Most nurseries stock a limited selection of native plants, so if you buy your plants on impulse, as gardeners are wont to do, chances are you won't have many natives.
So where can you find a better selection of native plants?
For annuals, as well as other plants (if you can wait), seeds are available by mail, from such sources as Larner Seeds, Seedhunt, and the Theodore Payne Foundation.
If you know what you want, many small local nurseries will special-order plants for you. These plants may be healthier than plants you would find in stock, since they will be coming “fresh” from the wholesaler. To find out what's available, you can check the websites of such wholesale growers as Suncrest Nurseries or Native Sons.
By the way, you can often find a few natives in the Annie's Annuals display at your local nursery. I have found native shrubs and perennials in 4-inch pots from Annie's. (You can visit the nursery, too, if you want to drive to Richmond.) Farther afield, a Payless Nursery in San Jose, at King and Aborn, carries a nice selection of natives and knowledgeable staff.
A couple nurseries that specialize in native plants are worth the trip if you want to hand-pick a specimen tree or shrub, or get horticultural advice from people who know the plants well. Both Yerba Buena Nursery in Half Moon Bay and Native Revival Nursery in Aptos have a good selection, demonstration gardens, and experience installing native gardens in this area. Several more native nurseries are listed at the CNPS (California Native Plant Society) website.
Finally, you can get to know some native-plant enthusiasts who, in the time-honored tradition of gardeners everywhere, generously share seeds, cuttings, and expertise. One place to meet them is at the monthly Gardening with Natives (GWN) group of CNPS. In 2005, the monthly meetings in Palo Alto featured either a speaker or, more often, a topic on which anyone was encouraged to contribute, such as favorite books or wildflower slides. Some months, the group arranged garden visits or field trips. Now, in 2014, libraries all over Santa Clara and San Mateo counties host the group, which features a speaker on a prearranged topic. The chapter newsletter lists the meetings. Many of the presentations have been videotaped.
The GWN e-mail forum is another place to find information. Be prepared for lively discussions and, depending on the topic, a full mailbox at times. Send an e-mail to GardeningWithNatives-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to get on the mailing list.
Native-plant enthusiasts also gather at the CNPS plant sales in spring and fall, offering advice to shoppers and buying plants themselves. The sales are at the CNPS nursery at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills. These sales often feature some plants that are locally native, well adapted to the local climate and soils. Volunteers are welcome to help out at the nursery throughout the year.
© 2005, 2014 Tanya Kucak