10 Best California Native Plants for Landscaping and Gardens

Native California plants are beautiful and naturally drought tolerant. Climate change is bringing extreme heat, drought, water scarcity, and wildfires to California, making it challenging to select the right landscape plants that suit the state's diverse climate. Local native plants support wildlife and provide habitat for butterflies, birds, and pollinators. Planting California native plants is also a sustainable landscaping practice. When you grow local native plants, you can be sure they will thrive in your local climate and help you save water and fertilizers. They're more adapted to grow in the local soil, and they developed an excellent symbiotic relationship with regional wildlife.

Here is a list of 10 California native plants that will make your landscape look beautiful and preserve your local ecosystem. These plants include flowers, shrubs, trees, vines, and succulents. Whether you live in the foothills, along the coast, or in the hot region of Southern California, you'll be able to find the right native plants for your landscape.

Important Things to Remember

• Watering needs of native plants vary, as some require low amounts of water while some prefer moderate watering.
• Local native plants require care and maintenance like other plants.
• Mulching, seasonal pruning, and weeding are important practices for a native garden.
• Most California gardens have different microclimates and moisture conditions.
• You can grow the native flowering plants and shrubs effortlessly in raised beds, containers, or garden beds.
• Use a water-efficient and sustainable drip irrigation system to irrigate these native plants effectively while saving water and energy.

1. California Poppy

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10

Sun and Soil Needs: Full sun, well-draining sandy soil

Mature Height: 12-24 inches

Lifecycle: Tender perennial

The California poppy is one of the most beautiful and popular native flowering plants grown in California. The vibrant colored flower is easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and frequently reseeds itself. It is tough and can withstand dry conditions. However, it will go dormant in summer if it does not receive a little extra water. It grows throughout the state and is loved among gardeners for its gorgeous orange, golden, and yellow flowers. California poppy blooms in spring, and in cooler regions of the state, the flowers can last through the summer till September.

Water these plants occasionally during extreme dry growing seasons and prune them to keep them contained as they spread readily.

2. Douglas Iris (Iris Douglasiana)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9

Sun and Soil Needs: Full sun, moderate shade, full shade, moist soils

Mature Height: 12-18 inches

Lifecycle: Perennial

Douglas iris is a lovely evergreen perennial that can tolerate full sun in coastal areas but needs shade in warm inland valleys. Its foliage is long, pointed, and lush green.

This wildflower has numerous cultivars in coastal Northern California and Central California. It produces blooms in lavender, blue, white, pink, or yellow colors, with lots of streaks in spring. Some varieties of this plant grow in clumps making it attractive, colorful ground covers in landscapes. It requires medium watering, so water every two to three weeks in dry areas. Plant this flower in pots, containers, or raised beds and place them on the patio, entrance, or walkways for a colorful welcome.

3. California Fuchsia

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11

Sun and Soil Needs: Full sun

Mature Height: 0.5-3 feet

Lifecycle: Perennial

California fuchsia is a fire-resistant, local native plant with scarlet, trumpet-shaped blooms. It has a large, open bunch of waxy, chalk-like leaves. This flowering plant is a type of willowherb with orange-red, thin blooms that resemble the flowers of a true fuchsia plant. It is common in the foothills and coastal areas of California. Summer and fall are the blooming seasons of this plant. It is most showy when in full bloom in hot summer and early fall.

California fuchsia is also known as hummingbird flower because its flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, making this plant perfect for a pollinator garden. This low-lying perennial is drought-tolerant but benefits from supplemental irrigation during drought or in dry inland areas.

4. Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11

Sun and Soil Needs: Full sun, tolerates all soil types

Mature Height: 18 inches to 5 feet

Plant Type: Deciduous shrub

Bush sunflower, also known as California brittlebush, is a fast-growing shrub with vibrant green leaves. This woody shrub belongs to the daisy family and produces small, yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom from spring to summer.

This California native shrub is easy to grow, so it's a beautiful addition to your garden. However, it grows very quickly and can become weedy if left unchecked. This beautiful shrub can be planted in any landscape with regular pruning to maintain shape and encourage healthy growth. What's more? This native plant attracts bees and butterflies to your garden.

5. California Lilac

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10

Sun and Soil Needs: Full and half sun, fast-draining soils

Mature Height:1-6 feet

Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

California lilac, also known as mountain lilac, wild lilac, buckbrush, is a member of the Ceanothus genus, which includes over 60 shrubs in the buckthorn family. These evergreen plants have small, narrow, glossy, ovate leaves with clusters of dark blue flowers in spring. It also produces flowers in white and pink colors.

California lilac can tolerate both coastal and inland climates. Most varieties cannot tolerate high summer irrigation levels, but this one can. It can also do better in clay and alkali soil than other ceanothus types. Its flowers are fragrant and attractive to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

6. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11

Sun and Soil Needs: Full and half sun, tolerates most soil types

Mature Height: 6-25 feet

Plant Type: Shrub, Tree

Toyon is a California native shrub that is also known as California holly or Christmas berry for its striking red berries. This small tree is native to western California and the Sierra foothills. It has toothed, leathery green leaves and small, fragrant white flowers that bloom in late spring or summer, followed by red winter berries.

This evergreen shrub can grow rapidly, and its beautiful, scented flowers are a favorite of bees and butterflies in summer. It can withstand full sun or moderate shade, heat, wind, smog, and a range of soils from heavy to light. Established toyon plants are drought tolerant. Prune these plants as needed to maintain the desired shape and height.

7. Purple Western Morning Glory

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10

Sun and Soil Needs: Full and half sun,

Mature Height: 10 feet

Plant Type: Vine (perennial)

The purple morning glory is a California native climbing vine that is ideal for homeowners seeking a fast-growing, beautiful native vining plant. It is also known as coastal bluff morning glory or Pacific false bindweed. Within a short time, this plant can quickly grow up to be ten feet tall and wide.

The plant blooms in late spring and summer, with pinkish-white flowers that darken to a deep lavender shade. Pollinators such as bees and birds love its flowers that open at dawn and close after sunset. It requires moderate watering and becomes drought-tolerant once it is established.

8. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11

Sun and Soil Needs: Full sun

Mature Height: 12-25 feet

Plant Type: Tree

The desert willow is a small, airy native tree that develops shaggy bark and twisted trunks with age. The tree produces fragrant, beautiful pink to lavender-colored flowers in spring and fall, while its leaves drop early. Keeping this tree well-pruned can improve its beauty and make it more attractive. In winter, it may not look appealing, but supplemental watering can improve its appearance.

Moreover, it needs proper drainage and can't tolerate overwatering. You can plant this tree on the lawn, patio background, parking lot, or outside your home on the street for curb appeal.

9. Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9

Sun and Soil Needs: Full and half sun, tolerates most soil types

Mature Height: 10-20 feet

Plant Type: Shrub, small tree

The western redbud is one of the most spectacular California native trees. Depending on its size, this plant is classified as either a large shrub or a small tree. In the early spring, it features light green, heart-shaped leaves that darken to a deep green as they mature. Foliage turns yellow or red in fall.

The plant produces gorgeous clusters of magenta or bright pink flowers in the spring, making it a showstopper in your landscape. Hang warm fairy lights on it to make it look magical in your landscape after sunset.

Western redbud is drought-tolerant once established. Lastly, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds are particularly fond of this tree. Some of the best locations to plant it include the front yard, lawn, patio, entry, or foundation.

10. Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Sun and Soil Needs: Full and half sun, moist loam soils

Mature Height: 1-2 feet

Plant Type: Perennial

The last California native plant on our list is this stunning flowering plant and grass. It produces small blue to purple-blue flowers from late winter through early summer and makes excellent ornamental grass, a shorter one. Its flowers have a long blooming cycle, and its leaves look similar to irises.

This easy-to-grow, fire-resistant flower is an ideal colorful addition to your California flower garden. Following winter rainfall, this grassy, leafy perennial brings a soft texture back to your garden. Blue-eyed grass becomes dormant in the hot summer months if it doesn't get supplemental moisture. Once they're established, they become drought-tolerant and need irrigation twice a month.

The Bottom Line

These stunning California native plants will add beauty to your landscape, help you save water, reduce air pollution, provide habitat for wildlife, and promote biodiversity. Whether you need help choosing a drought-resistant garden filled with natives, creating a smart irrigation system for your California garden, or you need garden tools to care for your plants, DripWorks can help you fulfill all your landscaping needs and give you the best yard possible.

Check out our extensive collection of landscaping and gardening products. From choosing the right raised beds for planting to incorporating outdoor lighting, sprinklers, and drip irrigation systems, you can create a stunning garden and landscape with DripWorks.