This week’s featured California native plant is the hardy, gorgeous Fremontodendron californicum, commonly known as California flannelbush. The most notable feature of Fremontodendron californicum is its stunning bright yellow flowers that bloom in spring, so look for them as you walk in your neighborhood these days.

This week’s featured native plant is the gorgeous Phacelia californica, commonly known as Rock Phacelia and the less appealing name of California scorpionweed. The photos and video featured here are from GFE’s mother plant, which sprung up along the garden’s middle staircase about three years ago.

Try out a scavenger hunt at GFE or a nearby garden for all things purple blooming this spring in San Francisco.

Brown may be the new green, but what happens after that? Can we really count on future rainy years to save our lawns? Wouldn’t it be better to redesign our city now, with plants that do not need much summer water? Then silver and gold, lime and lavender and burgundy can be the new brown. These are only some of the palette of colorful and thriving plants you can see if you visit Garden for the Environment.