12 Best Native Plants for Your San Francisco Landscape

Houses with plants in front of them in San Francisco, California

San Francisco’s mild climate and ample rainfall support a variety of beautiful native plants that can add color and texture to your yard, like California poppy, beardtongue, and California lilac.

These easy-to-maintain native plants offer numerous advantages over non-native species because they thrive in Northern California’s unique climate. Let’s take a look at the best native plants for your San Francisco landscape.

Why Choose Native Plants?

Native plants are defined by their place of origin and are favored by gardeners and landscapers for their ability to adapt to a region’s climate and soil conditions. San Francisco sees warm, long summers and cold, wet winters. On average, the city gets 25 inches of rain a year. San Francisco is in the USDA Hardiness Zone 10b. 

Here’s why you should choose native plants:

  • They can quickly adapt to your yard’s condition 
  • Require fewer fertilizers
  • Use less water
  • Resist diseases and pests naturally 
  • Attract pollinators like moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees

Native Flowers for San Francisco

If you like potted plants or flower beds, native flowers are an excellent choice. They enhance the look of your landscape and are easy to maintain. 

1. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

cluster of white yarrow flowers
Photo Credit: Pixabay

Yarrow blooms during spring and summer, producing clusters of fragrant, small white flowers that butterflies and bees love. We recommend regularly deadheading spent flowers during the blooming season to encourage new blooms. This perennial grows best in full sun but can also withstand partial shade. 

Yarrow thrives in various San Francisco soils, from sandy to clay to loam. It requires frequent watering initially but resists drought exceptionally well once established. Yarrow is toxic to pets, so don’t let your curious furry friends near it. 

Learn more about yarrow

  • Growth habit: Herb
  • Hardiness zones: 3a-9b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Tolerates most well-drained soils
  • Water needs: Moderate
  • Duration: Perennial
  • Foliage: Green
  • Height: 1 to 3 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to pets

2. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

A group of large, orange poppies
Photo Credit: docentjoyce / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

This perennial produces beautiful cup-shaped flowers that come in bright orange, white, red, pink, or yellow. California poppy blooms from spring to early summer and attracts butterflies and bees. No one likes faded flowers, so deadhead them to promote new growth. California poppy requires at least six hours of sunlight and prefers sandy, well-drained soil. 

This plant is an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens because it requires very little water. California poppy is toxic to humans and pets. 

Learn more about California poppy

  • Growth habit: Herb
  • Hardiness zones: 5a-10b
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-draining sandy soils
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Annual
  • Foliage: Green
  • Height: 4 to 12 inches
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets 

3. Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)

Blue eyed grass with bluish-violet flowers
Photo Credit: John Rusk / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Blue-eyed grass gets its name from its grass-like leaves and bluish-violet, star-shaped flowers, which appear from late spring to early summer. This perennial has a short blooming period, but deadheading can extend it and encourage more blooms. Bees and butterflies love the flowers. Blue-eyed grass grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. 

This perennial thrives in moist, loam soil that’s well-drained. Water this plant daily during our hot summers to prevent it from going dormant. Blue-eyed grass is slightly toxic to humans and pets. 

Learn more about blue-eyed grass.

  • Growth habit: Herb
  • Hardiness zones: 4a-9b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Moist loam soils
  • Water needs: Moderate 
  • Duration: Perennial
  • Foliage: Green
  • Height: 1 to 2 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets

4. Beardtongue (Penstemon)

Blue-purple beardtongue flowers
Photo Credit: peganum from Small Dole, England / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Beardtongue blooms during spring and summer, producing spectacular tubular blooms that can be red, pink, white, or purple. Bees just love these fragrant flowers. We recommend deadheading fading flowers to encourage new blooms. This perennial requires at least six hours of sunlight and prefers well-drained sandy or rocky soil. 

Beardtongue requires at least an inch of water every week in the hot summers of San Francisco to survive. This perennial can be toxic to humans and pets, but only if ingested in large amounts. 

Learn more about beardtongue

  • Growth habit: Herb
  • Hardiness zones: 3a-9b
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained sandy or rocky soils
  • Water needs: Moderate
  • Duration: Perennial
  • Foliage: Green
  • Height: 6 inches to 4 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets 

5. California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)

Close up of tubular bright red California fuchsia flowers
Photo Credit: Curtis Clark / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5

California Fuchsia is one of my favorites because it produces bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers in summer and fall that hummingbirds love to feed on. This perennial blooms for quite a long time, but you can extend it further by deadheading the faded flowers. California Fuchsia prefers full sun and thrives in any well-drained soil. 

This plant requires watering every once or twice a month. California Fuchsia is non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about your curious furry friend going near it. 

Learn more about California fuchsia

  • Growth habit: Herb
  • Hardiness zones: 8a-10b
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Any well-draining soil
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Perennial
  • Foliage: Green
  • Height: 3 to 18 inches
  • Potential hazards: Non-toxic

Native Shrubs for San Francisco

6. California Lilac (Ceanothus)

closeup image of california lilac
Photo Credit: Changku88 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

California lilac produces clusters of small white, blue, or pink flowers in the spring. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love these flowers. Deadheading this shrub isn’t necessary, but you can do so for a neat appearance. It requires at least six hours of sunlight a day. 

This shrub thrives in most well-drained soils, from sandy to loamy to clay. California lilac requires regular watering but can survive with little to no watering once established. It’s also non-toxic. 

Learn more about California lilac

  • Growth habit: Shrub
  • Hardiness zones: 8a-10b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade 
  • Soil: Tolerates most well-drained soil
  • Water needs: Moderate 
  • Duration: Evergreen
  • Foliage: Dark green
  • Height: 1 to 6 feet
  • Potential hazards: Non-toxic

7. Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

western redbud shrub in bloom with bright pink flowers
Photo Credit: LaurentianShield / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

This shrub produces clusters of small bright pink flowers throughout the spring season that bees love. We recommend deadheading spent flowers and pruning to maintain the desired shape. Western redbud grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade.

Western redbud thrives in most well-drained soil, including sandy, clay, and loam. It requires little to no watering but is slightly toxic to humans and pets. 

Learn more about Western redbud

  • Growth habit: Shrub
  • Hardiness zones: 7a-9b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Tolerates most well-drained soils
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Deciduous
  • Foliage: Medium green
  • Height: 10 to 20 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets

8. Manzanita (Arctostaphylos)

manzanita shrub with red bark and light green leaves
Photo Credit: snoyes at the English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Manzanita blooms from late winter to spring, producing white or green lantern-shaped flowers that attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Deadhead faded flowers to encourage new blooms, but wait at least three years before pruning. It’s best to prune in summer when the weather is dry and sunny. 

This shrub grows best in full sun but can also withstand partial shade. It thrives in well-drained sandy, clay, or loamy soil. Manzanita withstands drought and can survive with occasional watering in the Golden City’s hot summers. It’s also non-toxic. 

  • Growth habit: Shrub
  • Hardiness zones: 8a-10b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Well-draining sandy, clay, or loam soils
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Evergreen
  • Foliage: Bright green
  • Height: 6 to 25 feet 
  • Potential hazards: Non-toxic

9. Chaparral Mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus)

chaparral mallow bush with small white flowers
Photo Credit: Stan Shebs / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Chaparral mallow blooms during summer, producing small clusters of light pink flowers. Hummingbirds and butterflies love to feed on those flowers. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms and prune in late summer or fall to keep the shrub in shape. This shrub requires at least six hours of sunlight. 

Chaparral mallow prefers well-drained sandy, clay, or loamy soil. It withstands drought exceptionally well and can survive with only one watering a month. Don’t let your furry friends near this shrub because it’s toxic. 

Learn more about chaparral mallow

  • Growth habit: Shrub
  • Hardiness zones: 8a-11b
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Tolerates most well-drained soil
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Evergreen
  • Foliage: Gray-green
  • Height: 3 to 16 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to pets 

10. Bush Anemone (Carpenteria californica)

bush anemone plant with dark green leaves and white flowers
Photo Credit: UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Bush anemone is my other favorite because it produces fragrant, anemone-shaped flowers in late spring to mid-summer. The white or yellow flowers attract bees and butterflies. We recommend deadheading spent flowers to encourage more blooms and pruning floppy branches. Brush anemone requires full sun but can withstand partial shade. 

This shrub thrives in medium-drained sandy, clay, or loamy soil. It requires watering at least thrice a month to survive the hot summers of San Francisco. Bush anemone is toxic to humans and pets. 

Learn more about bush anemone

  • Growth habit: Shrub
  • Hardiness zones: 8a-9b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Tolerates most fast-draining soil 
  • Water needs: Moderate
  • Duration: Evergreen
  • Foliage: Dark green
  • Height: 6 to 10 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets 

Native Trees for San Francisco

11. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

toyon bush covered in red berries
Photo Credit: ALAN SCHMIERER / Flickr / CC0 1.0

Toyon produces small, five-petaled flowers that bloom from mid-to-late spring through summer that butterflies and bees love. These flowers ripen into bright red berries in the fall that attract birds. This tree grows quickly, so prune regularly to maintain the desired shape and height. Toyon grows best in full sun but can also handle partial shade. 

This tree thrives in well-drained sandy, clay, or loamy soil. It withstands drought and can survive with only one watering in the hot summers of San Francisco. Toyon is toxic to humans and pets. 

Learn more about toyon

  • Growth habit: Tree
  • Hardiness zones: 7a-11b
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Tolerates most well-drained soils
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Evergreen
  • Foliage: Dark green
  • Height: 6 to 30 feet 
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets

12. Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)

the lemonade berry shrub's small red fruits
Photo Credit: User:Oabjf34Q / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lemonade berry blooms from late winter to spring, producing white or pale pink flower clusters that attract butterflies. Those flowers ripen to small red fruits in the fall that birds love. You can prune as needed to maintain the desired shape and height. Lemonade berry grows best in full sun but can also withstand partial shade. 

This tree thrives in the well-drained sandy and loamy soils of San Francisco and requires little to no watering. Lemonade berry is toxic to humans and pets. 

  • Growth habit: Tree
  • Hardiness zones: 9a-11b 
  • Sun: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil: Well-drained sandy or loam soil
  • Water needs: Low
  • Duration: Evergreen
  • Foliage: dark green
  • Height: 3 to 30 feet
  • Potential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets

Where to Find Native Plants in San Francisco

Here are San Francisco nurseries that sell native plants: 

Native plants may already be growing in your backyard. So, don’t forget to look around your yard for these plants before visiting your local nursery. 

FAQs

How many native plants are in San Francisco?

According to the San Francisco Environment Department, San Francisco is home to over 450 species of plants. 

How can I protect plants from San Francisco’s strong winds?

San Francisco gets strong winds in the summer. Wind-resistant trees like live oak, bald cypress, and sabal palm can protect your plants and lawn from these gusts. If you don’t have enough space to grow large trees, group smaller trees to withstand wind. 

What are the best grasses for San Francisco lawns?

Good grass is key to a lush and healthy lawn. Here are the best grasses for San Francisco lawns

  • Kentucky bluegrass
  • Perennial ryegrass
  • Tall fescue
  • Fine fescue
  • Bermudagrass

When can I fertilize my San Francisco lawn?

Flowering plants are of no use without green grass. March to May and September to October are the best times to fertilize cool-season grasses. As for warm-season grass, it’s from May to June and then from September to October. To know more, read our guide When to Fertilize Your Bay Area Lawn

Will California’s Green Lawn Care Law affect me?

This law bans the sale of gas-powered lawn care equipment. If you already have a gas-powered tool, you can keep it. But you can’t purchase a new one. Learn more in our guide on California’s Green Lawn Care Law

When to Hire a LawnStarter Pro

Growing native plants can transform your lawn from boring to beautiful. If you have a small space, choose flowers or shrubs over trees. Similarly, go for non-toxic plants if you have kids and pets. Need some help creating the garden of your dreams? Hire a local landscaping pro to take care of the dirty work.

Your grass should complement the rest of your yard, but lawn maintenance isn’t for everyone. If you want a lush, green lawn without breaking a sweat, get in touch with a LawnStarter pro. Our professionals can help you with everything related to lawn care.

Main Photo Credit: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0

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Abdul Wadood

Abdul Wadood is a professional writer and landscaping hobbyist who thinks beautiful lawns make the world a better place. When he’s not working in the yard, he enjoys visiting botanical gardens and relaxing in nature.