An Introduction to California’s Native Plants

California is home to over 6,000 species, subspecies, and varieties of native plants, making our floristic province a biodiversity hotspot.

Join Alejandro Lemus, our horticultural educator, for this introductory class covering the answer to the burning question, “What are native plants?” We’ll also discuss how they are adapted to our climate, why they are great at creating habitat for wildlife, and some of the best tips and tricks for growing them in your home garden.

Join us as we walk through the Garden and explore native plants in the context of the plant communities they can be found in throughout California. Instruction will be held entirely outdoors so here are a few things we recommend:

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing
• Wear sunscreen and/or hat
• Bring a waterbottle
• Don’t forget a notebook to jot down some of Alejandro’s top tips

This is an introductory level class in the Garden’s horticulture class schedule and recommended for all levels of experience.

Cost

 $25 for Garden members

$40 for general public

About Alejandro

Alejandro Lemus was born and raised in Los Angeles. He has experience working in habitat restoration, horticulture and education. As the Garden’s horticultural educator, Alejandro develops and implements horticulture programming for professional landscapers and residential gardeners. Having spent many years working in propagation and retail nurseries, Alejandro is passionate about growing native plants for conservation and informing the public of the benefits and beauty of habitat gardening.

Classes in the introductory track are geared towards the gardener interested in learning about native plants. These classes introduce participants to California native plants and their benefits. Classes in this track also will introduce participants to the principles of site assessment and plant selection, introductory native plant irrigation and maintenance, and how native plants can be used to build habitat in urban spaces.