Mimulus

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…

Zauschneria, or California fuschia, is a low spreading plant with green, grey or silvery foliage and orange to scarlet flowers.  Bloom occurs in late summer or autumn and the flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds.  The plant is fast growing and drought tolerant, but as with most plants, it looks better with occasional water.  It…

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…

This native plant is of variable appearance, but generally has narrow bluish green foliage and blue to purple flowers.  The variety ‘Margarita Bop’ was discovered at Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita.  It sends up wands of fuchsia and violet blue flowers in spring and early summer and requires little to moderate water, as do other heterophyllus.    

Heteromeles arbutifolia, or toyon, is an evergreen native shrub with thick, leathery leaves.  The flat heads of white flowers in spring attract bees and the bright red berries that follow are favored by birds.  Toyon usually grows as a dense shrub to six to ten feet tall and wide, but can also be trained as…

Ceanothus, ‘California wild lilac’, is known for its wonderful spring floral display.  Flower colors are either white or shades of purple-blue, while height can range from a foot or two to twenty feet.  ‘Ray Hartman’ and ‘Cliff Schmidt’ are among the tallest of the Ceanothus, attaining heights of twelve to twenty feet.   ‘Dark Star’ and ‘Concha’ are among the varieties…