Yarrow (iStock)

The Theodore Payne Foundation lists the following Southern California native plants to consider for your own sustainable landscapes:

Common yarrow (achillea millefolium): Low-growing perennial with flowers that attract butterflies, moths and “good bugs.”

Manzanita (arctostaphylos species): Its iconic white-to-pink flowers are an essential nectar source for hummingbirds in the winter.

Coyote brush (baccharis pilularis): Low-growing, evergreen plant is a pollinator magnet.

Ceanothus (includes California lilac): The diverse genus’ flowers attract bees, butterflies and other insects, and its dense evergreen provides cover for birds and their nests.

California fuchsia (epilobium canum): Hummingbirds depend on its late summer/early fall blossoms.

Seaside daisy (erigeron glaucus): The mounding perennial that works great in containers supports bees, butterflies and other pollinators and beneficial insects.

Buckwheat (eriogonum species): The plants found in this large and varied genus support all sorts of insects and birds.

Golden yarrow (eriophyllum confertiflorum): Butterflies, bees and other pollinators are drawn to this long-blooming perennial.

Grasses and grass-like plants: Native bunchgrasses support skippers and other small butterflies and provide seeds and cover for birds.

Toyon (heteromeles arbutifolia): Bees and small insects enjoy its late spring/summer blossoms and birds feed on its winter berries.

Cherry (prunus species): Blossoms attract bees and butterflies and evergreen foliage is vital to certain caterpillars; the fruit is valued by songbirds and small mammals.

Oak (queres species): A multitude of mammals, insects, birds and other wildlife depend on this “ultimate habitat plant.”

Sage (salvia species): Butterflies and bees, especially bumblebees, as well as hummingbirds appreciate this popular plant.

Wildflowers: California poppies, lupine, phacelia, tidy tips, goldfields, cobweb thistle, baby blues and more attract insects and their seeds feed hungry birds.

Source: Theodore Payne Foundation

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