About Native Plants

What is a native plant, anyway?

We think of it this way: A plant is native if it's been here for a long time - like, thousands of years. Long enough to adapt to the local ecosystem, and for other creatures to adapt to it. In California, this would not be true of, say, jacarandas, birds of paradise, or turf grasses, as much as we might value those plants for other reasons. But there are many hundreds of native plant varieties that are widely available and well-suited to landscaping. The possibilities are endless!

And why should I care?

We happily tend to non-native plants too, but we’re deeply devoted to the native plants of our region. Why? First, because native plants are the best way to support native wildlife, which has evolved alongside those plants. By supporting native plants and wildlife, we support the ecosystems that humans have disrupted in recent centuries - ecosystems that we need, too!

Plus, we get to see lots of cool birds and bugs in our yards.

If you're not swayed yet, consider these additional charms:

They save water! Here in Southern California, droughts have led to restrictions on residential water use in recent years. That makes it hard to keep a lawn alive, much less looking good - but native plants are adapted to our long, dry summers. Most of them need little to no irrigation after their first year. That means you save money on irrigation, and preserve the water for better uses.

They don't need chemical fertilizers. They like our soil just the way it is! Save the money you would've spent on fertilizer, and keep those chemicals out of your yard - and the water supply.

They look amazing. Here in California we live in a biodiversity hotspot, with well over a thousand species of plants that are found nowhere else in the world. Just about every shape, color, texture, and fragrance you can think of is represented in our native flora. Any kind of garden you can dream up, you can make with native plants.