Where to Buy Native Plants
The Garden Nursery
Building Your Native Plant Garden
Located in our courtyard, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Nursery is open to our members and the public seven days a week, featuring the largest selection of California’s native plants on the central coast. With hundreds of varieties available, there is something for everyone. Our knowledgeable staff are available to answer your questions and help you handpick the right native plants for your garden. Open year-round, the Nursery is always changing, so stop by to browse our selection often to see what’s new. Remember, all Garden members receive 10% off purchases — for every purchase.
Nursery Hours
daily
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Members’ hour
9 – 10 a.m.
Seasonality
When to Plant is as Important as What to Plant
Many native plants are adapted to a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. This basically means that summertime in California is like wintertime in the rest of the world: a time when plants take it easy and get ready for the harsh times ahead. Of course, many native plants thrive and even flower in the harshest time of the year, but understanding this adaptation is key to growing many of California’s native plants.
Native Plants for Your Garden Needs
Easy to Grow
perennials
Golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea)
Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
Shrubs
Perennials
Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Buckwheat species (Eriogonum spp.)
Black, white, and purple sage (Salvia mellifera, S. apiana, S. leucophylla)
Groundcover & Lawn Substitutes
Turf, Light foot traffic
Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens)
Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis)
California Field Sedge (Carex praegracilis)
Red fescue (Festuca rubra)
Low Groundcover
Arroyo Cascade Manzanita (Arctostaphylos ‘Arroyo Cascade’)
Seaside daisy (Erigeron glaucus)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Terra Seca Sage (Salvia mellifera ‘Terra Seca’)
Common juniper (Juniperus communis)
Slopes & Erosion Control
Perennials
California brittlebush (Encelia californica)
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)
Shrubs & Trees
Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum)
Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Black, white, and purple sage (Salvia mellifera, S. apiana, S. leucophylla)
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
Blooming Calendar
A well-designed native plant garden has something happening every month of the year. Select a month to see a few examples of what is in bloom in a native plant garden throughout the year. Although most flowering plants attract some wildlife, we’ve highlighted the ones that the critters seem to really enjoy.
Seasonal Listings
Hummingbird feeding on Arctostaphylos glauca, photo/Randy Wright
Ceanothus, photo/Denise Dewire
Toyon berries, photo/Randy Wright
Hummingbird visiting Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), photo/Lynn Watson
January
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.)
Attracts bumblebees, hummingbirds
California lilac (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, native bees
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Brilliant red berries, attracts birds
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
Attracts hummingbirds
Ceanothus, photo/Greg Trainor
Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida), photo/Michelle Cyr
Hummingbird and Salvia spathacea, photo/Daryl Metzger
February
California lilac (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea)
Attracts hummingbirds
Bumble bee, Purple Sage, photo/Robin Oaks
Honey bee, Redbud (Cercis) in bloom, photo/Michael Horns
Iris blooming, photo/Denise Dewire
Poppies in Meadow, photo/Stacy Bloodworth
March
Black, white, and purple sage (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California lilac (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
Irises (Iris)
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Attracts bumblebees
Coral bells (Heuchera)
Monkeyflower (Diplacus spp.)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Iris, photo/Denise Dewire
Flannelbush, photo/Denise Dewire
Monkeyflower, photo/Greg Trainor
Heuchera in the Wooded Dell, photo/Randy Wright
April
Irises (Iris)
Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum)
Monkeyflower (Diplacus spp.)
Bloom April into summer
Coral bells (Heuchera)
Black, white, and purple sage (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California lilac (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Attracts bumblebees
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida)
Many wildflowers: tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), farewell to spring (Clarkia), baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), bicolor lupine (Lupinus bicolor), chia (Salvia columbaria)
Hairy Matilija Poppy (Romnea trichocalyx), photo/Randy Wright
Penstemon spectabilis, photo/Heather Wehnau
Salvia apiana, photo/Steve Junak
Golden Yarrow, photo/Elizabeth Collins
May
Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)
Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Black, white, and purple sage (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum)
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Many wildflowers: tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), farewell to spring (Clarkia), baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), bicolor lupine (Lupinus bicolor), chia (Salvia columbaria)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Purple sage with honey bee, photo/Gary Margeson
Dudleya brittonii, photo/Denise Dewire
Desert Willow in bloom, photo/Randy Wright
Humboldt’s Lilies in the Redwood Section, photo/Greg Trainor
June
Black, white, and purple sage (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Live forever (Dudleya)
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
Humboldt Lily (Lilium homboldtii)
Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)
Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California Buckwheat, photo/Greg Trainor
Brittlebush (Encelia californica), photo/Elizabeth Collins
Canyon Sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides), photo/Jane Auerbach
California fuschia (Epilobium canum), photo/Dieter H. Wilken
July
Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.)
Attracts butterflies
Brittlebush (Encelia californica)
Canyon Sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides)
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
California Goldenrod, photo/Randy Wright
California fuschia (Epilobium canum), photo/Dieter H. Wilken
California Buckwheat, photo/Robert Muller
Brittlebush (Encelia californica), photo/Elizabeth Collins
August
Goldenrod (Solidago)
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
Attracts hummingbirds
Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.)
Attracts butterflies
Brittlebush (Encelia californica)
Buckwheat (Eriogonum arborescens), photo/Sangeet Khalsa
California fuschia (Epilobium canum), photo/Dieter H. Wilken
Summer Holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia), photo/Randy Wright
September
Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.)
Attracts butterflies
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
Attracts hummingbirds
Summer Holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia)
Aesculus californica in fruit, Arroyo Section, photo/Tricia Wardlaw
Vitis californica, grape leaves, fall color, photo/Denise Dewire
California Buckwheat, photo/Greg Trainor
California fuschia (Epilobium canum), photo/Dieter H. Wilken
October
California buckeye (Aesculus californica)
In fruit
California grape (Vitis californica)
Fall color
Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.)
Attracts butterflies
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
Attracts hummingbirds
Golden bigleaf maple leaves in Canyon, photo/Randy Wright
Cottonwood tree, photo/Ines Roberts
Bigberry Manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca, photo by Randy Wright
Aesculus californica in fruit, Arroyo Section, photo/Tricia Wardlaw
November
Big-leaf maple (Acer macroplyllum)
Fall color
Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
Fall color
Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.)
California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
Red berries, Toyon, photo/Denise Dewire
Pink-Flowered Currant, photo/Greg Traino
Raiche’s Manzanita in rain, photo/Randy Wright
December
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Red berries
Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)
Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.)
Partner Nurseries
Time to Shop for Native Plants.
If you’re ready to invest in your home garden, but you’re not within driving distance of the Garden, we can still help!
We’ve partnered with nurseries from Ventura, across Santa Barbara County, and even Buellton and Solvang to help you succeed when it comes to growing native plants. These nurseries are knowledgeable, have inventory, and are ready to support you – from beginners to seasoned pros.
Plus, if you’re a member of the Garden, you’ll get 10% off your purchase when you show your card – every time!
Partner Gardens
Not Close? Find a Public Garden Near You.
As part of the American Horticultural Society (AHS), our Garden members enjoy reciprocal benefits from gardens across North America. Not a member yet? Join us today.
While the Garden is unique in its specificity to native plants, our partnering public gardens should have someone available who also can support your efforts to grow native plants. For a list of gardens in your region, please visit the AHS website for more information.
Ask an Expert
Do you have a question about your native plant garden? We’d love hear from you. Please submit your questions via this form and we’ll answer as many as we can and post our responses within our newsletters, insights (blog), and social channels so everyone can follow along.