Native plants are adapted to the dry climate, support ecosystem's biodiversity.
Spring is a good time to evaluate your landscape and make potential changes to decrease your water use in 2026. A good starting point is to incorporate a California native plant or two into the garden. Many native plants can survive with minimal supplemental water once they have become established.
California includes many different native plant communities.
Native plants come from across the state and are adapted to varying habitat conditions that include coastal, inland, foothill, and desert. The natives for ornamental plantings in El Dorado County are best if of local origin that have adapted to our soil and microclimate conditions.
Native plants from appropriate plant communities can mix with other plants from similar climates with like water requirements. Natives should not be planted near a lawn, or with plants that have high water needs. Very good drainage and careful watering the first year, along with planting a bit above grade so water percolates away from the crown of the plant help ensure success. Native plants should go in native soil, be watered deeply and infrequently once they are established.
Using natives that are adapted to our area will also attract local wildlife.
The local native plants are food sources for wildlife as well as shelter from weather and predators and offer nesting sites. At the UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County's Sherwood Demonstration Garden, home to sixteen different types of gardens, the winter native garden is home to a variety of resident and migrating bird species. Winter blooming plants provide nectar and pollen for residents like hummingbirds and native bees. Two native shrubs that offer berries for birds are Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, and Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium. Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis, offers seeds and spectacular spring flowers. Native oaks provide acorns and host a wide variety of insects eaten by birds. Hummingbirds are drawn to the red flowers of California Fuchsia, Epilobium canum, and the lovely blooms of the Red Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum.
Another excellent Natives Garden can be found within the U.C. Davis Arboretum. The Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Natives features an extensive collection of native plants, a natives meadow and native grass landscapes.
Look for inspiration in native gardens around you, and then make some additions to your own landscape.
This article, by UC Master Gardener of El Dorado County Debbie Hagar, originally appeared in the Mountain Democrat in April, 2026
Visit the Natives Garden at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Dr. Placerville, CA. Open hours are season-dependent, and can be found on this page of our website.
If you would like to speak with a UC Master Gardener of El Dorado County, please reach out!