Plants Suited for the Bay Area
 Selecting a palette of Mediterranean and California native plants—those adapted to our climate of seasonal rainfall—offers diversity in form, color and texture. Keep in mind a plant’s cultural requirements when selecting a variety for your garden space. Check your favorite reference or ask nursery staff about a plant’s need for sun/shade, drainage and water.
The following list is a sampling of plants suited to our Mediterranean climate. For more information about these plants, and a plethora of others, order a copy of the award winning EBMUD, Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates. Also available at local nurseries.
| FULL SUN, GOOD DRAINAGE |
| Trees |
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| Feijoa sellowiana |
Pineapple guava |
| Leptospermum laevigatum |
Australian tea tree |
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| Shrubs |
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| Artemisia californica* |
California sagebrush |
| Fremontodendron spp.* |
Flannel bush |
| Lavatera spp. |
Tree mallow |
| Lupinus sp.* |
Lupine |
| Phlomis fruticosa |
Jerusalem sage |
| Rosmarinus officinalis |
Rosemary |
| Salvia spp. |
Sage |
| Teucrium fruticans |
Germander |
| Westringia fruticosa |
Coast rosemary |
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| Perennials |
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| Armeria maritima* |
Sea thrift |
| Asclepias speciosa* |
Showy milkweed |
| Eriogonum sp.** |
Wild buckwheat |
| Lavandula spp. |
Lavender |
| Nepeta sp. |
Catmint |
| Penstemon spp. |
Penstemon |
| Perovskia atriplicifolia |
Russian sage |
| Salvia spp. |
Sage |
| Sphaeralcea sp.** |
Globe mallow |
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| Groundcovers |
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| Myoporum parvifolium |
Myoporum |
| Thymus spp. |
Thyme |
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| FULL SUN TO PART SHADE, GOOD DRAINAGE |
| Trees |
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| Arbutus unedo |
Strawberry tree |
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| Shrubs |
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| Ceanothus spp.* |
California lilac |
| Correa spp. |
Australian fuchsia (some sp. prefer full shade) |
| Cotinus coggygria and cultivars |
Smoke tree |
| Garrya elliptica* |
Silktassel |
| Heteromeles arbutifolia* |
Toyon |
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| Perennials |
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| Alstroemeria hybrids |
Peruvian lily |
| Arctostaphylos spp.* |
Manzanita |
| Coreopsis sp. |
Coreopsis |
| Epilobium canum* |
California fuchsia |
| Guara lindheimeri |
Gaura |
| Heuchera micrantha* |
Coral bells (prefers part shade) |
| Limonium perezii |
Sea lavender, statice |
| Phacelia sp.* |
Phacelia |
| Thymus spp. |
Thyme |
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| Groundcovers |
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| Dymondia margaretae |
Silver carpet |
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| Vines |
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| Tecomaria capensis |
Cape honeysuckle |
| Wisteria spp. |
Wisteria |
| Hardenbergia violecea |
Lilac vine |
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| FULL SUN, MOST SOILS |
| Trees |
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| Cercocarpus betuloides* |
Mountain mahogany |
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| Shrubs |
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| Baccharis pilularis* |
Coyote bush |
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| Perennials |
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| Achillea millefolium* |
Yarrow |
| Echinacea purpurea |
Purple cone flower |
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| Groundcovers |
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| Malvastrum |
Trailing mallow |
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| Vines |
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| Vitis californica* |
California wild grape |
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| SUN TO PART SHADE, MOST SOILS |
| Trees |
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| Aesculus californica* |
California buckeye |
| Cercis occidentalis* |
Western redbud |
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| Shrubs |
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| Abelia x grandiflora |
Glossy abelia |
| Berberis spp |
Barberry
(avoid Berberis darwinii as it may be invasive) |
| Chaenomeles spp. |
Flowering quince |
| Rhamnus californica* |
Coffeeberry
(some varieties prefer well-drained soil) |
| Ribes sanguineum* |
Red flowering currant |
| Sambucus mexicana |
Blue Elderberry |
| Berberis spp.* |
Oregon grape |
| Malacothamnus spp.** |
Bush mallow |
| Mimulus aurantiacus* |
Sticky monkey flower
(prefers well drained, tolerates clay) |
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| Perennials |
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| Calamagrostis foliosa* |
Reed grass |
| Festuca sp.** |
Fescue bunch grass (avoid Festuca
arundinacea as it may be invasive) |
Iris douglasiana*
(or Pacific Coast hybrids) |
Douglas iris (some varieties prefer well-drained
soil) |
| Muhlenbergia rigens* |
Deer grass |
| Sesleria autumnalis |
Autumn moor grass |
| Sisyrinchium bellum* |
Blue-eyed grass |
| Tagates lemmonii |
Mexican bush marigold |
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| Vines |
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| Clytostoma Callistegioides |
Violet trumpet vine |
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| SHADE, CLAY SOIL WITH SOME ORGANIC MATTER |
| Perennials |
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| Dryoptera sp.** |
Wood fern |
| Polystichum munitum* |
Western sword fern |
*Denotes native to California
**Certain species are native to California |
