NativeSeed Group Inventory

Moderate to deeply taprooted evergreen shrub 2-10 ft. tall with small yellowish flowers, blooming April to August. Adapted to a wide variety of well-drained soils, slightly acidic to basic, often deep, coarse profiles on dry slopes and hillsides within mixed shrub and woodland forest communities; up to 11,000 ft. elevation. Less drought tolerant than close relative Desert bitterbrush (P. tridentata var. glandulosa). Establishes by seed and layering, when branches take root after soil contact; some ecotypes may sprout. Mostly killed by wildfire. Occasionally able to produce nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Used for restoration, erosion control and mine reclamation. Moderately palatable to livestock and highly palatable to pronghorn, deer, elk and bighorn sheep. Caterpillar host plant for Behr's hairstreak butterfly and numerous moths, including Columbia silkmoth, Western sheepmoth, Walnut spanworm moth and Nuttall's sheepmoth. 

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West, Southwest
• Blooms:  Spring
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Multi-branched deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub from 2-8 ft. tall with white showy flowers developing into feathery clusters of pinkish plumes, blooming April to December. Adapted to dry, sandy or gravelly soils of canyon bottoms, washes, ephemeral waterways and alluvial plains; 3,000 to 9,000 ft. elevation. Occurs in all the southwestern deserts and into the grassland and woodland habitats of surrounding regions. Extensively used as a xeriscape ornamental in landscaping. Often rhizomatous and colonial. Vigorous root-sprouter after wildfire. Protects dry washes during flash flooding. Browsed somewhat my mule deer, more so by pronghorn. Provides nesting cover for small mammals and numerous ground dwelling birds. Attracts native bees and butterflies and is a caterpillar host of Neumoegen's buckmoth.  

• Growing Region:  Southwest, Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

 Arkansas Rose, commonly called Prairie Rose, is native to the central portion of the United States from Texas to the Great Lakes region and from New Mexico to Montana.   Commonly found on upland prairies and grasslands Prefers full sun exposure Short growing, 1-3 feet, shrub-like plant Adaptable to mesic to dry and well-drained soils Very deep rooted makes it a drought tolerant specie Large pink flowers, 2 inches wide or more  bloom from May-July The hips, or seed pods, provide an excellent source of food for birds and small mammals throughout fall and winter Colorful seed pods linger well into fall and winter

• Growing Region:  Midwest
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-3 ft

Moderate water requirement; full sun to part shade. Perennial with lavender to white flowers blooms June to September from mid-montane to subalpine, on open moist slopes, along streams and under aspens, spruce and fir. Also called Aspen fleabane. Native perennial with lavender to blue flowers and yellow centers, blooming June to September. Occurs on well-drained to clay soils in moist meadows, streambanks and openings of aspen, spruce and fir; up to 12,000 ft. elevation. Pollinated by native bees.

• Growing Region:  Pacific Northwest, Midwest
• Blooms:  Summer, Fall
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-2 ft

Small to medium evergreen shrub introduced into the USA from Australia. Adapted to well-drained medium textured soils on a wide variety of sites to 3,000 ft. elevation. Provides excellent forage to wildlife and livestock, especially sheep.

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-3 ft

Evergreen shrub with gray-green leaves commonly 3-7 ft. tall, is the tallest of the big sagebrush subspecies and may reach up to13 ft. tall; flowering August to October. Prefers deep, fertile, well-drained soils from valley bottoms and plains, to the foothills and upper timberline; up to 7,000 ft. elevation. Occurs on slightly more mesic sites than the other subspecies, often indicating a high water table or deep soil moisture. Intolerant of wildfire; does not resprout. Least palatable browse of all the subspecies though heavily used during winter months by various types of ungulates and other wildlife. Eaten by sage-grouse when the other more preferred subspecies are absent. Provides valuable cover for wildlife, including sage-grouse and pygmy rabbits. Caterpillar host of the Hera buckmoth. 

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Summer, Fall
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-4 ft

Mat-forming evergreen shrub growing up to 8 in. tall with clusters of pinkish-white bell shaped flowers, blooming March to October. Adapted to rocky, well-drained, low nitrogen soils; intolerant of moist, poorly drained soils; up to 12,000 ft. elevation. May form dense stands on coastal bluffs and prairies, forests, sand dunes, barren rocky outcrops, dry alpine meadows and coniferous forests; circumboreal. Foliage is lightly browsed by deer. Berries are eaten by birds, bears and small mammals, especially as emergency food during winter and early spring. Used extensively in landscaping as a low-growing, ornamental groundcover. Host plant of the Seaside hoary elfin butterfly. 

• Growing Region:  Southwest, Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  0-1 ft

Long-lived evergreen tree or shrub 3-20 ft. tall with whitish-yellow tubular flowers and seeds with a long spiraled hairy tail, blooming May to September. Adapted to neutral pH sites with coarsely drained, poorly developed, shallow to moderately deep soils on dry mountain slopes, ridges, mesas, desert foothills and rock outcrops; 4,000 to 10,000 ft. elevation. Extensive rhizomatous root system; able to fix nitrogen. May be dominant or codominant in pine-oak woodlands, mixed coniferous forests, alpine shrub, mountain brush, sagebrush, aspen and pinyon-juniper communities. Vigorous root sprouter after low-severity wildfire. Important year-round forage for deer and elk; bighorn sheep browse in summer. Numerous small mammals and birds use for nesting, cover and seeds. Caterpillar host plant for Behr's hairstreak butterfly, Mountain mahogany hairstreak butterfly and Western sheepmoth. 

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West, Southwest
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Large shrub or small tree with bipinnate leaves and attractive red and yellow flowers borne in a raceme. Originally used in landscaping, it has escaped and can be found on well-drained rocky or sandy sites in hot desert areas.

• Growing Region:  Southwest, California
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Commercial Beautification, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-3 ft

Deciduous to semi-evergreen long-lived spiny shrub 3-10 ft. tall with green female flowers and male pine cone-shaped flowers, blooming May to September. Adapted to a wide variety of soils from heavy clays to coarse loams and tolerant of strongly sodic and saline soils. Highly drought tolerant but also stands high water tables and prolonged flooding within arid to semi-arid habitats and lowland western deserts; up to 8,500 ft. elevation. Often dominant on saline sites but also occurs with various saltbushes (Atriplex spp.), Iodinebush (Allenrolfea occidentalis), Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), Spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa), Basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata), Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis). Excellent soil stabilizer, especially on sites too saline for most other species; also processed oil shales. Able to crown sprout after damage and may do so vigorously after moderately severe wildfire. Substantial lateral root system as far as 12 ft. from the main plant with buds which sprout after disturbance. Palatable to livestock but toxic in large quantities without considerable other forage in the diet. Lightly browsed by mule deer and pronghorn during spring and summer. Important food source and cover for jackrabbits.

• Growing Region:  Southwest, Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Though less showy than other salvia species, this s an important food source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers are small and pale blue-lavender in color. After blooming, black sage seeds provide food for birds, including quail and towhees. A black sage shrub can grow up to 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide. In the garden, this aromatic plant prefers full sun and well-draining soil. It is a low-moisture plant, requiring no supplemental water once established. It is usual for the small, dark green leaves to curl during summer drought.

• Growing Region:  California
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Small flat-topped shrub up to 2 ft. tall with dark green evergreen leaves, flowering May to October. Most common on shallow, dry, infertile and coarse soils; 4,000 to 9,000 ft. elevation. Slightly salt tolerant; intolerant of moist sites. Often indicative of a root-restricting carbonate layer within 2 ft. of the soil surface. More drought tolerant than most other sagebrush species. Forms open, solid stands with very little other vegetation from valley bottoms to mountain slopes. Also occurs with Shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia), Winterfat (Krascheninikovia lanata) or as a minor component in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), pinyon-juniper and mountain brush communities. Resembles and often grows with Low sagebrush (A. arbuscula). Intolerant of fire and disturbance. Preferred year-round forage for deer and antelope. Favored by sage-grouse. 

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Summer, Fall
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-4 ft

Compact symmetrically rounded evergreen to drought-deciduous shrub up to 6 ft. tall with yellow to brown petal-less flowers, blooming March to June. Adapted to shallow, poorly developed soils of well-drained rocky sands on valley bottoms, washes and flatlands; 1,000 to 7,000 ft. elevation. Occupies the transition between the Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and White bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) communities of the Mojave Desert and the sagebrush communities of the Great Basin. Occurs in pure stands or with Joshua tree, juniper, Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), Shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) and Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus). Intolerant of fire. Winter browse for mule deer and bighorn sheep. Provides seeds and cover for small mammals and birds. Caterpillar host for Griffin's sheepmoth. 

• Growing Region:  Southwest, Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Spring
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-4 ft

Formerly Cleome isomeris and Isomeris arborea. Rounded evergreen shrub to subshrub 4-6 ft. tall with attractive yellow flowers, blooming primarily January to June. Odd-smelling sulfurous leaves. Tolerant of alkalinity, occurring on dry, well-drained desert soils in disturbed areas, hillsides, grasslands, washes, roadsides, sand dunes and coastal bluffs; up to 4,500 ft. elevation. Very drought tolerant and adapted to temperatures from below freezing to hot desert summers. Provides food and cover for wildlife and birds, especially quail. Abundant nectar source for pollinators, including both native and introduced bees. Caterpillar host of Becker's white butterfly. 

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Formerly Sambucus caerulea. Deciduous short-lived aromatic shrub or small tree up to 20 ft. tall or more with purple-black berries and white to cream flowers, blooming March to September. Adapted to a wide variety of well-drained soils along streambanks, riverbanks, riparian areas and moist sites within drier brush and forest communities; up to 10,000 ft. elevation. Often found with quaking aspen, alders, serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), roses (Rosa spp.), gooseberries (Ribes spp.) and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Sprouts vigorously from the crown after wildfire. Good palatability to livestock and wildlife and is a more important deer browse than Red elderberry (S. racemosa). Persistent and may recover well from heavy browsing. Provides cover and nesting for wildlife, and berries feed numerous birds and small mammals. Native cavity nesting bees live inside the pithy stems of old dried growth. Hummingbirds visit flowers for nectar.  

• Growing Region:  Pacific Northwest, California
• Blooms:  Spring, Summer
• Life Form:  Shrub

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-4 ft