Plant Selection

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Flowering African Violet. J. Alosi
The Real Dirt: Article

Houseplants for the Winter Months

December 1, 2025
How about bringing a new plant home to cheer up these dark winter days?  For the avid gardener, houseplants can be an excellent source of greenery and even flowers when the outside garden has gone gray and dormant in the doldrums of mid-winter.  The Moth Orchid, ZZ Plant, Christmas Cactus, Snake Plant,…
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UCCE East Bay: Article

Raising the “Fancy” Standard for California Trees

September 16, 2025
By Andrew Miller
California’s urban forests deserve nothing less than “Fancy” trees. Jessie Godfrey, UC ANR Environmental Horticulture and Water Resource Management Advisor, is elevating the work of “Team Fancy,” a group of nursery professionals advocating for state-specific tree quality standards. These standards aim to…
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Yellow California native plants stretching to horizon
Over the Fence (Alameda County): Article

California Native Plants and Your Garden: a Plant Community Approach

September 12, 2025
By Linda Carloni
 California native plants can add beauty to your garden, reduce your water use and support the native wildlife.  All good!  This blog discusses why native plants are important, the communities in which they naturally grow and how that knowledge can guide your plant selection.  Why…
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A group of seed savers at work. Jennifer Petersen

Saving Summer Vegetable Seeds

September 9, 2025
The abundance from summer vegetable gardens is extended through the winter and beyond by methods of canning, freezing and drying. But you can also give your summer vegetables a longer life span by saving their seeds. It's important to know that the seed from a hybrid plant will not produce a plant exactly…
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Ceanothus
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Cal Native Plants

Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica) is a deer-resistant shrub that grows in sun or shade and has fragrant flowers. Photo: PlantMaster You can bring the natural beauty and ecology -- of your surroundings into your garden by growing some of the plants that were here before settlers arrived.
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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Shrubs

Pittosporum tobira, mock orange. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Shrubs are extremely versatile and hard-working, often forming the framework of a landscape. Some are low-growing and others are as tall and large as trees. They make excellent privacy hedges, foundations, and evergreen backdrops.
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Succulent Arrangements for Sun, Laura Balaoro
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Succulent Sales

Events Calendar Succulents thrive both in containers and in the ground. For information on caring for succulents, see our succulents help page.This is a list of  succulents we are currently offering or have offered in the past. Please understand that our inventory varies. This list shows succulents we…
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hummingbird
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Plants for Pollinators

It's easy to invite bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other welcomed winged visitors into the garden. Just provide the food, water, and shelter they need to feel at home. This is called habitat gardening, and it's a satisfying way to choose plants.
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Aster
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Extra Easy for Brown Thumbs

You don't need a green thumb to grow rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora). PlantMaster If you've been unsuccessful at gardening, take heart. There could be many reasons for that, starting with the condition of your soil or other cultural factors in your garden.
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Cucumber tasting at Nine Palms Ranch (Photo: Barbara Williams-Sheng)
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Nine Palms Cucumber Trial, 2008

Fourteen varieties of cucumbers were compared for flavor and production. Stallion White and Japanese Climbing ranked top in flavor. Marketmore 76 was top in production.
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