Nemophila menziesii
Full disclosure, I never specified this plant on a project, so it is very unfamiliar to me despite being a California native species. It...
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TELCS
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2 min read
Calliandra x 'Lianca'
An uncommon cross variety of two Southern California native plants.
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3 min read
Symphoricarpos albus
When living in West Sonoma County, I first came across this unusual fruiting native not far from our home. Situated within a flood plain...
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5 min read
Cercis canadensis
A darling of the small stature understory flowering trees in Northern California may be replacing the ever-popular flowering but...
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Syringa x perscia
Every spring for the past eight years, I have been searching for this shrub. And every year, I am both disappointed and bewildered why...
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Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn'
Go seriously local! This species of manzanita was originally introduced by our own Saratoga Horticulture Foundation way back in 1955,...
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3 min read
Dahlia imperialis
Imagine a plant lying dormant all through winter looking like a few old remnants of desiccated bamboo. Then in spring, little tuffs of...
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4 min read
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
No better common name for Lamprocapnos spectabilis than bleeding heart as it reveals its teardrop when the heart breaks. Its species...
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Prunus laurocerasus
For formal and informal hedges, Prunus laurocerasus is a competitive option. They treat us with deep green and lustrous foliage, perfect...
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4 min read
Rhododendron occidentale
A native azalea that's deciduous? When we think of rhododendrons, their evergreen boughs with pastel clusters of showy flowers might...
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Vaccinium ovatum
Every winter, retail nurseries fill with a variety of bareroot plants including blueberries that at times I have specified in designs but...
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Koelreuteria paniculata
Truth be known, I have not specified Koelreuteria paniculata in any of my designs, and I am not sure why. Perhaps one reason is that it...
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Melaleuca linariifolia
Easily unnoticeable but offers so much more when looking at the details, we should be seeing more of Melaleuca linariifolia in public...
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Lantana montevidensis
Need a colorful ground cover that is also drought tolerant? Consider Lantana montevidensis. Unlike its sibling, Lantana camara that...
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Lantana camara
Lantanas continue to grow in availability offering a wide variety of colors and sizes among hybridized cultivars. For this post, we will...
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Teucrium x lucidrys
This little germander always finds its way into my gardens, in part for its versatility. I have primarily specified T. x lucidrys as...
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4 min read
Solidago velutina ssp. californica
Welcome to floral sunshine in the native garden! Solidago velutina ssp. californica, or California goldenrod, is not well known among...
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5 min read
Chysanthemum x morifolium
There are two secrets I will now share with you that many within California's horticultural and landscape industries already know. The...
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Rosa californica
California has everything, even its own rose. No, it is not a fancy multi-petaled cut flower coveted by lovers, but it certainly has...
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Crassula perfoliata var. falcata
Whenever drought reminds us that many Californians live in a Mediterranean climate, succulents rage in popularity with a wide array of...
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