National Wildlife Federation/ San Diego County

Some Plant Lists for Habitats

Plants for Food, Cover and a Place to Rear Young

MANY PLANTS PROVIDE FOOD, COVER, AND A PLACE TO REAR YOUNG:

Quercus Oak
Albezia Silk Tree
Callistemon Bottle Brush
Alnus Alder
Citrus
Platanus Sycamore
Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud
Willow species native to your area


FOOD AND NECTAR SOURCES:

Pomegranite
Erythrina Coral Tree
Abutilon Flowering Maple
Aquilegia Columbine
Diplacus Bush Monkey Flower
Grevillea all species
Pines/Conifers clump of trees is best
Rhus lancea African Sumac
Olea Olive
Prunus lyonii Catalina Cherry
Sambucus Elderberry
Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree
Carissa Natal Plum
Cotoneaster many species
Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon
Pyracantha Firethorn
Rhamnus Redberry
Rhus laurina Laurel Sumac, Malosma
Rhus ovata Sugar Bush
R. integrifolia Lemonadeberry
Ribes spp. Currant
Ceanothus all species
Arctostaphylos Manzanita
Muhlenbergia Deer Grass
Lonicera Honeysuckle
Isomeris Bladderpod
Penstemon many species
Trichostemma lanatum Wooly Blue Curls
Phormium New Zealand Flax
Hesperaloe Red Yucca
Salvia Sage – most varieties are used by hummingbirds
Lobelia laxiflora Looseflower
Zauschneria California Fuchsia
Aquilegia Columbine
Scabiosa Pincushion Flower

REMEMBER: Weedy patches and thistles provide feed for many birds.

LEAVE SOME LEAF LITTER ON THE GROUND.

DON'T FORGET TO PROVIDE WATER!
(Dripping or running water is a better attractant than still water)

USE ORGANIC PRACTICES !!
(stop using pesticides and chemical herbicides in your yard)

BUGS ARE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF FOOD FOR BIRDS.

Host Plants for Butterflies

Coreopsis
Lavatera Mallows
Cosmos
Althaea Hollyhocks
Lonicera Honeysuckle
Brugmansia Angel's Trumpet
Escholtzia California Poppy
Lantana many species
Helianthus Sunflower
Passiflora Passionflower vine
Penstemons All varieties are used
Foeniculum Fennel (invasive)
Eriogonum Buckwheat
Buddleia Butterfly Bush
Encelia Sunflower
Galvezia Island Bush Snapdragon
Plumbago
Asclepias Butterfly Milkweed

NOTE: Butterflies like a spot of mud in the sun.


cb/12/04

Easy to Find and Easy to Grow

EASY TO FIND AND EASY TO GROW
Local Habitat Stewards' top picks for native and exotic plants that support wildlife*
TREES
California Live Oak -- over 1500 species rely on oaks for food and shelter
Toyon - the favorite berry of most California birds
Citrus – attracts butterflies to your garden
Pomegranate – for hummingbirds and orioles
Pines – for food and cover
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
Sycamore
SHRUBS
Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
Cassia 'Buttercream'
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) may become invasive
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
Coffeeberry (Rhamnus) - some species tolerate shade
Glossy Abelia – tolerates some shade
Manzanita (especially 'Sunset' Manzanita)
California Lilac (Ceanothus) – some species tolerate shade
Lemonadeberry, Sugar Bush, Laurel Sumac
Mallows (Lavateras, both exotic and native)
Pyracantha
Gooseberries (Ribes)
Mexican Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)
Skyflower (Duranta)
Grevilleas
PERENNIALS
California Fuchsia (Epilobium or Zauschneria spp.)
Lilac Verbena (Verbena Lilacina)
Salvias especially Cleveland Sage and Mexican Bush Sage (S. clevelandii and S. leucantha and S. greggii)
Coast Sunflower (Encelia californica)
Lavenders and Rosemary
Penstemons – both natives and exotics
Bush Island Snapdragon (Galvezia speciosa)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia laxiflora)
Buckwheat (Eriogonum species)
Mexican Lobelia (Lobelia laxiflora)
Star Flower – Pentas lanceolata
GRASSES, SEDGES, GROUNDCOVERS AND FILLERS
Coyote Bush (Baccharis)
Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
Berkeley Sedge (Carex tumulicola) and Clustered Field Sedge (Carex praegracilis)
Lantana
Salvia 'Dara's Choice'
Gazanias, Felicia, Cosmos and Coreopsis for butterflies
California Poppies
Alyssum – tolerates some shade
Douglas Iris – tolerates some shade
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) to bring Monarchs to your garden
Sunflowers
Plumbago
Hollyhocks
VINES
California Wild Grape Roger's Red
California Honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata)
Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea)

*Habitat stewards are trained volunteers of the NWF Backyard Habitat program.

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