September 2025 Plant Availability

View our ‘currant’ inventory on our website

View our ‘currant’ inventory in spreadsheet format

Greetings ,

How the time flies–we became an employee-owned cooperative exactly a year ago today! We wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the behind the scenes of what goes into growing Native plants the Watershed Nursery Cooperative (TWNC) way.

Our retail nursery is just one part of the growing we do–TWNC started out as a restoration nursery, growing Native plants from seed for clients like East Bay Regional Parks District, Valley Water, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and others. Over the years, our plant babies have made it across the Bay Area Watersheds–check out our Projects map to view some of the sites where you might see them! Our cofounders, Laura Hanson-Prescott and Diana Benner, were motivated to start the nursery in part by the lack of local ecotype/site-specific gene stock for restoration available at the time. Why seek out local ecotypes?

To ensure the greatest success in your landscaping efforts. Research has shown that plants of the same species growing at different locations can be quite different in their appearance, growth, and behavior. These variations have evolved over long periods of time and reflect adaptation to local conditions, such as climate, soil chemistry, and water. A plant with a local ecotype will be better suited genetically to regional growing conditions.
To help preserve local pollinators, insects, birds, mammals, and other wildlife which have co-evolved with plants of local ecotype and depend upon them for food, shelter, etc.
To preserve the genetic diversity and integrity of native plants. The natural variations (ecotypes) found in a particular species serve as adaptations to better handle local environmental growing conditions and differ as growing conditions change across varying microclimates.

Seed Collection & Sourcing:

Providing site-specific gene stock requires quite a bit of leg work! Over the years, under collection permits, and working with clients and generous conservation-minded land stewards, our staff have hand collected, cleaned, documented, and stored a seed bank of hundreds of species, and have kept collection records and propagation records for each time we’ve grown plants using those seeds. You can see one small part of this at work in our retail nursery, where our seed source counties are listed on the plant tags.

Diana collecting Marah fabacea, or Wild Cucumber

Let’s get Germinating:

Once seeds have been collected, it’s off to the races to process them. Seed viability deteriorates at high temperatures and humidity, so cleaning and drying off chaff, pulp, husks, and fluff is a key part of seed processing. Depending on the species, our propagation staff (Jessica & Stephanie) may use a series of screens, a blender, a dehydrator, or even a power washer to prep seeds for use.

Processing Salix (Willow) seeds means carefully picking tiny seeds out of fluff.

Some species germinate better with a hot soak, cold stratification, fire, acid, or a combination. Symphoricarpos albus , or Snowberry is one example of a long journey to germinate–up to 7+ months in a combination of warm and cold stratification!

Left: Seedlings germinating–do you recognize any species?

Below: filling soil buckets with heat-treated soil

But wait, what about BMPs?

Oh yeah, we do those too! The Watershed Nursery Coop is a restoration nursery leader in developing and implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) throughout our production to reduce the risk of introducing pathogens, like Sudden Oak Death (SOD), to restoration projects and residences alike. We currently have implemented all the BMPs in all of our production, including the BMP specifying the use of heat-treated media. We also know the sources of our ingredients included in our regular potting media. Curious what this looks like? Our raised tables, gravel paths, elevated hose bibs, foot baths, and hand cleaning all contribute, but soil steaming and container cleaning is a major part of it. We hand wash, power wash, and steam sterilize our pots & steam sterilize our soil to reduce waste and keep our plants healthy.

You can help us keep growing by bringing back our containers to our “dirty containers” bins in our parking lot. Thank you!

We hope our “staff picks” below provide some inspiration as we gear up for planting season, and that you enjoy getting to learn more about each of the wonderful folks that contribute to growing our amazing plants!

If you’re interested in joining our team, we’re currently hiring for two positions: Project Manager and Retail Sales Associate!

Name:

Aaron

Role:

Retail Sales Associate

Favorite plant of the month: Prunus ilicifolia

One of my favorites is Prunus ilicifolia. I admire them for their tough as nails adaptability combined with their fantastic habitat value. When they are blooming it look likes they are carried in a cloud of bees! If I could only chose one evergreen shrub for yard, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick Hollyleaf Cherry.

As a Coop member, I feel such a sense of pride in the work we do. It is a wonderful feeling to feel as if all my coworkers have my back. I think our team has built a lot of trust in each other and we remain accountable to each other.

Hollyleaf Cherry

Prunus ilicifolia

Available in D-16 for $8.50, D-40 for $10.90 each!

This evergreen shrub/tree is slow to establish at first, but after reaching maturity it grows more rapidly to 10-25′ tall & 15′ wide. Space 10-12′ apart.
Thrives in full sun and has low water requirements. The cherries are edible but have very little flesh. Provides food for many birds.
It has holly-like leaves and clusters of white flower spikes that cover the entire plant in March.
Showy and easily grown from seed, Holly-Leafed Cherry is prized for cultivation. It has been cultivated for hundreds of years as a food source. Tolerates twice-yearly pruning when used as a hedge.

Name:

Diana

Role:

Co-founder, Project Supervisor, & Board Member

Plant pick of the month:

Sphaeralcea ambigua

I’m so fond of this plant–the color of the blooms especially. They remind me of camping with family in Bishop, especially my aunt’s love of these and other native plants. My aunt was also one of the first female park rangers in the National Parks Service!

Desert Globemallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

Available in D-16 and 1-gallon pots for $8.95-16.50 each!

A woolly perennial that grows to 3 feet tall and almost as wide.
Earning its specific epithet “ambigua,” Desert Globemallow’s flowers vary in color from orange to a rose-like salmon-color. The large flowers appear in loose clusters from spring to late fall. It can bloom nearly year-round in the warmest regions and is native to the dry regions of the US and Mexico. Low maintenance, can be cut back periodically to maintain shape.
Works well in beds and borders as well as in a container. A superstar in a drought tolerant garden. Hardy, beautiful color and butterfly magnet!

Name:

Jesse

Role:

Propagation Manager & Board Member

Plant pick(s) of the month:

Solanum umbelliferum

The Solanum is a lovely surprise when they regrow in the spring! They bloom the most ethereal purple, and I’ve seen them pop up in places that are super hot & dry, without the slightest bit of stress.

Quercus durata

In a word, adorable–adorable little form, wonderfully squat acorns, just adorable!

Bluewitch Nightshade

Solanum umbelliferum

Available in D-16 pots (75% off) for $1.93, and 2-gallons for $27.95 apiece!

Bluewitch Nightshade is an herbaceous perennial sub-shrub that grows up to 3 feet tall.
The 1-inch, bright blue-purple flowers bloom most of the year (from February to October) and are followed by black berries (do NOT eat them! – all parts of this plant are toxic to humans and some animals).
Bluewitch Nightshade is tough, and can grow in both rocky and clay soils.
A great choice for bee gardens as the bright yellow centers of the flowers provide a plethora of pollen!

Leather Oak

Quercus durata

Available in D-40 pots for $2.73-11.45 apiece!

Quercus durata is a slow growing evergreen shrub occasionally reaching 10 feet in height but usually much shorter. It takes on a mounding shape and does well with very little care.
Because of its relatively small size for an oak, this plant is considered a shrub oak and is often used as an urban tree.
It will do best when planted in an area with hot, dry rocky soil, but will also do fine in areas that have serpentine or heavy clay soils as it is often found growing in in the wild
Companion plants include Toyons, Manzanitas and Madrones.

Name:

Stephanie

Role:

Inventory Manager & Board Member

Plant pick of the month:

Cercocarpus betuloides

Mountain mahogany can survive in such hot conditions! The seeds are so fun–fuzzy curlicues that sparkle in the sun. Hummingbirds and butterflies love them too!

I appreciate the strength in our community as a coop. I have a lot of trust in my colleagues and genuinely enjoy spending time with them. The amount of shared responsibility has increased significantly since becoming a cooperative.

Mountain Mahogany

Cercocarpus betuloides

Available in D-40 pots for $11.45 each!

Mountain mahogany is an erect, slow to moderate growing shrub or small tree growing 10-15′ tall x 6′ wide. Space 12-15′ apart.
Prune-able for a narrow planting area, side yard, screen, or hedge. A quietly colorful plant with smooth bark, reddish gray branches, and tiny yellow flowers followed by feather-like seeds. If possible, plant in a backlit location to appreciate this plant’s unusual, silvery, glittering appearance when in seed. Companion plants include many of the chaparral species including Oaks, Toyon, Coffeeberry, Manzanitas, Ceanothus, and Sages. It is tolerant of serpentine soils.

Name:

Edwin

Role:

Plant Production Associate & Board Member

Plant pick of the month:

Lupinus longifolius

For this 2025, my favorite plant is the Bush Lupine; the reason is as simple as saying that it is a beautiful plant. I like to see how in nature its large bouquets of purple flowers contrast with the rustic environment of other chaparral plants.

I like working in the cooperative because the collaborative and inclusive environment has been encouraging for all of us. We’re taking into account more of everyone’s ideas and opinions, always with the aim of improving, both as a company and for our clients.

Longleaf Bush Lupine

Lupinus longifolius

Available in D-40 pots for $11.45 apiece!

Longleaf Bush Lupine is a bushy, erect perennial shrub reaching a max height and width of ~1.5 meters.
Native to the coastal mountain ranges and hillsides of southern CA, it is often found on sloping scrub and chaparral lands.
Longleaf Bush Lupine is a beautiful addition to a rock garden, southern facing slope, or will do well in a large container. Softly hairy silvery green foliage pops against pale purple to white blooms.
This species prefers rocky, well drained soil. Pair with Deerweed, Sagebrush, CA buckwheat, and milkweed for a showy summer garden.

Name:

Argelio

Role:

Plant Production Associate

Plant pick of the month:

Cornus sericea

When pressed to pick a favorite (how can you choose?), Argelio chose the Dogwood–he appreciates the shade they provide, their broad white blooms, and how quickly they grow. If you stop by the nursery, you can see his pruning handiwork with the Dogwood by our office!

American Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Available in D-40 for $11.45 apiece!

This deciduous shrub grows to 15’ tall and 25’ wide. It spreads by rhizomes and will quickly fill in a wet area of the garden.
Redstem dogwood makes a beautiful winter accent with its wine colored bark and excellent for creek side erosion control.
Dogwood is often planted as an ornamental, both to beautify the landscape and to attract birds.
Flowers in the spring.

Name:

Isabel

Role:

Plant Production Associate

Plant pick of the month:

Malva assurgentiflora

Isa loves the blooms of the Island Mallow–it’s her favorite species of any we grow! She appreciates how fast they grow and how the flowers seem to hide under the greenery. Eagle eyed readers might remember Isa chose the Island Mallow as her favorite last summer as well 🙂

Island Mallow

Malva assurgentiflora

Available in TB2, D40, and 2-gallon pots for $8.95-31.75 each!

Island Mallow is a fast growing evergreen shrub that grows about 10 ft. tall and wide.
This plant produces hot pink, tropical looking flowers. It is an extremely fast grower and great for an informal hedge or specimen. It can also be trained as a small tree.
The long blooming season spans from spring until summer. Adapts to many soil types, but prefers good drainage. Unfortunately, gophers like this one as much as we do, so probably best to avoid if you have gophers nearby!

Name:

Cat

Role:

Retail Manager, Board Member

Plant pick of the month:

Aralia californica

I don’t currently have anywhere I could plant this species, but I adore them–they pop up in creeks and shady streambanks, standing tall (up to 8 feet!), with lush green leaves, and unique firework-shaped blooms, that fade to deep purple berries (below). They remind me of the streamside trails through Muir Woods, where I first saw them.

Elk Clover

Aralia californica

Available in D-40 pots for $10.20 each!

This large, dramatic winter deciduous perennial grows to about 6′ x 6′ and can reach as much as 8 feet around. Deer resistant, loves shade, and can tolerate serpentine soils.
Elk clover is native to shaded stream banks throughout western California. Despite its streamside habit, Elk Clover will do well in any soil that does not dry out completely.
In the summer, small greenish-white flowers appear in globes, ripening into small purple fruit that birds have a appetite for. The bloom stalks fade a lovely fuchsia when going to fruit.
Great for a woodland or cottage garden–use as a shrub border, woodland edge, or near a water feature.

Name:

Francisco

Role:

Plant Production Associate

Plant pick of the month: Quercus sp.

Francisco loves oaks of any kind, but especially the Coast Live Oak for its majestic form.

Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

Available in D-40 for $11.45, TB4 for $16.50 each!

This stately drought resistant evergreen tree grows 40 to 100 feet tall and has more wildlife associated with it that any other tree in California! Space > 35 ft. apart.
Several deep main roots tap groundwater if present to a depth of 36 feet and develop extensive horizontal root branches and a surface-feeding root system. Great for stabilizing a slope.
This tree has beautiful gray, fissured bark, and is a good choice for a shade tree.
Remember, it is important not to water oaks in the summer once established!

Name:

Ramón

Role:

Plant Production Associate

Plant pick of the month:

Monardella villosa

I love Coyote Mint because it’s very strong and very beautiful.

And about the Coop, I love it, and above all, I feel like I’m part of a family.

Coyote Mint

Monardella villosa

Available in D16 and 1-gallons for $7.70-15.25 each!

This perennial wildflower is found only in California. It grows as a small mat-forming shrub about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Space 2 feet apart.
The lavender flowers provide valuable nectar for butterflies. It is also a larval host plant that will attract beneficial insects. Being in the mint family, the leaves have a lovely minty scent and can be steeped to make tea.
Flowers June – August

Name:

Andrew

Role:

Retail Sales Associate & Admin

Plant pick of the month:

Eriogonum fasciculatum

It’s hard to get Andrew to choose just one favorite, especially when we have Ptelea crenulata and Rhus integrifolia on our shelves! This time of year, though, he’s a big fan of buckwheats–aren’t we all?

In his words, CA Buckwheat is “the best pollinator plant in my garden in Richmond. All types of bees and moths visit. It’s like an invertebrate rave in my yard!”

California Buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum

Available in D-16 and D-40 pots for for $8.95-11.45 each!

This fast-growing, long-lived evergreen shrub is found throughout the foothills of California, usually on fairly dry slopes. If forms a nice mound 2-3′ tall and wide. Space 3’0″ apart.
The cream-colored flowers bloom April – September then turn rusty pink as they dry. A favorite of butterflies and honeybees!
This is an excellent plant for erosion control and is tolerant of the worst soils. Once established make sure to minimize additional water.

‘Bee’ Well from all of us at

The Watershed Nursery Cooperative!

Thank you, Grace Munakata, for sharing the beautiful photos from her garden, above!

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