 |
El Dorado County Fire Resistant Landscaping
A fire resistant roof is the most important fire safe preventive measure to
ensure home survival in a wildland fire. Second most important is landscaping.
In addition, in El Dorado County's varied topography, home location can drastically
increase danger from wildfire. Locating a structure on a ridge at the top of a
"fire chimney" can create fire drafts that will make some homes extremely difficult
to protect. Often home location may have been decided years prior to your
ownership. Only landscape maintenance can reduce fire danger to these homes.
Of the various fire factors, landscaping is one of the most easily altered fire
safe components. In more urban situations, choice of plant materials can greatly
alter fire potential. In rural areas, management of existing native vegetation can
greatly reduce fire danger. In either case, maintenance to remove dead branches, to
mow dried grass, and to remove pine needles and leaves is crucial. Irrigation will
generally reduce flammability, but may not be practical or economically feasible.
Plants should be adapted to the elevation, soils, soil depth, soil moisture and shade
found on your site.
Flame length (which determines danger to structures) is determined by both the
mass of flammable vegetation and the continuity (both horizontal and vertical). The
horizontal flame path can be broken by spacing the trees or shrubs 10-15' apart,
separated by cleared areas, walkways, rock or other low fuel materials. Vertical
fuels can carry ground flames up into tree crowns. Cutting lower branches and thinning
or removing shrubs and small trees below the canopy of mature trees will protect them
from the "fuel ladder" effect. Plant species with finely divided leaves and dry, oily
characteristics can be the most dangerous. The thick bark of mature conifers will
resist most fires if the canopy can be protected.
After disturbance, aggressive wildland weeds may invade. Some are dangerously
flammable (e.g. Scotch Broom) and many can be very uncomfortable (e.g. Starthistle).
Even some landscaping plants can become serious fire problems (e.g. Pampas Grass).
Other exotic weeds may crowd out native plants and degrade habitats (e.g. Alianthus,
Himilayan Blackberry).
When planning your fire safe activities, consider potential wildlife habitat.
In low, damp drainages with little fire danger, consider maintaining continuous
vegetation for wildlife corridors. Animals need to hide from predators while traveling
for food, water and mating. A variety of native species allows diverse wildlife
species to survive and thrive among habitations.
Within the fire-safe zone around a home (minimum 30', 100'+ on slopes), clumps of
vegetation should be separate (10' to 15' apart), and all mature trees thinned from below
to eliminate ladder fuels. "Flashy" fuels (dried grass and leaves) on the ground, should
be separated from lower limbs. Remember, during a wild fire, fire fighters will need room
to work with crews and equipment. If you make their job easier, your home may survive.
Talk to your fire department about fire safety. Check with UC Extension or your local
ag department about invasive weed species. Consult the Sunset Western Garden book, Master
Gardeners, and local nurseries about plant selection. Clear back roadside brush on access
routes, and mark roads for firefighters. Rural living requires responsibility on your part.
• NATIVE TREES •
• NATIVE SHRUBS •
• NATIVE VINES, HERBS & GRASSES •
For errors and omissions contact Ray Griffiths at rgriffiths@edcfiresafe.org
| F I R E S A F E V E G E T A T I O N K E Y |
Zone: mz mountain zone above 3000' •
fz foothill zone below 3000' • vz valley zone below 1500'
Note: If characteristics are unknown, may be arbitrarily assigned a "5".
Fire: 1 = fire resistant, 10 = very flammable • Drought:
1 = drought tolerant, 10 = needs moisture
Deer: 1 = deer resistant, 10 = browsed hard •
Shade: 1 = shade tolerant, 10 = full sun •
Wildlife: 1 = high value, 10 = low value
All plants will burn if dry/heated sufficiently in a fire situation.
Spacing, height and mix of species is important.
Spring wildflowers may avoid fire by dormancy. |
| N A T I V E T R E E S |
| Scientific Name |
Common name |
Zone |
Fire |
Drought |
Deer |
Shade |
Wildlife |
Comments |
| Abies concolor |
White fir |
mz |
10 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Shade tolerant, flammable "ladder fuel", common w/fire suppression. Seeds & hollow logs for wildlife. |
| Acer macrophyllum |
Big-leaf Maple |
m&fz |
1 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
Needs moist soil, Browse, seeds, sap important to wildlife. Top killed by fire, sprouts from roots. |
| Aesculus californica |
CA Buckeye |
fz |
4 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
Toxic but deer browsed, avoids drought by leaf loss, dry north slopes, fire killed top, sprout from roots. |
| Alnus rhombifolia |
White Alder |
all |
1 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
Imp.to birds, not deer, needs moisture, attractive tree, nitrogen fixing, deep green, leaves imp. to streams. |
| Arbutus menziesii |
Madrone |
m&fz |
2 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
Fruit for birds, poor browse, preferred for cavity nests, attractive leaves & bark, fire topkills, root sprout |
| Calocedrus decurrens |
Incense Cedar |
f&mz |
1,10 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Shade tolerant,young "ladder fuel",fire resistant mature,seeds insects & hollow logs for wildlife,timber tree. |
| Cornus nuttallii |
Dogwood |
mz |
2 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
Shade tolerant, ornamental, deer browse shoots, birds like fruit, often riparian, fire top kills, resprouts. |
| Pinus lambertania |
Sugar Pine |
mz |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Huge, beautiful, valuable timber tree, birds like seeds, cavity nesting, tolerant of light shade resists fire. |
| Pinus ponderosa |
Ponderosa Pine |
f&mz |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
3 |
Timber, mature fire resistant, plantations burn, seed cover snags, down trees for wildlife, adaptable, sun |
| Pinus sabiniana |
Grey Pine |
fz |
2 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
2 |
Drought tolerant, young fire killed, mature resistant, seeds valuable wildlife, rapid growth, serpentine soils |
| Populus fremontii |
Cottonwood |
v&fz |
1 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
2 |
Large riparian, easily rooted&grown w/irrigation, rapid growth, messy, burns poorly, topkilled, resprouts. |
| Populus tremuloides |
Aspen |
mz |
1 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
2 |
Needs moist soil, browse, seeds, sap important to wildlife. Top killed by fire, sprouts from roots, attractive |
| Pseudotsuga menziesii |
Douglas Fir |
mz |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
Timber, mature fire resistant, xmas tree, ornamental, seeds & cover for wildlife, endangered sp. in mature. |
| Quercus sp. |
California Oaks most common native tree below conifers, acorns valuable to wildlife, cover & browse varies. All tolerate fire, most topkilled, resprout. |
| Quercus chrysolepis |
Canyon Live Oak |
f&mz |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Strong timber, fire sensitive, resprouts, wildlife cover & food, fair browse, young shade tolerant, firewood |
| Quercus douglasii |
Blue Oak |
fz |
4 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
Fire sensitive, resprouts decline w/age, poor seedling recruitment, valuable wildlife, fair browse, drought |
| Quercus garryana |
Oregon Oak |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
Large or small tree, fire topkilled, resprout, useful timber, acorns important for wildlife |
| Quercus kelloggii |
Black Oak |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
Timber, firewood, fire sensitive & tolerant, resprouts, attractive and useful tree, valuable wildlife, browse |
| Quercus lobata |
Valley Oak |
v&fz |
3 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
Mature fire tolerant, young resprout, drought tolerant, deep alluvial soils, beautiful large tree, poor seedling |
| Quercus wislizenii |
Int. Live Oak |
v&fz |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
Fire sensitive, resprouts decline w/age, drought tolerant, shrub or tree, wildlife cover, browse resistant. |
| Salix sp. |
Willows |
all |
1 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
1 |
Many species, all prefer moisture & sun, shrubs to trees, rarely burn, resprout, excellent for all wildlife. |
| Sequoidendron giganteum |
Giant Sequoia |
mz |
1 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
Attractive tree, young topkilled, mature fire immune, moisture, established drought tolerant, wildlife cover |
| Taxus brevifolia |
Pacific Yew |
mz |
6 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
2 |
Shady moist coniferous forest, fire sensitive, rarely burned, shade tolerant, good hedge, browse, wildlife |
| Umbellularia californica |
Ca. Bay |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
Attractive tree, rarely burns,fire topkills, resprouts, mature drought tolerant, shoots browsed, fair wildlife |
|
| N A T I V E S H R U B S |
| Scientific Name |
Common name |
Zone |
Fire |
Drought |
Deer |
Shade |
Wildlife |
Comments |
| Adenostema fasciculatum |
Chamise |
fz |
10 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
9 |
Fine branched resinous "fire-bomb", needs fire, clear far away, encourage other less flammable sp. |
| Arctostaphylos sp. |
Manzanita |
Many species, most fire adapted, reproduce from seed, resprout., drought tolerant, thin for safety, few tree-like, attractive bark, flowers, fruit. |
| Arctostaphylos manzanita |
Common Manzan. |
fz |
8 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
3 |
Fire killed, seed stimulated, tree-like, common southern Sierra, poor browse, wildlife cover, fruit, flowers |
| Arctostaphylos patula |
Green-lf Manza |
mz |
8 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
Fire topkills, resprouts, poor browse, common high elevation shrub,cover flowers & fruit for wildlife |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
Bearberry |
fz |
2 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
Fire resistant, topkills, resprouts, native to Sierras not local, many varieties,ground cover, + insects&cover |
| Arctostaphylos viscida |
White-leaf Manz. |
fz |
9 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
Fire killed, seed stimulated, most common low elevation, tree-like, poor browse, wildlife cover, fruit flowers |
| Baccharis pilularis |
Coyote Bush |
fz |
2 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
4 |
Fire resistant, top-kills, resprout, pioneer plant, tough, dwarf form groundcover, poor browse, + insects |
| Berberis sp. |
Oregon Grape |
f&mz |
6 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
4 |
Fire topkills, resprout, attractive flowers, wildlife likes fruit, poor browse, likes some moisture |
| Calycanthus occidentalis |
Ca Spicebush |
fz |
2 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
Foothill riparian shrub, beautiful
flowers, needs water, deer resistant, shade tolerant but slow. |
| Ceonothus sp. Many species in Ca, valuable browse and
for wildlife, fixes nitrogen, good cover, may be attractive or not, flower colors vary,
many horticultural varieties |
| Ceonothus cuneatus |
Buckbrush |
fz |
7 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
2 |
Tough spiny chaparral shrub, fire topkills, seed regrowth, valuable wildlife browse, cover, not attractive |
| Ceonothus integerrimus |
Deerbrush |
mz |
5 |
5 |
10 |
9 |
1 |
Fire killed, seed stimulated, valuable browse, pioneer plant, clear under conifers for fire ladder break. |
| Ceonothus lemmonnii |
Lemmon's Ceonothus |
f&mz |
6 |
4 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
Attractive low shrub w/blue flowers, not large enough to be a fire problem, wildlife uses leaves, flowers. |
| Cercis occidentalis |
Ca Redbud |
fz |
6 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
4 |
Beautiful in bloom, widespread, fire topkills, resprouts, fruit & flowers edible, some summer water. |
| Chamaebatia foliolosa |
Mt. Misery |
mz |
10 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
Resinous ground cover in conifers, burns easily, resprouts, carries ground fires, nitrogen fixer, ok browse. |
| Corylus cornuta |
Ca Hazel |
mz |
3 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
Attractive shrub-sm.tree, fire topkills, resprouts, fair browse, moist soil, shade, wildlife use nuts, buds, fls. |
| Dendromecon rigida |
Bush Poppy |
fz |
4 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
Beautiful perennial flowering shrub, needs excellent drainage, fire topkills, resprouts, tough shrub. |
| Diplacus aurantiacus |
Bush Monkeyfl |
fz |
5 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Good bloom, fire frost topkill, resprout, tolerates dry, likes some shade, water, hummingbirds & insects like |
| Eriodictyon californica |
Yerba Santa |
fz |
8 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
5 |
Perennial, attractive fls, lvs have aromatic compounds useful for sore throats, lvs flammable, fire topkills |
| Fremontodendron calif. |
Flannel Bush |
fz |
7 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
Pretty yellow fls, fire topkills, rapid resprouts, deer browse young lvs, fire adapted |
| Garrya sp. |
Silktassel Bush |
f&mz |
3 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
Attractive tasseled fls, several spp, fire topkills, resprout, deer browse, fruit birds & mammals, shade ok |
| Heteromeles arbutifolia |
Toyon |
fz |
3 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
Dark green lvs, red berries for birds & mammals, fire topkill, resprout, somewhat fire resistant. |
| Lupinus sp. |
Bush Lupine |
fz |
2 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
7 |
Fls purple, white or yellow, nitrogen fixer, poor browse, insects like fls., grows in poor soil |
| Prunus virginiana |
Chokecherry |
mz |
2 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
Prunus sp. have attractive fls, lvs & fruit important to wildlife, needs some moisture, fire topkills, resprouts |
| Rhamnus californica |
Coffeeberry |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
Tough grey shrub, fruit important to wildlife, deer browse in winter, tolerates shade, fls. for insects |
| Rhamnus crocea |
Redberry |
fz |
5 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
Small, tough chaparral shrub, looks like tiny oak w/red berries, resprouts from burn, berries imp.for birds. |
| Rhus trilobata |
Lemonadeberry |
fz |
5 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
Attractive mid-elevation shrub, tart berries used for drink, can be pruned, tolerates dry or semi-moist |
| Ribes sp. |
Gooseberry |
mz |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Several spp, spiny, attractive sm.shrubs, pretty flowers, browsed some, fruit for birds, below conifers |
| Rosa californica, sp. |
Ca Rose |
fz |
2 |
8 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
Large moist meadow shrub, large pink fls, red fruits, browsed hard, thorns, smaller spp. below conifers |
| Rubus parviflora |
Thimbleberry |
mz |
2 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Low dense shrubby, attractive, shade tolerant, excludes other shrubs, fruit for birds, fire resprouts |
| Salvia sp. |
Sages |
fz |
5 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
Many spp.,few native Sierra, poor browse, seeds for wildlife, resprouts following light fires, fls.for insects |
| Sambucus mexicana |
Elderberry |
fz |
4 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
Edible berry, fair browse, fire cracks seeds, resprouts readily, fruit, fls are valuable for wildlife |
| Styrax officinalis |
Styrax |
fz |
4 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
Med. size shrub, attractive fragrant white flowers, canyon slopes, tolerates drought, water w/drainage |
| Symphocarpus rivularis |
Snowberry |
f&mz |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
Several spp, creeping or low shrub, white berries, below conifers or riparian, fire resprout, fair wildlife |
| Toxicodendron diversilobum |
Poison Oak |
fz |
9 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
Shrub or vine, fire topkills, resprouts, smoke toxic, dangerous ladder fuel, deer browse, fruit for birds |
|
| N A T I V E V I N E S, H E R B S & G R A S S E S |
| Scientific Name |
Common name |
Zone |
Fire |
Drought |
Deer |
Shade |
Wildlife |
Comments |
| Achnatherum sp. |
Needlegrass |
f&mz |
8 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
Several drought tolerant native bunch grasses, not much fuel, attractive seed stalks |
| Achillea millefolium |
Yarrow |
f&mz |
1 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
7 |
Low growing, attractive fls, poor browse, ignition resistant, pioneer sp. |
| Allium sp. |
Wild Onion |
all |
2 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
Many species, most uncommon, attractive fls, usually pink, onion smell, early spring wildflower. |
| Apocynum sp |
Indian Hemp |
fz |
2 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
2 spp., Hemp green in moist areas, Dogbane low, pink fls.below conifers, both toxic to deer. Fiber plant |
| Aquilegia formosa |
Columbine |
f&mz |
2 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
Beautiful red fls.,likes moisture, not browsed, hummingbird plant |
| Aristolochia californica |
Dutchman Pipevine |
fz |
2 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Beautiful vine, unique fls, likes moist soil below oaks, riparian, host of Pipevine Swallowtail rare butterfly |
| Artemesia douglasiana |
Mugwort |
fz |
2 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
Low growing, dense stand in moist soil, aromatic, smells like sagebrush, not browsed, binds soils. |
| Asarum sp. |
Wild Ginger |
mz |
2 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
Attractive deep green ground cover in moist areas below conifers, fire sensitive, aromatic root |
| Asclepias sp. |
Milkweed |
f&mz |
2 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
Several spp., some fls. quite ornamental, bitter toxic sap, host for Monarch butterfly |
| Aster sp. |
Aster |
f&mz |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
Several spp. pale to deep purple w/yellow center, open forests, light shade, good nectar for insects. |
| Brodiaea sp. |
Brodiaea spp. |
all |
2 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
Many spp., Brodiaea, Dichlostemma, Tritelia. Blue, purple, also white,yellow spring fls., grass-like lvs. |
| Calochortus sp. |
Mariposa Lilies |
v&fz |
2 |
3 |
9 |
8 |
4 |
Many spp., perennial bulbs, beautiful fls, cream, yellow w/magenta, everything eats it. |
| Carex sp. |
Sedges |
all |
1 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
Sedges grass-like except triangular stems, many spp. most like wet soil, incredible erosion control, tough |
| Chlorogalum pomeridianum |
Soaproot |
f&mz |
1 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
Bulb used for soap, tolerates fire, deer eat fl spike, bees use summer fls, attractive white fls. |
| Chrysothamnus sp. |
Rabbitbrush |
mz |
6 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
Not attractive, shrubby plant w/yellow fls, very imp. to butterflies and other insects. |
| Cirsium protanum |
Ca Thistle |
v&fz |
3 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
Several sp. of native thistles, some red fls, very attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds. |
| Clarkia sp. |
Clarkia species |
f&mz |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Many spp., beautiful late spring pink/purple fls, plants spindly, some like dry,sun others moist,shade |
| Clematis lasiantha |
Foothill Clematis |
fz |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Drought tolerant vine, climb up on shrubs/trees, attractive fls, interesting fruit, |
| Collinsia heterophylla |
Chinese Houses |
fz |
3 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Beautiful native wildflower on shady banks, N slopes, purple/white fls, bee forage |
| Danthonia californica |
Ca Oatgrass |
f&mz |
3 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
2 |
Native, low-growing meadow grass, very palatable to livestock, birds like seed heads |
| Dicentra formosa |
Bleeding Heart |
f&mz |
2 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
Beautiful pink fls, found in shady, moist woods, likes deep shade in warm areas(N side of house) |
| Dodecatheon sp. |
Shooting Star |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
Several spp., beautiful magenta early spring fls., low elev. under oaks, high elev. in meadows. |
| Epilobium (Zauschneria) |
Ca Fuschia |
f&mz |
2 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
Tough perennial plant, bright red "Hummingbird" fls. tolerates mowing, light green lvs, wiry plant. |
| Epilobium angustifolium |
Fireweed |
mz |
3 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
Bright purple fls. invades high elev. meadows, esp. after fires. Likes moist, open areas. |
| Epilobium sp. |
Farewell to spring |
all |
3 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
Late spring wildflowers, pink/purple, large fls, small plants, many species, like steep slopes, poor soil. |
| Equisetum sp. |
Scouring Rush |
f&mz |
1 |
9 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
Primitive, coarse stemmed "Horsetail" grows in water, inedible, high silica stems used to scour pots. |
| Eschscholzia californica |
Ca Poppy |
all |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
5 |
Yellow or orange spring perennial flower tolerates awful soil, needs good drainage, pollen for bees etc. |
| Festuca californica |
Ca Fescue |
fz |
4 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
One of several native fescues, tolerates serpentine soils, shade under shrubs and trees. |
| Frageria sp. |
Wild Strawberry |
f&mz |
3 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
Native strawberry lives under conifers in moist areas, tolerates dense shade. |
| Grindelia sp. |
Gum Plant |
v&fz |
3 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
Late summer bright yellow blooms provide nectar, seem to slow grass fires. Gummy lvs. |
| Heucheria sp. |
Alum Root |
f&mz |
3 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Many spp, often grow in shade, steep rocky & moist areas, usually white or pink fls. |
| Hoita (Psoralea) sp. |
Scurf Pea |
f&mz |
3 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Herbaceous perennials (3 spp), attractive,creeping or tall, some like giant clover, dies to ground, purple fls |
| Horklia sp. |
Horklia |
v&fz |
2 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
Small, leafy ground cover, sm. white fls. in the spring, under Manzanita or oaks. |
| Iris sp. |
Wild Iris |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
Many spp, often purple, some yellow or cream. Most drought tolerant, some like wet areas, easy to grow. |
| Juncus sp. |
Rushes |
all |
1 |
9 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
Many spp, "grass-like" round lvs, wetland/meadow plants, erosion control, some bunches others creeping |
| Linium sp. |
Flax |
v&fz |
3 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Small, bright blue spring wildflowers that survive among grasses. |
| Lonicera hispidula |
Honeysuckle |
fz |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Shade tolerant vine, few attractive pink fls, chaparral sp. w/yellow fls, nectar for insects, fruit for birds |
| Lupinus sp. |
Annual Lupine |
v&fz |
3 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
4 |
Purple wildflower, many spp., prefers gravelly dry soils w/little nutrient value. |
| Melica californica |
Ca. Oniongrass |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
Several spp., bright green native perennial bunch grass, often grazed out on rangeland, tolerate shade. |
| Mimulus sp. |
Monkeyflowers |
all |
2 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
Many spp., often yellow or purple, some tiny, annual or perennial, some in springs/seeps, others in dry. |
| Monardella sp. |
Coyote Mint |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
Low growing mint, white/pink/purple fls, some shade, butterfly plant, rock gardens |
| Muhlenbergia rigens |
Deergrass |
v&fz |
4 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
Striking native bunch grass, likes wet but tolerates drought, easily grown, very useful,fast growth w/water |
| Nasella sp. |
Needlegrass |
f&mz |
8 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
Several drought tolerant native bunch grasses, formerly common, attractive seed stalks |
| Nemophilla sp. |
Baby-blue-eyes |
v&fz |
3 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
Sky blue annual wildflower, related Five Spot likes moisture, has white fls w/purple spots |
| Oenothera sp. |
Evening Primrose |
f&mz |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Many spp, usually early summer pink/purple wildflowers, spindly plants, large fls, dry shady - sunny banks |
| Penstemon sp. |
Penstemon |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
Many spp, low perennials, usually purple or red fls, dry banks, attractive to bees and/or hummingbirds |
| Poa secunda |
Pine Bluegrass |
v&fz |
4 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
Sm native bunchgrass, hills or banks, w/trees or not, may be grazed out, dark green, dormant early summer |
| Potentilla glandulosa |
Cinquefoil |
f&mz |
3 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
Perennial, yellow fl, lvs like strawberry, tolerates dry, often in open forested areas |
| Ranunculus sp. |
Buttercup |
fz |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Bright yellow fls in meadow areas that dry in summer, part shade, open woodlands. |
| Sedum sp. |
Stonecrop |
f&mz |
2 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
5 |
Fleshy perennial in rocky cliffs, often reddish lvs, yellow fls, |
| Sidalcea sp. |
Checker Mallow |
f&mz |
3 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
Many spp, stalk of pink/purple "Hollyhock" fls from small clump of rounded lvs. Open forests, light shade |
| Sisyrinchium bellum |
Blue-eyed Grass |
fz |
3 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
Grass-like lvs, pretty blue fls w/yellow centers, found in water and on dry slopes, other sp is yellow |
| Solanum xantii |
Blue Witch |
fz |
3 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Herbaceous perennial, electric blue/purple fl w/yellow center, in oak woodlands/brush, deer tolerant |
| Solidago californica |
Goldenrod |
fz |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Low perennial, bright yellow fl in late summer when all is brown, imp. insect fl., inhibits weeds |
| Vitis californica |
Ca Grape |
fz |
2 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Grape vine found in riparian areas, yellow fall lvs, fruit very imp. to mammals, birds |
| Wyethia sp. |
Mules Ears |
f&mz |
3 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
Low perennial, several spp, long fuzzy lvs, yellow sunflower-like fls, seeds, fls. imp. to wildlife |
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