Seeing the rare “super blooms” in some parts of the California desert once every ten years brings to mind the beauty of our own native wildflowers here in the Bay Area. From the delicate “Baby Blue Eyes” and vibrant Clarkias to the cheerful “Tidy Tips” and majestic Lupines, our local hillsides and meadows are covered in a colorful carpet of wildflowers as soon as early Spring arrives.
Indigenous wildflowers are incredibly important for pollinators, particularly native bees and butterflies that rely on the timing of their nectar-rich blooms. When we include native annuals in our gardens, we not only enhance the beauty of our urban and suburban landscapes, but we also create a widespread source of nectar and food for many native animals.
Incorporating native wildflowers into your garden is a simple task that can brighten up your outdoor space. In the Bay Area, gardeners who planted in the fall are already enjoying the first blooms of spring, but there is still time to plant and fill in empty areas with colorful additions. As spring approaches, I always keep some space open for adding my favorite wildflowers. These plants typically have a 3-5 month blooming season, leaving room for another colorful annual or a new perennial later on. Many of our native wildflowers also self-sow, ensuring you’ll have a beautiful display year after year.
I also plan in advance to plant some of my annuals in pots. Almost all of my perennials (native and non-native) are planted in beds, so they can grow and spread. Planting annuals in containers not only saves precious ground space but also allows you to easily move your containers around for the best visual impact.
Maximizing Space
Want to make the most of your garden space? Try planting early blooming Spring natives in front of deciduous shrubs such as Philadelphus, Hibiscus, Oakleaf Hydrangea, or Sambucus. Another great space-saving tip is to plant annuals over bulbs, particularly Summer bloomers like Dahlias, Lilies, and Gladiolas. This way, you can enjoy a burst of color in the Spring, and as the flowers start to fade, the Summer bulbs will emerge and provide their own beautiful display.
Chasing after the gold
Spring wildflowers bring a beautiful contrast of yellow and blue with their abundance of colors. The “Tidy Tips” (Layia platyglossa) flowers have a lovely lemon-colored hue with white tips that exude a sense of happiness and cheerfulness.
Be on the lookout for the Checkerspot butterfly, as it is particularly fond of the nectar of this flower. Another flower to keep an eye out for is the “Woodland Tidy Tips” (Layia gaillardoides), known for its dense bunches of bright yellow flowers, perfect for cascading over a favorite container or a low rock wall.
I see Limnanthes douglasii as a close relative to “Tidy Tips”, with its continuous flow of open yellow flowers edged in white on a dense, glossy groundcover mound. This appropriately named “Meadow Foam” mixes effortlessly with various shades of blue flowers.
The “Cream Cups” (Platystemon californicus) bear small, buttery-yellow flowers with a central cluster of flattened stamen filaments, resembling water lilies stranded on the shore. They are delightful and emit a lovely fragrance!
When it comes to fragrant plants, take a look at Madia elegans. This resilient, drought-tolerant, and long-blooming sun lover tends to make a fashionable entrance, blooming from mid-Summer to Fall. The sizable, daisy-like yellow flowers along with the foliage emit a delightful pineapple scent, especially noticeable during warmer weather.
Are you looking to add a touch of happiness to your garden? Look no further than the stunning true blue wildflowers that are in bloom this season. One of the standout varieties is the Phacelias, a group of flowers that deserve just as much recognition as the popular Nemophilas “Baby Blue Eyes”. With their deep and rich blue hues, especially the impressive P. Viscida, these flowers are a sight to behold. Standing at 2 feet tall, with vibrant 2-inch electric-blue flowers featuring patterned centers, this native plant will certainly steal the show in your garden.
Looking for a beautiful blue plant for your garden? Look no further than Phacelia campanularia, also known as the “Desert Bluebell”. These stunning flowers, despite thriving in regular garden soil, offer a continuous display of a gentle blue hue. The way the flowers cascade forward resembles the prettiest skirt, while their dark veined green leaves add an extra touch of elegance. Their motto could easily be: ‘I spill, therefore I am’.
The name “Blue Thimble Flower” might sound strange at first, but once you see the abundance of inch-wide round flowers on the Gilia capitata plant, it all makes sense. This annual plant creates a dense, compact bush with delicate, fern-like leaves crowned by a sea of purple-blue flower heads. It’s simply irresistible.
Finally, there is the popular “Baby Blue Eyes” plant (Nemophila menziesii). You won’t need to search far for this beauty, as the abundance of its robin’s egg blue flowers will catch the eye of both you and passersby in your garden. Another great spiller, it pairs nicely with almost any Spring bloom (especially the colorful varieties of Eschscholzia californica), bringing a touch of the sky into the earthly wonders of your garden.
