California Native Plants

A picture of someone at the Plant Sales.

Building Blocks for Resilient Gardens

by Rachel Davis
Thu, September 09, 2021

Environmental Education

As we look to the future, we want to broaden our scope to support landscapes that are not just sustainable, but also resilient. Find plant recommendations and tips on how to build a resilient garden at home.

Image of Riley Sholes and Chase Kautz in the UC Davis Arboretum.

New Landscaping Installed Around La Rue Road Bridge

by Laura Baquerizo
Wed, March 17, 2021

Student Leadership

Stripped of most of its landscaping as a result of construction, Arboretum areas on either side of the recently re-opened La Rue Road Bridge, are now in the process of being revived!

May Madness: California Native Plant Showdown

by Sydney Odman
Wed, April 22, 2020

Community Engagement

Find out the results of our first California native plant showdown which we call "May Madness." It's a tournament bracket similar to March Madness (for those familiar with college basketball) but this time the public decides which California native plant wins in a social media match up!

Image of Learning by Leading Sustainable Horticulture interns in a student-planted wildflower meadow.

California Native Wildflower Seeds

The Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is piloting the sale of native wildflower seeds at its upcoming Fall 2019 plant sales. The wildflower seeds selected for sale to the public were chosen based on research done by the UC Davis Pollination Ecology lab led by Dr. Neal Williams which found that these species attract local pollinators that will continually revisit!

Collage of Gottlieb Native Garden press release

Inspiration for California native habitat restoration

by Sydney Odman
Wed, April 17, 2019

Environmental Education

Public Invitation

Gottlieb Native Garden: A California Love Story
Friday, April 26 from 7-9 p.m. at Putah Creek Lodge

UC Davis Arboretum: Research Resource and Pollinator Paradise

by Katie Hetrick
Thu, March 28, 2019

Environmental Education

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden landscapes attract a wide variety of pollinators and thus have become popular location for groundbreaking research on these vitally important species.

Images related to the Gottleib Native Garden.

The Gottlieb Native Garden: A California Love Story

Susan Gottlieb, the dedicated environmentalist who created the garden believes we could save the world if we all understood the power of native plants. This is her story, as well as a larger one: the story of how to restore natural habitat and protect biodiversity with simple, individual actions.

Image of Mary Burke (fourth from left) poses with Dr. David Ackerly (UC Berkeley), Dr. Erika Zavaleta (UC Santa Cruz), Governor Jerry Brown, Todd Keeler-Wolf (CA Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Dan Glusencamp (California Native Plant Society).

Advising state leaders on California Biodiversity Initiative

Fri, January 18, 2019

Environmental Education

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden staff advise then Governor Brown on California Biodiversity Initiative.

Image of hummingbird grazing in a patch of California fuchsia in the UC Davis Hummingbird GATEway Garden.

Gardening for Pollinators

Why garden for pollinators? Nearly all ecosystems on earth depend on the pollination of flowering plants for survival. Gain gardening tips and learn more about attracting all types of pollinators to your outdoor spaces.

Image of native bee on flowers in the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden.

Support California native bees with these 10 plants

Wed, April 04, 2018

Environmental Education

The plants included here were selected based on information available through this work and that of others both in the Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley. These plants were chosen for spring, summer and fall bloom, low to medium-low watering need, low maintenance requirements and the variety of bee species they attract.