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Native Gardens Plant Communities
California Native Gardens by Plant Community
Chaparral
Chaparral gardens are appropriate for sites with full sun, little or no summer water, and well drained, often rocky soils. Besides a plethora of evergreen and semi evergreen shrubs, a number of perennials bloom in spring and summer.
Southern California Chaparral with Manzanita
Plants for this community are some of the showiest of our native flora. Salvias, such as purple and white sage, are particularly attractive: not only to humans, but also to pollinators. Rich in texture, color, and fragrance, natives from the South Coastal Sage plant community provide a rich palette for a Mediterranean garden. Ideal settings are hillsides that face south or west with a coastal influence. Choose from Buckwheats and evergreen shrubs like Summer Holly and Lemonade Berry.
Southern California Chaparral with Cleveland Sage and Chamise
This garden surrounds a typical southern California Mediterranean-style home located in a cul-de-sac. Appropriate to the location's south/west exposure, a blending of three plant communities creates a distinct garden style. Shade from the hot sun at the entry is provided by a California Grape vine, which occurs naturally along streams and rivers (a condition known as "riparian"). Manzanita is used as the dominant shrub for screening and accent. A Chaparral plant, Manzanita is available in many species and selections. Other plants such as Summer Holly and several species of Buckwheats are members of the South Coastal Sage plant community and are used extensively in this garden. With the exception of the California Grape, this garden requires little summer water.
Chaparral Plant Specimens
Flannel Bush or Fremontia
Fremontodendron hybrid
Large, evergreen shrubs with maplelike leaves and showy, yellow-orange flowers in late spring and early summer. Drought tolerant and sun loving.
Coyote Mint
Monardella Villosa
Bushy perennial to a foot high with pleasantly mint-scented leaves and heads of tubular blue or purple flowers in summer. Attracts butterflies and bumblebees. Drought tolerant; needs good drainage.
Wooly Blue Curls
Trichostema lanatum
A small, fast-growing evergreen shrub with fragrant, rosemary-like leaves. It features bright wooly blue and purple flowers attractive to hummingbirds, and blooms for several months. It is excellent in a chaparral planting.