Native plants · California

Native plants of Santa Barbara County

354 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Santa Barbara County by USDA PLANTS. 239 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 6 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Santa Barbara County, California

Native species: 354 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 239 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 354 native species): Percent of the 354 native species in each growth type

Tree 13% (47)
Shrub 13% (47)
Wildflower (forb) 47% (166)
Grass or grass-like 22% (79)
Vine 2% (7)
Fern 2% (8)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 10b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 239

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Santa Barbara County, California
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Alaska brome Bromus sitchensis	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
American speedwell Veronica americana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American vetch Vicia americana	Vine	1.3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
annual hairgrass Deschampsia danthonioides	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
basalt milkvetch Astragalus filipes	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
big deervetch Lotus crassifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata	Tree	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
big saltbush Atriplex lentiformis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8b
bigcone Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga macrocarpa	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
bigflower agoseris Agoseris grandiflora	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum	Tree	60 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
bigpod ceanothus Ceanothus megacarpus	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
bigseed biscuitroot Lomatium macrocarpum	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Bishop pine Pinus muricata	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9a
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blue grama Bouteloua gracilis	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
blue oak Quercus douglasii	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
blue wildrye Elymus glaucus	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
brittlebush Encelia farinosa	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broadleaf lupine Lupinus latifolius	Wildflower (forb)	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
buckbrush Ceanothus cuneatus	Shrub	11 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
bunchleaf penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
California amaranth Amaranthus californicus	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
California black oak Quercus kelloggii	Tree	85 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
California blackberry Rubus ursinus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
California brome Bromus carinatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
California buckeye Aesculus californica	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
California buckthorn Frangula californica	Tree	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
California bulrush Schoenoplectus californicus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
California flannelbush Fremontodendron californicum	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
California foothill pine Pinus sabiniana	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
California huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum	Shrub	8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 8a
California laurel Umbellularia californica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
California live oak Quercus agrifolia	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
California melicgrass Melica californica	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
California oatgrass Danthonia californica	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
California poppy Eschscholzia californica	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
California sycamore Platanus racemosa	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
California wax myrtle Morella californica	Tree	33 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
California wildrose Rosa californica	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7b
canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8b
cattle saltbush Atriplex polycarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
chaparral yucca Hesperoyucca whipplei	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
coastal sage scrub oak Quercus dumosa	Tree	9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
common duckweed Lemna minor	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common reed Phragmites australis	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common sunflower Helianthus annuus	Wildflower (forb)	9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
Coulter pine Pinus coulteri	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
coyotebrush Baccharis pilularis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2b
curvepod yellowcress Rorippa curvisiliqua	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 12b
deerbrush Ceanothus integerrimus	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9b
desert almond Prunus fasciculata	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
desert bitterbrush Purshia glandulosa	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
desert ceanothus Ceanothus greggii	Shrub	7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
desert centaury Centaurium exaltatum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
desert globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6b
desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii	Tree	200 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Eastern Mojave buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
fernleaf biscuitroot Lomatium dissectum	Wildflower (forb)	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus	Shrub	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
giant wildrye Leymus condensatus	Grass or grass-like	8.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden currant Ribes aureum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
Goodding's willow Salix gooddingii	Tree	40 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
hollyleaved barberry Mahonia aquifolium	Shrub	8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis	Tree	5 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 10a
Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
island mallow Lavatera assurgentiflora	Shrub	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi	Tree	180 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
jojoba Simmondsia chinensis	Shrub	7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
lacy phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
largeflower linanthus Leptosiphon grandiflorus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Lewis flax Linum lewisii	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma	Wildflower (forb)	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4b
meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus	Grass or grass-like	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
mountain blue penstemon Penstemon laetus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf willow Salix exigua	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache urticifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor	Shrub	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
Pacific aster Symphyotrichum chilense	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8b
Pacific ninebark Physocarpus capitatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
pale yellow lupine Lupinus luteolus	Wildflower (forb)	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Parish's yampah Perideridia parishii	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pinebush Ericameria pinifolia	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10a
pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
pointleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens	Shrub	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9b
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa	Tree	223 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
poverty threeawn Aristida divaricata	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
red alder Alnus rubra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 12b
redberry buckthorn Rhamnus crocea	Tree	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
redflower currant Ribes sanguineum	Shrub	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Ross' sedge Carex rossii	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
royal penstemon Penstemon speciosus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
salal Gaultheria shallon	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
salt spring checkerbloom Sidalcea neomexicana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata	Grass or grass-like	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
saltmarsh bird's-beak Cordylanthus maritimus	Wildflower (forb)	1.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda	Grass or grass-like	1.4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
sea milkwort Glaux maritima	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
shiny chickweed Stellaria nitens	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12a
Sierra currant Ribes nevadense	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
singleleaf pinyon Pinus monophylla	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Sitka willow Salix sitchensis	Tree	23 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
slender hairgrass Deschampsia elongata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
smallflower melicgrass Melica imperfecta	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
smallwing sedge Carex microptera	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum	Fern	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
spreading alkaliweed Cressa truxillensis	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
squirreltail Elymus elymoides	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
sugar pine Pinus lambertiana	Tree	229 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
sugar sumac Rhus ovata	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
Suksdorf's monkeyflower Mimulus suksdorfii	Wildflower (forb)	7 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum	Shrub	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
sweetscent Pluchea odorata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
tanoak Notholithocarpus densiflorus	Tree	125 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tarweed fiddleneck Amsinckia lycopsoides	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum	Vine	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
thrift seapink Armeria maritima	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
Thurber's needlegrass Achnatherum thurberianum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
toad rush Juncus bufonius	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
valley oak Quercus lobata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
velvet ash Fraxinus velutina	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
wartleaf ceanothus Ceanothus papillosus	Shrub	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
wavyleaf Indian paintbrush Castilleja applegatei	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
wax currant Ribes cereum	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
western columbine Aquilegia formosa	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
western fescue Festuca occidentalis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
western goldentop Euthamia occidentalis	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
western needlegrass Achnatherum occidentale	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
western swordfern Polystichum munitum	Fern	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
western water hemlock Cicuta douglasii	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white alder Alnus rhombifolia	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
whitebark raspberry Rubus leucodermis	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
whitethorn ceanothus Ceanothus cordulatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 7a
winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2a
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 12b
woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii	Wildflower (forb)	7 in	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
yellow bush lupine Lupinus arboreus	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
yerba mansa Anemopsis californica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9b

Other native species recorded here 115

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Aleutian maidenhair Adiantum aleuticum
American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
American black nightshade Solanum americanum
American pillwort Pilularia americana
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
bladderpod spiderflower Cleome isomeris
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
chaffweed Anagallis minima
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
coast tarweed Madia sativa
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
hybrid cattail Typha ×glauca
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
least duckweed Lemna minuta
Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
muskflower Mimulus moschatus
neckweed Veronica peregrina
needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta
oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
povertyweed Iva axillaris
Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
prairie cupgrass Eriochloa contracta
prairie plantain Plantago elongata
Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
saline saltbush Atriplex subspicata
salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
seawrack Zostera marina
silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
silverscale saltbush Atriplex argentea
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
southern cattail Typha domingensis
Spanish gold Grindelia papposa
spiny naiad Najas marina
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
Texas bergia Bergia texana
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
tower rockcress Arabis glabra
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
verrucose seapurslane Sesuvium verrucosum
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
water pygmyweed Crassula aquatica
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
willow dock Rumex salicifolius
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
woolly sedge Carex pellita
Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens

Also listed as native and introduced here 6

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
beach strawberryFragaria chiloensis
biennial wormwoodArtemisia biennis
floating primrose-willowLudwigia peploides
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with California

The typical county is the median of the 58 California counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Santa Barbara County and California
Measure	Santa Barbara County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	354	333	1,108
Garden-ready natives	239	239	720
Tree	47	—	111
Shrub	47	—	140
Wildflower (forb)	166	—	559
Grass or grass-like	79	—	253
Vine	7	—	16
Fern	8	—	29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Santa Barbara County.

San Luis Obispo County, CA 217 garden-ready
Ventura County, CA 195 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Santa Barbara County (county FIPS 06083), California. 354 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method: A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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