1. No category

California Native Plants that Qualify for the Santa Clara Valley Water District Landscape Rebate * Plants with an asterisk are likely found at large retail nurseries that sell native plants (SummerWinds, etc.) Botanical Name (as
listed on SCVWD Common Name
website)
Plant Form
Locally Native (to the Greater
Bay Area, from Napa to
Monterey)
Notes, Other Names
flowering perennial
locally native
hybrids are created in nurseries and are not
naturally found in the wild
Achillea millefolium &
hybrids
common yarrow
Adenostoma
fasciculatum
chamise
tree, shrub
locally native
Agave spp.
agave
perennial
some species native to S CA
(Agave deserti, A. shawii, A. utahensis)
Antennaria rosea
pussy toes
flowering perennial
native to NE, E and S CA
Aquilegia spp.
columbine
small flowering
perennial
some species locally native (Aquilegia
eximia, A. formosa)
Arabis spp.
rockcress
Arctostaphylos
cultivars
manzanita cultivars
*
*
small herbaceous,
annual or perennial
plants
*
some species locally native (Arabis
belpharophylla, A. eschscholtziana, A. many Arabis species are now listed under the
mcdonaldiana, A. modesta, A. oregana,
genera Boechera or Turritis
A. pycnocarpa)
slow-growing
flowering shrub
cultivar- see notes
Arctostaphylos sp.
manzanita
*
slow-growing tree or
flowering shrub
some species locally native
(Arctostaphylos andresonii, A.
auriculata, A. bakeri, A. canescens, A.
columbiana, A. crustacea, A. cruzensis,
A. densiflora, A. endmundsii, A.
franciscana, A. gabilanensis, A.
glandulosa, A. glauca, A. glutinosa, A.
hispidula, A. hookeri, A. imbricata, A.
malloryi, A. manzanita, A. montana, A.
montaraensis, A. montereyensis, A.
morroensis, A. nevadensis, A.
ohloneana, A. osoensis, A. pacifica, A.
pajaroensis, A. pallida, A. pechoensis,
A. pilosula, A. pumila, A. purissima, A.
regismontana, A. rudis, A. sensitiva, A.
silvicola, A. stanfordiana, A. tomentosa,
A. uva-ursi, A. virgata, A. viscida)
Aristolochia californica
California
dutchman's pipe
*
vine, shrub
locally native
large perennial
some species locally native (Artemisia
douglasiana, A. dracunculus, A.
ludoviciana, A. pycnocephala)
shrub
some species locally native (Artemisia
californica, A. tridentata)
flowering perennial
some species locally native (Asclepias
californica, A. cordifolia, A. eriocarpa, A.
erosa, A. fascicularis, A. fruticosa, A.
latifolia, A. solanoana, A. speciosa, A.
vestita)
shrub
Yes
shrub
cultivar- see notes
flowering shrub
some species locally native (Berberis
aquifolium, B. nervosa, B. pinnata)
fern
locally native
california
Artemisia spp.
sagebrush/tarragon/ *
(herbaceous & woody)
angel's hair etc.
Artemisia spp.
(shrubby)
sagebrush
*
Asclepias (wild
species)
milk/silk weed
Baccharis pilularis
consanguinea
coyote brush
Baccharis pilularis cvs.
dwarf coyote brush
Berberis spp.
barberry
Blechnum spicant
deer fern
Bothriochloa
barbinoidis
cane bluestem
perennial
native to S CA
Bouteloua curtipendula
sideoats gramma
perennial
Locally native
Bouteloua gracilis
blue gramma
perennial
native to SE CA
*
*
*
Although species of this plant are native to
CA, cultivars are created in nurseries and are
not naturally found in the wild
Although species of this plant are native to
CA, cultivars are created in nurseries and are
not naturally found in the wild
Brodiaea spp.
brodiaea
*
perennial (bulb)
some species locally native (Brodiaea
appendiculata, B. californica, B.
coronaria, B. elegans, B. leptandra, B.
minor, B. nana, B. rosea, B. stellaris, B.
terrestris)
Calamagrostis spp.
feather reed
*
perennial grass
some species locally native
(Calamagrostis foliosa, C. koelerioides,
C. nutkaensis, C. ophitidis, C.
rubescens, C. stricta)
Calycanthus
occidentalis
western spice bush
*
large flowering shrub
locally native
Camissonia
cherianthifolia
(Oenothera)
beach evening
primrose
*
flowering perennial
locally native
Carpenteria californica
bush anemone
*
medium flowering
shrub
native to the Central Valley
Ceanothus cultivars
ceanothus
*
flowering shrub
(size varies)
cultivar- see notes
Although species of this plant are native to
CA, cultivars are created in nurseries and are
not naturally found in the wild
Ceanothus spp.
California lilac
*
flowering shrub
(size varies)
some species locally native (Ceanothus
arcuatus, C. confusus, C. cordulatus, C.
cuneatus, C. dentatus, C. divergens, C.
ferrisiae, C. foliosus, C. hearstiorum, C.
impressus, C. incanus, integerrimus, C.
jepsonii, C. lemmonii, C. leucodermis,
C. maritimus, C. masonii, C.
megacarpus, C. oliganthus, C.
papillosus, C. parryi, C. parvifolius, C.
pinetorum, C. prostratus, C. pumilus, C.
purpureus, C. rigidus, C. sonomensis,
C. thyrsiflorus, C. tomentosus, C.
velutinus)
Cercis occidentalis
western redbud
*
large flowering shrub
locally native
Cercocarpus
betuloides
mountain
mahagony
*
small shrub
locally native
Clematis lasiantha
pipestem clematis
*
flowering vine
locally native
Cleome isomeris
bladder pod
perennial flowering
shrub
locally native
May be listed as Isomeris arborea. New
name is Peritoma arborea.
Coreopsis maritima
sea dahlia
flowering perennial
native to SW CA
New name is Leptosyne maritima
Corylus cornuta
californica
western hazelnut
small shrub
locally native
Crassula spp.
crassula
succulent
some locally native species (Crassula
aquatica, C. connata, C. solieri)
Dendromecon spp.
bush poppy
*
large flowering shrub
Dendronmecon rigida is locally native
Deschampsia
caespitosa
tufted hairgrass
*
perennial grass
locally native
Dichelostemma
capitatum
wild hyacinth
flowering perennial
locally native
succulent
some locally native species (D.
abramsii, D. blochmaniae, D.
caespitosa, D. cymosa, D. farinosa, D.
lanceolata, D. palmeri, D. pulverulenta)
Dudleya spp.
Elymus spp. (also see
Leymus spp.)
Epilobium
spp.(Zauchneria)
Erigeron glaucus
*
dudleya, live forever *
wild rye
California fuchsia
beach aster
some locally native species (Elymus
californicus, E. cinereus, E.
condensatus, E. elymoides, E. glaucus,
E. lanceolatus, E. mollis, E. multisetus,
* perennial bunchgrass
E. pacificus, E. ponticus, E. repens, E.
spicatus, E. stebbinsii, E. trachycaulus,
E. triticoides, E. x gouldii, E. x
vancouverensis)
Genus is now Elymus, but many plants may
still be listed Leymus.
some locally native species (Epilobium
brachycarpum, E. campestre, E. canum,
E. cilatum, E. cleistogamum, E.
densiflorum, E. foliosum, E.
glaberrimum, E. hallianum, E.
leptophyllum, E. minutum, E. oreganum,
E. pallidum, E. septentrionale, E. torreyi)
Genus in now Epilobium, but plants may be
listed as Zauchneria.
*
low-growing
flowering perennial
low-growing
flowering perennial
locally native
Eriogonum spp.
buckwheat
*
flowering perennial
(size varies)
some locally native species (Eriogonum
angulosum, E. apricum, E. arborescens,
E. argillosum, E. bifurcatum, E.
butterworthianum, E. cedrorum, E.
cinereum, E. compositum, E.
covilleanum, E. dasyanthemum, E.
davidsonii, E. deserticola, E.
eastwoodianum, E. elegans, E.
elongatum, E. evanidum, E.
fasciculatum, E. giganteum, E. gracile,
E. heermannii, E. hirtiflorum, E. inerme,
E. latifolium, E. luteolum, E. molestum,
E. nervulosum, E. nortonii, E. nudum, E.
ordii, E. parvifolium, E. reniforme, E.
roseum, E. saxatile, E. spergulinum, E.
temblorense, E. ternatum, E. tripodum,
E. truncatum, E. umbellatum, E.
vimineum, E. viridescense, E. wrightii)
Eriophyllum
confertiflorum
golden yarrow
*
small flowering
perennial
locally native
Eriophyllum lanatum
chalk buckwheat
*
small flowering
perennial
locally native
Eschscholzia
californica
California poppy
*
flowering
annual/perennial
locally native
Ferocactus spp.
barrel cactus
cactus
some species native to S CA
(Ferocactus cylindraceus, F.
viridescens)
Festuca californica
euryops/shrub daisy * perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Festuca idahoensis
Idaho fescue
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Festuca rubra
creeping red fescue
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Fremontodendron spp.
flannel bush
*
large flowering shrub
some species locally native
(Fremontodendron californicum, F.
mexicanum)
Fremontodendron californicum is native to
the greater Bay Area
Galvezia speciosa
island bush
snapdragon
*
flowering perennial
native to Channel Islands (southern CA)
Name has been changed to Gambelia
speciosa, but likely still be listed as Galvezia
speciosa in many nurseries.
Garrya eliptica
coast silktassel
*
flowering shrub/tree
locally native
Garrya fremontii
Fremont silktassel
flowering shrub/tree
locally native
Helenium bigelovii
Bigelow
sneezeweed
flowering perennial
locally native
Helenium hoopesii
orange
sneezeweed
flowering perennial
native to E CA
now Hymenoxys hoopesii
Heteromeles arbutifolia
toyon
*
large flowering shrub
locally native
locally native
Heterotheca villosa
(chrysopsis villosa)
hairy golden aster
*
flowering perennial
native to E CA
Holodiscus discolor
Sea foam,
Oceanspray
*
flowering shrub
locally native
flowering perennial
some species locally native (Iris
douglasiana, I. fernaldii, I. longipetala, I.
macrosiphon, I. missouriensis, I. purdyi,
I. tenuissima)
Iris spp.
Douglas iris hybrids
Juniperus californica
California juniper
evergreen shrub
locally native
Larrea tridentata
creosote
shrub
locally native
Lavatera
assurgentiflora
tree mallow
flowering shrub
locally native
Lavatera hybrids
lavatera
flowering shrub
hybrids- see notes
Lewisia columbiana
rupicola
columbia lewisia
flowering perennial
native to N CA
Lewisia cotyledon
bitter root
flowering perennial
native to N CA
Lewisia hybrids
lewisia
flowering perennial
hybrids- see notes
hybrids are created in nurseries and are not
naturally found in the wild
many locally native species (see
Elymus)
all Leymus species are now listed under the
genus Elymus
Leymus spp. (see
Elymus spp.)
*
*
*
* perennial bunchgrass
hybrids are created in nurseries and are not
naturally found in the wild
Linum spp.
flax
*
perennial
Linum lewisii is locally native
Lonicera hispidula
honeysuckle
*
flowering vine, shrub
locally native
Lonicera subspicata
chaparral
honeysuckle
flowering vine, shrub
locally native
Lotus scoparius
deer weed
small shrub
locally native
Lupinus albifrons
silver lupine
*
flowering shrub
locally native
Lupinus arboreus
coastal bush lupine
*
flowering shrub
locally native
Mahonia 'Golden
Abundance'
golden abundance
mahonia
*
flowering shrub
cultivar- see notes
Mahonia nevinii
Nevin mahonia
*
flowering shrub
native to S CA
Mahonia pinnata & cvs.
California holly
grape
flowering shrub
locally native
Mahonia repens
creeping mahonia
flowering shrub
locally native
Malacothamnus
fasciculatus
bush mallow
*
flowering shrub
locally native
Malacothamnus
fremontii
Fremont's bush
mallow
*
flowering shrub
locally native
Malosma laurina (Rhus
laurina)
laurel sumac
?
native to SW CA
Name is now Acmispon glaber, but likely still
listed as Lotus scoparius at many nurseries.
SCVWD lists this plant as Lotus scoparius.
this is a cultivar of a native species- cultivars
are bred in nurseries and are not naturally
found in the wild
some locally native species (Mimulus
androsaceus, M. angustatus, M.
aurantiacus, M. bolanderi, M. brevipes,
cardinalis, M. congdonii, M. diffusus,
douglasii, M. exiguus, M. floribundus, M.
Mimulus has been changed to Diplacaus (but
flowering perennials fremontii, M. glaucescens, M. guttatus,
name may still be listed as Mimulus at
and annuals
M. kelloggii, M. latidens, M. layneae, M.
nurseries)
microphyllus, M. moschatus, M.
nudatus, M. palmeri, M. pilosus, M.
pulsiferae, M. purpureus, M. rattanii, M.
ringens, M. subsecundus, M. tricolor, M.
viscidus, M. whipplei)
Mimulus spp. (shrubby)
monkey flower
*
Monardella macrantha
scarlet monardella
*
small flowering
perennial
locally native
Monardella villosa
Coyote Mint
*
small flowering
perennial
locally native
Muhlenbergia rigens
deer grass
Myrica californica
Pacific wax myrtle
Nassella cernua (Stipa)
nodding
needlegrass
Nassella lepida (Stipa) foothill needlegrass
locally native
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
*
locally native
shrub, tree
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Nassella cernua is now Stipa cernua (but
name may still be listed as Nassella cernua in
some nurseries)
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Nassella lepida is now Stipa cernua (but
name may still be listed as Nassella lepida in
some nurseries)
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Nassella pulchra is now Stipa cernua (but
name may still be listed as Nassella pulchra
in some nurseries)
Nassella pulchra
(Stipa)
purple needlegrass
Nolina spp.
bear grass
*
?
some species native to S CA (Nolina
biglovii, N. cismontana, N. interrata, N.
parryi)
Oenothera ceaspitosa
tufted (white)
evening primrose
*
large flowering
perennial
native to E CA
Opuntia spp.
prickly pear/cholla
Pellaea mucronata
bird's foot fern
*
fern
locally native
Penstemon wild spp.
penstemon (wild)
*
flowering perennial
some species locally native (Penstemon
azureus, P. centranthifolius, P. deustus,
P. grinnellii, P. heterophyllus, P.
newberryi, P. rattanii, P. spectabilis)
Polypodium (native
spp.)
plypody
*
fern
some species locally native (Polypodium
californicum, P. calirhiza, P. glycyrrhiza,
P. scouleri)
Opuntia basilaris is locally native
Polystichum
californicum
sword fern
Prunus ilicifolia
holly leaf cherry
Prunus lyonii
Catalina cherry
Quercus berberidifolia California scrub oak
*
*
fern
locally native
shrub
locally native
shrub
native to S CA Channel Islands
small shrubby tree
locally native
small flowering
perennial/annual
locally native
shrub
locally native
Now called Prunus illicifolia ssp. lyonii
Ranunculus
californicus
buttercup
Rhamnus californica
coffeeberry
Rhamnus crocea
redberry
shrub
locally native
Rhamnus croceus
ilicifolia
hollyleaf redberry
shrub
locally native
Rhus integrifolia
lemonade berry
shrub
native to SW CA
Rhus ovata
sugar bush
shrub
native to SW CA
Rhus trilobata
squawbush
shrub
locally native
Ribes aureum
golden currant
*
shrub
locally native
Ribes malvaceum
chaparral currant
*
shrub
locally native
Ribes sanguineum
red flowering
currant
*
shrub
locally native
Ribes speciosum
fuchsia flowering
gooseberry
*
shrub
locally native
Ribes viburnifolium
evergreen currant
*
shrub
locally native
Romneya coulteri
Matilija poppy
*
large shrub
native to SW CA
Rosa californica
California wild rose
*
small shrub
locally native
Rubus ursinus
California
blackberry
perennial vine
locally native
Salvia 'Bee's Bliss'
bee's bliss sage
*
perennial flowering
shrub
this is a cultivar of a native speciescultivars are bred in nurseries and are
not naturally found in the wild
this is a cultivar of a native species- cultivars
are bred in nurseries and are not naturally
found in the wild
Salvia 'Dara's Choice'
Sonoma sage
*
perennial flowering
shrub
this is a cultivar of a native speciescultivars are bred in nurseries and are
not naturally found in the wild
this is a cultivar of a native species- cultivars
are bred in nurseries and are not naturally
found in the wild
Salvia clevelandii &
hybrids
Cleveland, Alan
Chickering, etc.
*
perennial flowering
shrub
native to SW CA
hybrids are created in nurseries and are not
naturally found in the wild
Salvia apiana
white sage
*
perennial flowering
shrub
native to SW and SW CA
Salvia leucophylla
purple sage
*
perennial flowering
shrub
locally native
Salvia mellifera
black/green sage
*
perennial flowering
shrub
locally native
Salvia sonomensis
creeping/Sonoma
sage
*
low-growing
flowering perennial
groundcover
locally native
Salvia spathacea
hummingbird/pitche
r sage
*
flowering perennial
locally native
Sambucus spp.
elderberry
*
tree
some species locally native (Sambucus
nigra, S. racemosa)
Satureja douglasii
yerba buena
*
low-growing
groundcover
locally native
succulent
some species locally native (Sedum
album, S. laxum, S. praealtum, S.
radiatum, S. spathulifolium, S.
stenopetalum)
*
Sedum spp.
stone crop
*
Shepherdia argentea
silver buffaloberry
native to NE, NW, and SW CA
Simmondsia chinensis
jojoba
native to SE CA
Sisyrinchium bellum
blue-eyed grass
*
flowering perennial
locally native
now called Frangula californica
Now called Rhamnus illicifolia
Now called Rhus aromatica
Formerly called Sambucus mexicana
Solanum xanti
purple nightshade
*
locally native
flowering shrub
some species native to SE CA
(Sphaeralcea ambigua, S. angustifolia,
S. coulteri, S. emoryi, S. orcuttii, S.
rusbyi) or NE CA (S. grossulariifolia, S.
munroana)
Sphaeralcea spp.
desert/globe mallow
Sporobolus airoides
alkalai dropseed
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
Stipa cernua
nodding needle
grass
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
(formerly called Nassella cernua)
Stipa lepida
foothill stipa
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
(formerly called Nassella lepida)
Stipa pulchra
needle grass
* perennial bunchgrass
locally native
(formerly called Nassella pulchra)
Symphoricarpus albus
snowberry
*
Symphoricarpus mollis creeping snowberry
flowering shrub
perennial flowering
shrub
locally native
perennial flowering
shrub
locally native
lovely white berries (not edible)
requires almost no water, overwatering will
kill it! Hard to keep alive.
Trichostema lanatum
woolly/mountain
blue curls
*
flowering perennial
native to SW CA
Triteleia laxa
Ithuriel's spear
*
small flowering
perennial
locally native
Verbena gooddingii
Goodding verbena
flowering perennial
native to SE CA
Vitis californica
California wild
grape
perennial vine
locally native
Viola sempervirens
redwood violet
small flowering
perennial
locally native
Xerophyllum tenax
bear grass
flowering perennial
locally native
Yucca spp.
yucca
shrub
some species native to S and SE CA
(Yucca baccata, Y. brevifolia, Y.
schidigera)
*
*