Getting Started with California Natives
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Drought-Resilient Garden Design
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Your California Native Plant Starter Guide
Everything you need to start growing a garden that uses less water, supports local wildlife, and looks beautiful in every season. Built for San Francisco conditions.
California native plants aren't a compromise. They're genuinely better — more resilient, more ecologically alive, and more interesting over the long run than the conventional alternatives. They evolved for this exact climate: wet winters, dry summers, sandy or rocky soil, coastal fog. Your garden is exactly where they belong.
Even one native shrub changes what visits your garden.
FREE STARTER GUIDE
Our guide distills years of experience gardening with California natives in San Francisco's microclimates — fog belt to sunny slope — into three clear steps any gardener can follow this March or April.
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01
Get to Know Your First Plants
Our curated starter list of high-success, easy-to-grow natives. Chosen for beauty, resilience, and ecological function in Bay Area gardens.
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02
Know Your Microclimate
SF is known for its microclimates. We help you identify yours — from Inner Richmond fog to Bernal sunny hillside — and match the right plants to your exact conditions.
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03
Plant & Establish Right
Timing, soil prep, watering schedule for year one, and the most common mistake new native gardeners make (hint: it involves a hose).
The Beauty of Native Plants...
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90%
Less water once established vs. conventional garden plants
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1600+
Native bee species in California — all need native plants to survive
THE FOUNDATION OF ANY SF NATIVE GARDEN
01 - Five Native Genera Every Gardener Should Know
These five California native genera are packed with beauty, resilience, and pollinator appeal, each with a wide variety of sizes, shapes and color. Within each genus you'll find varieties suited to small urban gardens, large slopes, dry hilltops, and foggy coastal yards. Explore species within each — the variety that fits your specific space is probably in here somewhere.
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Ceanothus
Explore CeanothusCalifornia Lilac
Spectacular spring blooms in deep blue to white. Habitat powerhouse for local beneficials. Ranges from groundcover to large shrub depending on species.
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Arctostaphylos
Explore ArctostaphylosManzanita
Stunning red-mahogany bark and sculptural form year-round. White or pink winter blooms beloved by bees. Full sun, excellent drainage. Very drought-tolerant once established.
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Salvia
Explore SalviaSage
Aromatic foliage, striking flower whorls in purple, blue, red or white depending on species. Drought-tolerant. Hummingbird and pollinator magnet. Many sizes available.
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Eriogonum
Explore EriogonumBuckwheat
Long-blooming clusters of flowers age from cream to rust-red. Outstanding pollinator plant — one of the best in California. Full sun, lean dry soil. Extraordinary fall color.
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Epilobium
Explore EpilobiumFuchsia
Notable for the profusion of bright scarlet flowers in summer and autumn, it's frequently the only native California plant in an area flowering at the height of summer
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Need some Advice?
Contact UsWe're here to help!
Gardening is supposed to be fun. If you're feeling a little unsure and need to phone a friend, we are that friend - after all we love this stuff!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt"
-Margaret Atwood
02 - Know Your Microclimate
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California Natives for Every Corner of the City
Find Plants for Your MicroclimateThe SF Department of Public Works says the city has at least 26 microclimates! A plant thriving in the sunny Mission may struggle three miles away in the foggy Sunset. What's a gardener to do?
We've sorted the city into six distinct microclimate zones and created recommended plant lists for each.
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03 - Plant and Establish Right
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California native plants are famously low-maintenance once established — but that 'once established' part matters. The first season in the ground is the most important. A plant that's sited well, planted correctly, and watered thoughtfully during its first year will reward you with decades of resilient, beautiful, nearly effortless growth. Rush or skip any of these steps, and even the toughest native can struggle.
We'll walk you through everything you need to do from the moment you get your plant home to the point — usually around a year — when it can largely take care of itself.
WORK WITH US
From first plant to finished garden.
Whether you're buying your first native or redesigning your entire yard, The Quane Garden is your guide.
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🌱Online Ordering & Local Delivery
Shop Our Curated CollectionsSan Francisco's largest selection of California native plants, hand-selected for Bay Area conditions, delivered fresh to your doorstep. Expert advice included with every purchase.
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📐Garden Design Consultation
Book NowA schedule on-site consultation for Bay Area homeowners. We assess your microclimate, soil, and vision — and leave you with a custom native plant plan you can implement yourself or with our help.
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🦋 Wildlife Habitat Garden Design
Let's Talk!Full garden design service for homeowners who want a wildlife-certified native garden. Includes plant sourcing, installation support, and a year-one care guide.
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📬 Monthly Newsletter
Free SubscriptionWhat to plant this month, plant spotlights, local nursery tips, wildlife sightings, and garden tour invitations — all focused on San Francisco native gardening.