What you need to know about buying and planting California native plants

Q. I would like to plant California natives in my yard, but I don’t know where to buy them. I would also like to see them planted so I know what they look like when they’re full-grown.

Your original question was for Riverside County, but since I have readers all over Southern California, I will try to answer your question while providing information for gardeners in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties as well.

The California Native Plant Society’s website (Calscape.org) has comprehensive information on native plants, including photos, growing conditions, and the names and locations of nurseries where they can be purchased. Keep in mind that many of these nurseries will sell plants and seeds via mail order as well. If you join the CNPS, you will receive information on your local chapter’s activities, including plant sales.

Many botanical gardens have plant sales, usually more than once per year. These sales are usually open to the public, but they will offer members early access. Becoming a member doesn’t cost very much, and many gardens will honor each other’s memberships (though you will want to get on their e-mail lists so you can hit all the plant sales.)

It’s helpful to see the plants in their full-grown state because sometimes it’s difficult to get a sense of scale from a young plant in a container. For example, my neighbor purchased 5 or 6 Pride of Madeira plants in one-gallon pots. She found the leaf texture interesting and liked the color of the flowers. She didn’t realize that each plant could grow to 6 feet across and easily as tall. After a few years she had to remove them since they took over her front yard.

Most botanical gardens have a native plant display as well as a sprinkling of natives throughout the rest of the garden. In Southern California, any college that has a horticulture department will likely have a display garden. University of California, Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona, Palomar College, and Cal State Fullerton are just a few that come to mind. In addition, there are many public gardens not affiliated with schools.

Your local water department can be another resource since many have display gardens featuring water-wise landscape ideas, including native plants.

Some fire departments have gardens to demonstrate fire-resistant landscaping – always a good thing to be aware of in Southern California. Some California natives can be particularly flammable (California buckwheat comes to mind). This is because they often have a high oil content to protect their leaves from water loss. When planning a native landscape, keep in mind which plants may pose a fire hazard and plant them further away from your house or other flammable structures such as sheds and wood fences. Choose succulents and other less flammable plants for foundation planting. For more information on fire-smart landscaping, see readyforwildfire.org. 

Los Angeles County

mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/

Orange County

ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/

Riverside County

anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/

San Bernardino County

mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu