Native Plants …

beautify the landscape

native plants are rich in color, form, texture, and aroma – with careful design, your garden can have flowers year round

nurture pollinators and other wildlife

native plants provide food and shelter for birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators

save water

once established, California native gardens use, on average, 80% less water than conventional gardens

thrive in our local climate

native plants are adapted to our natural cycles, responding to cool, wet winters with lush growth and slowing down during the hot, dry summers

prefer our soils

native plants do well in our native soils and do not require soil amendments or fertilizers so add no contaminants to groundwater

cut pesticide use

native plants typically have fewer pest problems than non-natives because they have co-evolved

minimize your carbon footprint

most California native plants are grown in state and travel short distances to your nursery while creating local jobs

reduce maintenance

a well-designed native garden, planted for the mature size of the plants, can require very little maintenance once established

can be installed at low cost

native gardens can easily be started with one-gallon size plants, saving on installation costs

cool the environment

even through native plants are water thrifty, they play an active role in the water cycle, adding cooling moisture to the atmosphere

harmonize with diverse garden styles

from cottage to formal to contemporary, there are native plants for every design

create a sense of place

the diversity of our flora means gardeners have many options for creating place-specific, local gardens that connect us with California’s past and its future