Landscaping with Native Plants

In the past 30 years we have provided horticultural and landscape consultation to landscape contractors, landscape architects, landscape designers, botanic gardens, homeowners, and others interested in landscaping. Las Pilitas was started in 1974 in San Luis Obispo specializing in native gardens and in plants utilized by native Californians. Las Pilitas also designs wildlife gardens (birds and butterflies), California herb gardens, deer(tolerant or for the deer) gardens, fire-resistant gardens, and problem gardens (for example, poor drainage; toxic amounts of salt and/or heavy metals; unhealthy oaks, manzanitas or other natives; very high or low pH; rocky slopes (no soil or minimal amounts); seasonal flooding; low water availability; etc.). Xeriscape and water wise gardens are so easy!! California State Contractors License, #345678.

Properly designed native gardens look like a formal park or clean, weed free, native ecosystem. This has been very consistent whether the garden, restoration, or landscape is in Mojave, Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, the Sierras or the Bay area.

The hummingbirds, butterflies, and other small wildlife will love your garden! A native garden is atwitter with the sound of hummingbirds, birds, butterflies and other native insects. This is astounding to people who have a conventional 'hummingbird' garden. A few drunk hummingbirds at a feeder do not make a hummingbird garden. Thirty or so buzzing all over your landscape, telling you off for picking flowers, now that's a hummingbird garden!

Native plants bring native wildlife. Butterflies and birds instead of rats and cockroaches. Thrashers, Flickers, and Bluebirds instead of English Sparrows and Starlings.

Help yourself design a native landscape or garden

It is expensive if we have to drive to your garden and spend 3-5 hours walking and talking to you. Many people do not have the $500-10,000 for a consultation or plan. We understand. We have many pages on our to get started on your garden. These can be found at Garden Fun,Extreme Garden, and Wildlife.