Container plants 1-11

1

South Bay and Other S. CA Native Plants for Pots, Containers & Planters

I Scientific Name Common Name Size

Flower/ season

Light** Soil Water Zone+ Availability Notes

Trees and Large Shrubs

X *Acer circinatum Vine Maple 10-25 ft t and wide

Green/Sp PS/FSH Well-drained

2 6, 8, 13 Showy seed; fall color

** Arctostaphylos

manzanita ‘Dr Hurd’

‘Dr. Hurd’

Manzanita To 15 ft t 10 ft wide

Pink/W-Sp FS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 32

Evergreen; good in gardens

x Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat To 10 ft Pink-white/

all year FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2

X * Carpenteria californica Bush anemone < 10 ft White/ PS Well-drained

2-3 to 3 3, 7, 13, 14, 19

X * Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata

Desert Willow 5-25 ft tall

and wide

Pink/ Sp- F FS/PS Any well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18

X Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon 6-10 ft + 4-6 ft w

White/Su FS/PS/FS

H Any well-drained

1-2 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,

10, 13, 14, 16, 18

Berries toxic in lg. amounts

X Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp.

glabrata & assurgentiflora

Island (Rose) Mallow

8-12 ft tall &

wide

Magenta/yr round

FS/PS Well-drained

1 1, 2, 13

X * Philadelphus lewisii CA Mock Orange 4-10 ft tall &

wide

White/ Sp-Su

FS/PS Any, incl clays

1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13, 14, 19

Very fragrant

X Pluchea sericea Arrowweed 5-10 ft t Purple/Spr-Su

FS Any incl clay

1-2 to 2-3 8, 10, 14 Thicket-forming; silver

foliage

X Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia

Holly-leaf Cherries <15 ft t White/Su PS any 1-2 1, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19

X

Quercus berberidifolia (Q. dumosa)

Scrub Oak 10-20 ft

tall, wide Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS

Well-

drained 1 to 1-2 7, 13, 14, 19

Very large

containers

Quercus dumosa var. elegantula

Coastal Sage Scrub

Oak

3-10 ft tall to 15 ft w

Yellow/Sp FS/PS Sandy

best 1 to 1-2 7, 14

Very large

containers

Quercus pacifica Channel Island

Scrub Oak

To 15 ft tall & wide

Yellow/Sp FS/PS Well-

drained 1 to 1-2 7, 14

Very large

containers

2


Flower/ season


X Salix exigua Narrow-leaf Willow 6-15 ft 12-15

ft.w.

Yellow/Sp FS/PS any 1-2; winter

flooding 1, 2, 3, 14

Spreading via roots

X Salix lasiolepis Arroyo Willow 8-35 ft to 35 ft w

Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS any 1-2; winter

flooding 1, 2 spreads

X Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea

Blue (Mexican) Elderberry

8-25+ ft White/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 12-14, 16, 19

Edible berries

Smaller Shrubs (including sub-shrubs) : < 6 ft tall

X * Abutilon palmeri Indian Mallow 2-6 ft tall

& wide

Yellow to Orange/Sp-Su

FS Well-

drained 1-2 1, 8, 13, 14

* Acalypha californica California Copperleaf

2-3 ft tall & wide

Red/Spr FS/PS Sandy/ rocky

1 to 1-2 1, 8, 13 Red foliage

X * Amorpha fruticosa False Indigo 6-12 ft 4-10 ft w.

Purple-brown/Sp-Su

FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 6, 13, 14 Can be weedy; cultivar: ‘Dark

Lance’

X Artemisia californica Coastal Sagebrush 3-6 ft tall & wide

Gold/Su FS Well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 7-10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18

'Canyon Gray'

X Artemisia dracunculus California Tarragon; 1-3 ft tall 2-3 ft w

White/F FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 10, 16 Leaves - raw or

a flavoring in soups, etc.

*Artemisia palmeri San Diego

Sagewort 2-4 ft tall

& wide Gold/Su FS

Well-

drained 1 to 1-2

8, 10, 13, 14,

16, 20, 24 Rare in wilds

X Baccharis plummerae subsp. plummerae

Plummer's Baccharis

< 7 ft tall Buff-White/ Su-F

FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 Winter

flooding

?

X * Bahiopsis/Viguiera laciniata

San Diego Sunflower

1-2 ft tall

1-3 ft wide

Yellow/Spr FS any 1 to 1-2 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16

X * Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium

Oregon Grape < 6 ft Yellow/Sp PS any 2-3 to 3 1, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14

‘Compacta’ &

‘Golden Abundance’

** Berberis (Mahonia)

aquifolium ‘Compacta’

‘Compacta’ Oregon

Grape

2-4 ft tall

2-4 ft wide

Yellow/Sp PS/FSH Any;

acidic 1-2 to 2-3 1, 13

Good habitat;

edible berries

X *Berberis (Mahonia) nervosa

Cascade barberry < 2 ft tall 2-4 ft w.

Yellow/Sp PS/FSH any 2 to 3 8 Slowly spreading

X * Berberis (Mahonia) repens

Creeping Oregon Grape

1 ft tall < 6 ft w

Yellow/Sp PS/FSH Any; acidic

1-2 to 3 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 Good habitat; edible berries

3


Flower/ season


X *Calliandra eriophylla Pink fairyduster 2-5 ft tall 3-6 ft w

Pink/Sp FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 1, 3, 8, 11, 13, 28

Hummingbird plant

X

Camissonia

cheiranthifolia spp.

suffruticosa

Beach Primrose

(Suncup)

< 3 ft tall 2-5 ft wide

Yellow/W-F FS/PS Sandy

best 1-2 to 2

1, 10, 13, 14,

16

X * Ericameria nauseosa Rabbitbush 2-5 ft tall & wide

Yellow/Su-F FS any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 13, 16 Great for insects

X Constancea

(Eriophyllum) nevinii Catalina Silverlace

3-4 ft tall 2-4 ft wide

Yellow/Spr-

Su FS/PS

Any well-

drained 1 to 2-3 1, 6, 7, 13, 14 ‘Silver Canyon’

**Corethrogyne ‘Silver Carpet’

‘Silver Carpet’ Beach aster

1 ft tall 4-8 ft w

Violet/Sp-Su FS Any 1-2 to 2 8 Ground-covery

X Diplacus aurantiacus Bush Monkeyflower 2-3 ft Orange/W-Spr

FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16,

X Diplacus linearis Chaparral Bush Monkey Flower

2-3 ft tall

1-2 ft wide

Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 3, 10, 13, 18

X * Diplacus longiflorus Southern Bush

Monkeyflower 2-3 ft &

wide

Yellow to

white/ W-Sp PS (morning

sun OK)

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2

1, 3, 6-8, 10-14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28

San Gabriels

X Diplacus parviflorus Island Bush

Monkeyflower 2-3 ft &

wide Red /W-Sp

PS (morning sun OK)

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2

3, 7, 8, 11-14, 16, 20-24, 26, 28

S. Islands

X Diplacus puniceus Red Bush

Monkeyflower 2-3 ft & wide

Darker orange/Sp

PS (morning sun OK)

Well-drained

1-2 to 2 3, 7, 8, 10-14, 16, 20, 21, 24,

26, 28

S. Islands; Riv. & San Diego Co.

X Encelia californica CA Bush Sunflower 2-5 ft Yellow/W-Sp FS/PS Any well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16,

19

Good winter color

X Epilobium canum CA Fuschia 1-3 ft Orange/F FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19

Tolerates winter flooding

X Eriogonum cinereum Ashy-leaf Buckwheat

2-5 ft Pink-white/ Sp-F

FS/PS Any well-drained

1 to 2-3 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 16

Gray foliage

X * Eriogonum crocatum Conejo Buckwheat 1 ft tall 1-3 ft

wide

Yellow/Spr-Su

FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 19

X Eriogonum fasciculatum

California Buckwheat

1-3 ft tall 3-6 ft

wide

Pink/Spr to F FS Any well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18,

19

4


Flower/ season


X

Eriogonum giganteum

vars. formosum, giganteum

St. Catherine’s Lace 3-6 ft Pink-white/ Su

FS/PS Any well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19

Don’t plant near

native buckwheats

*Eriogonum kennedyi Cushion buckwheat < 1 ft tall 1-3 ft w

Pink/Sp-Su FS Well-drained

1-2 to 2 1, 6, 11, 13,

14, 30

Rock gardens; containers

X Eriogonum parvifolium Coastal Buckwheat 2-4 ft Pink-creme/

Su +

FS/PS/FS

H

Any well-

drained 1 to 1-2

1, 2, 3, 10, 13,

14, 16

* Eriophyllum

staechadifolium var. depressum

Seaside Wooly Sunflower

1-2 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Yellow/Su-F FS Any well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 10, 16

Tolerates

seaside conditions

X Euphorbia misera California Spurge 3-4 ft tall

& wide

White-

red/Spr FS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13

Tolerates seaside conditions

X *Fallugia paradoxa Apache plume 4-8 ft tall

5-10 ft w White/Sp-Su FS/PS Most 1-2 to 2

6, 8, 11, 13,

14, 24, 28, 38

Showy flowers,

seeds

X Gambelia (Galvezia)

speciosa

Catalina

Snapdragon 2-4 ft tall Red/Spr + FS/PS

Well-

drained 1 to 1-2

1, 3, 7, 8, 9,

13, 14

X Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii

Coast Goldenbush 1-3 ft tall and wide

Yellow/Su-F FS Any 1-2 1, 14

Tolerates

seaside conditions

X Malacothrix saxatilis

var. tenuifolia Cliff Aster

2-4 ft tall

1-3 ft wide

White/Spr-F FS/PS Well-


X * Perityle incana Guadalupe Island

Rock Daisy

2-3 ft tall 3-5 ft wide

Yellow/Spr FS coast

PS

Well-drained 1-2

1, 7, 13, 14,

19

Evergreen with

silvery foliage

X Pluchea odorata ssp.

odorata

Sweetscent;

Saltmarsh Fleabane 1-3 ft tall

& wide

Lavender/Su

-F FS

Sandy

incl. Alk 2-3 6, 10, 16

Tolerates seasonal

flooding

X Rhus trilobata Basket Bush; Sour Berry; Skunkbrush

2-6 ft tall & wide

Yellow-green/Spr

PS any 1-2 10, 13, 14, 16, 19

X Ribes aureum var. gracillimum

Golden Currant To 10 ft Yellow/W-Spr

FS/PS/FSH

Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 12, 14 Any well-drained; Birds

eat berries

X Ribes californicum var. hesperium

Hillside Gooseberry To 3 ft Red-white/W-Spr

PS/FSH Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 10, 12, 13

(var. californicum)

Birds eat berries

X Ribes indecorum White Currant To 6 ft White/W-Spr FS/PS Well-

drained 1-2 to 2 1, 3, 12, 14 Birds eat berries

5


Flower/ season


X Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant 5-8 ft Pink/W-Spr FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 3, 13, 14, 19 Birds eat berries

X Ribes speciosum Fuschia-flowered

Gooseberry

3-6+ ft tall

and wide

dark pink/ FS/PS/

FSH

Well-

drained

2-3;

3 in sun

1, 3, 10, 12-

14, 19 Edible fruits

X * Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum

Red-flowering Currant

4-10 ft Pink/Spr PS/FSH Well-drained

2-3 3, 5, 13, 14, 19

Edible fruits

X Ribes viburnifolium Catalina Perfume 1-3 ft Pink/ PS/FSH See note 2 to 2-3 1, 3, 9, 13, 14, 20

Well-drained soil

X Rosa californica California Wild Rose 3-4 ft tall

3-10 ft w Pink/Spr-Su

FS/PS/

FSH any

1-2;

3 (sun) 1, 2, 3, 7, 10,

12, 13, 14, 16

Tolerates seasonal flooding

X *Rosa minutifolia Baja rose 4-6 ft tall 4-5 ft w.

Pink/W-Sp FS/PS Any 1-2 8 Edible ‘hips’

X *Rubus parviflorus Western thimbleberry

3-6 ft tall spreading

White/Sp FS/PS any 2-3 8 Tasty berries

X Rubus ursinus (ssp. ?) Pacific Blackberry 2-4 ft tall

3-10 ft w White/Spr FS/PS any 2-3 to 3

7, 8, 12, 13,

14


X * Salvia clevelandii Fragrant

(Chaparral) Sage 2-5 ft

Purple/lavn Showy Spr-Su

FS Well-

drained 1 to 1-2

1, 3, 8, 9, 10,

13, 14, 16, 19

‘Betsy Clebsch’, ‘Compacta’,

‘Winifred Gilman’

** Salvia hybrids

‘Aromas’, ‘Ponzo

Blue’, ‘Vicki Romo’ Sages

Mostly < 2 ft., compact

Purple/lavn Showy Spr-Su

FS Well-

drained 1-2 to 2 1, 8, 13, 14 Try

X * Salvia munzii San Diego Sage 2-3 ft tall 3-4 ft w

Blue/Su FS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 14, 16, 17

Fragrant like Black Sage;

‘Baja Blue’, ‘Emerald Cascade’

X Symphoricarpos albus

var. laevigatus

Common

Snowberry 3-5 ft,

spreading White/Spr PS

Clays,

loams 2-3 7, 9, 13, 19

Fruit may be

toxic to humans

X Symphoricarpos mollis Snowberry 2-4 ft tall

& wide Pink/W-Spr PS/FSH any 2-3 to 3 13, 14 mulch

X Urtica dioica ssp.

holosericea Hoary Nettle

3-6 ft tall

spreading Pink/Spr-F PS

Rich soils

ok 2-3 1, 10, 13, 16

Serious allergy

on contact

*Vaccinium ovatum California

huckleberry 3-5+ ft

tall & w Pink/W-Spr PS

Well-drained

pH 4-5 2 to 2-3 5, 8, 11, 37

Edible berries; needs organic

mulch; ‘Blue Madonna’

6


Flower/ season


X * Verbena lilacina Cedros Island Verbena

2-4 ft tall 3-5 ft

wide

Lilac/Spr-F FS/PS Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, 14

Lovely year-round; showy

flowers

Perennial Vines – Note: most CA native vines can be grown in a large pot

X Calystegia macrostegia California Morning Glory

To 30+ ft White/Spr-F

PS

FS coastal

Well-drained

2-3 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16

Invasive; can look weedy; ‘Anacapa Pink’;

‘Candycane’

X Keckiella cordifolia Climbing

Penstemon 3-4 ft

Red-Or/

Sp-Su PS/FSH any 1-2

1, 3, 7, 10, 12,

13, 14

Excellent for

hummingbirds

X Lathyrus vestitus Wild Sweetpea; Canyon Pea

3-9 ft Purple-white/ Spr

PS/FSH any 1-2 1, 8, 13

Good under

trees; drought deciduous

X Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans

Western Honeysuckle

5-18 ft Pink/Spr-Su PS/FSH clay 2-3 1, 5, 13, 14, 19

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X * Lonicera involucrata Twinberry 3-5 ft Yellow/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 2-3 3, 7, 13, 19

X Lonicera subspicata vars. denudate &

subspicata

Santa Barbara & Southern

Honeysuckles

3-8 ft Cream/Spr-

Su

PS/PS/FS

H any 1 to 1-2

1, 3, 8, 12, 13,

14 Edible fruit

X ** Vitis californica

‘Roger’s Red’

‘Roger’s Red’

California Grape > 20 ft White/Spr FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13

Herbaceous Perennials Many herbaceous perennials do fine in large pots or planters (see Herbaceous Perennials list). Listed below are some that are particularly good for pots.

X Achillea millefolia Yarrow 1-2 ft White/Spr-

Su FS/PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2-3 most Alkali soils fine

X * Agastache urticifolia Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop (Horse

Mint)

2-5 ft tall & wide

Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS Well-drained

2 to 2-3 6, 13, 19 Great bee plant

X Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa 1 ft tall & wide

White/Sp-Su PS/FSH Any incl clay

2 to 3 3, 10, 14, 16 Tolerates flooding

X * Armeria maritima

ssp. californica

CA Sea Thrift

(Pinks) < 1 ft tall

& wide Pink/Sp PS most 2 to 3 5, 6, 8, 13, 24

Best along

coast; pretty

X * Aquilegia formosa Western Columbine 1-2 ft Red-

yellow/Su PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2 to 3

1, 3, 5, 13, 14,

16, 19, 20

X Asclepias fascicularis Narrow-leaf

Milkweed 2-3 ft

Cream-

pink/Su FS/PS Sandy 1-2 1, 3, 10, 14

Needs seasonal

flooding

7


Flower/ season


X * Clinopodium (Satureja) chandleri

San Miguel Savory 1-2 ft tall 2-3 ft

wide

White/Spr PS/FSH Well-drained

1-2 to 2-3 3, 14

minty

X Clinopodium (Satureja)

douglasii Yerba buena

< 6 in

spreading

White/Spr-

Su PS/FSH

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 7, 13, 14

* Clinopodium

(Satureja) mimuloides

Monkeyflower

Savory 1 ft tall

2-4+ ft w

Red-Or/Su-

Fa FS/PS

Well-

drained 2-3 to 3 3, 8

hummingbird

plant

X Delphinium parryi ssp.

maritimum & parryi

Parry’s Blue

Larkspur 1-5 ft

Blue-purple/Spr

FS/?PS Well-drained

1 8, 20 Good under oaks

X * Delphinium cardinale Scarlet Larkspur To 6 ft Red/Spr-Su FS Well- drained

1 to 1-2 10, 16, 19

X *Erigeron glaucus Seaside Daisy ½ ft Lavernder/Spr-Fa

FS/PS/FSH

Well-drained

2-3 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14

Attractive flowers, foliage

X * Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

Red Buckwheat 1-2 ft tall

2-4 ft wide

Red-pink/Su-F

FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 5, 7, 8, 14 Tol. moderate salt, alkali soils

X

Eriophyllum

confertiflorum var. confertiflorum

Golden Yarrow 1-3 ft Gold-yellow/

Sp-Su FS/PS

Sandy

best 1-2

1, 3, 6, 10, 13,

14, 16, 18

Tol. moderate

salt, alkali soils

X Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall Yellow/Su-F FS Any 2 to 3 13, 16 Butterfly plant; can be invasive

X * Fragaria chiloensis

ssp. pacifica (and cultivars)

(Pacific) Coast

Strawberry < 1 ft

spreading White/Sp-Su PS

Sandy

best

1-2 to

2-3 1, 3, 8, 13

Let dry between waterings;

edible fruit

X * Fragaria vesca (californica)

CA/Wood Strawberry

< 2 ft spreading

White/Su PS/FSH any 1-2 to 3 1, 13, 20 Edible fruit

X * Heuchera maxima (incl. many cultivars & hybrids)

Island Alumroot 1- 3 ft

White/Spr PS/PS/

FSH Any, incl. clays

1-2 to

2-3

1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14

X * Heuchera micrantha Crevice Alumroot 1-3 ft Pink/Spr PS/PS/

FSH

See note 2-3 to 3

1, 3, 8 Well-drained

soil

X Horkelia cuneata ssp.

cuneata Wedgeleaf Horkelia

< 1 ½ ft T

2 ft wide

White/Spr-Su

FS/PS sandy 1-2 to 2-3 1, 2, 6, 10, 13 (ssp. puberula)

Dies back in summer

drought

X * Iva hayesiana San Diego Marsh Elder

2-4 ft tall 4-6 ft

wide

Yellow/Su FS/PS/ FSH Any, incl. clays

1 to 2-3 1, 3, 8, 13

X * Lewisii cotyledon Siskiyou bitter-root < 1 ft tall

1 ft wide Magenta/Su PS

Well-

drained 1-2 to 2

5, 8, 10, 16,

19, 30, 31, 45

Lovely bright

flowers

8


Flower/ season


X Limonium californicum California Sea-Lavender

1-2 ft tall and wide

Purple/Su-F FS

Any; sand to

clay 2-3 to 3 8, 10, 14, 16

Tolerates seaside

conditions

X *Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower 1-2 ft tall

1 ft wide Red/Spr-Su

FS/PS/

FSH any 2-3 to 3 3, 8, 13, 19 Toxic

X Mimulus cardinalis Scarlet

Monkeyflower To 3 ft Red/Spr-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3

3, 8, 10, 12,

13, 14, 16, 19 easy

X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower 1-5 ft Yellow/W-

Spr FS Any 2-3 to 3

1, 3, 5, 8, 10,

12, 13, 14, 16

X * Monardella

macrantha Red Monardella

1-2 ft tall & wide

Red/Su-F PS best Any; no alkali

2-3 1, 6, 8, 13, 14, 19

Hummingbird

plant; scented; ‘Marion Sampson’

X * Monardella villosa (ssp. subserrata)

Coyote Mint 1 ft; spreading

Pink/Spr-Su PS See note 1-2 1, 3, 8, 13, 14, 19

Well-drained soil best

X * Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel < 1 ft tall 2-4 ft

wide

Pink/Sp PS/FSH most 2-3 to 3 2, 11, 24 Nice, spreading,

woodsy

* Penstemon centranthifolius

Scarlet Bugler 1-3 ft OR-Red/ Sp-Su

FS Well- drained

1 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14

May be difficult

X * Penstemon eatonii Firecracker Penstemon

1-3 ft & wide

Red/Sp-Su FS Well- drained

1 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13

Very showy

X * Penstemon grinnellii Grinnell’s

Penstemon 1-2 ft Purple/Su FS

Well-

drained 1

1, 6, 8, 10,

13, 14

X Penstemon

heterophyllus Foothill Penstemon 1-2 ft

Purple/Spr-

Su FS/PS sandy 1 to 1-2 14 Many blooms

X * Penstemon laetus Gay Penstemon 1-3 ft Lavender/Sp

-Su FS/PS

Well-


Phacelia distans Common Phacelia; Wild Heliotrope

1-2 ft tall Violet/Spr FS/PS Well-drained

1 to 1-2 10 Good under other plants

X Pluchea odorata ssp. odorata

Sweetscent; Saltmarsh Fleabane

1-3 ft tall & wide

Lavender/Su-F

FS Sandy incl. Alk

2-3 6, 10, 16 Tolerates seasonal

flooding

X *Pycnanthemum

californicum Mountain mint

1-3 ft tall

spreading White/Sp-Su PS Most 2-3 to 3 1, 6, 8, 13, 14 Edible mint

X Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage 1-3 ft Magenta/Spr PS/FSH Any 1-2 1, 3, 8, 9, 12,

13, 19 Cut back yearly

X Scrophularia californica

ssp. floribunda CA Bee Plant 2-3 ft Red/Spr PS Most 2-3 to 3

1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16

Afternoon shade

9


Flower/ season


X Sidalcea malviflora ssp.

malviflora

Dwarf Checker

Mallow To 1 ½ ft

Pink-

lavender/ FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 19

X Solanum xanti (var. ?) Purple (Chaparral)

Nightshade 2-4 ft tall

Purple/Spr-

Su FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 7, 13

Berries very

poisonous

X Solidago californica California Goldenrod

2-4 ft tall spreading

Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 7, 10, 14

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X Solidago spectabilis var. confinis

Southern Goldenrod 3-6 ft tall spreading

Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10

Tolerates

seasonal flooding

X * Sphaeralcea ambigua Globe Mallow/

Desert Mallow 2-3 ft tall & wide

Orange/ Sp-Su

FS Most 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16

Reseeds; silvery to white foliage

X Stachys albens Whitestem

Woodmint 1-3 ft

White/Spr-Su

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 3, 6, 12

X Stachys bullata California Woodmint

(Hedgenettle) 1-4 ft Pink/Spr-Su PS

Well-

drained 2-3 1, 3, 7, 12, 14


X Stachys rigida var.

rigida (Stachys ajugoides) Rigid Woodmint (Hedgenettle)

1-2 ft Pink/Spr-Su FS/PS Clay 2-3 to 3 1, 13

Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering

Any native annual and most native biennials can be successfully grown in containers (See Annual Wildflowers list)

Cacti and Succulents

X * Agave shawii

Coastal Agave/

Shaw’s Century Plant

2-3 ft tall

2-5 ft wide

Yellow/at

age 15 yrs FS

Well-

drained 1 to 1-2 1, 2, 9, 14

Tolerates seaside

conditions; suckers (‘pups’)

X * Dudleya cymosa Canyon Live-forever To 1 ft

tall & wide

Yellow-red/ Sp

PS Well- drained

1-2 to 2 1, 3, 8, 13

Santa Monica

Mtns; good in stone walls

* Dudleya farinosa Bluff Lettuce 1 ft tall & wide

Yellow-red/ Sp

FS Rocks 1-2 11, 13, 20

good in stone

walls; white foliage

X Dudleya lanceolata Lance-leaf Dudleya 1-2 ft tall

& wide

Yellow-Orange/Spr-Su

FS/PS Well-

drained 1 to 1-2

1, 7, 13, 14,

15

* Dudleya palmeri Palmer's Live-

forever

To 1 ft tall & wide

Yellow-red/

Sp PS

Well-

drained 1 to 2 1, 13

Santa Monica

Mtns; slopes

10


Flower/ season


X Dudleya pulverulenta (ssp. pulverulenta)

CA Chalk Dudleya < 2 ft & wide

Pink-Yellow/Spr-

Su

FS/PS Well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 3, 14, 19 With good drainage

X Dudleya virens ssp. Hassei & insularis

Bright Green Dudleya

1-2 ft tall & wide

Orange/Spr-Su

FS/PS Well-drained

1 to 1-2 1, 7, 13, 14

X Opuntia littoralis Coastal Prickly Pear To 3 ft Yellow/W-Spr

FS Well- drained

1 to 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14

Large container, planter

X * Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf Stonecrop < 1 ft tall

spreading Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2 to 3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13 San Gabriels

Ferns and Fern-like Plants

Most native ferns can be grown successfully in large post or planters (See Native Ferns & Fern-like Plants list)

Bulbs and Corms

Most native bulbs and corms do great in containers (see Bulbs & Corms list). Calochortus species may be a little more difficult in containers; the rest do very well.

Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)

Many native grasses can be grown in containers and planters (see Grasses & Grass-like Plants list). Listed below are some that are particularly nice in containers, including large pots.

X * Achnatherum

speciosum Desert Needlegrass 1-3 ft

cool-season perennial bunchgrass

FS Sandy

best 1 to 1-2 10, 13, 16

Long-lived; self-

sows freely

Agrostis exarata Spike Bentgrass 1-4 ft tall Cool-season perennial

bunchgrass

FS/PS Not alkali 1-2 to 3 10, 16

X * Calamagrostis foliosa Leafy (Mendocino) Reed Grass

1-2 ft tall & wide

cool-season bunchgrass

FS/PS Well-drained

2-3 1, 3, 8, 13 Nice foliage color

X * Carex barbarae Santa Barbara

Sedge 1-2 ft tall

to 3 ft w

Evergreen

sod sedge FS/PS Any 2 to 3 3, 8, 13, 16

May be invasive

(containerize)

X Carex praegracilis

Clustered Field

Sedge/CA Meadow Sedge

1-2 ft tall Cool-season, sod sedge

FS/PS Clays best

2-3 1, 2, 4, 7, 13

Cyperus eragrostis Umbrella Sedge/

Tall Flat-sedge 2-4 ft tall

clumping

Warm-season, sod sedge

FS.PS any 1-2 to 3 7, 10, 13

11


Flower/ season


Cyperus odoratus Fragrant Flat-sedge 1-3 ft tall Warm-season,

annual sedge

FS/PS any 1-2 to 3 ?

X Eleocharis palustris Common Spikerush 1-2 ft tall spreading

Cool-season, sod sedge

FS Any 1-2 to 3 1, 2, 7, 10, 13, 16

X Equisetum hyemale subsp. affine

Common Horsetail 2-4 ft tall 1-6 ft w

Perennial rush

FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 3, 4, 8

Will grow in

standing water; contain

X Equisetum laevigatum Smooth Horsetail 2-5 ft tall

spreading Perennial FS

Clays

best 2-3 to 3 8

X * Festuca californica CA Fescue <1-2 ft tall 1-3 ft

wide

Cool-season bunchgrass

FS/PS any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19

‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse Mountain Green', 'Serpentine Blue'

X * Festuca idahoensis Blue Bunchgrass < 1 ft tall

& wide

Cool-season

bunchgrass FS/PS any 2 to 3

1, 5, 7, 10, 13,

16, 19, 20

‘Warren Peak’,

‘Siskiyou Blue’

X Isolepis (Scirpus)

cernuus

Fiber Optic Grass;

Miniature Tule

1 ft tall 1-2 ft wide

Cool-season, sod rush; cut

back in winter

PS/

FSH

Sandy

best 2-3 to 3 3, 4, 13

good for pond

edges

X Juncus balticus Baltic Rush 1-3 ft tall 1-2 ft w.

Sod rush FS Any incl. alk./salty

2-3 3, 16

X * Juncus bolanderi Bolander’s Rush 1-2 ft tall Perennial

rhizome rush FS

Any incl.

salty 2-3 to 3 1, 13

Showy

seedheads

X Juncus bufonius var

bufonius & congesta Toad Rush

< 1 ft tall

& wide Annual rush FS

Any incl.

salty 1-2 to 3 10, 16

X * Juncus effusus Bog/Common Rush 1-3 ft tall & wide

Perennial rhizome rush

FS/PS

Any;

sandy best

1-2 to 3 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14

Good around

pools; ‘Quartz Creek’

X Juncus mexicanus Mexican Rush < 1 ft tall

& wide

Perennial

rhizome rush FS

Any incl.

salty 1-2 to 2-3 3, 10, 14, 16

X Juncus patens Common Rush 1-3 ft tall

& wide

Spreading/ bunching

perennial rush

FS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 3, 8, 9, 12,

13, 19

‘Carmen’s Gray’

is blue-gray

X Juncus textilis Basket Rush 3-5 ft tall

3-8 ft wide

Spreading/ bunching perennial

rush

FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 14

Showy; Good

for wet planter, pondside

X Juncus xiphioides Iris-leaf rush 1 ½ ft tall spreading

Spreading rush

FS/PS Any 1-2 to 3 2, 3, 8, 13, 16 Best contained if watered

12


Flower/ season


X Leymus condensatus Giant Rye Grass 4-6 ft tall & wide

Warm season perennial

FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 9, 10, 12, 16

‘Canyon Prince’ is low-growing

X Melica imperfecta Coastal Melic Grass 1-2 ft tall 1 ft wide

Cool season bunchgrass

PS Any 1-2 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19

X * Muhlenbergia rigens Deergrass 2-4 ft tall

& wide

Perennial

bunchgrass FS Any 1-2

3, 4, 5, 9, 10,

12, 13, 14, 16


X Stipa/Nassella cernua Nodding Needlegrass

2-3 ft tall & wide

Perennial bunchgrass

FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 5, 10, 13, 14, 16

X Stipa/Nassella lepida Foothill Needlegrass 2-3 ft tall & wide


FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16

X * Stipa/Nassella

pulchra Purple Needlegrass

2-3 ft tall & wide


FS/PS any 1 to 1-2 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 16,

10/29/14

I : X = Gardening Information Sheet : http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html * may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant ** horticultural cultivar ++

light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade + Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;

2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn) Availability: numbers correspond to the Plant and Seed Sources List at: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/where-to-purchase-native-plants.html

http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html

http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/where-to-purchase-native-plants.html

Container plants 1-11

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Transcript of Container plants 1-11