Trachelospermum jasminoides

Evergreen, vining groundcover with glossy, dark green leaves and pale yellow, pinwheel-shaped flowers wiht a jasmine scent.

Pachysandra terminalis

Grows more slowly than Vinca spp. and Hedera spp., but has a crisp, neat growth form. New foliage is bright green, changing to dark green with age. Small white flowers on 1-2 inch spikes. Withstands shade and is widely used under trees. Variegated cultivars are available. Deer resistant.

Mahonia repens

Prickly leaves, short clusters of flowers in mid- to late spring followed by blue berries; good winter color.

Achillea millefolium

Native perennial groundcover from one to four feet high. Can be used as a lawn substitute. Produces white flowers. Should be pruned or mowed annually. Blooms can be prolonged by cutting back old flower stalks or mowing.

Ajuga reptans

This popular ground cover spreads quickly by runners, making a mat of dark green leaves. Blue flowers appear in spring and early summer.

Muhlenbergia rigens

This large, perennial, California native has dense clusters of narrow, bright green leaf blades and tall, slender flower stalks. Bold enough to be used as a focal point of the garden, it also partners well with other perennials, flowers, and shrubs. Once established, deer grass is extremely drought tolerant and fits in well with a water-conscious California garden. Other Muhlenbergia species can also be good choices.

Phormium tenax

Although not a true grass, New Zealand flax fills a function in the landscape similar to many of popular ornamental grasses. Individual plants are large, hardy, and require minimal care while offering a bold point of interest to any garden. Numerous varieties and hybrids are available in a range of sizes and leaf colors, including many with striking stripes of red, yellow, and green. Deer resistant.

Leymus condensatus

Large clumping grass 4 to 5 feet across and reaches 6 to 8 feet tall in bloom. Distinct silver-gray foliage. Prune annually to encourage new growth.

Festuca californica

Flowering stalks rise to 5 feet above large clumped grass (2-3 feet tall) in late spring, early summer. Striking appearance, good adaptability, with clumps holding their shape well throughout the year.

Helictotrichon sempervirens

Evergreen, bright blue-gray, with narrow leaves in fountain-like clump. Grows 2 to 3 feet high and wide. Stems bear straw-colored flower clusters.

Bambusa multiplex

Rhizomes of clumping bamboo stay close to the plant, making it less invasive than the running species.

Mimulus aurantiacus

Plants grow 1 to 4 feet tall, depending on growing conditions. Sticky green leaves, with yellow flowers blooming mid-summer to fall.

Potentilla fruticosa

Small, yellow buttercup-like flowers bloom in June and continue to brighten your garden until the first frost in the fall. This hardy, low-maintenance, deciduous shrub is an excellent addition to a butterfly garden. Perennial.

Forsythia

Often the first plant to bloom in the spring, forsythia produces an astounding display of bright yellow flowers. Dozens of cultivars are available. Grows quickly.

Heteromeles arbutifolia

This California native is an evergreen shrub that produces delicate white flowers and large clusters of brilliant red berries that birds love. Can be pruned into a small tree. Deer resistant. Fire resistant.

Cercis spp.

Shrub or small tree, several trunks from base, rosy pink flowers in spring and interesting seed pods and foliage, which changes color throughout the seasons. Prefers well-drained soils. Western redbud is native to Sierra Foothills.

Arbutus unedo

A gorgeous, evergreen tree available in compact, shrub-like varieties that are easy to grow. It produces masses of beautiful white flowers and textured, strawberry-like fruits. Can be managed as either a shrub, with screening ability if left unpruned, or a tree.

Tristaniopsis laurina

Formal plant; can be trained as a single or multistemmed tree. Mahogany-colored bark peels, revealing new, satiny white bark beneath. Yellow flowers produce a good show. Can be slow-growing. Damaged by very cold winters. Try cultivar 'Elegant'. Evergreen. Zones: 15-24. Height: To 45 ft. Width: 5-30 ft.

Quercus macrocarpa

Rugged-looking tree with flaky grayish bark. Long, deeply-lobed leaves are glossy green. Large, distinctive acorns covered in fringed cap. Tolerant of poor conditions. Acorns can be a trip hazard. Deciduous. Zones: 1-11, 14-23. Height: 60-75 ft., equally wide when mature.

Sorbus

Valued for showy white flowers in clusters and orange to scarlet colored fruit. Foliage is typically finely cut and glossy green. Some species have good fall color. S. scopulina is native to California.

Styrax japonicus

Slender, graceful trunk. Broad crown. Leaves may turn red or yellow in fall. Delicate, fragrant, white flowers hang below leaves, creating a layered effect. Deciduous. Zones: 4-9, 14-21. Height: 30 ft., narrow in youth, wide in maturity.

Taxodium distichum

Delicate, feathery foliage sprays turn reddish-brown before dropping in the fall. Tolerates drought or very wet conditions, and any but the most alkaline soil. Trunk can be buttressed at the base. No pests or diseases. Easy to plant and care for. Tolerates any amount of water. Deciduous. Zones: 2-10, 12-24. Height: 50-70 ft. Width: 20-30 ft.

Michelia doltsopa

Prune to create a narrow, upright tree. Furry brown buds open to cream or white blossoms. Thin, leathery, dark green leaves are red underneath. Evergreen. Zones 15-24. Height: To 25 ft.

Lagerstroemia spp.

Stunning tree; great in a hot area. Showy summer flowers in hot pink, white, lavender, and other colors typically give way to brilliant fall foliage. Somewhat susceptible to aphids. Not the best choice for coastal locations. Deciduous. Zones: Varies by hybrid. Height: 8-25 ft., varies by hybrid.

Liriodendron tulipifera

Straight, columnar trunk with a tall, pyramidal crown. Unique lyre-shaped leaves. Foliage starts bright green, turns bright yellow in fall. Tulip-shaped flowers in late spring are interesting but not showy. Beautiful large shade or lawn tree. Likes slightly acidic, well-drained soil and plenty of room. Deciduous. Zones: 2-12, 14-24. Height: 60-80 ft. Width: To 40 ft.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Soft, pale green needles turn reddish-brown before falling in autumn, leaving a beautiful winter silhouette. Grows very fast when young. Older trees have fluted trunks. Resistant to oak root fungus. Not suitable for very arid regions or the coast. Deciduous. Zones: 3-10, 14-24. Height: To 90 ft. Width: To 20 ft.

Elaeocarpus decipiens

New leaves rusty and hairy, turning smooth and bright green. Old leaves turn red before dropping. Blooms with tiny, scented, white flowers in clusters followed by small, blue-black, edible fruits. Likes rich, well-drained soil. Needs little pruning. Evergreen. Zones: 8-9, 14-24. Height: 30-60 ft. Width: 20-30 ft.

Eriobotrya deflexa

Fast-growing and easily trained. New leaves emerge bright copper before turning green. Bunches of creamy white flowers in spring. Easy to plant and care for. Requires well-drained soil. Can be subject to fireblight. Evergreen. Zones: 8-24. Height: 12-30 ft. Width: 15-30 ft.

Eucalyptus nicholii

One of the cleanest, most graceful eucalyptus, with weeping branches and not too much litter. Crushed leaves smell a bit like peppermint. Furrowed, rich, reddish-brown bark. Damaged by very cold winters. Evergreen. Zones: 5, 6, 8-24. Height: 36-48 ft. Width: 15-36 ft.

Chionanthus retusus

Blooms like clouds of the whitest, feathery flowers. Handsome bark provides winter interest. Will grow in most central California environments. The olive-like fruits can be a litter problem. May produce a significant amount of pollen. Deciduous. Zones: 3-9, 14-24. Height: To 20 ft., not quite as wide.

Betula pendula

Upright main branches, weeping side branches with a delicate, lacy appearance. Average mature tree is 30-40 feet tall, spreading to half its height.

Sagittaria spp.

Pond Margin or Bog . Striking arrow-shaped leaves and white flowers. Grows in moist soil or water 6 inches or more deep. S. latifolia grows 12 to 20 inches; S. montevidensis to 4 feet. Also try S. lancifolia (white swan or red swan) for a specimen plant with green or red stems and a 7-foot flower spike.

Mimulus aquatics

Pond Margin or Bog. Annual or perennial. Fills out a 4 feet x 4 feet space in spring and summer. May die back then return the next year. Yellow flowers with reddish spots resemble snapdragons. Hummingbirds like it; deer don't. Also try M. cardinalis for red flowers.

Nuphar polysepalum

Floating or Rooted Emergent Plants. A native plant with a dramatic yellow flower and round leaves up to a foot in diameter. Foliage is submerged in winter and emerges in spring. May take more effort to find for sale.

Polygonum amphibium

Submerged Plants. A versatile, creeping plant that does well in water depths ranging from moist soil to 4 feet of water over the crown. Long, narrow, floating leaves, and bright-pink flowers.

Pontedaria cordata

Pond Margins. Heart-shaped leaves surround dramatic flower spikes. Excellent filtration ability. Place in containers in 1 foot of water. 3 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 2 1/2 feet wide.

Iris ensata

Pond Margin or Bog

Iris laevigata

Pond Margin or Bog. A true water-loving iris that will do well in 6 inches of water. Flowers in white, purple, lavender, and pink. Yellow-blooming varieties are available, but rare. Leaves to 18 inches tall.

Iris missouriensis

Pond Margins. A native iris with flowers ranging from white to blue to lavender. Leaves to 2 feet tall. Likes open, sunny, moist areas. Smaller in scale than yellowflag iris.

Iris sibirica

Pond Margin or Bog.

Juncus effusus

Ligularia wilsoniana

Pond Margin or Bog. A tall and showy wetland perennial with spikes of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers. Stems grow to six feet tall.

Lobelia spp

Pond Margin Plants. A spectacular blooming bog plant. Tubular flowers resemble honeysuckle or salvia and attract hummingbirds. L. cardinalis and L. fulgens to 6 feet with red flowers; L. siphilica grows 2 to 3 feet with blue flowers.

Lysochiton americanum

Pond Margin or Bog

Marsilea spp.

Floating or Rooted Emergent Plants.

Elodea canadensis

Submerged Plants. One of the best oxygenating plants. Has dark green leaves and provides food and shelter for fish. Dies back in winter. Grows best in fine sand but may need to be controlled in small ponds. (Sometimes also sold under the name anacharis.)

Brasenia schreberi

Floating or Rooted Emergent Plants.

Ceratophyllum demersum

Submerged Plants. A rootless, deciduous perennial with slender stems and forked leaves. Tolerates shade and hard water. Good oxygenator.

Chondropetalum aquatics

Cornus sericea

Pond Margin or Bog. Brilliant red or yellow foliage and colorful winter twigs. Provide good screens where water is present. to 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Cut roots to control spread.

Alisma plantago-aquatica

Pond Margin or Bog. Herbaceous perennial with flowers heads arranged in whorls of white, pink, or lavender. Blooms form a pyramid-like shape. Suitable for medium to large ponds, but may overwhelm a small one. 12 to 36 inches tall and up to 18 inches spread.

Aponogeton distachyon

Floating or Rooted Emergent Plants. Crisp white flowers with a vanilla scent are held on the water surface. Prefers cool water. May overwhelm a small pond.

Azolla filiculoides

Floating or Rooted Emergent Plants. Tiny, free-floating perennial fern. Excellent pond cover for fish and other wildlife. Turns reddish-purple in the fall. To 1/2 inch high, with a spreading habit. May overwhelm a small pond.

Baccharis salicifolia

Pond Margin or Bog.

Bambusa aquatics

Pond Margin or Bog. Useful as a hedge or screen. Rhizomes of clumping species stay close to the plant and will not invade surrounding soil. Height varies by cultivar, up to 35 feet. Do not plant running bamboos, which spread aggressively.