Common name:California Gray Rush
Botanical name:Juncus patens

Although a wetland plant, Juncus patens can tolerate fairly dry conditions. Eventually will clump to 2'-3' in many years. Grows to a height of 2'-2.5'. There are many selections of this species available with different foliage variations and heights. Carefree with little to no maintenance. Provides great upright structure to many styles of landscapes.

Common name:Homestead Purple Verbena
Botanical name:Verbena 'Homestead Purple'

This perennial will reach 1'-2' tall and has small green leaves with purple flowers that bloom during warm weather. It is frost tender but will come back when the ground warms up. Feed with an all-purpose fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Verbena works as a great groundcover. Pinch ends to promote dense growth.

Common name:Margarita Bop Foothill Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita Bop'

This is one of the easiest and most versatile California native plants. This is a hybrid Penstemon, which will produce beautiful, purple blue flowers through much of the year when spent flowers are removed. Foliage grows in low growing mats to 6"-8" tall and 12"-18" wide.

Common name:Dr. Hurd Manzanita
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'

This is a large shrub with showy bark that reaches 8-20 ft. tall and wide. It has dark red bark, large pale green leaves, and white to pink flower clusters that bloom from Feb to March. - Cornflower Farms

Common name:Western Redbud
Botanical name:Cercis occidentalis

This deciduous shrub ranges from 6-20 ft. tall and 10-15 ft. wide. It is desirable for its magenta spring flowers, yellow to red fall color, and dangling winter seed pods. It is tolerant of many soil types, drought and oak root fungus. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The Western Redbud can be found statewide in California in the foothills below 4500 ft. elevations in chaparral and woodland communities - Cornflower Farms

Common name:Chaparral Mallow
Botanical name:Malacothamnus fasciculatus

This medium-size shrub grows 8' H x 8' W and has tomentose (fuzz on the underside) leaves with lavender/white flowers that bloom in spring.

Common name:Germander - Golden Leaf
Botanical name:Teucrium chamaedrys 'Summer Sunshine'

Summer Sunshine' is a short, mounding form of Germander Sage with golden green foliage that fades to chartreuse over the summer. Blooms mid to late summer with small spikes of rose purple flowers. Grows just 6 to 8 inches tall and spreads slowly to 12 inches wide. Plant in full sun to part shade along the coast and light shade to part sun inland. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and regular to moderate water.

Common name:Gray Globe Mallow
Botanical name:Sphaeralcea incana ‘Kathy Echols’

My favorite prolific bloomer in our dry garden! I love its dense upright 3’-2’ bushy habit, absolutely stunning silvery foliage, and wow, then there are these unusual flowers. Beloved Bay Area horticulturalist Kathy Echols somehow came across this beautiful variant with orchid pink flowers (instead of the usual dull orange) that are larger than normal- 1.25” across. and this marvelous DROUGHT TOLERANT North American native blooms from late Spring through Fall! What more do you need? Deer resistant? Yes! I cut ours back to 1’ tall in late Fall for perfect form next season. Well-drained soil is a must and a smidge of compost side-dress in Spring is not a bad thing. Root hardy to 10 degrees F.

Common name:White Cloud Manzanita, White Hair M
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos viridissima 'White Cloud'

A woody evergreen shrub with an upright, treelike form. Branches are furry and stems are covered in white hairs. Broad, gray-green leaves are rounded to egg-shaped. Clusters of white, drooping, urn-shaped flowers are beneficial to many bird species, appearing in winter. The berries are edible. Native to California. Tolerates serpentine and clay soils. It slowly reaches 6' tall and wide. Established plants need low to moderate water. Shrub eventually reaches rounded form. Does best in sandy, well draining soil. Attracts birds, hummingbirds and bees.

Common name:Big Basin Sagebrush
Botanical name:Artemisia tridentata

Native 1500-10000' elevation across the Great Basin. Not happy in the low desert. Rough shaggy bark, irregular form. Dense, semi-evergreen, 2-8' tall. Hairy, silvery gray leaves, narrow and wedge shaped. Full sun, Well drained sites. Very rugged. Strongly aromatic foliage. Flowers are inconspicuous.

Common name:California Buckwheat
Botanical name:Eriogonum fasciculatum

Eriogonum fasciculatum is fast growing woody perennial with tiny narrow leaves and pink-white flower heads that dry to a rust color.

Common name:English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia 'Twickel Purple'

This form of English lavender makes compact shrubs about 2 foot in height with rather tightly packed, narrow grey leaves with a spicy perfume. The purple flower clusters are borne well above the foliage in spring and summer. It can be intolerant of poor soil drainage and winter wet, but is useful in sunny borders and on open banks. Full sun, well drained soil, moderate to occasional watering. Hardy to 0 degrees F. or less. Attracts birds and butterflies. Deer resistant. Beautiful for Mediterranean garden.