Starting a native plant garden doesn't have to be complicated. Use the five vignettesbelow to get inspiration for your garden design and select from recommended native plants on the inside of your guide.

El Dorado ChapterWest El Dorado County

Colorful Entry

Living WallDesigning your space vertically can add life to your yard. Use bold colors, and interesting shapes to make a flat area stand out. Features: rain chain, swale, trellis.

Pollinator ParkAdd excitement to the parkway strip along your driveway by adding plants that butterflies and other pollinators love. Features: stepping stones and contrasting colors.

Homey HabitatFeaturing a bench and bird bath, you can take a seat in this habitat and enjoy all of the bustling activity in your yard!Features: bench, bird bath, boulders.

Wildlife WalkwayTake a stroll through your landscape. Use permeable materials for your pathway, such as stepping stones or decomposed granite.Features: permeable walkway, large boulders.

Make a statement in your entryway! Be sure to choose plants with a variety of colors.Features: large pot, decorative round stones.

Native Landscape Planting Guide

Low Water Use Pollinator Friendly Locally Native

PROJECT INSPIRATIONFive Easy Project Ideas for your Garden

PLANT SPECIES LOCAL TYPE COMMUNITY SUN WATER HEIGHT WIDTH COLOR WILDLIFE

TREES

LARGE SHRUBS

MEDIUM SHRUBS

SMALL SHRUBS

SMALL PERENNIALS

SPREADING GROUNDCOVER

GRASSES

VINES

CHOOSE YOUR PLANTS

Plants on this list have beencarefully selected by your local

El Dorado Chapter

Visit Calscape.org to find more plants native to your area.

California Native Plant List El Dorado Chapter - West El Dorado County

35-82' 30'Oregon Ash / Fraxinus latifolia Y D

6-80' 3-30'California Laurel / Umbellularia californica Y E

16-82'Blue Oak / Quercus douglasii Y D 30'20-120' 35'Black Oak / Quercus kelloggii Y D

6-10' 10'Bush Anemone / Carpenteria californica N /E

6-30' 10-15'Toyon / Heteromeles arbutifolia Y E

6-8' 4-6'Spice Bush / Calycanthus occidentalis Y D

10-20' 10-15'Western Redbud / Cercis occidentalis Y D

8-10' 6-8'Snowdrop Bush / Styrax redivivus Y D

3.5-7'Oregon Grape / Berberis aquifolium Y E 6'

/ 3-6'Common Snowberry / Symphoricarpos albus Y D 6'

1-2'Alum Root / Heuchera micrantha Y E 1-2'

1-2'Blue Eyed Grass / Sisyrinchium bellum Y E 3'

1.5-3'Western Columbine / Aquilegia formosa Y D 1'/ 1.7-3.3'Narrow Leaf Milkweed / Asclepias fascicularis Y D 1'

2-3'Showy Milkweed / Asclepias speciosa Y D 3'

0.6-2.3'California Buttercup / Ranunculus californicus Y D 6'

1'Carmel Sur Manzanita / Arctostaphylos 'Carmel Sur' N E 6'

3'Anchor Bay Mountain Lilac / Ceanothus 'Anchor Bay' N E 4-6'

1-2'California Buckwheat / Eriogonum fasciculatum 'Warriner Lytle' N E 4-5'

1-3'Common Rush / Juncus patens Y E 3'

4-5'Deergrass / Muhlenbergia rigens Y E 4'

2-3'Pacific Mist Manzanita / Arctostaphlos uva-ursi 'Pacific Mist' N E 4-8'

/ 6-15' 5-15'Coffee Berry / Frangula californica Y E

5-12' 6'Mock Orange / Philadelphus lewisii Y D

4-6'Concha Ceanothus / Ceanothus 'Concha' N E 4-6'

3-4.5'Cleveland Sage / Salvia clevelandii N E 8'5-8'Chaparral Currant / Ribes malvaceum Y D 5'

2-3'Dwarf Mahonia / Berberis aquifolium var. repens Y E 5'2-6'California Buckwheat / Eriogonum fasciculatum N E 3'3-5'Silver Lupine / Lupinus albifrons Y E 5'3-5'Foothill Penstemon / Penstemon heterophyllus Y E 5'3-5' 3-8'White Sage / Salvia apiana N D

0.3-7'Sulphur Buckwheat / Eriogonum umbellatum Y E 5'1-3.3'Common Woolly Sunflower / Eriophyllum lanatum Y E 2'

/ 0.2-2'California Poppy / Eschscholzia californica Y E 1-2'

1-3'California Aster / Symphyotrichum chilense Y D 3'/

1'Coyote Bush dwarf / Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Point' Y E 12'/

2'Bee's Bliss Sage / Salvia x 'Bee's Bliss' N E 6-8'

1.3-4'California Fescue / Festuca californica Y E 3'

1-4.3'California Melicgrass / Melica californica Y E 1'

0.25-1.5'California Fuchsia / Epilobium canum Y D 2-3'/

3.3'Purple Needlegrass / Stipa pulchra Y E 1.5'/

10-40'California Grape / Vitis californica Y D 20-40'/

1-20'Dutchmans Pipevine / Aristolochia californica Y D 10-15'15''Chaparral Clematis / Clematis lasiantha Y D 10-15'

1.3'Sonoma Sage / Salvia sonomensis Y E 5-15'

2'Coyote Mint / Monardella villosa Y E 3'

TYPEEvergreen

Deciduous

E

D

WATERVery Low

LowMedium

SUNFull Sun

Part SunShade

PLANT COMMUNITYChaparral

Mixed-evergreen ForestOak Woodland

Still need to get rid of your lawn? Try sheet mulching! - Layers of cardboard and mulch deprive grass of light. - Layers decompose into nutrients for your new plants.

Grass Removal –

- Visit CNPS.org/gardening for more information!

Soil Amendment – Many native plants thrive in what we consider poor soil conditions! - Add organic compost or worm castings to promote healthy soil. - AVOID chemical fertilizers and other amendments.

Mulch – Retain moisture, feed your soils, and insulate your plants from heat and cold with a 3-4” layer of mulch. - Use organic, weed free, well-composted mulch with a fine to medium texture.

- Apply after planting, and in late spring and early fall. - AVOID weed cloths, plastic, and other weed barriers. They prevent the natural cycle of nutrients through the soils, can kill the living biology in your soil, and are often ineffective at preventing weeds.

soil surface (not mixed into the soil). Keep the chips pulled slightly away from the crowns of the plants.

- Wood chips are a good mulch material when placed on the

Note that permeable pavement requires a specially-constructedbase. Gravel or decomposed granite atop a traditional compactedbase is generally not permeable.

Hardscape – Use permeable surfaces wherever possible to allow water to soak in to the soil below.

- Stepping stones- Permeable paving (at least 1/4” between pavers)

- Gravel - Decomposed granite (DG)

Planting and WateringGive your new CA native landscape a healthy start by following our online planting and watering guides.

Graphic illustrations by Randi Gunder, Goldenscape Designs.

BRING YOUR GARDEN TO LIFE

Visit CNPS.org/gardening to learn more!

Create a HabitatWater Feature – Pollinators, birds, and wildlife need water too! - Add a bird bath, fountain or other water feature.

Bare Soil for Bees – Our ground dwelling, native bees need habitat! These bees are not aggressive, and will help keep your landscape flowering! - Leave a few sunny areas of your landscape mulch free.

Garden Décor – Most importantly, have fun with your garden! Add a personal touch with your favorite décor.

- Boulders- Bird Feeders

- Rain Chain- Bench

- Decorative Pots- Patio Table

Defensible Space - Landscaping for Fire Country

The California Native Plant Society is a statewide non-profit organization with 35 local chapters dedicated to the conservation

and enjoyment of California'snative plants and places.

Layout – Space between and above plants and other flammable materialPlants – High moisture / low flammability whenever possibleMaintenance – A well-kept and monitored property

Defensible space guidelines are divided into zones, starting with a 5-foot no-fuel zone immediately around your home. This zone should be free of all flammable material, including plants, doormats, leaf debris, garbage cans, wooden furniture and cushions, and other fuel. The next zones cover 5-30 feet from your home and then 30-100 feet. CalFire and California Fire Safe Council provide detailed, up-to-date zone requirements for your property. For helpful links to these and other local resources, please visit CNPS.org/defensible-space.

Wildfire is a part of life in California. You can use defensible space to help reduce fire danger around your home by focusing on three concepts:

Living Soil