February 2026 Plant Availability

View our ‘currant’ inventory on our website

View our ‘currant’ inventory in spreadsheet format

Greetings ,

Well folks, we’ve made it through the darkest days of winter, and like our annual lupines (Arroyo Lupine, or Lupinus succulentus to the right), we are turning towards the sun. How’s your garden doing? We’ve been hard at work in the gardens around the nursery–weeding, planting, and repairing signage & irrigation for the warmer seasons ahead. When you stop by, take a look and let us know what you think!

Springtime fun is also coming soon–the Bringing Back the Natives Extravaganzas are right around the corner! We donate a portion of our proceeds to the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour on Extravaganza days. For the first Extravaganza on Saturday, February 21st, we’re excited to be hosting Jeni Schmedding of Golden Gate Bird Alliance for a 1:00 pm talk on how “Native Plants are for the Birds.” She’ll be discussing how provide habitat for backyard birds, garden maintenance timing, and how to be a better birder. Hope to see y’all there!

Now for *important* business: Our staff have rolled up our sleeves to create this year’s cheesy native plant-themed Valentines. Feel free to use any of these plants and their sayings below as Valentines for your loved ones. Or if plants aren’t your thing (gasp!), check out our other offerings below–wildflower seed packets, gift certificates, and of course, elderberry syrup and handmade mugwort soaps from Shakewell Herbalism.

Keep reading to the end of the newsletter for some exciting new-to-TWNC species on our shelves this month (though knowing y’all, we don’t expect these geophytes will be around for long!)

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Available in D-16 containers for $8.20 apiece!

This semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial grows 1-3 ft tall and is a perfect choice for growing in a meadow garden.
The ferny foliage will stay green all year with some summer water and the white umbels make great cut flowers. Cut back after blooming which takes place from March through June.
Yarrow spreads by rhizomes, a characteristic of a good slope stabilizer. Also, Checkerspot butterflies are attracted to this plant.

Western Spicebush

Calycanthus occidentalis

Available in TB4 containers for $17.70 apiece!

This deciduous shrub to multi-stemmed small tree grows to 8′ tall and 8′ wide in an erect, dense, rounded form. This plant is a moderate to fast grower and provides good erosion control and soil binding ability when planted along stream banks. Grows taller with ample water.
Spicebush is named for its fragrant leaves. The 2-3”, maroon flower blooms continuously from April to August.
Plant alongside Douglas Iris, giant chain fern, and foothill sedge. Great wildlife plant- birds love the seeds.

Pearly Everlasting

Pseudognaphalium californicum

Available in D-16 containers for $7.30 apiece!

A biennial or short-lived perennial about 2′ tall.
A pioneer plant that helps to prepare a site and aid in the establishment of longer-lived plants in the native landscape.
The green foliage has a cumin or anise-like fragrance; creamy-white flowers summer to fall are used in dried and fresh flower arrangements.
Attractive companion plants: Sagebrush, Coyote brush, and Buckwheat. Well suited for an informal, cottage style garden.
The American Painted Lady Butterfly uses this plant as food for its larvae.
Previously named Gnaphalium californicum.

Chaparral Yucca

Hesperoyucca whipplei

Available in D-40 and 2-gallon containers for $10.20-$31.00 apiece!

Chaparral Yucca is a southern Californian desert plant. It has a moderate growth rate and grows from 2-12 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
It typically takes 5-10 years to reach maturity and when it produces it’s huge 10-15 foot flower spike with hundreds of bell shaped white to purplish flowers.
This plant has few or no pest problems. Pruning is not required, however the plant may need to be removed when it dies after flowering.

California Buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum

Available in TB2 containers for $8.95 apiece!

This fast-growing, long-lived evergreen shrub is found throughout the foothills of California, usually on fairly dry slopes. If forms a nice mound ~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 bees!
This is an excellent plant for erosion control and is tolerant of the worst soils. Once established make sure to minimize additional water.

Black Sage

Salvia mellifera

Available in TB2, D40, and TB4 containers for $8.95-17.70 apiece!

A spring-flowering evergreen shrub with a fresh and spicy scent. Reaches 3-6′ high x 6-8′ wide. Drought tolerant when established; needs no summer water in most areas, but better looking and a lower fire hazard with once-a-month water. An excellent plant for quickly covering dry sunny slopes & providing erosion control.
Many small birds and quail like to eat the seeds and the light blue to lavender flowers provide nectar that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, & native bees.
Black sage is said by beekeepers to be one of the best nectar sources for honeybees.

California Sagebrush

Artemisia californica

Available in TB2, D40, and TB4 containers for $8.95-17.70 apiece!

This perennial shrub grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
California sagebrush looks great growing with Sticky Monkeyflower in the garden. The plant can be cut back periodically to keep it more compact.
California sagebrush is the preferred nesting site of the federally threatened California gnat catcher, and quail love it.
Botanically, it is not a true sage, but its silvery foliage has a pleasing, sage-like fragrance.

California Fuchsia

Epilobium canum

Available in TB2, D16, and 1-gallon containers for $8.95-16.30 apiece!

This attractive herbaceous perennial grows 1.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Space 36-48″ apart.
In the garden it is well-suited in containers, rock gardens, informal gardens, and cascading down rock walls. It is particularly stunning when planted on a rocky slope nestled between boulders.
A terrific hummingbird plant, California fuchsia blooms during the warmest part of the year, August to October, to coincide with the south migration of hummingbirds.
Prune to the ground annually and as needed for best appearance. It will re-vegetate rapidly.

Geophytes galore!

Hansen’s Larkspur

Delphinium hansenii

Available in D-16 containers for $12.80 apiece!

Hansen’s Larkspur, also called Eldorado Larkspur, is a perennial herbaceous species endemic to California.
Reaching between 2-6 feet tall when blooming, and foliage extending ~1 foot from its base. Larkspurs send up a floral stalk in spring, and bloom profusely in sequence up the stem. Hansen’s Larkspur is variable in color, from white to pink to pale purple to deep indigo. Adored by hummingbirds, native bees, butterflies, and host to four species of moths.
In the garden, plant in sunny areas with excellent soil drainage, or in containers.
Be sure to keep the planting area free from weeds, as Larkspurs will go completely dormant after blooming. Appreciate the blooms while they last, this species takes over a year to grow from seed!

Sonoma Brodiaea

Brodiaea leptandra

Available in D-16 containers for $12.80 apiece!

Sonoma Brodiaea is a rare native perennial herb (corm) that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast and North Coast Range regions.
This perennial bulb in the lily family has an upright growth habit, reaching 1-2 feet in height.
The dainty flowers vary in color from blue to pale purple. Blooms from May – July.
Found in open valley grassland and in the dappled light of foothill woodland, Sonoma Brodiaea grows fast in well drained soils, and prefers dry conditions for its dormancy period in fall-winter.
Rare California native bulb (CA Rare Plant Rank 1B.2–rare, threatened or endangered in CA) endemic to Napa & Sonoma counties.
Seeds take 2+ years to produce flowers.

Blue Dicks

Dipterostemon capitatus

Available in D-16 containers for $12.80 apiece!

Blue Dicks are a springtime perennial geophyte (corm) that have flower stalks that grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Space 3-6″ apart.
Flowers bloom March to May. Summer to winter dormant/deciduous. Great choice for adding spring color to a meadow garden. Try planting with buttercups, soap plant and purple needle grass.
A principal source of food for indigenous Californians. Large quantities of corms were dug using digging sticks. Traditional gathering sites were visited annually over long periods of time, and intentionally stewarded through digging, watering, cultural burning, division, and replanting.
Blue Dicks thrive in open areas and disturbed soils. Native across CA, and the southwest.
Plant in well-drained soil, protect from animals and weed competition. Does not tolerate frequent summer watering. Takes 2+ years from seed to flower.

Star Lily

Toxicoscordion fremontii

Available in D-16 containers for $12-$12.80 apiece!

Star lily is a perennial herb (bulb) in the lily family and an attractive wildflower found on grassy or woody slopes or rocky outcrops in many lower-lying regions of California.
Grows up to 2 ft tall and 1 ft wide.
Its flowers, seen from March to June, grow in clusters on a single large showy flower spike with many white star-shaped blooms.
Star lily can tolerate full sun but seems to prefer some protection, growing best in the shade of chaparral plants.
It can grow in clay soil but prefers decomposed granite and dry summers.
Star lily dies back in summer and reemerges the next spring.
The entire plant is poisonous–a fact hinted at by its other common name, “Death Camas.”

Soap Plant

Chlorogalum pomeridianum

Available in D-16 and D-40 containers for $8.95-13.35 apiece!

Soap plant is a bulb that grows 2′ tall by 2′ wide.
It is a superb plant for evening flowers since the flowers only open late in the day or when it is very overcast.
For a dramatic effect, plant in a meadow garden where it will go dormant during summer and fall.
This easy to grow bulb has 2′ tall spikes of small white flowers that bloom from May-August.
Bulbs are an important food source for Native Americans and may be eaten when thoroughly cooked.

‘Bee’ Well and Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at

The Watershed Nursery Cooperative!

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