Native plants support pollinators and local wildlife, conserve water through natural drought adaptation, and help your garden become more resilient to climate change and wildfire. They reduce maintenance needs, minimize reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and offer traditional medicinal and culinary uses.
Here's a mix of groundcovers, grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees suited to different conditions. Many are deer resistant, drought tolerant, and great for beginners:
Groundcovers & Lawn Alternatives
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)
– Fast-growing mat-former with a minty aroma
– Grows in sun or part shade
– Great in containers, lawns, or under trees
– Traditional tea and culinary herb
Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)
– Thrives in full shade with moist soil
– Heart-shaped leaves with gingery scent
– Evergreen, deer resistant, spreads by rhizomes
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
– Perennial herb with ferny foliage
– Spreads by seed and rhizome—great for lawn replacement
– Pollinator magnet and traditional first-aid herb
Grasses for Habitat and Texture
California Fescue (Festuca californica)
– Elegant bunchgrass for slopes or garden beds
– Low water needs; prefers loamy/clay soils
– Use in meadow-style plantings or erosion control
© Jason Grant, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Easyscape
Meadow Barley (Hordeum brachyantherum)
– Tufted perennial grass
– Cold- and deer-tolerant
– Attracts butterflies, bats, and caterpillars
Shrubs for Hedges, Habitat, and Slope Stability
by Peter Pearsall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis)
– Tough, adaptable evergreen shrub
– Fire-resistant and great for erosion control
– Makes a hardy hedge; supports pollinators and birds
Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
– Evergreen shrub with red-to-black berries
– Attracts birds, butterflies, and native bees
– Excellent in hedgerows or containers
© Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus)
– Rose-family shrub with peeling bark and white flowers
– Great for slope stabilization
– Tolerates serpentine soils
Flowering Perennials for Color & Wildlife
Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
– Bright red-and-yellow flowers for hummingbirds
– Prefers moist, partly shady spots
– Reseeds gently; deer resistant
Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana)
– Evergreen perennial with showy purple, blue or cream flowers
– Tolerates shade, heavy soils, and serpentine
– Great for borders, woodland edges, rain gardens, or containers
Larger Plants for Structure & Shade
© Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica)
– Aromatic evergreen tree (leaves used like bay leaf)
– Fast-growing once established; tolerates clay/serpentine
– Great for shade, screening, and wildlife cover
© Andrea Moro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
– Spreading deciduous shrub with striking red stems and white summer flowers
– Excellent for hedges, thickets, or wetland restoration
– Supports 13+ species of butterflies and moths; attracts birds and pollinators