Carpenteria californica

Another very showy native is Dendromecon harfordii (California bush poppy).  In late spring, it is covered in bright yellow flowers and flowers intermittently throughout the summer.  

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

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…

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.

Another diverse and useful genus is Salvia. The Clevelandii group includes ‘Allen Chickering’, ‘Whirly Blue’, ‘Pozo Blue’ and ‘Winifred Gilman’.  In need of an attractive, drought tolerant ground cover? Try ‘Bee’s Bliss’. This salvia has gray green leaves with lavender flowers in spring; it will spread three to four feet wide or more. Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird sage) A…

Prunus lyonii (Catalina Cherry) and Prunus ilicifolia (Holly leaf Cherry) are two evergreen shrubs that are extremely useful as screens or background plants. They both have red berries in late summer which the birds find very desirable.