San Carlos Native Plant Habitat Garden
Status: Open to the public
Featured this Month
A new addition to the garden is putting on quite a show. Hooker's Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata) was planted from seed this spring and is covered with large, clear yellow flowers on tall stems. It has a reputation for self-sowing enthusiastically, so be prepared to pull up seedlings if you plant it in your garden.
See more highlights from the garden in our Flickr photo albums: Native Plant Garden - Month by Month
Overview
Master Gardeners have created a native habitat garden and ecosystem, designed to be low maintenance, educational, and teeming with life. Native California plants were chosen to create a diverse community that provides food for wildlife, attracting birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
This 8,000 square foot demonstration garden was developed in partnership with the City of San Carlos. Started in late 2019, the native habitat garden has many mature plants while it continues to evolve. Its location near the library, city hall, and dog park, provides free and easy access for the community.
Master Gardener volunteers work at the garden each week and regularly interact with the public. Master Gardeners periodically host public tours, demonstrations, and talks at the garden.
Garden Tours
Check this website for updates on planned events, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter to hear about these and other Master Gardener events.
You can grow natives, too!
Thinking about starting your own native garden, or enhancing your garden with natives? See our California Native Gardening page for inspiration and resources.
Bloom charts - Updated July, 2024
Are you planning a native garden and want to create a colorful display that supports wildlife throughout the year? Our bloom charts can help.
Data has been collected twice a month since 2021 to record which plants are blooming in the garden. Since September 2023 we refined the data collection by recording the quantity of bloom: Some, Half and Full bloom. The latest charts are color-coded with this additional information.
There are four pages with charts for these color groups: Red/Pink, Orange/Yellow, White/Cream, and Blue/Lavender/Purple. Please see: Bloom Times by Color Group (PDF)
Plants and animals in the garden
San Carlos Native Plant Habitat Garden Plant List - Includes detailed plant notes
San Carlos Native Plant Habitat Garden Plant List - Calscape
Seasonal Garden Highlights
There's always something of interest in the garden. This schedule highlights when some of the plants start their show:
- January: Early manzanitas, early currants.
- February: Manzanitas, early ceanothus.
- March: Redbud, cleveland sage, California poppy.
- April: Ceanothus, irises, blue-eyed grass, coral bells, bulbs.
- May: Yarrows, California fuchsias, matilija poppy, gum plant, toyon, lupines.
- June: Coyote mint, buckwheats, bush mallows.
- July-November: Many plants continue blooming through fall, including: Monkeyflower, California fuchsias, sages, yarrows, buckwheats, and coyote mint.
- December: Toyon shows off its bright red berries, some fall bloomers continue.
