March 2023 Plant Availability

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Greetings,

We hope you have been staying warm and dry these last few weeks. With the heavy rainfall we’ve been experiencing throughout this fall and winter, 2023 might be shaping up to bring an especially bountiful spring in terms of wildflowers. National Geographic wrote that “2023 could be the year of the superbloom,” and California state park officials have said they are “cautiously optimistic” about the potential for an uncommonly big bloom this year!

Historically, superbloom events have occurred in California about every decade or so when conditions are right– including above average rainfall, cool nighttime temperatures, and a well-stocked bank of seeds on the ground. It is still a bit early to gauge the chance of a total superbloom, but so far conditions are looking favorable for at least some parts of California to see abundant blooms this spring.

If you get the chance to see some of these abundant blooms, we encourage you to do so responsibly! Although wildflowers are numerous and diverse during these superbloom events, it is really important to avoid stepping on or picking our native wildflowers. Wildflowers are fragile, so stepping on them or picking them can harm or entirely remove their reproductive ability, which decreases the amount of seeds on the ground and can potentially prevent wildflowers from growing in the same spot in the future. California native wildflowers are the backbone of their ecosystems for the pollinators, beneficial insects, birds, and other small animals that rely on them, so a decrease in the abundance of these plants down the road has cascading effects on our pollinators and wildlife too.

Most of our native wildflowers in California are annuals, which have a remarkably efficient life cycle– germinating, flowering, and setting seeds in the span of only a few months (a single growing season)!

Our local annuals are uniquely adapted to our Mediterranean climate, sprouting with winter rains, blooming in spring and summer, and then producing seeds before they dry up and die in the summer heat. Thanks to this co-evolution with our climate, they usually require far less water and fertilizer, are less prone to disease, and are more tolerant of pests than non-native annuals.

California native annual wildflowers produce abundant seeds, allowing them to sprout up new individuals each spring. Their seeds are also delicious and nutritious for many bird species! Our native annuals are incredibly important for a plethora of our native pollinators too, providing nectar, pollen, and even their leaves as a source of food for species such as the endangered Mission Blue butterfly. These incredible wildflowers cater specifically to their pollinators as they have evolved particular shapes, colors, sizes, and perfectly timed flowering seasons to attract their target pollinators. They can also improve soil health, returning nutrients to the soil with each cycle of their life. They can help to prevent erosion and improve water quality too! Not to mention the vibrant colors, unique charm, and beauty of our native annuals are some of the most enchanting wonders that California has to offer.

If you’re looking to add some of the life-supporting wonder and beauty of California native annual wildflowers to your own garden, we are excited to offer a steal of a deal for the month of March…

BUY 4 ANNUALS, GET 1 FREE!!!!!

Here are the annual wildflowers we have in stock right now 🙂

Red Ribbons

Clarkia concinna

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

This low growing, rounded annual wildflower grows about 1 foot tall x 1 foot wide
Its bright pink flower petals are deeply lobed and ribbon-like
These flowers are often visited and adored by long-tongued moths
In the garden, plant in a wildflower display, along borders, or in containers
Space 18 – 24 inches apart
Expect late spring/early summer blooms from May to July

Farewell-to-Spring / Reddened Clarkia

Clarkia rubicunda

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Grows 1.5 – 2.5 feet tall and wide
This special gem is endemic to California with the greatest natural distribution around the San Francisco Bay area
Its flowers are long lasting for an annual, lasting as long as 3 – 4 months while most annual wildflowers only last a few weeks!
This species loves full sun but can also handle light shade
Adaptable to a variety of soil types

Elegant Clarkia

Clarkia unguiculata

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Endemic to California (found nowhere else in the world!)
Grows 18 – 24 inches tall
Pink to coral flowers bloom continuously throughout the spring and into the summer (April – July)
Primarily pollinated by specialist bees found in their native habitat
Very showy, easily grown, and readily reseeds for the following spring

Baby-Blue-Eyes

Nemophila menziesii

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Baby-Blue-Eyes are easy to grow annuals with a neat mounding habit 8-12 inches high
Its sky blue blossoms with white centers are the hallmark of this beloved early-blooming California wildflower
Thrives in both dappled woodland and exposed sunny settings
A great option for growing in containers too!

Desert Bells

Phacelia campanularia

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

This annual is native to the deserts of California and is best known for its vibrant cobalt blue blooms that appear in late winter and spring
It naturally grows in sandy soils and desert-like climates, but is adaptive to other climates too
It grows very quickly and blooms early, reseeding itself if conditions are right
A favorite among bumblebees

California Goldfields

Lasthenia californica

Available in D-16 pots for $6.50 each!

Low-growing annual herb reaching 2-10 inches tall and spreads 8-18 inches wide (makes an excellent ground cover!)
This species blankets many coastal bluffs and open fields with large spreads of blooms from March until May
Flowers resemble tiny yellow daisies, and are variable in appearance across subspecies and climate
Can grow in just about any type of soil and reseeds profusely with enough moisture
Returns year after year on undisturbed sites

Wind Poppy

Papaver heterophyllum

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Wind poppy is a very colorful annual!
Its flowers are a vibrant, rich orange that is darker than the California poppy
These large ethereal flowers sit atop a long stem, appearing to float above its surrounding vegetation
You can expect it to bloom between March and April
In the wild, this species re-seeds best after a fire
This species has a preference for partial shade and is tolerant of a variety of soils

Goldfields

Lasthenia glabrata

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

This annual blooms profusely with bright yellow flowers from 6 – 12 inches tall with the warmth of spring
It is happiest producing a carpet of color in moist meadow gardens
This species is very attractive to the lovely and endangered Checkerspot butterfly and goldfinches

Bicolored Lupine

Lupinus bicolor

Available in D-16 pots for $6.50 each!

This small but mighty showy annual wildflower grows up to 1.5 feet tall and makes a colorful addition to a dry meadow as it flowers throughout the spring
A common companion of the California Poppy
Adds nitrogen to the soil to the benefit of other plants in the community

Arroyo Lupine

Lupinus succulentus

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

2 feet tall x 1 foot wide
This annual grows quickly and blooms heavily with blue-purple flowers from late winter to late spring
Its 3 foot root system makes it a great option for bank stabilization
As with many of our native annuals, this species self sows for the following growing season
Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies collect nectar from the flowers and birds eat the seeds

Creamcups

Platystemon californicus

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Creamcups are related to poppies and are a delight to see in the early spring
Creamcups are named after their flowers which have a delicate white to yellow color
They are a lovely companion to popcorn flower, goldfields, bird’s eye, and arroyo lupines

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Available in D-40 pots for $7.70 each!

Common sunflower is a fast-growing annual herb that can reach heights of 9 feet tall
Its large sunny flowers appear from late summer to fall and rotate throughout the day to face the sun
It grows best in full sun with dry/light water conditions
You can harvest the seeds in late fall to start a new crop for the next year!

Hayfield Tarweed

Hemizonia congesta

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

This native annual herb grows 2 feet tall x 1 foot wide
It produces tons of sweetly scented yellow daisy-like flowers in late summer and early fall
A pollinator powerhouse, this provides an abundant nectar source after spring flowers are long gone
A fantastic drought tolerant choice for any sunny garden!

Chinese Houses

Collinsia heterophylla

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

This beloved annual grows about 1 foot tall and displays beautiful bi-colored purple and white blooms from mid-spring to early summer
Its flowers are adored by bees and is a larval host plant for the Checkerspot Butterfly
It is known to self-sow and is best spaced a foot apart

Red Maids

Calandrinia ciliata

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

This short growing annual is only about 1 foot tall
It’s dainty brilliant magenta to rose colored flowers show early in the season from February to May and mostly open in the afternoons
This species grows in meadows, woodland, and grassland habitats as well as various grassy spots along the California coast
Its leaves are edible and delicious in a summer salad

Common Meadow Foam

Limnanthes douglasii

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Also called “Poached Egg Plant,” this low-growing annual meadow flower blooms from March to July
Well adapted to poorly draining soils of vernal pools and meadows, but is also occasionally found in drier environments
Popular as an ornamental plant, with fragrant yellow cup-shaped flowers and white tipped petals that make wonderful cut flowers
This species self-seeds vigorously, capable of forming a seasonal weed-suppressing groundcover
Promotes natural aphid control by attracting aphid-eating hover flies!

Blue Field Gilia

Gilia capitata

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Blue Field Gilia is an annual wildflower that grows 6 inches – 2 feet tall and a little less than a foot wide
Its spherical clusters of purple flowers are rich in nectar, providing food for many pollinators
Looks beautiful combined with the moon glow poppy or Azalea flowered monkey flower
Native to much of western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico
Grows in many habitats in full sun and part shade, especially in sandy or rocky soils

Tomcat Clover

Trifolium willdenovii

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

Tomcat clover is a common annual that grows 6 – 24 inches tall
It looks like a typical clover but with extra long leaves
It is an especially great choice for bird gardens and butterfly gardens, but is truly a sweet addition to any sunny garden
This annual is particularly attractive for the Orange Sulphur and Bay Checkerspot butterflies
Expect blooms in the spring through the summer

Stay Safe, ‘Bee’ Well, and Go Natives!

Happy Planting! From all of us at The Watershed Nursery.

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