Showing 33–48 of 103 results
American dogwood 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…
California hazelnut This deciduous shrub (to small tree) grows 5-15’ tall and wide. Space 10-20′ apart. It is a good choice among small trees to create a “woodland” effect in small gardens, especially under conifers. In the wild, it is found along damp slopes and stream banks. This species grows with a spreading and airy…
Tall nutsedge Tall nutsedge is a native evergreen sedge. It grows in wetlands and riparian areas and can spread quickly. It’s maximum height is 3′ and can spread to around 30 ft. Space plants 24 to 48 inches apart. The stems and roots are edible and reported to taste like almonds, fresh coconut and raisins….
Saltgrass This rhizomatous grass grows 6”-1′ tall and is the only host plant for the larvae of the wandering skipper butterfly, Panoquina errans. Space 15-24″ apart. Found in salt and brackish coastal marshes, this plant can tolerate poor, salty soil and will grow into large monocultures. It is an important food source for geese and…
Spike rush This is a rhizomatous perennial generally reaching heights between 1.5-3′. Pale spikerush is a plant of varied moist habitats, including freshwater lakes and brackish marshes and ponds, ditches, vernal pools, and wet meadows. It has bright green erect stems and straw-colored basal leaves. That would provide a lush boarder around a backyard pond….
Creeping wild rye This long-lived semi-evergreen, spreading perennial grass grows 1.5 to 4′ tall. Near riverbanks, this native great for erosion control because of its rhizomatous growth habit. Also, it tolerates trampling and mowing. It has been a superstar at out-competing some invasive weeds. One of our more common riparian understory grasses, this grass stays…
Stream orchid This rhizomatous perennial orchid grows from 12-18” tall. The beautiful showy flowers are the largest flowers of all the California native orchids. This California stream orchid grows in permanently wet soil and so it makes a beautiful and well behaved addition to any bog. The Landscape uses are abundant. Plant near waterfall, ponds,…
Field horsetail Equisetum arvense is thought to be the oldest vascular plant genus, so ancient that Dinosaurs were most likely munching on this herbaceous perennial. Like an erect horse’s tail, with tubular stems fronds sticking out from a main shoot, this prehistoric plant grows to about 1.5 ft tall, and may have up to 20…
Smooth scouring rush This prehistoric relative of the fern grows throughout much of North America. Early settlers and Indians used scouring rush scouring and polishing pots and pans, hence the name “scouring rush”. The grittiness comes form the high silica content of the plant cells. Often forming clonal colonies of plants, the root system consists…
Seep Monkeyflower This annual/perennial grows to about one foot, and self sows. Beautiful when planted around water features or in wet meadows or containers. Useful along the edges of ponds or fountains. Seep monkey flower is well liked by hummingbirds and disliked by deer. Long blooming period from Spring through Summer.
Western goldenrod Western goldenrod is a deciduous, spreading perennial that grows to about 4′ tall. Western goldenrod is a colorful addition to the garden. This stout and branching perennial is ideal for stream side plantings and provides great bank stabilization. A water loving plant, it may be found in damp ground along rivers, streams, tidal…
Beach strawberry This fast evergreen, spreading groundcover grows to about 6″ tall covering the ground with glossy dark green foliage and bright white flowers. Good as a lightly trafficked turf, on broad hillsides, or in parking strips and walkways. Plant 12-18” apart. Fruits are edible. Prune annually to renovate and prevent thick-layered colonies. Flowers April…
Alkali Heath This native perennial rhizomatous herb, often called alkali heath or alkali seaheath is uncommon, even in the region where it is most likely to be found, just north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a squat flowering bush that grows to about 1-foot tall forming a twiggy thicket near beaches and…
Oregon ash A deciduous, medium sized (30′-80′) tree, symmetrical in shape, growing about half as wide as it is tall. This tree may reach the age of 250 years and is fast growing the first third of those years, then grows slowly. Space 30′ apart. Oregon ash is commonly found in riparian habitats. In open…
Wild licorice Wild licorice is an erect perennial up to 3 ft. The plant grows in moist soils; although it will grow in heavy soil it prefers sandy soil. It may form colonies by adventitious shoots from roots and rhizomes. The dense white flowers are crowded on a terminal spike, making it an attractive addition…
Marsh gumplant This evergreen perennial sub-shrub grows to 3-5′ tall and 3-5′ wide. Gumplants can be identified by the glossy, gummy liquid on the flower buds before they open (hence the name gumplant). In fact, the gummy substance was once made into a chewing gum and an adhesive. Marsh gumplant grows in wet soils along…