Plants that were native in and around San Jose

Here are some of the plants that were native around the San Jose Area of California. This list is not complete, but most of the common natives that you would use in a garden or notice in the wildland are listed. View as a pamphlet of native plants of the San Jose Area.
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Woolly Blue curls and Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise or Greasewood) in flower. - grid24_12
Adenostoma fasciculatum, Chamise
Adiantum jordanii, California maidenhair fern - grid24_12
Adiantum jordanii, California Maiden-Hair Fern
Buckeye trees are used as a nectar source for many native butterflies. Spring Azure/ Echo blue uses Aesculus californica as a larval food source.  Native plant equals native insect or bird. - grid24_12
Aesculus californica, California Buckeye
Mountain Dandelion  - grid24_12
Agoseris grandiflora, Mountain dandelion
Alnus rhombifolia south of Big Bear, 6500  feet - grid24_12
Alnus rhombifolia, White Alder
Ambrosia psilostachya Western Ragweed - grid24_12
Ambrosia psilostachya, Western Ragweed
Amelanchier utahensis, Utah Service Berry is a big enough bush that it can be used as a hedge or screen. - grid24_12
Amelanchier utahensis, Utah Service Berry
Aquilegia formosa Crimson Columbine, Western Columbine, or  Red Columbine flowers. - grid24_12
Aquilegia formosa, Western Columbine
Arbutus menziesii, Madrone, growing at the top of a ridge, with weedy grasses in the foreground.  - grid24_12
Arbutus menziesii, Madrone
Artemisia californica, California Sagebrush, with Diplacus longiflorus, in the coastal sage scrub near Vandenberg Village, California.  - grid24_12
Artemisia californica, California Sagebrush
Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort - grid24_12
Artemisia douglasiana,Mugwort
Asclepias fascicularis, Narrow-leaf milkweed plant. - grid24_12
Asclepias fascicularis, Narrow leaf Milkweed
Aster chilensis,  California Aster flowers - grid24_12
Aster chilensis, California Aster
Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis - grid24_12
Baccharis douglasii, Marsh Baccharis
Bowlesia incana weird carrot. - grid24_12
Bowlesia incana and Cardamine californica
Acmon Blue, Plebejus acmon on Brickellia californica - grid24_12
Brickellia californica, Brickellbush
Brodiaea pulchella, or Dichelostemma capitatum,  Wild Hyacinth, flowers in very early spring, and so provides nectar for pollinators, when not much else is flowering.  - grid24_12
Brodiaea pulchella, Wild Hyacinth
Coyote Bush as a hedge looks natural. But man disturbed the area and created a site for the Coyote Bush. Is that natural? - grid24_12
Baccharis pilularis consanguinea, Coyote Brush
Mule fat, Baccharis viminea flowers in the winds. - grid24_12
Baccharis viminea, Seep Willow
Calochortus albus rubeillus up by one of our water tanks. - grid24_12
Calochortus albus, Fairy Lantern
Calystegia purpurata Purplish Morning Glory - grid24_12
Calystegia purpurata, Purplish Morning Glory
Castilleja affinis in the Cambria forest. - grid24_12
Castilleja affinis
Castilleja foliolosa Woolly Indian Paintbrush - grid24_12
Castilleja foliolosa, Woolly Indian Paintbrush
The white form of Buckbrush on w hillside in interior San Luis Obispo county. - grid24_12
Ceanothus cuneatus, Buckbrush
This Ceanothus sorediatus in bloom  - grid24_12
Ceanothus sorediatus, Blue Blossum moutain lilac and Ceanothus papillosus, Wart Stem California Lilac
Cercocarpus betuloides in the wild. This Mountain Mahogany  is about 30 years old. In most areas of California Mountain Mahogany makes a 5-6 ft. drought tolerant hedge. Useful in places like Los Angeles where green seems to be missing. - grid24_12
Cercocarpus betuloides, Mountain Mahogany
Chenopodium californicum Indian lettuce - grid24_12
Chenopodium californicum, Indian lettuce
Farewell to spring, Clarkia purpurea is also known as Purple Clarkia or Winecup Clarkia - grid24_12
Clarkia purpurea, Winecup clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata, Mountain Garland - grid24_12
Clarkia unguiculata, Mountain Garland
These Clematis were growing along the trail on top of Cuesta Ridge.climbing over Cercocarpus betuloides. - grid24_12
Clematis lasiantha, Pipestem Clematis
Western White Clematis, Clematis ligusticifolia looks like a vine with white fireworks. - grid24_12
Clematis ligusticifolia, Western White Clematis
Cchisese Houses, Collinsia heterophylla is a pretty little wildflower. - grid24_12
Collinsia heterophylla, Chinese Houses
Corethrogyne filaginifolia, Silver carpet, Common Corethrogyne with Metal Mark butterfly. - grid24_12
Corethrogyne filaginifolia, California Corethrogyne
A Cupressus sargentii,  Sargent Cypress tree on top of Cuesta  Ridge north of San Luis Obispo - grid24_12
Cupressus sargentii, Sargent Cypress
The Magpies like to land on slow moving things that attract flies. - grid24_12
Cuscuta californica and Cryptantha flaccida
Cyperus eragrostis Nutsedge, Umbrella Sedge - grid24_12
Cyperus eragrostis,  Nutsedge, Umbrella Sedge
This is a very old photo of the flowers of Delphinium nudicaule, Canyon Delphinium, from the Sierra Nevada mountains, California, around 1985. - grid24_12
Delphinium nudicaule, Canyon delphinium
Sticky Monkey flower is native to coastal California and parts of the Sierras - grid24_12
Diplacus aurantiacus, Sticky Monkey Flower
dodecatheon hendersonii flowers - grid24_12
Dodecatheon hendersonii, Broad leafed shooting star
Dudleya lanceolata - lanceleaf liveforever, Southern California dudleya growing out of wall - grid24_12
Dudleya lanceolata, Liveforever
This was a planting down by our bridge. I thought the Giant Rye / Buckwheat mix was wonderful. - grid24_12
Elymus condensatus, Giant Wild Rye
Elymus glaucus Blue wild rye, Blue wildrye with seed heads - grid24_12
Elymus glaucus, Blue Wildrye
Leymus triticoides - creeping wild rye, Valley Wild rye, alkali rye down at the end of our road in Santa Margarita - grid24_12
Elymus triticoides, Alkali Rye
California Buckwheat,  Eriogonum fasciculatum foliolosum on a hillside above the nursery. - grid24_12
Eriogonum fasciculatum foliolosum, California Buckwheat
Eriogonum angulosum; Anglestem Buckwheat
Eriogonum roseum; Wand Buckwheat  - grid24_12
Eriogonum gracile,(E.vargatum) Wild Buckwheat
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile
Slender Buckwheat is an annual buckwheat that is native all over the Santa Margarita property. - grid24_12
Eriogonum roseum,Wand buckwheat
Eriophyllum confertiflorum,  Golden yarrow.  - grid24_12
Eriophyllum confertiflorum, Golden Yarrow
Wallflower, Erysimum capitatum comes in many shapes , sizes and colors - grid24_12
Erysimum capitatum, Western Wallflower
California wood strawberry - grid24_12
Fragaria californica, Wood Strawberry
Frankenia grandiflora,	Alkali Heath flowers - grid24_12
Frankenia grandiflora, Alkali Heath
Gnaphalium californicum California Pearly Everlasting - grid24_12
Gnaphalium californicum, California Pearly Everlasting
Galium andrewsii, Andrew's bedstraw,
Galium aparine,
and Gilia achilleifolia, California gilia
Back side of Grindella hirsutula, Hairy gumplant - grid24_12
Grindelia hirsutula, Hairy gumplant
Helenium puberulum What happened to the Flower? - grid24_12
Helenium puberulum, Sneezeweed
Heleocharis macrostachya Common Spike Rush - grid24_12
Heleocharis macrostachya, Common Spike Rush
Heliotropium curassavicum - grid24_12
Heliotropium curassavicum, Wild Heliotrope
Helianthus californicus, California sunflower.
Toyon has  red berries that are relished by many bird species. - grid24_12
Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon
Heterotheca grandiflora, Telegraph Weed flowers - grid24_12
Heterotheca grandiflora, Telegraph Weed
Hordeum brachyantherum Meadow barley - grid24_12
Hordeum brachyantherum, Meadow barley
Iris macrosiphon, Ground Iris, whose flowers range from cream to purple, grows in the northern part of California.  - grid24_12
Iris macrosiphon, Ground Iris
A close up of Isocoma - grid24_12
Isocoma venetus, vernoniodes Isocoma
Here is a photo of the unripe fruits of Juglans hindsii, Northern California Walnut. - grid24_12
Juglans hindsii, Northern California walnut
Juncus patens, Common Rush - grid24_12
Juncus patens, Common Rush
Koeleria macrantha June Grass - grid24_12
Koeleria macrantha, June Grass
Lasthenia glabrata, Goldfields, flowering happily with Lupinus nanus, under the sun, in San Luis Obispo county, California. - grid24_12
Lasthenia glabrata, Goldfields
Lathyrus jepsonii californicus - grid24_12
Lathyrus jepsonii, californicus
Lathyrus vestitus Wild Pea - grid24_12
Lathyrus vestitus, Wild Pea
Layia platyglossa, Tidy Tips, growing with goldfields, and other wildflowers, makes a lovely carpet, with Quercus douglasii,  in the interior of San Luis Obispo county, California.  - grid24_12
Layia platyglossa, Tidy Tips
Lepechinia calycina, California Pitcher Plant, has lovely cream flowers that are sometimes tinged with pink/lavender. - grid24_12
Lepechinia calycina, California Pitcher Plant
Here reposes Lithophragma heterophylla, Woodland Star, in a very old camcorder photo, circa 1992, in the Santa Margarita garden. - grid24_12
Lithophragma heterophylla,Woodland Star
Lonicera hispidula, California Honeysuckle flowers from above. - grid24_12
Lonicera hispidula, California Honeysuckle
Lupinus bicolor. - grid24_12
Lupinus bicolor, Pigmy-leaved Lupine
Lupinus formosa, Summer Lupine  - grid24_12
Lupinus formosus,  Summer Lupinus
Lupinus latifolius, Broadleaf Lupine - grid24_12
Lupinus latifolius, Broad Leaf Lupine
Field Lupine, Lupinus nanus, and they are fragrant  - grid24_12
Lupinus nanus, Sky Lupine
Lupinus succulentus Arroyo Lupine.is an annual - grid24_12
Lupinus succulentus, Arroyo Lupine
Mahonia nervosa occurs from about San Jose North in both the coast ranges and Sierras. - grid24_12
Mahonia nervosa, Longleaf Mahonia,
Mahonia pinnata Shinyleaf Mahonia and California Barberry.  - grid24_12
Mahonia pinnata, Shinyleaf Mahonia
Melica imperfecta,  California Melic - grid24_12
Melica imperfecta, California Melic
Mentzelia lindleyi, Blazing Star - grid24_12
Mentzelia lindleyi, Blazing Star
Mimulus guttatus, Seep Monkey Flower - grid24_12
Mimulus guttatus, Seep Monkey Flower
Coyote Mint, Monardella villosa flowers. - grid24_12
Monardella villosa, Coyote Mint
Montia perifoliata Miner's Lettuce - grid24_12
Montia perifoliata, Miner's Lettuce
Orthocarpus exserta Owl's Clover - grid24_12
Orthocarpus exserta, Owl's Clover
Oso Berry in the wild. Berries taste like a bland Blueberry with a large seed. - grid24_12
Osmaronia cerasiformis, Oso Berry
Pellaea andromedifolia, Coffee Fern, is here in California chaparral.  - grid24_12
Pellaea andromedifolia, Coffee Fern
Pellaea mucronata, Bird's-Foot Fern, is growing here near granite rocks in the central coast ranges of California.   - grid24_12
Pellaea mucronata, Bird's Foot Fern
Penstemon heterophyllus  is a Foothill Penstemon. It's grows in slightly less rainfall the Penstemon heterophyllus australis. Flowers are deeper blue. - grid24_12
Penstemon heterophyllus, Foothill Penstemon
Phacelia imbricata, Pine Bee Flower - grid24_12
Phacelia imbricata, Pine Bee Flower
Phacelia tanacetifolia Lacy Phacelia - grid24_12
Phacelia tanacetifolia, Lacy Phacelia
Pinus sabiniana,  Digger Pine, aka gray pine - grid24_12
Pinus sabiniana, Gray Pine
Gold back fern, Pityrogramma triangularis, growing between the granite rocks. - grid24_12
Pityrogramma triangularis, Goldenback Fern
 Plagiobothrys nothofulvus (rusty popcornflower) - grid24_12
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus(image only)
Plantago erecta - Dot-seed Plantain - grid24_12
Plantago erecta, Plantain
California sycamore, Platanus racemosa down the road a little on Las Pilitas road. Fall color - grid24_12
Platanus racemosa, California Sycamore
Platystemon californicus, Cream Cups - grid24_12
Platystemon californicus, Cream Cups
Poa scabrella Pine bluegrass - grid24_12
Poa scabrella, Pine bluegrass
Ripe fruit on the Hollyleaf  Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia - grid24_12
Prunus ilicifolia, Holly-Leafed Cherry
Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live Oak can be a large tree. - grid24_12
Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live Oak
Scrub Oak, Quercus berberidifolia - grid24_12
Quercus berberidifolia, Scrub Oak
Quercus douglasii,  Blue Oak tree, old and leaning. - grid24_12
Quercus douglasii, Blue Oak
Quercus durata as a mature bush-tree. - grid24_12
Quercus durata, Leather Oak
A 30 year old Quercus lobata, Valley Oak about 35 foot tall. - grid24_12
Quercus lobata, White Oak
Ranunculus californicus Buttercup, Crowfoot - grid24_12
Ranunculus californicus, Buttercup, Crowfoot
Coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica,  with berries.  Native plants attract native birds. - grid24_12
Rhamnus californica, Coffeeberry
Rhamnus crocea, Redberry - grid24_12
Rhamnus crocea, Redberry
Rhamnus crocea ilicifolia, Hollyleaf Redberry flowers are greenish and liked by bees and flies. - grid24_12
Rhamnus crocea ilicifolia, Hollyleaf Redberry
Ribes californicum, Hillside Gooseberry, its flowers being visited by a digger bee in Santa Margarita, California.  - grid24_12
Ribes californicum, Hillside Gooseberry
Ribes speciosum, Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry, here showing wonderful contrast between the red flowers, shiny green leaves, and the white plaster 1940's era house wall in King City, California.     Fuchsia Flowered Gooseberry   grows well in  much of California, Oregon, and coastal Washington, but it is native from about San Jose, south.          - grid24_12
Ribes speciosum,Fuchsia-Flowering Gooseberry
Rosa californica California wild rose - grid24_12
Rosa californica, California wild rose
Rosa spithamea, Ground Rose leaves - grid24_12
Rosa spithamea, Ground Rose
Salix laevigata Red Willow - grid24_12
Salix laevigata, Red Willow
Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow, as bush - grid24_12
Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow
Black Sage, Salvia mellifera used to cover most of central and Southern California's coastal mountains from about San Jose and Livermore south to Baja. - grid24_12
Salvia mellifera, Black Sage
Elderberry, 
Mexican Elderberry, Western Elderberry berries can be eaten raw by some, other folks will be violently ill if they eat them raw. If cooked, all seem to be fine with them. - grid24_12
Sambucus mexicana, Tapiro
Sanicula bipinnatifida - grid24_12
Sanicula bipinnatifida
Sanicula crassicaulis, Pacific blacksnakeroot, Pacific Sanicle - grid24_12
Sanicula crassicaulis,Snakeroot
Harry the dog yawning as he's asking are we done yet. - grid24_12
Saxifraga californica
Scrophularia californica,  California Figwort flowers - grid24_12
Scrophularia californica, California Figwort
Senecio douglasii Butterweed - grid24_12
Senecio douglasii, Butterweed
Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue-Eyed Grass flowers are lavender blue. - grid24_12
Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue-Eyed Grass
Stachys ajugoides rigida, Bugle Hedgenettle commonly has polka dot flowers - grid24_12
Stachys ajugoides, Hedge Nettle
Stachys albens, White hedge nettle gets realy white under drought stress, green in a mountain meadow. - grid24_12
Stachys albens, White hedge nettle
Stipa lepida Foothill Stipa - grid24_12
Stipa lepida, Foothill Stipa
Stipa pulchra, Purple Stipa in an opening in Central oak woodland, not a true grassland. - grid24_12
Stipa pulchra, Purple Stipa
Poison Oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum, berries are white when ripe. Most of us would die, or at least think had, if we ate them, but the wildlife likes them. Bluesbirds in particular seem to like them. - grid24_12
Toxicodendron diversilobum, Poison oak
Typha domingensis Southern Cat-Tail - grid24_12
Typha domingensis, Southern Cat-Tail
Umbellularia californica, Bay Laurel flowers are pollinated by flies and gnats. - grid24_12
Umbellularia californica, Bay Laurel
Verbena lasiostachys Western Vervain - grid24_12
Verbena lasiostachys, Western Vervain
Viola pedunculata, Violet clump - grid24_12
Viola pedunculata, Violet
Zauschneria california, Epilobium, Uvas Canyon is a California fuchsia  that grows very will in a large pot or container garden. It was originally collected between San Jose, Santa Cruz and Gilroy. - grid24_12
Zauschneria californica, California Fuchsia
This page was complied from the copyrighted images of LasPilitas.com, information from the Consortium of California Herbaria, checked against "Flora of the Mount Hamilton Range of California, by Helen Sharsmith, 1982 and Flora of the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, by John Hunter Thomas, 1961.
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Edited on Sep 06, 2013. Authors:
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