15 California Native Ground Cover Plants to Try This Year

California is home to diverse ecoregions and expansive plant communities, from alpine woodlands and meadows to coastlines, valleys, and deserts. Its glorious landscapes offer endless opportunities for discovery and foster otherworldy occurrences like wildflower super blooms. The breadth of diversity, even without such a big show, is awe-inspiring.

With diverse ecotypes come varying resource needs and adapting and managing factors like wildfires and water access. Californians are well-versed in fire-safe practices and waterwise gardening, which is practical in many areas of the state.

Bearberry

	botanical name Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12”
	hardiness zones 3-7

Bearberry is a hardy, broadleaf evergreen creeper that spreads slowly. This native provides interest across the seasons and valuable fruits for wildlife. Pinky-white blossoms in summer lead to green drupes that turn bright red in fall. The dark green leaves also get bronze tinges with winter temperatures.

The rugged grower does best in dry situations and tolerates dappled light under tree canopy. It thrives in arid, cool climates and doesn’t withstand high humidity, growing naturally in dry sites like rocky areas, open woods, and meadows. It spills over walls and container edges and along slopes. It’s also good for infilling small areas in the garden bed and along walkways.

In addition to the species are other manzanita cultivars that form attractive cascading spreaders. ‘Emerald Carpet’ is full and dense with dark, glossy leaves that slowly form a mounding habit. ‘Point Reyes’ in paler green boasts exceptional drought tolerance and adapts to various soils.

California Aster

	botanical name Symphyotrichum chilense
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 6-10

This charming Western wildflower has blue-lavender ray booms in late summer and fall. It grows across growing zones and in coastal dunes to dry inland ecotypes, withstanding poor soils, drought, and salty conditions.

California aster spreads through rhizomes and seeds and sends out new growth in late winter. Additionally, this aster hosts moth and butterfly species, and its seeds provide forage for songbirds post-bloom.

‘Point Saint George’ is a vigorous selection that spreads readily. It naturalizes well and bears light foot traffic.

Western Sword Fern

	botanical name Polystichum munitum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Ferns add lushness to the understory with a soft, graceful, arching aesthetic. Fitting for cottage, woodland, shade arrangments, and among other natives, they make ideal mass plantings. California’s mountains and coastal woodlands house a number of award-winning selections worthy of admiration.

Western sword ferns are stately specimens among the group, with broad, unfurling fronds on a large scale. Sword ferns are evergreen in mild climates and semi-evergreen in cooler regions. Each plant may hold 75 to 100 fronds with a width of four to six feet. Little leaflets line the fronds, each coming to a point or sword tip. Additionally, this fern, in particular, is a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient.

Another AGM winner is the giant chain fern (Woodwardia fimbriata), the largest fern in North America. The woodland grower has huge, lacy, patterned fronds in deep green and makes a handsome specimen in shady beds.

California polypody (Polypodium californicum) is another lush fern with fresh, rich green fronds from fall through spring (and year-round in cool, moist situations). These one-to-two-foot high fronds die back in hot and dry summers until reemerging with fall rains.

Douglas Iris

	botanical name Iris douglasiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Douglas iris, also called mountain or western iris, spreads through rhizomes to form a two to four-foot clump and eventually colonize. Dark, evergreen leaves are arching and strappy. They give way to large, silky blue-purple blooms on stout stems. White crests with purple veins and gold centers line the interior petals.

Douglas iris has a range along the Pacific coast from Santa Barbara to Oregon and is common in the Redwood region. It grows beautifully as a naturalistic ground cover in woodland, meadow, and Mediterranean arrangements. The bladed straps are attractive even when not in flower.

Wild Ginger

	botanical name Asarum caudatum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6-9”
	hardiness zones 7-10

Wild ginger brings subtle beauty and outstanding foliage interest with heart-shaped leaves. Both A. hartwegii (Hartweg’s ginger) and A. caudatum (Western ginger) are California natives. Western iris has shiny, thick, textural dark green leaves. Hartweg’s is thick and rich green with lighter silver venation.

The sweet herbaceous perennial has a compact, mounding habit packed with leafy hearts. Their fleshy root has a spicy ginger aroma and flavor and is edible. Maroon blooms appear beneath foliage with little cups surrounded by three spidery petals.

Wild ginger slowly forms a dense colony over time. It prefers moist and well-drained soils but tolerates various types, including clay. 

Blue-Eyed Grass

	botanical name Sisyrinchium bellum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-24”
	hardiness zones 7-8

Blue-eyed grass is a blooming perennial with stiff, upright blades and a grassy texture. Its starry blue blooms provide a soft look to the fine, rigid foliage.

Sisyrinchium species are numerous and native to North and South America. Sisyrinchium bellum grows from Baja north to the Cascades and Vancouver. It has violet blooms with dark purple veins and yellow centers. However, this perennial goes dormant in the heat of summer and restores with winter rains and cool temperatures. 

Flowers emerge in winter through spring. Each bloom lasts only a day but has a succession waiting, and as each fades, another one takes its place.

Carmel Creeper Ceanothus

	botanical name Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Ceanothus is a signature of California natives and shines in the coastal chaparral, dotting open woodlands, trails, and garden borders with showy tufts of lilac clusters. The west coast of North America shows the highest diversity of species.

A low-growing evergreen species, Carmel creeper has rounded, glossy, textural leaves and horizontal, stiffly arching branches. In winter and spring, light blue flower clusters cover the dark foliage.

‘Yankee Point’ is a vigorous, durable selection with profuse dark blue blooms. The fast-grower creates a cascade of lilac plumes. It grows well in its natural coastal habitat and also grows inland with a bit of shade. It withstands drought once established and is salt-tolerant.

‘Centennial’ has a sprawling habit with dark violet-blue floral coverage in handsome form. Discovered in Sonoma County and introduced by UC Botanic Garden, this is a natural hybrid between C. griseus and C. foliosus.

Spreading Phlox

	botanical name Phlox diffusa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Spreading phlox is a low-growing, mat-forming creeper with dense foliage. The easy-care perennials are versatile for many situations, from rocky areas to erosion stabilization zones.

In the spring, dainty clusters of fragrant white, pink, or purple-blue flowers appear on the tips of stems. Narrow, semi-evergreen leaves create a loose carpet that showcases the florets and softens the display even when not in color.

Seaside Daisy

	botanical name Erigeron glaucus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12”
	hardiness zones 5-9

This evergreen, clumping perennial forms a sweet carpet of lilac-pink daisies with yellowy chartreuse centers from spring through fall. Mounding foliage is gray-green and spreads about two feet.  

These perform well on the coast and don’t mind salty conditions. Inland, they do best with light shade in warmer conditions. Seaside daisies are relatively drought tolerant, though they look best with occasional moisture in organic soils. Cut them back to restore vigor if they get leggy as the season progresses.

‘Bountiful’ maintains a dense, compact form with larger lavender daisies. It’s also a selection from Rancho Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, California. Erigeron glaucus performs well in the border and containers for years of color.

California Fescue

	botanical name Festuca californica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 7-11

California fescue is a robust clumping grass with a quick growth rate and easy growing. Fine-bladed foliage sprays from the base in an arching fountain of blue-gray. In spring and summer, airy plumes rise above the blades and turn tawny. Birds enjoy the seeds.

This fescue is native to the Coast Ranges from San Luis Obispo on the central coast of California to Oregon and to the Cascades, performing as an ornamental specimen or massed groundcover. With deep roots, it does well on slopes as well as eroded areas and revegetated grasslands. It also works as a turf alternative (where turf is used as a vista, less for interacting). It grows well beneath indigenous oaks.

California fescue is evergreen in mild winters. It’s not an aggressive spreader and maintains a tidy habit. It also withstands drought and variable growing conditions, including poor soils. 

Dark Throat Shooting Star

	botanical name Dodecatheon pulchellum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-12”
	hardiness zones 4-7

The Dodecatheon genus is native to North America, and D. pulchellum is a westerly species. The wildflower produces slender stems of clustered, nodding blooms in late spring and early summer, with up to 20 per plant.

The unique upswept petals gently trail behind a central, downfacing point, like stars descending. In bright magenta, blooms have a white collar and golden base. The flowers resemble their cyclamen relatives, and they, too, enter summer dormancy or slow growth during hot or dry spells.

Dark throat shooting star received the Award of Garden Merit for its show and performance. Shooting star gradually forms colonies in optimal growing conditions, particularly those with regular moisture.

Scarlet Monkeyflower

	botanical name Mimulus cardinalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Monkeyflower is a genus of flowering annuals and perennials, depending on the species. M. cardinalis naturalizes in optimal growing conditions and withstands zone 6 with sheltered winter protection. 

Scarlet monkeyflower shows snapdragon-like tubular blooms from June to October above dusky green leaves. The spreader establishes through rhizomes and self-seeding and prefers moist sites. Occurring from Washington to California and in the southwest to Mexico, M. cardinalis grows along streambanks, wetland margins, low spots, and near springs. Accordingly, it does best with consistent moisture in the border, container, or naturalized situation.

Primrose monkeyflower, M. primuloides, is a creeping, mat-forming species with bright golden flowers. The plant may only reach a few inches high, with flowers rising on slender stalks in summer. Like its scarlet relative, primrose also prefers moist situations.

Lance Selfheal

	botanical name Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-20”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Lance selfheal has purple bloom spikes that attract pollinators in droves. Its nectar and pollen-rich flowers emerge in spring through frost.

The tough perennial spreads readily and is a good option for slopes and eroded zones. It also makes an excellent lawn alternative and handles foot traffic and mowing. It flowers even when kept low.

As a rapid spreader, selfheal is a good fit for spaces with room to run. Otherwise, it has a weedy tendency and may outcompete nearby perennials.

Dudleya

	botanical name Dudleya spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-24”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Dudleyas are dynamic western succulents in varied sizes and forms. Also called ‘liveforevers”, they adapt to challenging sites in marginal habitats. Dudleyas form single rosettes or low colonies and stand out with unique foliage, flowers, and low maintenance needs.

Dudleya farinosa is small, easy to grow, and forms a colony of pale green leaves with red edges. The red coloration intensifies in the summer heat, and clusters of yellow spring flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Britton dudleya is a popular species that forms a rosette of flattened blue-gray padded leaves. In spring, flower stalks rise over a foot tall with pale yellow blooms. This Baja native and Award of Garden Merit species grows on the coast. It also grows inland with protection from freezing temperatures.

Look to chalk dudleya (D. pulverulenta) to produce red flowers. This species occurs naturally in coastal scrub and chaparral from the central coast down to Baja.

Dudleya clings to rocky outcrops and works well spilling over rock crevices, on slopes, or nestled in rock walls. However, keep them dry in the summer and provide well-draining soils to mimic natural conditions. 

Woodland Strawberry

	botanical name Fragaria vesca
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-9”
	hardiness zones 5-9

These wild strawberries are vigorous spreaders with edible fruits. The low-growers have running stolons from basal rosettes of fresh green, sharply-toothed leaves.

Sparkling five-petaled, pinkish-white blooms appear in summer to brighten the understory. Their nectar and pollen-rich centers in bright yellow attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Additionally, the petite red berries are everbearing and intensely sweet and flavorful.