CNPS Redbud Chapter
Welcome
Field Trips
Newsletters
Native Plant Photos
Local Floras
Other Links

About Our Chapter
How to Reach Us

Desirable qualities of fire-resistant plants:

•         High moisture content of leaves and stems (Can be augmented by irrigating, especially by watering deeply during the dry season. This is most important adjacent to structures.)

•         High salt, mineral, or ash content of leaves and stems (retard fire spread)

•         Low volume of fuel—dead leaves, branches, flowers, and seed heads
(Can be augmented by trimming, especially adjacent to structures.)

•         Low amounts of oils, terpenes, and other volatiles

The following lists include species that are commonly available. An asterisk (*) indicates a California native that is not native to our counties. Many of these are coastal species that grow well here in watered gardens. Use only low-growing, irrigated landscaping adjacent to structures.

Perennial Ground Covers

Dry habitat

Creeping Snowberry, Symphoricarpus mollis

Mahala Mat, Ceanothus prostratus

Coyote Bush, Baccharis pilularis cultivars ‘Twin Peaks’ or ‘Pigeon Point’

Creeping Mahonia, Berberis aquifolium var. repens

Purple Needlegrass, Nasella pulchra

Moist habitat

Wild Ginger, Asarum lemmoni or A. caudatum*

Woodland Strawberry, Fragaria vesca and F. virginiana

Bear Berry Manzanita, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi cultivars ‘Point Reyes’ and ‘Emerald Carpet’

Maiden Hair Fern, Adiantum jordanii

Red Fescue, Festuca rubra

Perennial Vines

Dry habitat

Wild Honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula and L. interrupta (keep trimmed)

Western Morning Glory, Calystegia occidentalis

Moist habitat

Wild Grape, Vitis californica

California Pipevine, Aristolochia californica

Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs

Dry habitat

Annual wildflowers:
Globe Gilia, Elegant Clarkia, and Sky Lupine

Foothill Penstemon, Penstemon heterophyllus

Gay Penstemon, Penstemon laetus

California Poppy, Eschscholzia california

Canyon Dudleya, Dudleya cymosa

Western Coneflower, Rudbeckia californica*

Woolly Sunflower, Eriophyllum lanatum

Western Blue Flax, Linum lewisii

Iris, Iris macrosiphon and I. hartwegii (deer resistant)

Native dryland bulbs:
Humboldt Lily, Lilium humboldtii ssp. humboldtii
Soap Plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Mariposa Lilies, Calochortus luteus and  C. superbus
Brodiaea, Dichelostemma, and Tritelia species

Moist habitat

Annual wildflowers: Chinese Houses, Baby Blue Eyes, and Five Spot

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium (trim)

Scarlet Monkeyflower, Mimulus cardinalis

Seepspring Monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus

Meadow Lupines, Lupinus polyphyllus and L. latifolius

Violets, Viola species

Western Columbine, Aquilegia formosa

Alum Root, Heuchera micrantha

Douglas Iris, Pacific Coast hybrids*

Bigelow’s Sneezeweed, Helenium bigelovii

Western Bleeding Hearts, Dicentra formosa

Sierra Leopard Lily, Lilium pardalinum

Giant Chain Fern, Woodwardia fimbriata

Shrubs

Dry habitat

Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia

Snowberry, Symphoricarpos rotundifolia

Manzanita, Arctostaphylos many species and cultivars available

Sierra Gooseberry, Ribes roezlii

Tree Anemone, Carpenteria californica*

California Lilac, Ceanothus many species and cultivars available

Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis

Coffeeberry, Rhamnus rubra and R. californica

Oregon-grape, Berberis aquifolium

Bush Monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus

Bush Lupine, Lupinus albifrons

Silk Tassel, Garrya elliptica*

Skunkbush, Rhus trilobata

Hollyleaf Redberry, Rhamnus illicifolia

Pacific Serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia

Moist habitat

Thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus

Manzanita ‘Howard McMinn’ for garden conditions

Interior Rose, Rosa woodsii var. montana

Spicebush, Calycanthus occidentalis

Snowdrop Bush, Styrax officinalis

Buttonwillow, Cephalanthus occidentalis

Willows, Salix species

Creek Dogwood, Cornus sericea

Black-fruited Dogwood, Cornus sessilis

Ninebark, Physocarpus capitatus

California Huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum*

Tower Spirea, Spirea douglasii

Mountain Spirea, Spirea densiflora

California Hazelnut, Corylus cornuta

Chokecherry, Prunus virginianus

Sierra Currant, Ribes nevadense

Western Azalea, Rhododendron occidentalis

Trees

Moist habitat

Bigleaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum

Valley Oak, Quercus lobata

Western Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii

Oregon Ash, Fraxinus dipetala

White Alder, Alnus rhombifolia

California Bay, Umbellaria californica

Cascara Sagrada, Rhamnus purshiana

Willow, Salix species

Dry habitat

All need to be kept trimmed if near your home.

Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii

Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii

Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii

Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis

Interior Live Oak, Quercus wislizenii

Leather Oak, Quercus durata

Information Sources

Las Pilitas Nursery - www.laspilitas.com

This web site contains 5,000 pages of information with lots of great color pictures, including extensive beginner and advanced manuals for working with California native plants in landscapes and restorations, based on 25 years of experience.

California Native Plant Society - www.cnps.org

California Native Grasslands Association - www.CNGA.org

Keator. Glenn. Complete Garden Guide to the Native Shrubs of California. Chronicle Books, 1994.

Sources for Plants and Seeds

Redbud Chapter, California Native Plant Society - www.redbud-cnps.org

Holds native plant sales featuring many specialty and wholesale growers. Fall sales are at the Sierra College campus in Grass Valley, spring sales are at the Rocklin campus.

AlterNatives, Nevada City • 530-432-3801

Abacus Nursery, Auburn • 530-889-0603

Blue Oak Nursery, Nevada City • 530-265-6805

Cornflower Farms, Elk Grove • 916-689-1015, www.cornflowerfarms.com

Far West Bulbs, Grass Valley • www.Californianativebulbs.com

Floral Native Nursery, Chico • 530-892-2511 • www.floralnativenursery.com

Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply, Grass Valley • 530-272-4769 • www.groworganic.com

Prospector’s Nursery, Nevada City • 530-470-0973

Sierra Valley Farms, Beckwith, California • 530-832-0114, www.sierravalleyfarms.com

Last updated
April 5, 2007