Selecting a palette of Mediterranean and California native plants—those adapted to our climate of seasonal rainfall—offers diversity in form, color and texture. Keep in mind a plant’s cultural requirements when selecting a variety for your garden space. Check your favorite reference or ask nursery staff about a plant’s need for sun/shade, drainage and water.

The following list is a sampling of plants suited to our Mediterranean climate. For more information about these plants, and a plethora of others, order a copy of the award winning EBMUD, Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates. Also available at local nurseries.

FULL SUN, GOOD DRAINAGE
Trees
Feijoa sellowiana	Pineapple guava
Leptospermum laevigatum	Australian tea tree
Shrubs
Artemisia californica*	California sagebrush
Buddleja spp.	Butterfly bush
Fremontodendron spp.*	Flannel bush
Lavatera spp.	Tree mallow
Lupinus sp.*	Lupine
Phlomis fruticosa	Jerusalem sage
Rosmarinus officinalis	Rosemary
Salvia spp.	Sage
Teucrium fruticans	Germander
Westringia fruticosa	Coast rosemary
Perennials
Armeria maritima*	Sea thrift
Asclepias speciosa*	Showy milkweed
Erigeron spp.	Fleabane
Eriogonum sp.**	Wild buckwheat
Lavandula spp.	Lavender
Nepeta sp.	Catmint
Penstemon spp.	Penstemon
Perovskia atriplicifolia	Russian sage
Salvia spp.	Sage
Sphaeralcea sp.**	Globe mallow
Groundcovers
Myoporum parvifolium	Myoporum
Thymus spp.	Thyme
FULL SUN TO PART SHADE,  GOOD DRAINAGE
Trees
Arbutus unedo	Strawberry tree
Shrubs
Ceanothus spp.*	California lilac
Correa spp.	Australian fuchsia (some sp. prefer full shade)
Cotinus coggygria and cultivars	Smoke tree
Garrya elliptica*	Silktassel
Heteromeles arbutifolia*	Toyon
Perennials
Alstroemeria hybrids	Peruvian lily
Arctostaphylos spp.*	Manzanita
Coreopsis sp.	Coreopsis
Epilobium canum*	California fuchsia
Guara lindheimeri	Gaura
Heuchera micrantha*	Coral bells (prefers part shade)
Limonium perezii	Sea lavender, statice
Phacelia sp.*	Phacelia
Thymus spp.	Thyme
Groundcovers
Dymondia margaretae	Silver carpet
Vines
Tecomaria capensis	Cape honeysuckle
Wisteria spp.	Wisteria
Hardenbergia violecea	Lilac vine
FULL SUN, MOST SOILS
Trees
Cercocarpus betuloides*	Mountain mahogany
Shrubs
Baccharis pilularis*	Coyote bush
Perennials
Achillea millefolium*	Yarrow
Echinacea purpurea	Purple cone flower
Groundcovers
Malvastrum	Trailing mallow
Vines
Vitis californica*	California wild grape
SUN TO PART SHADE, MOST SOILS
Trees
Aesculus californica*	California buckeye
Cercis occidentalis*	Western redbud
Shrubs
Abelia x grandiflora	Glossy abelia
Berberis spp	Barberry   (avoid Berberis darwinii as it may be invasive)
Chaenomeles spp.	Flowering quince
Rhamnus californica*	Coffeeberry  (some varieties prefer well-drained soil)
Ribes sanguineum*	Red flowering currant
Sambucus mexicana	Blue Elderberry
Mahonia spp.*	Mahonia, Oregon grape
Malacothamnus spp.**	Bush mallow
Mimulus aurantiacus*	Sticky monkey flower  (prefers well drained, tolerates clay)
Perennials
Calamagrostis foliosa*	Reed grass
Carex tumulicola*	Berkeley sedge
Festuca sp.**	Fescue bunch grass (avoid Festuca   arundinacea as it may be invasive)
Iris douglasiana*  (or Pacific Coast hybrids)	Douglas iris (some varieties prefer well-drained  soil)
Muhlenbergia rigens*	Deer grass
Sesleria autumnalis	Autumn moor grass
Sisyrinchium bellum*	Blue-eyed grass
Tagates lemmonii	Mexican bush marigold
Vines
Clytostoma Callistegioides	Violet trumpet vine
SHADE, CLAY SOIL  WITH SOME ORGANIC MATTER
Perennials
Dryoptera sp.**	Wood fern
Polystichum munitum*	Western sword fern

*Denotes native to California
**Certain species are native to California