Browse California Plants
Arugula
Eruca sativa, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Eruca vesicaria, or Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
Arugula is a cool-season green generally grown as an annual. It is famous for the spiciness of its leaves, and is one of the strongest-flavored garden greens. It...
Basil
Ocimum basilicum et al
Basil is commonly grown as a warm-weather annual in frost-prone regions, but in mild-winter climates, like Southern California, it is grown as a tender perennial....
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Bean, Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris et al
Bush beans are determinate, warm-season, tender annuals that are intolerant of both cold and heat. They belong to the legume family, Fabaceae, the third...
Bean, Pole Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
Pole beans are warm-season, tender annuals that are intolerant of both cold and heat. They belong to the legume family, Fabaceae, the third largest of all...
Beet, General
Beta vulgaris
Botanically, beets are the same plant species as chard and Swiss chard. An easy to grow and highly nutritious member of the Chenopodiaceae family, beets are related...
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea
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Bunching Onions
Allium fistulosum
Bunching Onions (also known as green onions or Welsh onions) are cool-season perennials in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis Family) that are also grown as annuals...
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California lilac
Ceanothus (many species)
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California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy is the iconic state flower of California, a perennial often grown as an annual, and part of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It’s known for its...
Carrot, General
Daucus carota
Carrots are a biennial vegetable in the family Apiaceae, related to parsnips, parsley, and celery. The modern cultivated carrot is classified by root size and shape....
Cauliflower, General
Brassica oleracea
Cauliflower is a biennial in the Brassicaceae family, and the same species as kale, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts; all these...
Chard, General
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum et al
Chives are easy-to-grow, cool-season perennial herbs, in the Amaryllidaceae family [traditional sources classify Alliums in the Amaryllidaceae family, though there...
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Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro is a fast growing annual in the Apiaceae family, related to carrots, parsley, and celery. It is most commonly grown for its fragrant leaves, but is also...
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Corn, General
Zea mays
The old garden saying, "Harvest corn after the cookpot is boiling," hints at the pleasures at eating corn from the home garden. Because sugars in corn kernels turn...
Cucumber, General
Cucumis sativus
Cucumbers are tender, warm-season annuals in the Cucurbitaceae family, related to squash, pumpkins, melons, and gourds.
How cool is "cool as a cucumber?" By...
Garlic
Allium sativum
Garlic is a cool-season perennial grown as an annual; part of the Amaryllidaceae family, closely related to onions, chives, leeks, and many ornamental plants including...
Kale, General
Brassica oleracea var. acephala et al
Kale is a cool-season vegetable in the Brassica family (Brassicaceae), related to arugula, cabbage, cauliflower and mustard greens. Considered a biennial or perennial...
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Lavender, General
Lavandula spp.
Lavenders are fine-leafed small-to-medium shrubs native to the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, and Europe. Lavenders are perennial, but some species are grown as...
Leeks
Allium ampeloprasum var porrum
Leeks are cool-season biennials in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis Family) that are grown as annuals in temperate climates. They are closely related to garlic, chives,...
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Lemon Tree, General
Citrus limon
Lemon and other citrus trees are an iconic part of the Southern California landscape. They are ideally suited to growing in only a few mild-winter areas of the...
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Lettuce, Looseleaf
Lactuca sativa
Looseleaf or loose leaf lettuce is the most common lettuce grown in California home gardens. Its name results from its loosely bunched leaves, as opposed to the...
Mache / Corn Salad, General
Valerianella spp.
"Mache" and "Corn Salad" refer to many species of weedy garden greens in the Valerianella genus. The name "Corn Salad" is attributed to the plant's history...
Onion, Bulb Onion
Allium cepa
Bulb onions are cool-season biennials usually grown as annuals. They are closely related to garlic, scallions (also called evergreen bunching onions and green onions),...
Orange Tree, General
Citrus sinensis et al
Orange and other citrus trees are an iconic part of the Southern California landscape. They are ideally suited to growing in only a few mild-winter areas of the...
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Orange Tree, Navel
Citrus sinensis
Navel oranges were the foundation of the Southern California produce industry. In the mid 1800's, the first citrus farm was established in what is now downtown...
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Orange Tree, Valencia
Citrus sinensis
Valencia oranges, sometimes called common oranges, are one of the most important types of citrus trees worldwide. Valencia orange types are commonly used for juicing...
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Oregano
Origanum vulgare
An easy to grow perennial herb (grown as an annual in colder regions), oregano is part of the Lamiaceae (mint) family and native to the Mediterranean, Europe, and...
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Parsley, General
Petroselinum crispum
Parsley has been one of the most commonly used herbs throughout the history of Western Civilization, and today is one of the most popular garden herbs in the United...
Pea, Snap and Snow
Pisum sativum
Snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpum) and snow peas (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) are annual, cool-season legumes. Their taxonomic...
Pepper, Hot
Capsicum annum et al
Hot peppers are perennial plants in the Solanaceae family, which has 90 genera, and between 2,000-3000 species. Most of the plants in this family originate from...
Pepper, Sweet
Capsicum annuum
Thought generally referred to as a vegetable, sweet pepper is a warm season fruit in the nightshade family Solanaceae and is related to tomatoes, tobacco, potatoes...
Potato
Solanum tuberosum L.
A perennial vegetable that is grown as an annual, the potato is a member of the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomato, pepper, eggplant, petunia and tobacco....
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Radish, General
Raphanus sativus
Radishes are annual or biennial, cold-season cruciferous vegetables in the Brassica family (Brassicaceae), related to turnips, arugula, broccoli, and cabbage....
Rose, General
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary is a woody, perennial evergreen shrub in the mint family Lamiaceae, related to sage, basil, marjoram, thyme, and oregano. Its distinctive leaves are typically...
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Sage
Salvia officinalis
Sage is an evergreen or deciduous shrub and perennial that is also grown as an annual in cold-winter climates. It is in the mint Lamiaceae family, related to catnip,...
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Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Spinach is an annual cool-season vegetable in the Amaranthaceae family, related to beets, chard, quinoa, and tumbleweeds. Spinach has likely been eaten by...
Squash, Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata
How many vegetables or plants other than pumpkin can claim to be a mascot for 2 major holidays in the United States (Halloween and Thanksgiving), and also represent...
Squash, Summer
Cucurbita pepo
Summer squashes are warm-season annuals, belonging to the Cucurbit family, and are related to cucumbers, melons, and winter squash. There are estimated to be around...
Squash, Summer Squash, Zucchini
Cucurbita pepo var. cylindrica
Zucchini is an annual, warm-season vegetable in the Cucurbitaceae family, and likely both the most popular summer squash variety in the United States and the most...
Squash, Winter Squash, General
Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata
Despite the easily misunderstood name, winter squash are tender, warm-season annuals in the Cucurbitaceae family, related to cucumbers, melons, and gourds. While...
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris et al
A small evergreen perennial herb, thyme is a classic plant in the herb garden related to basil, rosemary, lavender, and sage. Thyme belongs to the Lamiaceae family,...
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Tomato, General
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...