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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 to 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 bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) (Photo: Randy Wright)
California lilac (Ceanothus) (Photo: Denise Dewire)
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) berries (Photo: Randy Wright)
Hummingbird visiting hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) (Photo: Lynn Watson)
January
Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.)
Attracts bumblebees, hummingbirds
California lilacs (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, native bees
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Brilliant red berries, attracts birds
Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea)
Attracts hummingbirds
California lilac (Ceanothus) (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) (Photo: Michelle Cyr)
Hummingbird and hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) (Photo: Daryl Metzger)
February
California lilacs (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea)
Attracts hummingbirds
Bumblebee on purple sage (Salvia) (Photo: Robin Oaks)
Honeybee on western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) in bloom (Photo: Michael Horns)
Iris (Iris) blooming (Photo: Denise Dewire)
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) in the Meadow Section (Photo: Stacy Bloodworth)
March
Black, white, and purple sages (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California lilacs (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
Irises (Iris spp.)
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Lupines (Lupinus spp.)
Attracts bumblebees
Coral bells (Heuchera)
Monkeyflowers (Diplacus spp.)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Iris (Iris) (Photo: Denise Dewire)
Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) (Photo: Denise Dewire)
Monkeyflower (Diplacus) (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Coral bells (Heuchera) in the Wooded Dell Section (Photo: Randy Wright)
April
Irises (Iris spp.)
Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum)
Monkeyflowers (Diplacus spp.)
Bloom April into summer
Coral bells (Heuchera)
Black, white, and purple sages (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California lilacs (Ceanothus spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Lupines (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)
Beardtongue (Penstemon spectabilis) (Photo: Heather Wehnau)
White sage (Salvia apiana) (Photo: Steve Junak)
Golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) (Photo: Elizabeth Collins)
May
Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)
Beardtongues (Penstemon spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Black, white, and purple sages (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 (Salvia leucophylla) with honeybee (Photo: Gary Margeson)
Britton’s liveforever (Dudleya brittonii) (Photo/Denise Dewire)
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) in bloom (Photo: Randy Wright)
Humboldt’s lily (Lilium homboldtii) in the Redwood Section (Photo: Greg Trainor)
June
Black, white, and purple sages (Salvia spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
Liveforevers (Dudleya spp.)
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
Humboldt’s lily (Lilium homboldtii)
Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)
Beardtongues (Penstemon spp.)
Attracts butterflies, bees
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) (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 (Solidago velutina ssp. californica) (Photo: Randy Wright)
California fuschia (Epilobium canum) (Photo: Dieter H. Wilken)
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) (Photo: Robert Muller)
Brittlebush (Encelia californica) (Photo: Elizabeth Collins)
August
Goldenrods (Solidago spp.)
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)
California buckeye (Aesculus californica) in fruit in Arroyo Section (Photo: Tricia Wardlaw)
California grape (Vitis californica) leaves in fall color (Photo: Denise Dewire)
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) (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 big leaf maple (Acer macroplyllum) leaves in the Canyon Section (Photo: Randy Wright)
Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) tree (Phot: Ines Roberts)
Bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) (Photo: Randy Wright)
California buckeye (Aesculus californica) in fruit in Arroyo Section (Photo: Tricia Wardlaw)
November
Big leaf maple (Acer macroplyllum)
Fall color
Cottonwoods (Populus fremontii spp.)
Fall color
Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.)
California buckeye (Aesculus californica)
Red berries on Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) (Photo: Denise Dewire)
Pink-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum) (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Raiche’s manzanita (Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. raichei) 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.
COME & GET HORTICULTURE’D
Green Thumbs Will Save Us All
From docent walks and plant illustrations to how-to gardening sessions and volunteering with our Horticulture Team, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden offers a variety of opportunities to get engaged with our growing native plant community. We look forward to seeing you in the Garden soon.
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.