full sun — Drought Tolerant Plants

Sticky Monkey Flower

Diplacus aurantiacus

Blooms March to September
This perennial shrub 3-4’h x 3’w prefers clay soil with a moderately acidic ph; full sun and no summer water. This is the coastal form of Mimulus aurantiacus, a perennial with 1" orange flowers that likes partial shade if planted in the interior, sun if it is along the coast. Monkeyflower attracts hummingbirds and is deer proof. Monkeyflower will grow in almost any soil as long as it has drainage and is not overwatered.

Mimulus aurantiacus is not the same in horticulture. Most if not all Mimulus spp. need water; most Diplacus species are drought tolerant.

Chalk Buckwheat

Eriogonum latifolium

Blooms summer into fall
Up to 1’h x 2’w mounds of pink and white 1” flowers, grows well on
coastal dunes and bluffs, in beach sand or fast draining clay. Give sun and sandy/rocky soil, little or no water after established (in range of species). Can be grown in warmer areas but give a little extra winter/spring water. This perennial is used by many native butterflies for nectar and larval food. Deer resistant but attractive to rabbits.

Blue-Eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium bellum

Blooms January to June
A 1-2 foot tall perennial with small, green-gray, iris-like leaves and 1 inch blue flowers. Widely distributed in California; it grows in sand to clay, coastal bluffs to interior grasslands. It likes full sun with garden water but once established can become very drought tolerant and tolerate full sun everywhere. Tolerates seaside conditions, seasonal flooding, high traffic (people walking on it) and deer. In a native garden Blue Eyed Grass mixes well among rocks or with other small perennials like Armeria maritima.

NativeTorrey DouglassOctober 7, 2019perennial, tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, deer resistant

Agastache

Blooms in summer
A perennial that grows erect 3-4 ft and is bushy with tubular flowers borne on whorls. Color varies. Prefers sun and well-drained soil. Water when flowering and prune back after. Provides nectar and attracts natives, especially bombus and honey bees.

Manzanita

Arctostaphylos

Blooms late winter to early spring
A perrenial that can be a groundcover or grow into 20 ft trees with white or pink flowers. Likes full sun, average soil and water. Provides nectar and attracts bombos, honeybees, mason bees, and Saturnia Mendocino.

Sims Globe Gilia

Gilia capitata

Blooms April - May
An annual with numerous blue flowers forming a globe. Glows erect to about 27” high. Likes sun and average to dry soil. Provides nectar and pllen. Attracts honey, sweat, and mining bees.

Hairy Gum Plant

Grindelia hirsutula

Blooms early spring to early fall
A perennial that grows up to 30” high with yellow, sticky flowers and hairy leaves. Likes clay to loam soil and full sun. Provides nectar and pollen. Attracts Bombus and sweat bees.

Gum Plant

Grindelia stricta

Blooms late spring to fall
A perennial that grows up to 30” high with yellow, sticky flowers and broad leaves. Likes clay to loam soil and full sun. Provides nectar and pollen. Attracts Bombus and sweat bees.