Native Shrubs Suitable For Planting Near A Coastal Lagoon

SHRUBS

• Adenostoma fasciculatum—Chamise
   Most abundant shrub in some local coastal chaparral, often called “Chamise  chaparral”. Known for spring bloom but often flowers in fall.
• Arctostaphylos glandulosa, ssp. crassifolia—Del Mar manzanita
   Coastal manzanita endemic to local region.
• Arctostaphylos pumila—Sandmat manzanita
• Arctostaphylos uva-ursa—kinnikinnick
   From northern California but will grow here.
• Artemisia californica—California sagebrush888
   Frequently found in old coastal stands of chapparal
• Artemisia pycnocephala—Sandhill sagebrush
   Grows in Torrey Pines Park
• Atriplex canescens—Fourwing saltbush, Cenizo
   Mounding to 8 feet, can take irrigation but thrives with none, all  parts edible by humans or birds. Attracts birds and butterflies.
• Atriplex lentiformis ssp. breweri—Brewers saltbush, Quail bush. Foliage  and seeds are edible. Brings birds. Grows to 8 feet.
• Baccharis pilularis—Coyote brush
   Not exactly trouble free since, in a solid planting, some will die  probably from root rot. Old stands can be renewed by mowing to the  ground in fall.
• Ceanothus  gloriosus—Point Reyes ceanothus
• Ceanothus griseus (not including ‘Diamond Heights’)—Carmel ceanothus
• Ceanothus maritimus—Maritime ceanothus
• Ceanothus thyrsiflorus—Blue blossom ceanothus
• Ceonothus verrucosus—Warty-stem ceonothus
   The kind that grows in Torrey Pines Park
• Cercucarpus betuloides—Mountain mahogany
• Coreopsis gigantea—Giant coreopsis***
   Usually dies if irrigated in summer. Needs full sun.
• Dendromecon rigida—Bush poppy***
   Eyecatching bloom on clean shrub with attractive foliage.
• Encelia californica—California sunflower***
   Likes underground water such as in a canyon but will live without.  Best in sun but can take partial shade.
• Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium—Thick leaved Yerba Santa***
   Many healing uses for Native Americans, colorful lavender flowers in  late spring; soft, felty textural leaves.
• Eriogonum arborescens—Santa Cruz Island buckwheat***
   Excellent garden plant, thrives with no water or can take some  irrigation.
• Eriogonum cinereum—Ashyleaf buckwheat
   Grows in Torrey Pines Park
• Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Dana Point’—Dana Point buckwheat***
   Improved form of frequent component of coastal San Diego  chaparral. Available: El Nativo Growers, Tree of Life, others
• Eriogonum parvifolium—Bluff buckwheat
   Often grows closest to ocean front on bluffs at Torrey pines.
• Eriogonum giganteum—Saint Catherine’s lace***
   Stunning plant from Catalina Island. Grows well in San Diego coastal region. No summer water needed.
• Eriogonum grande var.rubescens—Red-Flowered buckwheat**
   Striking member of the buckwheat family from the Channel Islands.
• Eriogonum latifolium—Coast buckwheat
   Grows in Torrey Pines Park and around many local lagoons
• Eriophyllum nevinii ‘Canyon Silver’—Canyon Silver island snowflake
• Fremontodendron californicum ssp. californicum—Fremontia, Flannelbush
   Not found growing wild along the coast but can adapt to steep  coastal banks if planted there. Worth a try for its extreme beauty  next to blue ceonothus on a steep slope. Needs some water to  become established. No summer irrigation once extablished.
• Heteromeles arbutifolia—Toyon**
   White flowers in spring followed by colorful red berries in fall and  winter bringing  birds. Some selections have larger bunches  of  berries. Abundant in local coastal canyons.
• Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii—Coastal goldenbush, Menzies goldenbush***
   Common along the coast, abundant flowers in late summer.
   Tree of  Life Nursery, San Juan Capistrano, 92693
• Isomeris arborea—Bladderpod
   Found in Torrey Pines Park and around local lagoons
• Lavatera assurgentiflora—Island shrub mallow**
   Evergreen shrub, to six feet, long flower season, very salt tolerant,  from Channel Islands, has naturalized in some mainland areas.
• Lepechinia calycina ‘Rocky Point—Rocky Point pitcher sage**
   Brings butterflies. El Nativo growers has this compact (to 3  feet)selection.  Good coastal plant.
• Lupinus arboreus—Bush lupine***
   Grows well along the coast. Self seeds. (Las Pilitas Nursery)
  Malacothamnus fasciculatus, (syn.: M. arcuatus) ‘Edgewood’—Bush mallow, Coastal bushmallow***
   Improved form of delightful shrub with flowers over long season,  almost year round if irrigated. Often sprouts on disturbed land  and the wild unimproved form is currently seen growing adjacent  to Penasquitos Lagoon. Some sources say it does  not live long  unless cut to the ground annually in fall. Detests hot interior  climates, but thrives near the ocean. Makes a very good bank cover  Can be seen on Leucadia Blvd where the road cuts through the golf  course. This steep irrigated, planting blooms almost year round  and none of these examples have either been cut back or died  since  they were planted about 5 years ago.  May attract ground  squirrels, rabbits, caterpillars and grasshoppers.
  Malosma laurina (Rhus laurina)—Laurel sumac
   Big shrub or small tree. Las Pilitas
• Mimulus aurantiacus—Bush monkeyflower
   Yellow, white or orange, shrub or subshrub, widely adapted and very  colorful with many improved hybrids. Grows well along the coast.  Common in Torrey Pines Park and on north-facing hillsides.
• Myrica californica—Pacific wax myrtle
   Shrub or tree to 15 feet, best along the coast. Las Pilitas.
• Rhamnus croceas—Redberry; Spiney redberry.
   Brings birds and butterflies, good barrier plant. Needs no water once  established. Tidy looking evergreen shrub, flat to 2 feet mounding.  Las Pilitas Nursery. 
• Rhamnus californica ‘Eve Base’—Coffeeberry
   More compact form of large, 8-foot chapparal shrub; this one grows  to about 5 feet. Looks shaped without clipping. No irrigation needed,  once established. (Las Pilitas Nursery.)
• Rhus integrifolia—Lemonade berry***
   Among the best-looking, easiest-to-grow, evergreen shrubs native to  the San Diego coastal area. Found all around San Elijo Lagoon and  most other lagoons. Good road edge and screen in gardens. Can be  grown in full sun or light shade, with or without irrigation.  Amenable to clipping, shearing, and training. May succumb to root  rot if grown in heavy soil and irrigated too much in summer.
• Salvia leucophylla—Purple sage**
   Grows wild in Torrey Pines Park. Large sprawling groundcover, well  adapted to coast. Las Pilitas.
• Salvia mellifera—Black sage
   Most abundant sage in Torrey Pines Park. 3 feet tall. Las Pilitas
• Suaeda taxifolia—Woolly sea-blight
   Common to salt marshes, can be grown where the ground floods. Las  Pilitas
• Trichostema lanatum—Woolly bluecurls**
   Common at low elevations, less common around lagoons but worth a  try for its lovely blue flowers.