Plant Selection

Coast live oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) like wet winters and dry summers. L. Stiles There are 20 oak trees native to California. These stately trees create iconic landscapes, live up to 400 years, and provide tremendous benefits. Oaks are good investments -- for homeowners and the environment.

Spring Garden Fair ornamentals decriptions. The flowers and other ornamental plants we offer at the Spring Garden Fair have been trialed in our research gardens to select varieties that perform particularly well in our climate, with an eye toward those that are beautiful and long-lasting in flower…

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

Today there are more choices than ever when it comes to lawn and lawn alternatives. If you like the look and feel of a conventional lawn, there are even some lower-water choices available.

Deer tend to avoid plants that are smelly, wooly, prickly, or poisonous. Photo: Marie Narlock It's possible to have a lovely unfenced garden even if there are deer in your neighborhood.