Less than 12" tall

Wild strawberry

Fragaria chiloenisis; evergreen groundcover

Height 6 to12 inches. Forms low, compact, lush mats. Glossy leaves, large white flowers in spring, followed by red seedy fruits in fall. Needs annual mowing or cutting back in early spring to force new growth and prevent stem buildup. Sun or partial shade.

Hall's honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica 'Halliana'; evergreen groundcover

Groundcover and sometimes vine that runs rampant if given the chance. Blooms show in late spring, summer. Can smother less vigorous plants if not kept in check. Partial or wholly deciduous in coldest regions. Sun or light shade. Best with moderate summer water. Drought tolerant.

Yellow-eyed grass and Blue-eyed grass

Sisyrinchium bellum; perennial grass

Height 4 to16 inches. Narrow leaves. Flowers are ½ inch and appear in mid-spring. Several forms available including dwarf. Sun or light shade. Tolerates some aridity.

Yellow-eyed grass

Sisyrinchium californicum; perennial grass

Height 4 to 20 inches. Broad, dull leaved grass. Flowers in May-June. Can grow in wet or poorly drained areas. Sun or light shad. Tolerates some aridity.

O’Connor’s legume

Trifolium fragiferum; perennial groundcover

Height 6 to7 inches. Green mat of groundcover which is deeply rooted. High tolerance of heat, aridity, and moderate salinity. Water well until established, then average water requirement. Full sun or part shade.

Periwinkle

Vinca major; perennial groundcover

Height usually 6 to12 inches, can be as tall as 2 feet. Tough plant with long trailing stems which root as they spread. Broad oval glossy leaves. Short flowering branches with lavender blue flowers. Shear close to the ground to promote growth as groundcover.

Dwarf periwinkle myrtle and Dwarf running myrtle

Vinca minor; perennial groundcover

Height less than 12 inches. Short stems and flowering branches. Best with 2 to 3 good soaking per month. Lavender blue flowers 1 inch in diameter throughout spring. Closely packed. Shade loving. Drought tolerant. Suitable for erosion control.

1 to 6 feet tall

Lily of the Nile - dwarf

Agapanthus ‘Peter Pan’; evergreen shrub

Height is 1 to 3 feet, spreading to about 2 feet wide. Straplike, glossy foliage. The roots are thick and tuberous and should be divided every few seasons in the spring. Flowers in summer. Removal of spent blooms and stems is recommended.

Pearly everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea; perennial shrub

Height 1 to 1 ½ feet. Upright plant with downy foliage. Produces profuse flowers heads from late summer into autumn. Can become invasive and will spread quickly to the borders of its bed. Full sun to partial shade.

Four-wing saltbush

Atriplex canescens; evergreen shrub

Height 3 to 6 feet. Dense growth form spreading to 4 to 8 feet. Narrow leaves 1.2 to 2 inches long. Unusually tolerant of alkaline soils. Full sun. Very little water.

Quail saltbush

Atriplex lentiformis; deciduous shrub

Height 3 to 10 feet. Densely branched, commonly spiny shrub. Spreads to 6 to 12 feet. Useful as salt tolerant hedge or windbreak. Full sun. Very little water needed.

Anchor Bay ceanothus

Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’; evergreen groundcover

Height 1 to 1 ½ feet. Spreads 6 to 8 feet wide. Very dense foliage. Produces flowers in spring. Full sun to partial shade. Needs little water once established.

Emily Brown ceanothus

Ceanothus gloriosus exaltatus ‘Emily Brown’; evergreen groundcover

Height 1 to 2 feet. Spreads to 6 feet wide. Dark holly-like foliage. Produces flowers in spring. Dense growth, good choice for banks and slopes. Partial shade.

Maritime ceanothus

Ceanothus maritimus; evergreen shrub

Height 1 to 3 feet. Spreads to 6 feet wide. Has small thick leaves with showy flower clusters from mid-winter through early spring. Partial shade.

Rockrose, White rockrose

Cistis hybridus ; evergreen shrub

Height 2 to 5 feet, with almost as much width. Spreading form. Produces flowers in late spring. Leaves are grey-green, crinkly, and up to 2". Give an overall shearing to encourage new growth to spread. Full sun. Little or no water once established.

Orchid rockrose, purple rockrose

Cistis purpureus; evergreen shrub

Height to 4 feet, almost as wide. Compact growth. Grey leaves, 1 to 2 inches long. Flowers from June through July. Requires well drained soil. Full sun. Little or no water required once established.

Prostrate rockrose

Cistis villosus prostratus; evergreen groundcover

Height to 2 feet. Wide spreading shrub (up to 6 feet). Flowers profusely in spring. Good bank or ground cover for rough situations. Requires well drained soil. Full sun. Little or no watering once established.

Bush morning glory

Convolvus cneorum; evergreen shrub

Height 2 to 4 feet. Rapid growth and spreading to almost as wide. Silky smooth leaves. Flowers produced from May to September. Needs light soil and fast drainage. Prune severely to renew plant. More compact form in full sun. Tolerates some aridity.

Likiano

Cotoneaster congestus; evergreen shrub

Height to 3 feet. Slow growing. Dense, downward curving branches with tiny leaves and small fruit. Full sun, little or no water once established. Suitable for erosion control.

Rock cotoneaster

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Height 2 to 3 feet. Up to 15 feet wide. Stiff horizontal branches. Out of leaf for only a brief period of time. Blooms in spring, produces showy red fruit. Vigorous and requires low level of maintenance. Full sun. Little or no water once established.

Tree poppy

Dendromecon rigida; evergreen shrub

Height 2 to 8 feet. Freely branched shrub with shredding bark. Has 1 to 4 inch thick leaves. Flowers profusely from March to June. Best in full sun. Thrives in dry soil once established.

California encelia

Encelia californica; deciduous shrub

Height to 5 feet or more. Much branched plant with scattered 2 ½ inch leaves that drop in drought. Daisy-like flowers are produced in spring. Full sun. Needs occasional water.

Winter creeper

Eunymous fortunei radicans; evergreen shrub

Vining, trailing shrub if allowed to climb. Will form spreading mass to 20 feet or more. Touch with thick-textured leaves. Best in full sun or light shade. Needs moderate water.

Salal, Wintergreen

Gaultheria shallon; evergreen shrub

Height to 2 feet. Tufted plant in full sun and grown in poor, dry soil. Will reach 4 to 10 feet in shade and good soil. Has round, glossy leaves. Produces flowers in March through June. Grows best in partial shade. Needs watering during dry season.

Pacific coast iris/Douglas iris

Iris douglasiana; bulb, shrub

Height 1 to 2 feet. Leaves shaped like sword or grass like. Flowers in spring. Grown from bulbs or rhizomes. Best conditions are sun to light shade. Prefers well drained soil and moderate to light watering in the summer. Will easily tolerate less than ideal conditions.

Red hot poker

Kniphofia uvaria; perennial shrub

Height 3 to 6 feet. Coarse with large, rather dense clumps of long, grasslike leaves. Flower stalks topped with many drooping tubular flowers. Blooms spring through summer. Cut out flower spikes after bloom. Cut old leaves at base in fall, new leaves will replace them by spring. Increase by root divisions. Full sun or little shade. No dry season water. Drought tolerant.

Giant turf lily

Liriope gigantea; perennial groundcover

Forms large clump to 3 feet. Firm, curved leaves and small flowers. Produces a metallic violet blue fruit. Becomes ragged and brown with neglect. Cut back shaggy old foliage after new leaves appear. Extended frosts may cause plant to turn yellow.

Creeping mahonia

Mahonia repens; evergreen shrub

Height to 3 feet with spreading habit. Dull leaves have 3 to 7 spine toothed leaflets. Flowers April through June, followed by blue berries in short clusters. Good groundcover in sun or partial shade. Needs little water. Drought tolerant.

Dwarf pomegranate

Punica granatum ‘Nana’; deciduous shrub

Height to 6 feet. Compact, dense foliage bush often grown as a low hedge. Leaves are 3/4 to 1 ½ inches, narrow and glossy. Flowers in spring. Produces edible fruit. Tolerates heat well. Full sun for best bloom and fruit. Requires little water.

Pyracantha ‘Santa Cruz’,Pyracantha, Firethorn

evergreen shrub

Height easily kept below 3 feet by pinching out occasional upright branch. Low growing, branching from base. Small red fruit on spurs along wood of previous year’s growth. Clustered flowers are small an numerous. Can be used as ground or bank cover.

Chaparral currant

Ribes malvaceum ; deciduous shrub

Height 4 to 5 feet. Spiny shrub with hairy leaves. Produces short clusters of flowers. Sun or partial shade. No water required once established.

Sonoma sage, Creeping sage

Salvia sonomensis; perennial shrub

Height to 16 inches. Sprawling mat forming plant with hairy leaves. Flowers in erect clusters. No summer water needed once established. Hard to maintain. Full sun.

Purple nightshade

Solanum xanti; evergreen shrub

Height to 2 feet. Leaves 1.75 inches long. Produces 1 inch flowers late in winter or early spring. Erect or sprawling growth. Sun or partial shade. Best with little to moderate watering.

Waxberry, Creeping snowberry

Symphoricarpos mollis; deciduous groundcover

Height to 1 ½ feet. Low growing. Spreads by root suckers. Produces small flowers. Berry-like fruit is produced when leaves fall. Best used in sun or shade for erosion control or on steep banks. Needs no summer water once established.

California fuschia,Hummingbird flower

Zauschneria californica; perennial shrub

Height 1 to 2 feet. Stems upright or somewhat arching. Plants sometimes shrubby at base. Evergreen in mild climate, otherwise becomes twiggy and ungroomed through winter. Little or no water once established. Invasive roots. Will go to seed and reseed itself. Drought tolerant.

6+ feet tall

Bigleaf maple

Acer macrophyllum; deciduous tree

Height 30 to 95 feet. Broad topped, dense shade tree. Has leaves that are 6 to 15 inches wide with 3 to 5 lobes. Produces flower clusters in April-May which are followed by clusters of paired winged seeds. Full sun to partial shade. Needs occasional deep watering.

Box elder

Acer negundo; deciduous tree

Height to 60 feet. Fast growing tree. Leaves are divided into 3 to 5 oval, 2 to 5 inch long leaflets. Seeds readily. Subject to breakage. Full sun to partial shade. Does best with occasional deep watering. California buckeye

Height 10 to 20 feet, sometimes taller. Very wide spreading. Mature leaves have 5 to 7 leaflets which are 3 to 6 inches long. Clusters of flowers appear at branch ends in April-May. Large pear shaped fruit is produced in the fall. Drops it leaves very early (approximately July) unless given ample water. Plant in full sun.

White alder

Height 50 to 90 feet, spreading to 40 feet wide. Very fast growing. Clusters of flower catkins appear before leaves in spring. Flowers develop into small, woody cones in winter. Will tolerated any exposure, but requires regular watering. Very tolerant of heat and wind.

Madrone

Height 20 to 100 feet. Forms a broad, round head almost as wide as tall. Smooth, reddish brown bark peels in thin flakes. Leathery, 3 to 6 inch leaves. Flowers in spring, followed by clusters of berries in early fall. It must have fast drainage and non-alkaline water. Water just enough to keep plants going until they are established, then only infrequent deep waterings. Full sun. Drought tolerant. Useful for erosion control.

Strawberry tree

Height 8 to 35 feet. Slow growing with equal amount of spread to height. Basal suckers, stem sprouts. Can be pruned to make open crown. Unpruned it forms a screen. Trunk and branches have shreddy bark. Trees tend to become twisted and gnarled with age.

Manzanita

Height 6 to 20 feet. Widely adapted tree/tree-like shrub. Spreads 4 to 10 feet. Crooked with picturesque branching habit. Flowers in February through April. Full sun. Does best with some watering.

Incense cedar

Height 75 to 90 feet. Has symmetric, dense, narrow, pyramidal crown. Slow growing at first, then may grow 2 feet per year when established. Takes summer heat well. Tolerates poor soil. Can grow up out of shade into full sun. Best if watered during the dry season for the first 4 to 5 years.

Trumpet vineTrumpet creeper

Height to 40 feet, fast growing. Flowers in clusters, Aug - Sept. Vigorous climber that clings to wood, brick and stucco with aerial rootlets. Unless thinned, old plants become top heavy and pull away from supporting surface. Spreads easily by suckering roots. Full sun or partial shade. Low water requirement. Drought tolerant.

Blueblossom

Height 6 to 20 feet, spreading 8 to 30 feet wide. As a small tree it is upright and branching. Glossy, hardy foliage and long leaves (to 2 inches)., Flowers in spike-like clusters in mid- to late-spring. Dead matter must be removed from garden. Full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant

Western redbud

Height 10 to 18 feet with equal spread. Usually grows several trunks from base. Blooms for 3 weeks in the spring, produces seed pods in summer and holds them until winter. Full sun, excellent in dry banks. Water regularly the first year or two. Drought tolerant. Suitable for erosion control.

Summer holly

Comarostaphylis diversifoloa; evergreen shrub

Height to 18 feet as a small tree, 6 feet as a shrub. Has leathery leaves and small manzanita-like flowers. Flowers in April-May. Produces clusters of warty berries similar to those of madrone. Partial shade. Can tolerate some aridity.

Redtwig dogwood, Creek dogwood

Cornus stolonifera; deciduous shrub

Height to 15 feet or more. Multi-stemmed shrub that grows rapidly. Spreads widely by creeping underground stems and rooting branches. Small flower clusters are produced throughout the summer months and into fall. Tolerates shade. Does best in moist soil.

Pineapple guava

Feijoa sellowiana; evergreen tree

Height 18 to 25 feet, with equal spread. Large plan with many stems. Glossy 2 to 3 inch leaves. Fleshy petaled flowers bloom in May or June. Fruit follows blooms in 4 to 7 months depending on location and aspect. Full sun, tolerates aridity.

Flannel bush, Fremontia

Fremontodendron spp.; evergreen shrub

Height 6 to 20 feet. Leathery leaves with saucerlike flowers. Produces conical seed capsules covered with bristly, rust colored hairs. Plants need excellent drainage, hillside planting is best. Shallow roots.

Texas privet

Ligustrum texanum; evergreen shrub

Height 6 to 9 feet. Dense, compact growth. Can be kept lower by trimming. This variety is dense with lush foliage. Roundish, glossy leaves have thick, spongy feeling. Sun or some shade. Needs regular watering.

Oregon grape

Mahonia aquifolium; evergreen shrub

Height 6 feet or more with tall, erect growth form. Leaves are 4 to 10 inches long with spiny-toothed oval leaflets. Produces flowers from March through May. Has edible blue-black fruit. Takes any exposure. Needs little water.

Western sycamore, California sycamore

Platanus racemosa; deciduous tree

Height 50 to 100 feet. Fast growing and robust. Main trunk often divides into spreading/leaning second trunk. Older bark sheds. Produces ball-like seed clusters that hang, 3 to 7, together along a single stalk. Tolerant of heat and wind. Full sun. Best with some deep watering in summer.

Quaking aspen

Populus tremuloides; deciduous tree

Height 20 to 60 feet. Fast growing. Trunk and limbs smooth, almost whitish. Dainty foliage. Brilliant color in fall, leaves need to be raked. Full sun. Best with regular deep watering.

Carolina cherry laurel

Prunus caroliniana; evergreen shrub

Height 35 to 40 feet. Densely foliaged with glossy leaves. Produces small flowers in spikes from February through April, followed by black fruit. Full sun. No water needed once established.

Holly leaved cherry

Prunus ilicifolia; evergreen shrub

Height 20 to 30 feet. Has a moderate growth rate. Usually broader than high. Mature leaves resemble holly leaves. Three to six inch flowers spikes appear in March. Round edible fruit is produced. Growth rate and appearance are improved by deep, infrequent watering. Best in full sun.

Catalina cherry

Prunus lyonii; evergreen shrub

Height to 45 feet if grown as a tree. Spreads to over 30 feet wide. Produces flower clusters April-May, followed by large fruits. Full sun. Little or no irrigation once established.

Pomegranate

Punica granatum; deciduous shrub

Height 1 to 8 feet. Compact, dense foliage bush. Narrow glossy leaves. Flowers in spring, some varieties produce fruit. All varieties tolerate great heat. Requires little water.

Coast live oak

Quercus agrifolia

Height 20 to 70 feet. Round headed, spreading tree. Smooth bark. Dense foliage with holly-like leaves. Full sun. Does best with some water.

Nuttall’s scrub oak, California scrub oak

Quercus dumosa; evergreen tree

Height to 8 feet. Leaves are about 1 inch long, spiny toothed, dark and glossy on top, pale underneath. Well suited to dry, barren surroundings. Full sun. Little water.

Valley oak

Quercus lobata; deciduous tree

Height to 70 feet or more, with equal spread. Trunk and limbs massive with thick, checked bark. Leaves are 3 to 4 inches long and deeply lobed. Full sun. Best in soils where it can tap groundwater.

Italian buckthorn

Rhamnus alaternus; evergreen shrub

Height 12 to 20 (or more) feet, spreading as wide. Fast, dense growing shrub. Easily trained as a multi-stemmed or single stemmed small tree. Leaves are oval and shiny. Flowers in April, followed by small black fruit. Takes heat. Drought tolerant.

Coffeeberry

Rhamnus californica; evergreen shrub

Height 3 to15 feet. Low spreading habit or upright growth. Leaves 1 to 3 inches long. Large berries. Full sun or half shade. Established plants need no provided water.

Prepared by: Bill Frost, Area Natural Resource Advisor University of California Cooperative Extension May, 2005

References