CNPS-SLO encourages the use of California Native plants in public and private gardens and landscapes, and offers information about how to plan, start, and maintain native plant gardens and landscapes that are both ecologically beneficial and personally enjoyable.
Please take the time to cruise though the articles and information in this section of our site. We hope you reach out to us if you have questions about topics not covered here.
Also, if you have expertise in native plant gardening and would like to contribute, we would love to hear from you!
San Luis Obispo Planting Guide
Download and print this planting guide that is customized for the San Luis Obispo planting region.
Why Should I Incorporate Native Plants In My Own Garden?
In addition to their natural beauty, natives provide water-conserving, drought-tolerant and sustainable garden design choices. For more information about the benefits of incorporating native plants in your own garden, click here.
What are Native Plants and Why are They Important?
To learn more about the importance of native plant conservation, please click here.
NATIVE PLANTS THAT ATTRACT BIRDS | A very thorough list of native plants with the type of bird that each plant attracts, the part of the plant that is used and in which season. For example, if you wish to see Cedar Waxwings in your garden in the summer and fall, plant Washington Filifera (the birds feast on the date fruit) and Fraxinus species for the seeds produced in the fall.
FRAGRANT CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE GARDEN | Gardening for fragrance opens up another dimension of gardening. You can be whisked back to another place and time or other remembrances by the fragrances given off by your plantings. Once you start noticing aromas, you will quickly come up with your own favorites. Since everyone’s sense of smell is different, fragrances are open to different interpretations.
NATIVE PLANTS THAT ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES | The most important plants for caterpillars are buckwheat, California lilac (Ceanothus), deerweed and milk vetch and lupines, mallows, oaks, rock cress and other mustards, and grasses. Unless you provide larval food plants in your garden or nearby, the number of adult butterflies will be limited. The butterflies of San Luis Obispo County are listed, with the host/food plant of the caterpillar. In most cases the food (nectar plant) of the adult butterfly is also given.
Three Native Garden lists
North County Plant List | PDF Templeton Residence on Jack Creek Plant List
A List of California Native Plants and Their Garden Needs | PDF list updated, updated 2015 by Marti Rutherford
Atascadero Native Garden | PDF listing of the natives in this San Jacinto Avenue, Atascadero garden
Atascadero Native Garden | PDF Listing of the natives in this Dolores Avenue, Atascadero garden
Seed Collection and Saving for the Casual Gardener
This document talks about why and when to collect native plant seeds and offers tips for collecting and storing seeds. By Marti Rutherford, CNPS-SLO, April 2016
How to Handle Deer Problems in Your Garden
This article helps you determine if you have a low, moderate, or high level of “browse” and suggests the appropriate methods for combating your problem. Also included is a brief list of plants that have shown some success in deer-prone areas.