 8, 10,
13, 14
X
Penstemon
heterophyllus
Foothill Penstemon 1-2 ft
Purple/Spr-
Su
FS/PS sandy 1 to 1-2 14 Many blooms
X * Penstemon laetus Gay Penstemon 1-3 ft
Lavender/Sp
-Su
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 1, 13
Phacelia distans
Common Phacelia;
Wild Heliotrope
1-2 ft tall Violet/Spr FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 10
Good under
other plants

9. 9
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
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
*Pycnanthemum
californicum
Mountain mint
1-3 ft tall
spreading
White/Sp-Su PS Most 2-3 to 3 1, 6, 8, 13, 14 Edible mint
X Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage 1-3 ft Magenta/Spr PS/FSH Any 1-2
1, 3, 8, 9, 12,
13, 19
Cut back yearly
X
Scrophularia californica
ssp. floribunda
CA Bee Plant 2-3 ft Red/Spr PS Most 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
X Solanum xanti (var. ?)
Purple (Chaparral)
Nightshade
2-4 ft tall
Purple/Spr-
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 * Sphaeralcea ambigua
Globe Mallow/
Desert Mallow
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Orange/
Sp-Su
FS Most 1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16
Reseeds; silvery
to white foliage
X Stachys albens
Whitestem
Woodmint
1-3 ft
White/Spr-
Su
FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 12
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
Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering
Any native annual and most native biennials can be successfully grown in containers (See Annual Wildflowers list)
Cacti and Succulents
X * Agave shawii
Coastal Agave/
Shaw’s Century
Plant
2-3 ft tall
2-5 ft
wide
Yellow/at
age 15 yrs
FS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 1, 2, 9, 14
Tolerates
seaside
conditions;
suckers (‘pups’)
X * Dudleya cymosa Canyon Live-forever
To 1 ft
tall &
wide
Yellow-red/
Sp
PS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2 1, 3, 8, 13
Santa Monica
Mtns; good in
stone walls

10. 10
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
* Dudleya farinosa Bluff Lettuce
1 ft tall &
wide
Yellow-red/
Sp
FS Rocks 1-2 11, 13, 20
good in stone
walls; white
foliage
X Dudleya lanceolata Lance-leaf Dudleya
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Yellow-
Orange/Spr-
Su
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 7, 13, 14,
15
* Dudleya palmeri
Palmer's Live-
forever
To 1 ft
tall &
wide
Yellow-red/
Sp
PS
Well-
drained
1 to 2 1, 13
Santa Monica
Mtns; slopes
X
Dudleya pulverulenta
(ssp. pulverulenta)
CA Chalk Dudleya
< 2 ft &
wide
Pink-
Yellow/Spr-
Su
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 1, 3, 14, 19
With good
drainage
X
Dudleya virens ssp.
Hassei & insularis
Bright Green
Dudleya
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Orange/Spr-
Su
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 1, 7, 13, 14
X Opuntia littoralis Coastal Prickly Pear To 3 ft
Yellow/W-
Spr
FS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14
Large container,
planter
X * Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf Stonecrop
< 1 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2 to 3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13 San Gabriels
X * Yucca baccata Banana yucca
3-5+ ft t.
3-5+ ft w
White/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2
2, 6, 8, 16, 24,
44
Edible fruits
Ferns and Fern-like Plants
Most native ferns can be grown successfully in large post or planters (See Native Ferns & Fern-like Plants list)
Bulbs and Corms
Most native bulbs and corms do great in containers (see Bulbs & Corms list). Calochortus species may be a little more difficult in
containers; the rest do very well.
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)
Many native grasses can be grown in containers and planters (see Grasses & Grass-like Plants list). Listed below are some that are
particularly nice in containers, including large pots.
X
* Achnatherum
speciosum
Desert Needlegrass 1-3 ft
cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
FS
Sandy
best
1 to 1-2 10, 13, 16
Long-lived; self-
sows freely
Agrostis exarata Spike Bentgrass 1-4 ft tall
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
FS/PS Not alkali 1-2 to 3 10, 16

11. 11
I
Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X * Calamagrostis foliosa
Leafy (Mendocino)
Reed Grass
1-2 ft tall
& wide
cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
Well-
drained
2-3 1, 3, 8, 13
Nice foliage
color
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)
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
Cyperus eragrostis
Umbrella Sedge/
Tall Flat-sedge
2-4 ft tall
clumping
Warm-
season, sod
sedge
FS.PS any 1-2 to 3 7, 10, 13
Cyperus odoratus Fragrant Flat-sedge 1-3 ft tall
Warm-
season,
annual sedge
FS/PS any 1-2 to 3 ?
X Eleocharis palustris Common Spikerush
1-2 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS Any 1-2 to 3
1, 2, 7, 10, 13,
16
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
Will grow in
standing water;
contain
X Equisetum laevigatum Smooth Horsetail
2-5 ft tall
spreading
Perennial FS
Clays
best
2-3 to 3 8
X * Festuca californica CA Fescue
<1-2 ft
tall 1-3 ft
wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3
1, 5, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16, 19
‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse
Mountain Green',
'Serpentine Blue'
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
‘Warren Peak’,
‘Siskiyou Blue’
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 balticus Baltic Rush
1-3 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
Sod rush FS
Any incl.
alk./salty
2-3 3, 16
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’

12. 12
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
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
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 contained
if watered
X Leymus condensatus Giant Rye Grass
4-6 ft tall
& wide
Warm season
perennial
FS/PS Any 1-2
1, 3, 9, 10, 12,
16
‘Canyon Prince’
is low-growing
X Melica imperfecta Coastal Melic Grass
1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide
Cool season
bunchgrass
PS Any 1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 19
Dies back
completely
X * Muhlenbergia rigens Deergrass
2-4 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS Any 1-2
3, 4, 5, 9, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
X Stipa/Nassella cernua
Nodding
Needlegrass
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
X Stipa/Nassella lepida Foothill Needlegrass
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16
X
* Stipa/Nassella
pulchra
Purple Needlegrass
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS/PS any 1 to 1-2
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16,
11/7/15
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