Prunus

The Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) is one of the most spectacular California native plants. Getting it started can be difficult, but once established, it requires no irrigation and may, in fact, need to be watched so as not to take over your garden.

Trichostema lanatum (woolly blue curls) grows to three to five feet high and four to eight feet wide.  The dark green leaves are pungent when bruised.  The purple flowers are fuzzy and appear in spring.  The plant will continue to bloom during summer and autumn if it is deadheaded.  Trichostema takes full sun and needs…

Rhamnus californica, or coffeeberry, is an evergreen shrub that can grow from three to fifteen feet, depending on the variety and the climate in which it is planted.  The common name comes from the berries that turn black once they have ripened.  It is not particular about soil and can take sun or partial shade. …

Fremontodendron is also known as flannel bush because the back of the leaves are fuzzy and soft.  Showy yellow flowers appear in spring.  This shrub takes full sun and is drought tolerant once established, requiring no irrigation at all.  Its primary drawback is that it tends to be short lived, but it is fabulous while…

For the shade, try Heuchera maxima, a cream flowering coral bell that looks great under oak trees and needs very little water.

Tops on the list of desirable shrubs is Arctostaphylos, commonly called manzanita. Again, there are many choices in this genus. Handsome and tree-like are ‘Dr. Hurd’, ‘Hood Mountain’ and ‘Austin Griffiths’. ‘Sentinel’ is one of the more upright varieties, eventually reaching five to six feet.   Medium sized Manzanitas are ‘Howard McMinn,’ ‘Sunset,’ ‘John Dourley’ and ‘Wayside,’…