Native plants for Los Angeles County, California
1,485 native plants recorded in Los Angeles County, California
The USDA plant database has 2,528 plants recorded growing wild in Los Angeles County. 1,485 of them are native to the lower 48, and 361 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 877 wildflowers and herbs, 133 grasses and sedges, 210 shrubs, 133 low woody plants, 95 trees, 37 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 254 of them (17%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 16 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Los Angeles County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 254 | 0 | 1,231 |
| Half shade | 216 | 38 | 1,231 |
| Under trees | 142 | 112 | 1,231 |
| Heavy clay | 147 | 107 | 1,231 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 186 | 68 | 1,231 |
| Never watered | 148 | 106 | 1,231 |
| Stays soggy | 90 | 164 | 1,231 |
Sun all day in Los Angeles County: 254 rated natives
73 wildflowers and herbs, 54 shrubs, 53 grasses and sedges, 49 trees, 19 low woody plants, 6 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dwarf rose (Rosa gymnocarpa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Los Angeles County: 216 rated natives
55 wildflowers and herbs, 50 shrubs, 48 grasses and sedges, 42 trees, 16 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Nevada jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Los Angeles County: 142 rated natives
41 shrubs, 33 grasses and sedges, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 27 trees, 10 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Nevada jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Los Angeles County: 147 rated natives
52 wildflowers and herbs, 38 grasses and sedges, 21 trees, 20 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Island gooseberry (Ribes viburnifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Los Angeles County: 186 rated natives
52 shrubs, 43 trees, 40 wildflowers and herbs, 37 grasses and sedges, 9 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Island gooseberry (Ribes viburnifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Los Angeles County: 148 rated natives
47 shrubs, 35 trees, 25 grasses and sedges, 23 wildflowers and herbs, 15 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Island gooseberry (Ribes viburnifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Royal penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Los Angeles County: 90 rated natives
38 wildflowers and herbs, 30 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 5 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Arrowleaf ragwort (Senecio triangularis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Cutleaf waterparsnip (Berula erecta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: slight - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Los Angeles County has that most of California does not
118 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of California's 58 counties. A few of them:
- Santa Catalina Island manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae): only here
- San Gabriel manzanita (Arctostaphylos gabrielensis): only here
- San Clemente Island milkvetch (Astragalus nevinii): only here
- Malibu baccharis (Baccharis malibuensis): only here
- San Clemente Island brodiaea (Brodiaea kinkiensis): only here
- Peirson's false bindweed (Calystegia peirsonii): only here
- Guadalupe suncup (Camissonia guadalupensis): only here
- San Clemente Island Indian paintbrush (Castilleja grisea): only here
- Catalina Island mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus traskiae): only here
- Watson's goosefoot (Chenopodium watsonii): only here
Where to start in Los Angeles County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Los Angeles County gives you the most rated choice (254 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 90 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 1,231 unrated natives too.