Part Of The American Meadows Meadowscaping Learning Center
California Native Plants, State Flowers & State Bird
Native plants are adaptable, low-maintenance, and beautiful. They are the best choice for habitat-friendly gardens and thriving ecosystems. Find top picks for native plants in your state - and learn about your state bird and state flowers!
Follow Along With More Of Our Guides
Hello native plant enthusiasts! In the list below, you will find popular native plants and wildflower seeds, available from American Meadows, that have a native distribution in your state. You’ll also find information about your state bird, state flower, and state wildflower!
About Our Native Plant Lists For Each State
- The links will take you to a single plant or seed selection for the plant listed -- but in many cases, we offer multiple cultivars for each plant, and we may offer both seeds and potted plants to grow the plant on your list. This list is a work in progress as we expand our native plant educational resources.
- The list for your state is a great place for getting started with native plants - but it is by no means a comprehensive listing of the hundreds of native plants growing in each state.
California Native Plants
California is split in terms of American Meadows regions. Grow our Native Southwest Wildflower Seed Mix in Southern California, and our Native Pacific Northwest Wildflower Seed Mix in Northern California.
Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus)
Black Eyed Susan or Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) (State Flower!)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
California State Bird, State Flower & State Wildflower
California Quail ~ Lophortyx californicus
Common in the chaparral slopes and valleys of the Pacific coastal mountains, the wily Quail scouts ensure the safety of the brood by screeching at the approach of a hunter. Refusing to flush, the birds scuttle away or hide in trees until the hunter leaves. Besides being an excellent game bird, the California Quail brings its color and personality to gardens and city parks.
California Poppy ~ Eschscholtzia californica
Before civilization dotted the West with villages, homesteads, and orchards, California Poppies formed a blanket of gold that stretched from the foothills to the sea. It is said that Spanish sailors, seeding the land glowing so brilliantly, named it the Land of Fire. When they later discovered that the brightness was the sunglow on red-gold-poppies, they called the flowers "cups of gold." California Poppies now scatter their gold generously in flower gardens the world over, but nowhere are they quite so lovely as in their native home.
From The Wildflowers of the 50 States U.S. Stamps issued July 24, 1992:
issued April 14, 1982 simultaneously in all state capitals.
About Native Plants
- Native plants are essential for healthy ecosystems and habitat. They have evolved over time with local wildlife and climate conditions. Many pollinators have special relationships with native plants that they rely on for survival. For instance, some bees are specialists and require nectar and pollen from specific native plants to survive; and butterflies and moths often have specific host plants needed to nourish their caterpillars. For example, Asclepias (Milkweed or Butterfly Weed) is the host plant required for Monarch caterpillars to survive and grow into Monarch Butterflies!
- It’s OK to grow native plants in your yard that may not be native to your state or region. Remember – just because a plant is not native, does not necessarily mean that it is invasive or harmful. In fact, growing well-behaved introduced plants that are suited to your growing conditions can still provide many benefits to your yard (especially when compared to a traditional turf lawn).
- Know before you grow – It's always a good idea to learn what plants are native, well-behaved, and invasive or aggressive in your region before digging in.
- Learn More: All About Native Plants
Explore our full selection of native plants and seeds
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