CA. Native Gardens
Every plant has an origin story. Bamboo comes from Asia, Coast Redwoods from California, and countless other plants are tied to specific regions around the world. In Southern California, many common landscape plants—like Bougainvillea, Lavender, Ficus, and most Palms—are actually from other countries with similar climates.
California native plants, on the other hand, are species that originated right here in our state. A California native garden is simply a garden designed with mostly these local plants.
Why should we use native plants?
Gardens may be designed for beauty and personal taste, but they’re also part of a larger ecosystem. Our neighborhoods and cities once supported a rich diversity of plants and wildlife. By paving over land and filling our landscapes with non-native plants, we’ve displaced much of that habitat. Native plants help bring it back—they provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and pollinators while strengthening natural food webs. By choosing native plants in our gardens, we can restore pieces of California’s ecosystem right at home.