Now Blooming: California Native Plants

Name: Now Blooming: California Native Plants | The Huntington
Start: Tue, Feb 17 - Thu, Apr 30 2026
Location: The Huntington

Event

Explore the Golden State's colorful landscape in a single stroll, taking in a vibrant array of blooms from poppies to penstemon and beyond, all of which call this unique climate home.

Gardens

California native plants add a regional flair and support local wildlife; many birds and pollinators prefer native plants, and some depend exclusively on them. The Huntington is home to a bounty of beautiful native wildflowers; among the showiest is our official state flower, the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Landscaped with nearly 50,000 California natives and dry-climate plants, covering 6.5 acres, the Frances and Sidney Brody California Garden reflects the local Mediterranean climate as well as the agricultural and elegant estate history of the 207-acre Huntington grounds. Showcased in the garden are a broad range of drought-tolerant plants that can thrive in Southern California—including native plants you might see hiking in the nearby San Gabriel mountains.

More Plants "Now Blooming"

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A bloom of mini red flowers with yellow centers stand among blooms of yellow-to-white flowers..

A plant with many clusters of light blue flowers.

A plant with many clusters of deep blue flowers.

A small tree with countless pink flowers blooming along the branches.

Light and dark orange poppies in a garden.

A large flower with white ruffled petals with yellow centers against a backdrop of stringy green leaves.

A small yellow flower with white edges on green foliage.

A cone-shaped cluster of purple flowers on a green plant.

Many white flowers with black dots on the petals against bright green foliage.

Small pink flowers on a stem with light green leaves.

Vibrant blue flowers against green foliage.

Green oval leaves with small clusters of red flowers.

Large flowers with white petals and round yellow centers.

Many clusters of small purple flowers on thin brown stems.

Many purple star-shaped flowers with six petals and bright yellow centers.

An orange and black butterfly on a plant with small pink flowers on thin stems.

Yarrow (Achillea milleafolium “Paprika”). Photo by Lisa Blackburn. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

California Lilac (Ceanothus species). Photo by Linnea Stephan. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

California Lilac (Ceanothus species). Photo by Lisa Blackburn. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Redbud (Cercis spp.) | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Photo by Linnea Stephan. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Pacific Coast Iris (Iris spp.). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Lupine (Lupinus spp.) Photo by Max Tepper. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Monkey Flower (Mimulus spp.) | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Fivespot (Nemophila maculata). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Desert Bells (Phacelia campanularia). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Sage (Salvia spp.) | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum). Photo by Sandy Masuo. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Verbena (Verbena spp.). Photo by Lisa Blackburn. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Flowers to Find

Listed with “Common Name”, alphabetized by (Latin botanical name), popular favorites in bold and pictured above.

Yarrow (Achillea milleafolium)
Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
Purple Owl’s Clover (Castilleja exserta)
California Lilac (Ceanothus species)
Redbud (Cercis spp.)
Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla)
Winecup Primrose (Clarkia purpurea)
Sacred Datura, or Momoy (Datura wrightii)
Liveforevers (Dudleya spp.)
Coastal Sunflower, or California Brittlebrush (Encelia californica)
California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.)
California Golden Poppies (Eschscholzia californica)
Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)
Pacific Coast Iris (Iris spp.)
California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica)
Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa)
Fragrant Pitcher Sage (Lepechinia fragrans)
Cliff maids (Lewisia cotyledon)
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Monkey Flower (Mimulus spp.)
Fivespot (Nemophila maculata)
Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)
Desert Bells (Phacelia campanularia)
Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata)
Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri)
Sage (Salvia spp.)
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Purple Nightshade (Solanum spp.)
Verbena (Verbena spp.)

Peak color is subject to change based on weather patterns, rainfall, high winds, and other factors. Stay up to date with bloom reports on our social media channels. TikTok | Facebook | Instagram

Now Blooming: California Native Plants

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Flowers to Find

California Garden

Wild, Wispy, and Captivating Native Flora