Our Plants (List)

The one leaf onion is one of the more popular of our native alliums. It is easy to grow and presents one to several prominent umbels of flowers white or pink. One leaf onion is found in clay soils in coastal mountains from Oregon to Baja. Following summer and winter…

White alder is widespread in California and beyond, growing as a vase-shaped tree in moist settings. In Santa Clara County the white alder has slowly re-populated the valley along perennial waterways. The oval leaves and silver bark are reminders that white alder is a member of the birch family. Young…

Silver beachweed grows along the immediate coast throughout California and beyond. In the SF Bay Area it occurs within the Bay where the influence of the Pacific is most pronounced. Its form varies from place to place. It grows as a low or mounding ground cover with a spreading habit….

The serviceberries of the genus amelanchier have just three representatives in California. All are found in mountainous regions, growing in seasonally moist areas as rounded upright shrubs with rounded dark green leaves, white spring flowers and purple berries in late summer and fall. The Saskatoon serviceberry is widespread in the…

This member of the rose family is occasionally encountered in mountainous regions throughout much of California. The overall form is upright and rounded. The dark oval leaves contrast well against the gray-burgundy bark. In spring, white flowers of about an inch in diameter cover pallid serviceberry. These give way to…

Western serviceberry is a common member of montane plant communities throughout California and beyond. In the SF Bay Area this rose relative may be discovered at Mt Diablo or Henry Coe State Park, among many other locations. I was lucky enough to notice a small stand of Utah serviceberry blooming…

California false indigo is encountered in interior coastal mountains from San Luis Obispo County south into Baja California. There is also a variety found in the counties immediately north of San Francisco. California false indigo grows in a fountain-like form with multiple fronds of compound leaves. The overall impression is…

Western false indigo is native throughout much of North America, found usually near a water source. It grows aggressively in an open, fountain form with many fronds of compound leaves. The intricate ornate flowers of purple, yellow and orange cover the upper growth with generous splays. After winter dormancy, western…

The pearly everlasting is usually found on sunny, dry hillsides, often in areas that have been recently disturbed such as trail sides. It tends to grow in a vase shaped bunch of upright stems with alternating lance shaped leaves of light green. These are topped with umbels of yellow flowers…