Native Plant Information & Resources
Garden Native Plant List
A handy 13-page guide of suggested native plants for Coastal San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria. This guide lists each plant's common and scientific name, projected size, growing conditions and flowering season, grouped by type: perennials for beds and borders, accent plants to 4-feet, accent plants to 5-feet, ground cover to 3 feet, plants for slopes, deciduous and evergreen trees, and vines.
Garden Flora & Fauna Info Sheets
This list of plant fact sheets are of plants generally found growing in the Nipomo Native Garden.
We hope that teachers will find them useful in their classrooms and that local homeowners can use them as quick visual guides for plant selection.
Each document is formatted for printing on 8.5" x 11" inkjet printer photo paper, with full color photos and graphics.
Blue Dicks [560k]
Blue Witch Nightshade [738k]
Blue Woolly Stars [712k]
California Fuchsia [330k]
California Peony [880k]
Cleveland Sage [972k]
Coast Live Oak [759k]
Gopher Snake [536k]
King Snake [572k]
Michael’s Rein-Orchid [252k]
Monkey Flower [532k]
Nipomo Mesa Ceanothus [740k]
Parry’s Phacelia [676k]
Purple Clarkia [783k]
Purple Owl’s Clover [576k]
Sand Mesa Manzanita [766k]
Silver Dune Lupine [656k]
Sky Lupine [546k]
Toyon [906k]
White Sage [641k]
Yellow Lupine [561k]
Articles: Gardening with Natives
When approached by the Adobe Press to do a monthly series on landscaping and gardening with California natives, I launched into what became a two plus years series of articles. My goal was to share the information I had learned regarding native plants in the home landscape.
In this way, I felt that the average gardener would be much less intimidated by native plants and more likely to use them for landscaping.
Most of the articles I wrote are listed below. They have also been reprinted in the newsletters of the SLO Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
by Larry Vierheilig
Suggested Native Plant List For Nipomo Mesa
Local Plant Communities and Landscapes
The Right Plant for the Right Spot
Compost, Mulch, and Native Plants: To Use or Not to Use
California Natives Propagation Using Seeds
California Natives Propagation Using Layerings
California Natives Propagation Using Cuttings
Autumn and Winter in the Native Garden
Wildflowers for Year-round Color
Native Grasses for Home Landscaping
Container Gardening with Natives
More Native Plants for Wildlife
Evergreen Native Trees for Landscaping
Links to Websites of Interest
You may find the following web site links helpful in sourcing California Native Plants as well as additional information on specific plants.
The Nipomo Native Garden has no relationship with any of these sources and we make no representation as to their usefulness.
Associations
Center for Plant Conservation just what it sounds like
California Native Plant Society dedicated to the preservation of California native flora
Plant Reference
Theodore Payne Foundation native plant library
CalPhotos University of California Berkeley photo database of more than 500K images of plants, animals, fossils, people
USDA Plants Department of Agriculture plant database
Integrated Taxonomic Information System authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America
Calflora, information on wild California plants for conservation, education, and appreciation.
Botanical & Demonstration Gardens
Leaning Pine Arboretum at CalPoly San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden in Claremont
Nurseries & Growers
Las Pilitas Nursery California native plants and information
Native Sons California native plant nursery in Arroyo Grande
Manzanita Nursery California native plant nursery in Solvang, CA
Larner Seeds supplies seeds and plants of California native wildflowers, bunchgrasses, shrubs, vines, and trees
Community
Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County (ECOSLO)
Dana Adobe Nipomo CA