Final Seaside English Plant Guide

A Visual Plant Guide for the
Residents of Seaside, California

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LETTER ..................................................................... 3
KEY ........................................................................... 4
DEFINITIONS ............................................................ 5
PERENNIALS ............................................................ 6
GRASSES ............................................................... 13
SHRUBS .................................................................. 19
GROUNDCOVERS .................................................. 34
TREES ..................................................................... 38
2
Letter
Seaside Visual Plant Guide was created by a group
of California State University Monterey
Bay (CSUMB) students who saw a need for a user-
friendly plant guide in the City of Seaside, CA. The
purpose of this guide is to encourage the planting of
greenery in the City. This guide exclusively displays
native species of perennials, grasses, shrubs,
groundcover, and trees with a basic description of
physical characteristics and other important
information that relates to the plant. The guide
includes an initial key of symbols and a vocabulary
list to best follow the guide.
The information in this guide was acquired from

Calscape.org
3
Key
Plant in Full Sun Requires Medium
Water
Plant in Shade
Requires High Water
Plant in Full Shade
Attracts Insects
Plant in Full Sun or Attracts Bees
Partial Shade Attracts Birds
Plant in Full Sun, Attracts Butterflies
Partial Shade, or Full Sun Attracts Hummingbirds
Requires Low Water
4
Definitions
Deciduous- A plant that sheds its leaves every year.
Dormant- A plant that stops growing and saves
energy until better conditions present themselves.
Endemic- Unique to a defined geographic location.
Evergreen- A plant that keeps its green leaves all
year.
Foliage-The leaves of a plant.
Groundcover- A low-growing plant that covers the
surface of the ground and stops weeds from
growing.
Lobe- A part of a single leaf of a plant that ends in a
point or rounded edge.
Perennials- A plant that lives more than two years.
Shrubs- A woody plant that is smaller than a tree
that has many main stems.
Stalk- A thin part of a flower, leaf, or fruit that
connects it to the plant.
Spikelet- Describes the typical arrangement
of grass flowers. Each spikelet has one or more
florets.
Tree- A woody perennial plant typically having one
main stem with branches.
5
Perennials
Wild Cucumber- Marah fabacea Description: A deciduous perennial herb or vine that
grows to a max height of 5.5m. It has green hairy
stems with leaves that have five to seven lobes. It can
climb to almost 6m. The "cucumbers" are long, round,
light green, prickly poisonous gourds.
Flower color: Orange, white, yellow
Season: Spring
Potted: Yes
© 2006 Calibas
Drought tolerant: No
© 1995 Saint Mary's College of California
Sun:
Water:
Common Yarrow- Achillea millefolium Description: This perennial herb has deep green
stalks attached to a cluster of small, delicate flowers.
Grows up to .5 meters. It is Summer deciduous,
Summer semi-deciduous and an evergreen.
Flower color: Yellow, white
Season: Spring, Summer
Potted: Not suitable
© 2004 Pethan
Fun fact: Also called plumajillo or “little feather” due
to the leaf shape.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
6
Bluff Lettuce- Dudleya caespitosa Description: Succulent with thick, fleshy leaves, a
stem that grows vertical with cone shaped pointed
petal flowers and a cluster of blooms at the top.
Flower color: Yellow, red, green
Potted: Yes
Drought tolerant: Yes
Fun fact: Also referred to as sand lettuce or sea

lettuce.
© 2012 Neal Kramer
© 2010 Gary A. Monroe
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Seaside Daisy- Erigeron glaucus Description: This perennial herb has branching
stems and flower clusters of thick, rounded and fuzzy
leaves. The center has disk flowers.
Flower Color: Purple, blue, white
Season: Spring, Summer, Winter
Potted: Yes
Drought Tolerant: Yes
Fun Fact: Also known as Seaside Fleabane and

© 2005 Stan Shebs Beach Aster.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
7
Seaside Woolly Sunflower- Eriogonum Description: Dark green leaves with a silvery
staechadifolium underside. The flower is made of disk and ray florets
that are yellow.
Flower Color: Yellow
Fun fact: Part of the sunflower family.
© 2013 Neal Kramer
Sun:
Water:
Wildlife:
California Poppy- Eschscholzia californica Description: A delicate flower with four petals with
branching foliage, each stalk has one flower.
Flower color: Bright Orange, Yellow
Season: All year around
Potted: Yes
Fun fact: State flower of California
© 2014 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
8
Blue Eyed Grass- Sisyrinchium bellum Description: Narrow, dark green leaves with delicate
wavy blooms, speckled with yellow in the center.
Flower color: Lavender, purple, blue
Season: Spring, Winter
Potted: Yes
Fun Fact: Deer resistant
© 2012 Calscape
© 2013 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Yellow Eyed Grass- Sisyrinchium califonicum Description: Grass like leaves with delicate flowers
with six petals and a yellow center. Prefers moderate
to high water. Deer resistant.
Flower color: Yellow
Drought tolerant: Likely to survive drought conditions

with very little watering
© 2007 Stan Shebs
Sun:
Water Requirement:
9
Beach Strawberry- Fragaria chiloensis Description: An evergreen plant with narrow leaves
and flowers that have five petals. Deer resistant.
Flower Color: White, yellow, red
Season: Spring
Drought Tolerant: No
© 2014 Forrest and Kim Starr
Sun:
Water:
Wildlife:
Dune Sagewort- Artemisia pycnocephala Description: A leafy perennial. Stems are covered in
light green to white leaves. This plant grows in rocky
or sandy soils.
Flower color: Yellow, white
Fun fact: Aromatic
© 2014 Calscape © 2016 John Doyen
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
10
Creeping Sage- Salvia sonomensis Description: The leaves are a rich green and hairy.
The flower clusters are tiered and sit at the top of a
bare stalk with delicate prongs. It is sensitive to direct
sun and extreme heat.
Flower color: White, lilac, purple, blue
Fun fact: Aromatic
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Monterey Indian Paintbrush- Castilleja latifolia Description: Perennial herb that grows up to 60cm
tall. It has a bristly and hairy texture with gray-green
and purple foliage. Between the leaves the flowers are
located.
Flower Color: Orange, green, red
Potted: Yes
© 2007 Aaron Schusteff © Joseph Dougherty
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
11
California Fuchsia- Epilobium canum Description: Alternate leaves that range from green
to nearly white and bright scarlet flowers that bloom in
the Summer and Fall.
Flower Color: Red
Season: Summer, Fall
Potted: Yes
Fun Fact: Also known as Hummingbird Flower and

Hummingbird Trumpet because it is attracts
© 2015 Keir Morse © 1998 California Academy of Sciences hummingbirds.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
12
Grasses
Thin Grass- Agrostis pallens Description: The leaves grow up to 5cm. The flower
cluster is a narrow array of thin branches with small
spikelets.
Flower Color: Green, white
Season: Spring
Fun fact: This grass can be used as a lawn

substitute.
© 2008 Keir Morse © 2005 Steve Matson
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Pacific Reedgrass- Calamagrostis nutkeansis Description: Thick and narrow stems with thin brown
flower clusters. Flat grassy leaves stem from the base.
Flower Color: Brown
Season: Grows year round
© 2008 Eric Wrubel
Sun:
Water Requirement:
13
Sand Dune Sedge- Carex pansa Description: This grass-like plant has sharp
triangular stems that grow up to 40cm with cluster
brown flowers.
Flower Color: Brown
© Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart © 2003 Steve Matson
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Tufted Hairgrass- Deschampsia cespitosa Description: Has fine, hairlike flowers atop long
stems. The foliage is a light green that turns gold.
Flower color: Brown
Season: All year round
© 2004 James K. Lindsey
Sun:
Water Requirement:
California Fescue- Festuca californica Description: The rough leaves are narrow but very
long. The flower cluster has spikelets
14
© 2008 Keir Morse © 2007 Dean Wm. Taylor, Ph.D.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Red fescue- Festuca rubra Description: Lush, upright, bunches of grass, with
small yellow and brown buds at tips of stems. This
grass is summer dormant and found worldwide.
Grows in dunes, meadows, and openings in
woodlands and chaparral.
Season: Spring
©1999 California Academy of Sciences © 2006 James K. Lindsey Potted: Not suitable

Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
15
Giant Wildrye- Elymus condensatus Description: Long, narrow fountain grass, blue/silver
foliage, grows in bunches. Stays green throughout the
year.
Flower Color: Brown
© 2011 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Small Flowered Melica- Melica imperfecta Description: Upright bunchgrass with narrow flower
clusters in green with purple. Blooms are brown to
yellow.
Flower Color: Yellow, brown
Fun fact: Also known as Little California Melic.
© 2014 Steve Matson © 2009 Keir Morse
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
16
Deergrass- Muhlenbergia rigens Description: Upright tallgrass with dense, narrow
leaves in variety of colors, from purple to silverish
green
Flower Color: Cream, Yellow
Season: Spring
Fun fact: Deer resistant
© 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Needle Grass- Stipa Cernua Description: Fountain grass, very delicate, narrow,
needle like with thin tiny brown flowers
Flower Color: Brown
Season: Spring
Fun fact: Deer resistant
© Anthony Valois and the National Park Service
Sun:
Water Requirement:
17
Purple Needlegrass- Stipa pulchra Description: Unbranched stems of green and purple
grass with a deep root system and cream flower
clusters.
Flower Color: Cream
Season: Spring
© 2012 Jean Pawek © 2009 Neal Kramer Fun Fact: Became the California State Grass in 2004.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
18
Shrubs
Seacliff Buckwheat- Eriogonum parvifolium Description: A perennial shrub that can grow up to
24cm high and wide. The shrub is covered with balls
of flowers that can grow all year. Can be part of
coastal strand and coastal sage scrub communities
Flower Color: White, pink
Season: Year around
© Lynn Watson (SB) © 2015 Jean Pawek Drought Tolerant: Yes
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Flannel Bush- Fremontodendron californicum Description: A fast growing evergreen shrub with
fuzzy leaves and large yellow flowers. Best when
planted in sandy soil. After its first year, watering it
can kill the shrub. It is important to plant it somewhere
that isn't close to water but somewhere where its roots
can get water.
Season: Spring
Problems: The fine hairs on the leaves can irritate

skin and eyes. They can also well as get caught in
© 2010 Calscape © 2014 Calscape clothing.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
19
Wavyleaf Silktassel- Garrya elliptica Description: An evergreen shrub that is native in the
coastal ranges of California. The underside of the
leaves is pale and duller in color compared to the
upside of the leaves, which is a glossy green color.
The flowers of the shrub cascade down the plant.
Flower color: Yellowish
Season: Winter
© 2014 Margo Bors
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Silver Lupine- Lupinus albifrons Description: The silver lupine is a perennial native to
California. It is a part of the coastal sage scrub.
Flower Color: Blue, lavender, purple
Season: Summer, Spring, Winter
© 2017 John Doyen
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Coast Barberry- Berberis pinnata Description: A dark green bush resembles holly but
has yellow flowers and purple fruits. The fruits look
like grapes but are not. They are edible but are sour
and full of seeds. Plant in an area with clay soil or
woodland soil.
Season: Winter, Spring
20
© 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Bush Monkey Flower- Mimulus aurantiacus Description: Bush Monkey Flower is a perennial
plant that has deep green sticky leaves. Plant in an
area where the soil is moist.
Flower Color: White, red, light orange
© 2012 Neal Kramer
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Pacific Wax Myrtle- Myrica californica Description: An evergreen shrub that has green
leaves that are aromatic. It grows best near the coast,
along streams and on sand dunes. Pacific Wax Myrtle
suitable water requirements can range from low to
high.
Season: Summer
21
© 2008 Ben Cody
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Coffee Berry- Rhamnus californica Description: It is called coffee berry because the
berries that grow on the shrub have seeds that look
like coffee beans. The evergreen shrub has dark
green leaves with a red tint and it has dark red
branches.
Flower color: White with a green tint
© 2016 Michael O'Brien Potted: Not suitable

Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Chaparral Currant- Ribes malvaceum Description: This perennial shrub has leaf blades
that are hairy and lobed. Its flowers produce purple
berries that are edible. The shrub has a pleasant
aroma.
Flower color: Bright pink
Potted: Yes
22
© 2008 Toedrifter © 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Blood Currant- Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum Description: The Blood Currant is a variety of the
Ribes sanguineum. The shrub produces purple fruit
that is edible but lacks taste.
Flower Color: Pink
Potted: Yes
© 1999 California Academy of Sciences
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Fuchsia Flower Gooseberry- Ribes speciosum Description: The flowers dangle down the branches
of the bush. Fuchsia Flower Gooseberry bushes grow
somewhat upright. During dry seasons, the leaves
dark green. During the wet season, the leaves turn
bright green. During the cool season, they thrive in
moist conditions and during the warm seasons, in dry
conditions. Once established, the plant does not need
23
direct watering
Season: Winter and Spring
Flower Color: Fuchsia red
© 2014 Neal Kramer
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Hookers Manzanita- Arctostaphylos hooker Description: Generally, this shrub is low growing. It
has small green leaves with dense flower clusters. It
also prefers growing in well-draining soil that is acidic
and dry.
© 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
California Sagebrush- Artemisia californica Description: This shrub is common in coastal sage
scrub, coastal strand, and chaparral communities. It is
highly aromatic. It has slender and flexible stems that
can be either hairless or smooth. Their leaves are light
green to gray colored and are hairy. Plant in dry
slopes or sandy soil but it can also tolerate clay soil.
Flower Color: White, yellow
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
24
Fun Fact: Very aromatic
© 2010 Michael O'Brien
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Western Redbud- Cercis occidentalis Description: This shrub displays thin, shiny brown
branches with heart-shaped leaves that are light
green at first and darken as they age. The flowers
develop in the Spring and grow in clusters.
Flower Color: Pink, yellow, red
© 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
25
Coyote Brush- Baccharis pilularis Description: Coyote Brush is commonly found in
coastal bluffs and oak woodlands. Its stems are shiny,
dark brown and usually sticky. The leaves are oval
with lobed edges. Coyote Brush can grow in alkaline,
clay, and sandy soils.
Flower color: White, yellow
Season: All

© 2009 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Carmel Ceanothus- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus Description: The evergreen shrub has ribbed leaves
that have a fuzzy underside. Its flowers grow in
clusters. This shrub can be found in chaparral and
coastal scrub communities. It tolerates sand and clay
soil.
Flower Color: Purple, blue
© 2007 Stan Shebs
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Black Sage- Salvia mellifera ‘Terra Seca’ Description: This shrub has bright green long leaves.
Small white-to-lavender blossoms.
Flower Color: White, lavender, blue
Potted: Yes
26
Fun Fact: Aromatic
© 2014 Calscape
Sun:
Water requirement:
Wildlife:
Sunset Manzanita- Arctostaphylos hookeri Description: An evergreen shrub that grows with a
Xpajaroensis max height of .9-1.8 m with a max width of 1.5 2.4m. It
has dark red bark with red berries.
Flower Color: White with pink
© Las pilitas nursery
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
John Dourley manzanita- Arctostaphylos Description: A slow growing small evergreen shrub
with a max height of .9-1.2 m and a max width of 1.5-
1.8 m. Its leaves are orange-red that fades to green
and has red-pink berries.
Flower Color: Pink, white
27
© san marcos growers
Sun:
Water:
Wildlife:
Pajaro Manzanita- Arctostaphylos pajaroensis Description: A shrub with shreddy red or grayish
bark, gray-green red tinted leaves, and berries. Grows
to a max height of 1-4.5m and a max width of 3m.
Flower Color: Pink, white
© 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Woollyleaf Manzanita- Arctostaphylos tomentosa Description: A shrub with red and/or gray stems,
shreddy bark, and fuzzy red berries. Grows to a max
height of1-3 m and max width of 3m.
Flower Color: White, red, pink
Season: Spring
28
© 2012 Aaron E. Sims
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Blueblossom Ceanothus- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Description: An evergreen shrub with bright green to
dark green leaves with a max height of 2-30ft and a
max width of 2-40ft.m
Flower Color: Blue, white, green

© 2006 Steve Matson © 2013 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Golden Yarrow- Eriophyllum confertiflorum Description: This plant grows in large clumps and
has erect stems exceeding half a meter in height.
There is greenish to gray-green stems and foliage
with sharply lobed and divided leaves. Will become
deciduous under drought stress
29
Potted: Yes
Fun Fact: Golden Yarrow is part of the daisy family.
© 2010 Calscape © Lynn Watson (SB)
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Snowberry- Symphoricarpos albus Description: This shrub grows in a rounded form with
stem tips that droop and grows up to a height of 1.5 m
or more. Leaves are medium green and deciduous.
© 2007 Frank Vincentz

Fun Fact: This plant has a powdery mildew issue; To
prevent this, the plant must have good circulation and
avoid overhead watering; The fruit is a white berry that
can be eaten by wildlife but is toxic to humans.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Woolly Bluecurls- Trichostema lanatum Description: This is a highly fragrant small shrub with
curly, woolly blue flowers and narrow, pointed green
leaves that is multiple-branched and can grow up to 5
feet tall.
Flower Color: Blue, lavender, pink
Season: Spring, Fall, Winter
© 2014 Calscape ©2009 Keir Morse

Sun:
30
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Dune Bush Lupine- Lupinus chamissonis Description: This is a bushy shrub that grows one
half to two meters tall. Each stalk leaf has up to 5 to 9
leaflets and herbage with silvery hairs. The flower
cluster bears spirals of flowers each about 1 to 1.5
centimeters long.
Flower Color: Blue, lavender, purple
Season: Spring
Potted: Yes
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Dune Manzanita-Arctostaphylos pumila Description: This small Manzanita is low-lying

forming flat bushes. The branch tips will take root as it
spreads. The bark is reddish and tends not to shred.
The leaves are small and mainly oval-shaped, dark
green on the upper surface and grayish and fuzzy
beneath. The flowers appear in sparse flower clusters
and are white to very pale pink. The fruit is a round
brownish drupe about half a centimeter wide.
Flower color: White, pale pink
© 2015 Calscape Potted: Not suitable

Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Monterey Ceanothus- Ceanothus rigidus Description: A low evergreen shrub with small dark
green, leathery, holly-like leaves, and large flower
clusters cover the foliage in Spring.
Flower color: Blue, purple, white
31
© 2012 Jean Pawek ©rjadams55
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Bush Poppy- Dendromecon rigida Description: The plant is evergreen and the leaves
are somewhat leathery to the touch. If happy, it can
grow up to 6 feet in two years.
© 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Salal- Gaultheria shallon Description: A leathery-leaved shrub related to
Manzanitas and Madrone. The foliage is dark green
and attractive, sometimes used in commercial flower
arrangements. The flowers are pink to white and urn-
shaped, much like Manzanitas. The dark blue fruit is
edible.
Flower color: White, pink
Season: Spring
© 2005 Wing-Chi Poon
Sun:
32
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Chaparral Pea- Pickeringia Montana Description: Its roots spread quickly and help anchor
loose soil, preventing erosion. The chaparral pea is
said to rarely sprout from seed because the plant
rarely produces seed pods. More often it sends up
new stems from roots growing outward from the
mother plant. It forms low, dense, thorny thickets of
shiny dark green leaves. In Spring and Summer the
plant bursts into blossom, covering the thickets with
bright magenta flowers.
Flower color: Lavender, pink, purple, red

© 2006 Stan Shebs
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Huckleberry- Vaccinium ovatum Description: It is slow growing and long-lived. It grows in
an upright form to a height of 8 feet, with active growth
during the Spring and Summer. Flowers are white and
bloom all through Spring. Fruits are blue or black and edible
but best left for the wildlife. Leaves are medium green, and
remain on the plant throughout the year. New growth in
Spring is red.
Flower color: White, blue, black

© 2008 Nick © 2004 Steve Matson
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
33
Groundcovers
Yellow Sand Verbena- Abronia latifolia Description: Grows on beach and sand dunes. Helps
with dune stabilization and withstands erosion. The
roots are fleshy and edible and were consumed by
Chinook Indians.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Drought: Does not tolerate extreme drought.
© 2007 Steve Matson
Sun:
Water requirements:
Wildlife:
Pink Sand Verbena- Abronia umbellatum Description: Found in sandy soils with low
precipitation. Popular for landscaping uses. Grows
well in disturbed places.
Flower Color: Pink, white, purple
Season: All year around
Drought tolerant:
© Lynn Watson (SB)
Sun:
Water Requirement:
34
Little Sur Manzanita- Arctostaphylos edmundsiisea Description: The shrub is endemic to California
where it grows in the coastal bluffs of Monterey
County. The low-lying Manzanita is patchy and forms
a round mound. Its leaves are oval and dark green
when the leaves are maures. New leaves have
reddish edges. You can plant it in sandy soils and can
tolerate clay and adobe soils. Do not plant where it will
get direct salt spray.
Flower Color: White, pale pink

© 2006 Stan Shebs
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Sea Thrift- Armeria maritima Description: This perennial herb has tiny rounded
flowers that grow in compact clusters, deep green
leaves are linear and grass-like.
Flower Color: Pink, Purple
Season: Spring
© 2008 glrbrg
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
35
Beach Primrose- Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia Description: Native to open dunes, and sandy soils
on the coasts of California and Oregon. Withstands
sandy clay, sandy clay loam, and sandy loam.
Moderately easy care.
© 2006 Steve Matson
Sun:
Water:
Wildlife:
Coast Wallflower- Erysimum ammophilum Description: This perennial herb is a rare endemic to
California. It is an uncommon beach dwelling flower,
found from the dunes and bluffs near Monterey, to the
coastline of San Diego, and parts of Channel Islands.
Plant begins as a patch of long narrow green leaves
and ends up producing one to many erect stems with
flowers having four rounded petals.
Fun fact: Rare
© 1995 Dean Wm. Taylor
Sun:
Water Requirement:
36
Deerweed- Acmispon glaber Description: Pioneer species that is found in dry
areas in California, Arizona, and Mexico. It is found in
chaparral coastal sand, roadsides, and other disturbed
areas.
© 2017 John Doyen © 2010 Calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Red flowering currant- Ribes sanguineum Description: It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 13

feet tall. The bark is dark brownish-grey and the
leaves are 1-3 inches long and broad. The flowers are
produced in early Spring at the same time as the
leaves emerge, with five red or pink petals. The fruit is
a dark purple oval berry 1 centimeter long, edible but
with an dull taste, best left for the birds.
Flower color: Red, pink, purple
© 2006 Walter Siegmund
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
37
Trees
California Buckeye- Aesculus californica Description: Small tree that grows 12-40ft. Grey bark
sometimes with moss with dark green leaves. Caution
fruit is toxic.
Flower Color: White
© 2008 Keir Morse © 2003 George W. Hartwell
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Madrone- Arbutus menziesii Description: A broadleaf evergreen tree that grows
max height of 15-100ft and max width of 5-25ft. With
orange-red bark that peels away and leaves a
greenish color.
Flower color: White, Red
Season: Spring
© 2006 California Academy of Sciences © 2013 Jean Pawek
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Monterey Cypress- Cupressus macrocarpa Description: An evergreen shrub with yellow-golden
almost neon green fragrant leaves. Grows slowly with
max height of 6-8ft and max width of 1-2ft
Potted: Yes
Fun Fact: Fragrant
38
© 2005 Alexey Potov © 2009 Neal Kramer
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Toyon-Heteromeles arbutioflia Description: Also known as California berry or

California holly is an evergreen shrub that quickly
grows max height of 6-30ft and max width of 10-15ft.
Its leaves are leathery and sharp. Its fruit are small
and red though toxic to humans attracts butterflies
and other insects; birds; and coyotes. The shrub has a
slight fragrance
Flower Color: White
Season: Summer
© 2013 Zoya Akulova © 2005 George W. Hartwell
Fun Fact: The city of Hollywood was named after this
plant.
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
Bishop Pine- Pinus muricata Description: A fast growing tree with a max height of
35-90ft with max width of 3-4ft.
Flower color: Orange
Season: Spring
© 2008 Clairity at Flickr © Art Poskanzer on Flickr
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Monterey Pine- Pinus radiata Description: A fast growing tree with bright green
needles and dark grey to brown bark grows a max
39
height of 49-196ft and max width of 15-30ft. This tree
is rare native to only a few areas including Monterey
peninsula and is endangered.
Flower color: Yellow, brown
Season: Winter
Fun fact: Fragrant
© 2006 dalvenjah on Flickr © 2008 Neal Kramer
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Hollyleaf Cherry- Prunus ilicifolia Description: An evergreen shrub with spiny dark
green leaves with a max height of 30-49ft and max
width of 20ft. The fruit is a cherry that can be eaten by
humans it attracts birds.
Flower Color: White
Season: Spring. Winter
© 2016 Zoya Akulova © 2010 calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
40
Coast Live Oak- Querus agrifolia Description: Is an evergreen tree that grows slowly to
a max height of 25-82ft and max width of 15-35ft. Its
leaves are spiny like holly and the fruit is a reddish-
brown acorn
Flower color: Yellow and green
Season: Spring and Winter
Fun fact: Can get as old as 250 years!
© 2017 john doyen © 2014 California Academy of Sciences
Sun:
Water:
Wildlife:
Coast Redwood- Sequoia sempervirens Description: A tree with a max height of 60-380ft and
a max width of 45ft. It has red brown bark and short
needle leaves.
Fun fact: A long-lived tree that can live up to 2200

years and is one of the tallest trees in the world!

© 2010 calscape
Sun:
Water Requirement:
California bay- Umbrellularia californica Description: An evergreen tree with brown bark with
max height of 6-80ft and a max width of 3-30ft. The
fruit is a round green berry.
Flower color: White, yellow, yellowish green
Season: Spring
Fun fact: Fragrant; used as a spice in cooking
41
© calscape 2017
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Gowen Cypress- Hesperocyparis goveniana Description: This is an endemic evergreen tree with
leaves produced on rounded shoots and has seed
cones that are green, then brown and gray-brown as
they age.
Flower Color: Dark green, yellow-green
Season: Spring
© 2010 Stickpen
Sun:
Water Requirement:
42
Tanbark Oak or Tanoak- Natholithocarpus Description: This tree can grow up to 40 meters tall
densiflora and has a trunk diameter of 60-190 centimeters.
Flower Color: White
Fun Fact: It is one of the species most affected by

“sudden oak death”.
© Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service © 2016 Zoya Akulova
Sun:
Water Requirement:
Wildlife:
43

Final Seaside English Plant Guide

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Final Seaside English Plant Guide

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A Visual Plant Guide for the

Residents of Seaside, California

The information in this guide was acquired from

Requires Low Water

Flower color: Orange, white, yellow

© 1995 Saint Mary's College of California

Flower color: Yellow, white

Season: Spring, Summer

Potted: Not suitable

Flower color: Yellow, red, green

Season: Spring, Summer

Drought tolerant: Yes

Fun fact: Also referred to as sand lettuce or sea

© 2012 Neal Kramer

© 2010 Gary A. Monroe

Flower Color: Purple, blue, white

Season: Spring, Summer, Winter

Drought Tolerant: Yes

Fun Fact: Also known as Seaside Fleabane and

Flower Color: Yellow

Season: Spring, Summer

Potted: Not suitable

Drought Tolerant: Yes

Fun fact: Part of the sunflower family.

© 2013 Neal Kramer

Flower color: Bright Orange, Yellow

Season: All year around

Drought tolerant: Yes

Fun fact: State flower of California

Flower color: Lavender, purple, blue

Season: Spring, Winter

Fun Fact: Deer resistant

Flower color: Yellow

Season: Spring, Winter

Potted: Not suitable

Drought tolerant: Likely to survive drought conditions

© 2007 Stan Shebs

Flower Color: White, yellow, red

Potted: Not suitable

© 2014 Forrest and Kim Starr

Season: Spring, Summer

Flower color: Yellow, white

Potted: Not suitable

Drought tolerant: Yes

Fun fact: Aromatic

© 2014 Calscape © 2016 John Doyen

Flower color: White, lilac, purple, blue

Season: Spring, Summer

Potted: Not suitable

Drought tolerant: Yes

Fun fact: Aromatic

© 2009 Gary A. Monroe

Flower Color: Orange, green, red

Season: Spring, Summer

Drought Tolerant: Yes

© 2007 Aaron Schusteff © Joseph Dougherty

Flower Color: Red

Season: Summer, Fall

Drought Tolerant: Yes

Fun Fact: Also known as Hummingbird Flower and

Flower Color: Green, white

Potted: Not suitable

Drought tolerant: Yes