It's Spring Planting Season – Brighten Your Garden With California Native Plants

California native plants are always a great addition to local landscapes. They need less water than non-native plants and can add vibrant color. These plants are excellent choices for gardeners who want to be water-wise and beautify their outdoor space with a rainbow of color:

Red - Santa Ana Cardinal Coral Bells are a pinkish red and love cool full sun on the coast and light shade inland. It is a perennial that needs very little water. Hummingbirds love this plant

Orange - Mexican Gold Poppy is similar to the California Poppy, but has smaller blooms. These flowers prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Blooms will attract bees.

Yellow - Desert Marigold is a hardy, fast-growing perennial that loves full sun and grows in all soil types, as long as it is well-drained. It needs very little water, but occasional water can increase the size of the blooms.

Blue - Baby Blue Eyes is an annual native wildflower that is very easy to start from seed. The delicate plant prefers sandy soil, low to medium water and full sun to partial shade. The flowers are sky blue with white centers and attract pollinators.

Purple - Margarita Bop Foothill Penstemon is an evergreen perennial that is very easy to grow. It thrives in full sun and all types of soil. Flowers will appear throughout the year, especially when spent flowers are removed. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love the tube-shaped flowers.