Hero Image

Summer 2024

Native Plants for Summer Bloom

by Robin Mitchell

In most of California, because of its Mediterranean climate, the state receives rain in the late fall, winter, and spring, with generally no rain falling in the summer. This means that most California native plants have adapted to being dormant in the summer.

However, some California native plants bloom in the summer and can be wonderful additions to any garden. And for many of them, occasional summer water can keep them looking their best, although some do not even need that.

The following California natives are found in Contra Costa County and flower in late spring and summer, so they should do well in gardens as long as they are not given too much water! (On the Calscape site, entering the location of “Contra Costa County, CA” and filtering for “Flowering Season” of “Summer”, the plants listed below will be displayed.)

Clarkia
From late spring into summer, the Clarkia genus of annual wildflowers can add color (pink, red, to purple) to a garden. There are several varieties of Clarkia, all of which are listed in Calscape as local to Contra Costa County, such as:

Salvia
Sages (Salvia genus) produce blooms in late spring and into summer, and are excellent plants for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

Examples of sage species that are good for summer bloom include:

  • Black sage (Salvia mellifera), local to Contra Costa County
  • Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), local to Contra Costa County
    Hummingbird sage. Photo courtesy of Laurinda Ochoa.
    Hummingbird sage. Photo courtesy of Laurinda Ochoa.
  • Bee’s Bliss (Salvia leucophylla), a cultivar from the University of California Botanic Garden
  • Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), locally native to southern California
  • White sage (Salvia apiana), locally native to southern California

Penstemon
Penstemons are summer bloomers and can be kept in good blooming condition by watering twice a month (at most), once they are established. All attract native bees and hummingbirds.

Examples of penstemons include the following:

  • Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), red flowers, local to Contra Costa County
  • Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus), flowers are shades of blue or purple to nearly magenta, local to Contra Costa County
  • Showy Penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis), violet or purple-blue flowers, locally native to southern California

Buckwheat
There are many species of buckwheat, with different heights and flower colors. All attract bees and butterflies.

  • California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), a hardy shrub that can grow to three feet wide and one to seven feet tall, with pink to white flowers.
    California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals and Perennials.
    California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals and Perennials.
  • Rosy or red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens), a small buckwheat with red flower clusters that originated on California’s Channel Islands but has become a popular landscape plant throughout the state.
    Rosy buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens). Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials.
    Rosy buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens). Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials.
  • Sulphur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum), is one of the lowest-growing of the perennial buckwheats, with bright yellow flowers, and is an excellent ground cover.

Milkweed
Milkweed serves as the only host plant to Monarch butterfly caterpillars. It is generally dormant in the winter but in late spring into summer, it blooms with pinkish to white flowers that are good for beneficial insects, including native bees.

  • Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), the most commonly found local milkweed to all of Contra Costa County
    Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). Photo courtesy of Robin Mitchell.
    Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). Photo courtesy of Robin Mitchell.
  • California Milkweed (Asclepias californica), found in the inland areas of Contra Costa County
  • Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), found locally north and east of Contra Costa County

California Fuchsia
This plant blooms in the late summer and into fall, and is sometimes the only native available to hummingbirds in the late fall. It is a reliable ground cover that spreads by rhizomes. Pruning the plants down to a few inches in the late fall will help rejuvenate them for the following year.

  • California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
    California Fuschia (Epilobium canum). Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals and Perennials.
    California Fuschia (Epilobium canum). Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals and Perennials.
  • California Fuchsia varieties as well as cultivars, that can have different characteristics, such as the height of the foliage, shape of the leaves, and flower color, can be found at many native plant nurseries. An example is California Fuchsia ‘Calistoga’, a variety that forms a spreading mat with unusually wide, fuzzy, gray leaves.

Other summer blooming natives

  • California sand aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia), found locally in most of Contra Costa County; forms a nice groundcover with pink, purple, or white daisy-like flowers
  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), with either white or yellow flowers
  • Bush Monkey flower (Diplacus aurantiacus), a classic California shrub with beautiful orange to yellow flowers, that blooms in late spring into summer
    Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus). Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals and Perennials.
    Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus). Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals and Perennials.

Resources

Color Your Garden with CA Native Plants - All Year Round!
YouTube Video, UC Master Gardeners, Marin County

Selecting and Arranging California Native Plants for Your Garden by Anna Wendorf
YouTube Video, UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County

 

View All Stories | Return to Spotlight Stories