plants for s. california rain gardens & infiltration swales

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

2


Flower/ season


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’

3


Flower/ season


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

4


Flower/ season


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

X Cornus sericea Redosier dogwood 10-25 ft

tall & wide White/Sp PS Any 2 to 3 8, 11, 13, 20

Birds like

berries

X * Holodiscus discolor Creambush; Ocean Spray

10-20 ft tall

White/Su-Fa FS/PS Any, incl. clays

1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14 Upper stream banks; fragrant

5


Flower/ season


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 * Philadelphus lewisii CA Mock Orange 4-10 ft tall & wide

White/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Any, incl clays

2-3 1, 7, 13, 14, 19

Very fragrant;

riparian woodland

X * Rhamnus californica California Coffeeberry

6-12 ft t &

wide; short cultivars

Buff/Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18

Upper bank

X Rhus trilobata Basket Bush; Sour

Berry; Skunkbrush 2-6 ft

Yellow-green/Sp

PS any 1-2 to 2 10, 13, 14, 16, 19

Mid-bank to upper bank

X Ribes aureum var.

gracillimum Golden Currant To 10 ft

Yellow/

W-Sp FS/PS/ FSH Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 12, 14

Any well-

drained; Birds eat berries

Smaller Shrubs ( < 6 ft. tall) ; includes woody sub-shrubs

X * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium

Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 Upper bank

X * Ericameria nauseosa Rabbitbush 2-5 ft tall &

wide Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 13, 16

Good for

butterflies

X Epilobium canum (Zauschneria

californica)

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; mid-

to upper bank

X **Gambelia (Galvezia)

speciosa ‘Firecracker

Firecracker Catalina

Snapdragon 2-4 ft tall Red/Sp + FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2

1, 3, 7, 8, 9,

13, 14 Streamside

X * Hibiscus lasiocarpus Rose mallow 3-6 ft tall

2-4 ft wide

White-red/

Sp-Su FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 11, 13, 46 Showy flowers

X * Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 4-6 ft tall

to 10 ft w

Yellow/

Sp-Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 7, 18 Mulch soil

X Ribes californicum var.

hesperium Hillside Gooseberry To 3 ft

Red-white/ W-Sp

PS/FSH Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 10, 12, 13 (var.

californicum)

Mid- to upper bank

X Ribes speciosum Fuschia-flowered

Gooseberry 3-6+ ft tall

and wide

dark pink/

W-Sp FS/PS/FSH

Well-

drained

2-3;

3 in sun

1, 3, 10, 12-

14, 19

Mid- to upper

bank ; spiny

X * Ribes sanguineum

var. glutinosum

Red-flowering

Currant 4-10 ft Pink/Sp PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2-3

3, 5, 13, 14,

19

Mid- to upper

bank

X Symphoricarpos albus

var. laevigatus

Common

Snowberry 3-5 ft,

spreading White/Sp PS

Clays,

loams 2-3 7, 9, 13, 19

Fruit may be

toxic to humans

6


Flower/ season


X Symphoricarpos mollis Snowberry 2-4 ft tall &

wide Pink/W-Sp PS/FSH any 2-3 to 3 13, 14

Mulch; upper bank; See

Common Snowberry

X * Verbena lilacina Cedros Island

Verbena 2-4 ft tall

3-5 ft wide Lilac/Sp-F FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3

1, 3, 8, 9, 13,

14

Lovely year-round; upper bank

Perennial Vines

X * Lonicera ciliosa Orange Honeysuckle

15-20 ft Orange/ Sp-Su

PS/FSH Any 2-3 2, 8 Lower bank

X Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans

Western Honeysuckle

5-18 ft Pink/Sp-Su PS/FSH clay 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14, 19

Upper bank; fragrant flowers

X * Lonicera interrupta Chaparral Honeysuckle

8-20+ ft Yellow/ Sp-Su

FS/PSH Any 2 to 2-3 2 Excellent habitat plant

X ** Vitis californica ‘Roger’s Red’

‘Roger’s Red’ California Grape

> 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

7


Flower/ season


** 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


Flower/ season


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


Flower/ season


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


Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 14

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X Solidago spectabilis var. confinis

Southern Goldenrod


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


Flower/ season


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


Flower/ season


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


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


Flower/ season


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


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

http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html

http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/where-to-purchase-native-plants.html

plants for s. california rain gardens & infiltration swales

Education

ft tall yellowsp fs

ft tall spreading coolseason

ft wide coolseason

ft tall wide creamsu

ft wide whitesu fsps

ft tall spreading purplesu

toxic shallow water

ft tall pinksuf ps