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Native Plants For Eastern Sierra Gardens

These are some native plant species have been available in the past at our Native Plant Sales. Scientific names are linked to CalFlora, where you can find photos and information about each species (opens in a new window). Be sure to click on the photo on the Calflora page for a gallery of photos on CalPhotos, which will present a more complete picture of how each plant may look in your garden.

As of May 2023, here is a list of what we have growing for the Spring Gardenfest sale

Photos are from the CalPhotos Photo Database - click on the thumbnails for full-size photos and photography credits. More about photographers below the list.

Prices at our Annual Plant Sale: Plant prices are currently $3 for seed packets, $5 for a small tree pots and cactus pots(half-gallon), $8 for gallon pots, $10 for tall tree pots, $25 for 5-gallon pots, and $35 for 10-gallon pots.

This table of native plants is sortable - click on a heading to sort by that parameter. Click again to reverse the sort order. If you want to see the plants still available after our most recent plant sale, click the "Available as of..." heading (you may need to click again to reverse the order) and see all of the sale plants at the top of the list.

Scientific Name Common Name Photo Available as of 5/1/2023 Family Form Flower Sun Water/ Soil
Scientific Common Photo Growing Family Form Flower Sun Water/ Soil
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Yarrow
16 tree pots Asteraceae Herb White   some
Ambrosia dumosa
Burrobrush
Burrobrush, photo by Larry Blakely
  Asteraceae Shrub White (sometimes yellow or pink)    
Amelanchier alnifolia Western Serviceberry Utah Serviceberry 3 5-gallon pots Rosaceae Shrub White    
Amelanchier utahensis Utah Serviceberry Utah Serviceberry   Rosaceae Shrub White    
Anemopsis californica Yerba mansa
Yerba mansa
16 tree pots Sauruaceae Herb White   lots
Angelica lineariloba Sierra Angelica, Soda Straw
Angelica
  Apiaceae Herb White full to partial regular, don't overwater
Apocynum cannabinum Indian hemp, dogbane
dogbane
  Apocynaceae Herb White    
Aquilegia formosa Crimson columbine
Crimson Columbine
48 tree pots Ranunculaceae Herb Red   lots
Arnica mollis Cordilleran Arnica
Arnica
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Artemisia arbuscula Low sagebrush
Low sagebrush
  Asteraceae Shrub Greenish White    
Artemisia tridentata Great Basin sagebrush
Big Sagebrush
  Asteraceae Shrub Greenish White Full

good drainage
drought tolerant

Asclepias fascicularis Narrow-leaf milkweed
Narrow-leaf milkweed
  Asclepiadaceae Herb White    
Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed
Showy milkweed
  Asclepiadaceae Herb Pink Full very little
Astragalus coccineus Scarlet milkvetch
Scarlet milkvetch
  Fabaceae Herb Red Full gravelly, sandy, in rocks
Astragalus lentiginosus Paper locoweed
Paper locoweed
  Fabaceae Herb Pink Full gravelly
Astragalus newberryi Newberry's milkvetch
Newberry's milkvetch
  Fabaceae Herb Pink   gravelly
Astragalus purshii Woolypod milkvetch
Woolypod milkvetch
  Fabaceae Herb Pink   dry, sandy, gravelly
Atriplex canescens Four-winged saltbush
Four-winged saltbush
  Chenopodiaceae Shrub Green Full well-drained
Baileya multiradiata Desert Marigold
Desert Marigold, photo by Gary A. Monroe
46 tree pots Asteraceae Herb Yellow Full well-drained
Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow-leaved balsamroot
Balsamroot
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow Full well-drained
Betula occidentalis Water birch
Water birch
13 tall tree pots Betulaceae Tree N/A   lots
Boechera pulchra
(formerly genus Arabis)
Beautiful rockcress
Beautiful rockcress
32 tree pots Brassicaceae Herb Pink Full  
Calystegia longipes Bush morning glory
Morning glory
  Convolvulaceae Herb White Full dry, rocky
Castilleja applegatei Indian paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush
  Orobanchaceae Herb Red Full

well-drained

Castilleja linariifolia Desert paintbrush Desert Paintbrush   Orobanchaceae Herb Red Full Paintbrush are hemiparasites and need to live with their host plant. These seeds came from plants living with rabbitbrush.
Ceanothus greggii var. vestitus Desert Ceanothus
Desert Ceanothus
Rhamnaceae Shrub White Full well-drained;
no water in summer
Ceanothus leucodermis Chaparral whitethorn
Chaparral whitethorn
  Rhamnaceae Shrub White or Blue Full well-drained;
no water in summer
Ceanothus velutinus Tobacco Brush Tobacco Brush   Rhamnaceae Shrub White Full Dry open slopes
Celtis laevigata var. reticulata Western hackberry
Hackberry
  Ulmaceae Tree N/A    
Cercis occidentalis Western redbud Western Redbud   Fabaceae Shrub Pink-purple full regular water
Cercocarpus ledifolius Mountain mahogany
Mountain mahogany
32 tree pots Rosaceae Shrub White Full sun to part shade Water monthly
Chamaebatiaria millefolium Fern bush
Fern bush
  Rosaceae Shrub White Full well-drained
Chilopsis linearis Desert willow Desert willow

 

Bignoniaceae Tree Pink    
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Curly-leaf rabbitbrush
Curly leaf rabbitbrush
  Asteraceae Shrub Yellow    
Chrysolepsis sempervirens Bush Chinquapin
Bush chinquapin
  Fagaceae Shrub N/A Full to partial gravelly
Clematis ligusticifolia Virgin's Bower
Clematis
  Ranunculaceae Vine White Full regular
Coleogyne ramosissima Blackbrush
Blackbrush
  Rosaceae Shrub Yellow    
Cryptantha  confertiflora Golden forget-me-not
Cryptantha
  Boraginaceae Herb Yellow Full rocky
Datura wrightii Jimson weed
Datura
  Solanaceae Herb White   very little water,
alkali soil
Delphinium parishii Desert larkspur
Larkspur
  Ranunculaceae Herb Blue Full well-drained
Elymus elymoides Squirreltail
Squirreltail
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Encelia actoni Bush sunflower or Acton encelia
Brittlebush
13 tree pots Asteraceae Shrub Yellow Full very well-drained
Ephedra nevadensis Desert ephedra
Desert Ephedra
  Ephedraceae Shrub Yellow    
Ephedra viridis Green ephedra
Green ephedra
  Ephedraceae Shrub Yellow Full well-drained
Epilobium angustifolium Fireweed
Fireweed
  Onagraceae Herb Purple or Pink    
Epilobium canum (formerly Zauschneria californica) California fuschia
California fuschia
  Onagraceae Herb Red    
Eremogone kingii var. glabrescens King's sandwort
Sandwort
  Caryophyllaceae Herb White    
Eriastrum densifolium Heavenly blue
Mojave Woolystar
4 tree pots Polemoniaceae Herb Blue    
Ericameria albida White rabbitbrush White Rabbitbrush, photo by Steve Matson   Asteraceae Shrub White   Alkali
Ericameria cooperi Cooper's goldenbush
Cooper's Goldenbush
  Asteraceae Shrub Yellow Full well-drained
Ericameria nauseosa Rubber rabbitbrush Rubber Rabbitbrush - photo by Robert Sivinski   Asteraceae Shrub Yellow Full Alkali
Erigeron compactus Fernleaf fleabane
Cushion Daisy
  Asteraceae Herb White and Purple    
Eriogonum elatum Tall buckwheat
Tall buckwheat
  Polygonaceae Herb White and Pink Full well-drained
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium California buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium, photo by Gary Monroe
10 tree pots Polygonaceae Shrub White and Pink   very little water;
well-drained
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii Nude buckwheat, Weston's buckwheat
Eriogonum_nudum_var_westonii-Steve_Matson
2 tree pots Polygonaceae Shrub Yellow Full good drainage
Eriogonum umbellatum var. nevadense Sulphur buckwheat
Sulphur buckwheat
  Polygonaceae Herb Yellow   little water:
gravel-good drainage
Eriogonum wrightii Wright's buckwheat
Wright's buckwheat
  Polygonaceae Herb Pink    
Eriophyllum confertiflorum Golden yarrow, wooly sunflower
Eriophyllum_confertiflorum-Gary_Monroe
  Asteraceae Shrub Yellow    
Erysimum capitatum Western wallflower
Western Wallflower
  Brassicaceae Herb Orange    
Erythranthe cardinalis Scarlet monkey flower
Scarlet Monkeyflower
  Phrymaceae
(formerly Scrophulariaceae)
Herb Red    
Erythranthe guttata
(formerly Mimulus guttatus)
Yellow monkey flower
Yellow Monkeyflower
22 tree pots Phrymaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae) Herb Yellow    
Erythranthe lewisii

Lewis' monkey flower
Lewis Monkeyflower
  Phrymaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae) Herb Pink    
Forestiera pubescens Desert olive
Desert Olive, photo by Larry Blakely

 

Oleaceae Shrub Yellow Full good drainage
Frangula californica (formerly genus Rhamnus) Coffeeberry
Coffeeberry, photo by Jean Pawek
  Rhamnaceae Shrub Whitish (creamy yellowish) sun to part-shade Evergreen, low water needs
Frangula californica ssp. tomentella Hoary coffeeberry or California buckthorn
hoary_coffeeberry-barry_breckling
  Rhamnaceae Shrub White    
Grayia spinosa Spiny hopsage
spiny hopsage, photo by Jean Pawek
16 tree pots Chenopodiaceae Shrub Pink    
Helianthus nuttallii Nuttall's sunflower
Nuttall's Sunflower, photo by Larry Blakely
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow Full occasional deep watering
Heliomeris multiflora var. nevadensis Nevada goldeneye
Nevada goldeneye, photo by Larry Blakely
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Heuchera rubescens Coral bells or pink alumroot
Pink alumroot, photo by Larry Blakely
  Saxifragaceae Herb Pink    
Hesperostipa comata Needle and thread grass*
Needle and Thread Grass
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Iris missouriensis Blue flag iris
Western Blue Flag Iris, photo by Keir Morse
  Iridaceae Herb Blue or Purple   lots - keep damp
Koeleria macrantha Junegrass
June grass, photo by RT Hawke
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Krascheninnikovia lanata Winterfat
Winterfat
  Chenopodiaceae Shrub White    
Lepidium fremontii Desert allysum
Desert allysum, photo by Steve Matson
28 tree pots Brassicaceae Herb White Full good drainage
Leymus cinereus Great basin wild rye
Wild rye
  Poaceae Grass N/A Full good drainage
Leymus triticoides Creeping wild rye
Creeping Wild Rye, photo by Keir Morse
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Linum lewisii Blue flax
Blue Flax
24 tree pots Linaceae Herb Blue or Purple   tolerates watering
Lonicera involucrata Twinberry
Twinberry, photo by Larry Blakely
    Shrub      
Lupinus argenteus Sierra bush lupine
Sierra Bush Lupine
7 tree pots Fabaceae Herb Blue or Purple    
Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus Shrubby lupine
Shrubby Lupine
  Fabaceae Herb Blue or Purple    
Lupinus excubitus Inyo bush lupine, grape soda lupine
Inyo Bush Lupine
  Fabaceae Shrub Blue or Purple   good drainage
some water
Lupinus magnificus Panamint mountain lupine
Panamint Mountain Lupine
  Fabaceae Shrub Purple or Pink   gravelly
Lupinus polyphyllus Creek lupine
Creek Lupine
  Fabaceae Herb Blue or Purple    
Lupinus pratensis Inyo meadow lupine
Inyo Meadow Lupine
  Fabaceae Herb Blue or Purple   moist soil
Malacothamnus fremontii Bush mallow
Bush Mallow
  Malvaceae Shrub Pink Full good drainage
Mentzelia laevicaulis Blazing Star
Blazing Star
  Loasaceae Herb Yellow   gravelly good drainage
Mirabilis alipes Rose four-o’clock
Rose Four O'Clock
  Nyctaginaceae Herb Pink Partial shade dry gravelly
Mirabilis laevis var. villosa (formerly M. bigelovii) Bigelow's desert four-o'clock / Wishbone bush     Nyctaginaceae Herb Pink Full to partial well-drained
Mirabilis multiflora Large four-o’clock
Large Four O'Clock
5 tree pots Nyctaginaceae Herb Pink Full no extra water once established
Monardella linoides Flax leaf mountain balm
Narrow-leaf Monardella
12 tree pots Lamiaceae Herb Pink or Purple morning sun, afternoon shade gravelly soil, wet in winter, dry in summer
Monardella odoratissima Mountain pennyroyal, desert mint
Mountain Pennyroyal
  Lamiaceae Herb Blue or Purple Full sun to partial shade some water
good drainage
Muhlenbergia asperifolia Scratch grass
Muhlenbergia
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Muhlenbergia rigens Deer grass
Muhlenbergia
6 tree pots Poaceae Grass N/A    
Oenothera caespitosa ssp. marginata Large white evening primrose
Large White Evening Primrose
27 tree pots Onagraceae Herb White   regular water good drainage
Oenothera californica ssp. avita White desert primrose
California Evening Primrose
16 tree pots Onagraceae Herb White   good drainage
Oenothera elata Hooker's evening primrose
Hooker's Evening Primrose
  Onagraceae Herb Yellow    
Oenothera xylocarpa Wood fruit evening primrose
Wood fruit evening primrose
  Onagraceae Herb Yellow Full regular water good drainage
Opuntia basilaris Beavertail cactus Beavertail Cactus 16 cactus pots Cactaceae Cactus :) Red or Pink Full well-drained soil/very little water
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa Silver Cholla Silver Cholla   Cactaceae Cactus Yellow Full  
Opuntia phaeacantha Mojave prickly pear Mojave prickly pear   Cactaceae Cactus Yellow Full well-drained soil/very little water
Opuntia polyacantha Grizzly bear prickly pear Grizzly bear prickly pear 13 cactus pots Cactaceae Cactus Yellow Full well-drained soil, very little water
Packera multilobata Lobeleaf groundsel
Lobeleaf Groundsel
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Penstemon eatonii Firecracker penstemon
Firecracker Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Red    
Penstemon floridus var. austinii Austin’s penstemon
Austin's Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Pink    
Penstemon floridus var. floridus Rose penstemon*
Rose Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Pink    
Penstemon fruticiformis Desert mountain penstemon
Desert mountain penstemon
17 tree pots Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Blue or Purple (pale)    
Penstemon heterodoxus Whorled penstemon     Plantaginaceae Herb Purple    
Penstemon incertus Mojave beardtongue
Mojave Beardtongue
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Shrub Blue or Purple    
Penstemon monoensis Mono penstemon
Mono Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Purple or Pink    
Penstemon palmeri Palmer's penstemon Palmer's Penstemon

16 tree pots

Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Pink Full sun well-drained soil
Penstemon patens Owens valley penstemon
Owens Valley Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Purple    
Penstemon pseudospectabilis Desert penstemon Desert Penstemon 48 tree pots Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
       
Penstemon rostriflorus Scarlet penstemon
Scarlet Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Red    
Penstemon speciosus Showy penstemon
Showy Penstemon
  Scrophulariaceae
Plantaginaceae
Herb Blue    
Pericome caudata Mountain tail-leaf
Mountain Tail-leaf
  Asteraceae Herb Orange    
Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides Daggerpod
Daggerpod
  Brassicaceae Herb Purple or Pink    
Phlox stansburyi Cold desert phlox
Cold desert phlox
  Polemoniaceae Herb Pink    
Pinus jeffreyi Jeffrey pine
Jeffrey Pine
  Pinaceae Tree N/A    
Populus fremontii Fremont Cottonwood     Salicaceae Tree N/A    
Populus tremuloides Quaking Aspen
Quaking Aspen
  Salicaceae Tree N/A    
Drymocallis (formerly Potentilla) glandulosa Sticky Cinquefoil     Rosaceae   Yellow    
Prosopis pubescens Screw-bean mesquite
Screw-bean Mesquite
  Fabaceae Tree or Shrub Yellow    
Proboscida parviflora var. hookaminana Devil's Claw or Double Claw
Screw-bean Mesquite
23 tree pots Martyniaceae Herb Pink    
Prunus andersonii Desert peach
Desert Peach
13 tree pots Rosaceae Shrub Pink    
Psorothamnus arborescens Indigo bush
Indigo Bush
  Fabaceae Shrub Purple    
Psorothamnus polydenius Nevada dalea
Indigo Bush
  Fabaceae Shrub Purple    
Purshia tridentata Bitterbrush
Bitterbrush
  Rosaceae Shrub Yellow    
Quercus kelloggii Black Oak Black Oak - © Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College   Fagaceae Tree N/A Afternoon Shade Sandy Soil
Quercus wislizeni Interior Live Oak              
Ribes cereum Wax Currant
Wax Currant
  Grossulariaceae Shrub Pink or White    
Rosa woodsii Woods' Rose Woods' Rose, photo by Steve Matson   Rosaceae Shrub Pink Tolerates some shade  
Rudbeckia californica California coneflower
California Coneflower
16 tree pots Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Scutellaria mexicana Bladder sage
Bladder sage
  Lamiaceae Shrub Purple and white    
Salix gooddingii Black willow
Black Willow
  Salicaceae Tree N/A    
Salvia dorrii Purple sage*
Purple Sage
  Lamiaceae Shrub Purple    
Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea Blue elderberry
Blue Elderberry
  Caprifoliaceae Tree (or large shrub) White or creamy yellow    
Schoenoplectus americanus Chairmaker's bulrush
Chairmaker's Bulrush
  Cyperaceae Herb N/A    
Senecio flaccidus Mono ragwort
Mono Ragwort
  Asteraceae Shrub Yellow    
Senegalia greggii Catclaw
Catclaw, photo by Steve Matson
  Fabaceae Shrub Yellow Full Well-drained
Solidago californica California goldenrod
Goldenrod
14 tree pots Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Solidago spectabilis Basin goldenrod
Basin Goldenrod
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Sphaeralcea ambigua Apricot globe mallow*
Apricot Globe Mallow
16 tree pots Malvaceae Herb Orange    
Sphenosciadium capitellatum Ranger's buttons
Rangers' Buttons
  Apiaceae Herb White    
Sporobolus airoides Alkali sacaton
Alkali sacaton
16 tree pots Poaceae Grass N/A    
Stanleya elata Panamint prince’s plume
Panamint Princesplume
  Brassicaceae Herb Yellow    
Stanleya pinnata Desert prince’s plume*
Desert Prince's Plume
  Brassicaceae Herb Yellow    
Stipa hymenoides
(formerly genus Oryzopsis, aka Achnatherum hymenoides)
Indian rice grass
Indian rice grass, photo by Gary Monroe
  Poaceae Grass N/A Partial shade sandy soil
Stipa nevadensis (formerly genus Achnatherum) Nevada needlegrass
needlegrass
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Stipa speciosa
(formerly genus Achnatherum)
Desert needlegrass
Desert Needlegrass, photo by Steve Matson
  Poaceae Grass N/A    
Townsendia scapigera Easter daisy
Townsend Daisy, photo by Larry Blakely
  Asteraceae Herb White    
Xylorhiza tortifolia Mojave aster
Mojave Woodyaster, photo by Larry Blakely
  Asteraceae Herb White or Purple    
Wyethia mollis Mule ears
Mule Ears
  Asteraceae Herb Yellow    
Yucca brevifolia Joshua tree Joshua Tree   Agavaceae Tree White full sun well-drained soil, little or no summer water
Hesperoyucca whipplei
(formerly Yucca whipplei)
Our Lord's candle Lord's Candle Yucca   Agavaceae Shrub White will tolerate partial shade well-drained soil

An asterisk following the name* indicates plant is one of the "ten best native plants for your eastern Sierra garden" (with well-drained soil)

Photo Credits

Plant photos from the CalPhotos Photo Database - click on the thumbnails for full-size photos with photography credits.

Thank you to the photographers who gave permission to use their beautiful photos of Eastern Sierra plants and scenery here and elsewhere on the Bristlecone Chapter website: Stephen Ingram, Steve Matson, and Larry Blakely.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge the following photographers who made their works freely available on CalPhoto for non-commercial use: Gary Monroe, Keir Morse, Steven Thorsted, Jean Pawek, Brent Miller, Dean Wm. Taylor, Victoria Marshall, Robert Sivinski, G. F. Hrusa, Robert Steers, Barry Breckling, J. G. Riend, Vernon Smith, RT Hawke, and Daniel Passarini. Appreciation to St. Mary's College for the extensive collection of photos from Brother Alfred Brousseau, which are also available for non-commercial use, and to the the CalAcademy Manzanita Image Project photographers whose works are free for non-commercial use with notification: Gerald and Buff Corsi, Charles Webber, and Glen and Martha Vargas.

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