Fremontodendron californicum

(Fremontia)An evergreen shrub fast to 5', can grow to 10 ft.. Explodes with yellow flowers, 3 inches across, in spring. Native to dry slopes, Sierra Nevada, coast ranges, S. Calif. mountains. Likes sun to part shade. Is drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. Survives only a short time in adobe soils under garden conditions. The cold hardiness on this does not make much sense. It is marginally hardy here in five gallon cans but it grows in Bear Valley (Techacapi) where it got down to -20 F.. We have larger diurnal temperature swings. Hardiness is between -30 and 0 according to your climate. Unless it is under drought stress the deer will eat. see F.decumbens and F.mexicana.