CA Native Plants for Orange County Orange County Chapter’s “Goldilock’s” List Top CA natives for OC landscaping. Visit www.occnps.org for more information! LARGE H W H2O Sun Flower Notes * CA scrub oak, 5 to 8 to low, full, Feb+1 Evergreen. Also Q. dumosa. Prune in late summer. Excellent transition plant between areas of different watering levels Quercus 20 15 med part green or different communities. Wildlife: Acorns for wildlife. Butterflies. berberidifolia Mountain 12 to 10 to low full, Mar+1 Evergreen. Prune to a range of sizes including hedge or multitrunk tree. Prune in fall. Cut unwanted water sprouts mahogany, 20 15 part yellow anytime. Also, C. b. var blancheae (island mountain mahogany) narrower form; C. minutiflorus (San Diego mountain Cercocarpus mahogany) is a little smaller. Wildlife: Seed for birds. Butterflies. betuloides * Toyon, 15 + 15+ low, full, Jun+1 Evergreen. Primary pruning in late winter so birds can eat berries. Can be shaped as multi-trunk tree. Set away from Heteromeles med part white patios and sidewalks because of bird berry mess. Wildlife: Winter berries for birds. Butterflies. arbutifolia Tecate cypress, 15 + 10+ low, full none Evergreen. Sometimes under old genus name Cupressus. Good screen. Fast initial growth. Too much water causes Callitropsis forbesii med weak trunk hyper-growth. Wildlife: Birds eat seeds. Larval host for hairstreak butterflies. MEDIUM H W H2O Sun Flower Notes *Lemonadeberry, 5 to 10+ low, full, Feb+1 Evergreen. Prune in early fall, but shear anytime to maintain desired shape, even a hedge. Alternative: R. ovata Rhus integrifolia 15 med part white+ (sugarbush) for inland hot-frost areas has more refined leaf shape. Wildlife: Birds, insects. * CA coffeeberry, 3 to 5 to low, full, Apr+1 Evergreen. Various sized selections. Bonita Linda is SoCal native. Berries briefly stain hardscape; place or prune plants Frangula [Rhamnus] 15 10 med part, light accordingly. Good between areas with different water needs. Alternative: Rhamnus ilicifolia (holly leaf redberry); californica shade green Prunus ilicifolia (holly leaved cherry). Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, birds. Laurel sumac, 6 to 12+ low, full Jun+2 Evergreen. Reddish twigs and lightly pleasant aromatic leaves. Prune to keep desired shape. Leaves burn in frost. Malosma laurina 16 med cream Wildlife: Food and nectar for ceanothus silkmoth. Fruit for birds. Refugio manzantia, 6+ 8 to low full, Dec+2 Evergreen. Can grow larger over time. Prune in early April. Keep in dryer part of garden. Original found north of Santa Arctostaphylos 12 part white & Barbara. Wildlife: Hummingbirds. Fruit and shelter for birds. Butterflies. refugioensis pink * White flower 5 to 8 4 to 7 low, part, Dec+2 Deciduous. Edible berry. Good for transition between areas of different watering levels. Alternative: R. malvacium var currant, med shade white viridifolium (chaparral currant, pink flower). Wildlife: Berries for birds. Hummingbirds. Bees. Butterflies. Ribes indecorum LOW H W H2O Sun Flower Notes Catalina perfume, 2 7 low, shade Jan+2 Evergreen. Alt name Evergreen currant. Tiny flowers. Native to Catalina Island & Baja California. Good under Ribes viburnifolium med red deciduous trees. Prune to keep low and dense. Can handle dappled sunlight and cool morning sun. Sunset manzanita, 4 6 low, full, Feb+1 Evergreen. Adaptable, reliable in gardens. Slow growing. Peeling red bark. Prune in April. Alternative: John Dourley, Arctostaphylos med part pink slightly smaller, smooth bark, deep pink flowers. Wildlife: Hummingbirds. Fruit and shelter for birds. Butterflies. 'Sunset' white CA strawberry, 1 1 med shade Feb+3+ Evergreen. Flavorful fruit. Good in woodland setting. Alternative: OC native Drymocallis [Potentilla] glandulosa ssp. Fragaria vesca ssp white glandulosa (sticky cinquefoil) 1x2, flowers late spring, can be evergreen under good conditions otherwise stress californica deciduous. Wildlife: Flowers for insects. Fruit for animals. Ceanothus 'Yankee 2 10+ low, full, Mar+2 Evergreen. One of the most used and dependable garden tolerant ceanothus. Only prune edges, not main branches. For Point' med part blue less spread consider C. maritimus selections. Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, insects for birds. CA poppy, 1 1 low, full, Mar+3 Annual. Used as reseeding annual. Extend season with water and trimming. Also: fire followers E. caespitosa (tufted Eschscholzia med part orange poppy), Papaver californicum (fire poppy), P. heterophyllum (wind poppy). Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, beetles. Seeds californica for quail. Yarrow, 1 1 med part, Apr+4 Evergreen. Need summer water to stay evergreen. Wildlife: Butterflies, ladybugs and hoverflies. Winter forage for Achillea millefolium shade white birds. Food for rabbits. *Prostrate chamise, 2 5 low full, May+1 Evergreen. Prostrate versions recommended for garden use, for example "San Nicolas" from the Channel Islands. Adenostoma part white Prune in late summer. Wildlife: Summer seeds for goldfinches. Butterflies. Wildlife habitat. fasciculatum prostratum Chaparral mallow, 5 6 low full May+3 Evergreen. Quick growing, short lived. Good filler between slow growing plants. Also: M densiflorus (many flowered Malacothamnus violet bush mallow.) Wildlife: Butterflies, birds, deer, ground squirrels, rabbits, grasshoppers. Bees. Insects for fasciculatus hummingbirds. * CA buckwheat, 0.5 to 4 low, full, May+5 Evergreen. Prostrate selections are good low groundcover when massed. Regular version good too. Deadhead to Eriogonum 3 med part white stimulate flowering and remove brown clusters. Wildlife: Birds, butterflies and other insects. fasciculatum * Coast buckwheat, 4 6 low full, Jul+5 Evergreen. Also known as ashy leaf buckwheat for light colored leaves. Easy and dependable once established. Long Eriogonum cinereum part white flower and seed season. Wildlife: Bird seed. Butterfly nectar. Insects. * Identifies plants passing the most Goldilock's criteria. Notes: Within size category, plants are sorted by flower period. -- Indicated water and sun levels are for OC Goldilock's use. Plants may have wider tolerances, but for example, more sun might require more water to stay green and then disqualify the plant from the Goldilock's water level criterion. Find more plants for your region at Calscape.org!.