California Native Plants

Taking care of our native bees’ needs

California is home to 1600+ native bee species that range in size from less than a quarter inch long to more than an inch and a half. What may come as a surprise to many is that none of them make honey or live in hives like the ubiquitous European honey bee. However, they are all critical to the future of our state’s environmental health, the pollination of our food as well as the reproduction of plants in California’s natural areas. Here's how you can support native bees in your own garden.

Joseph and Emma Lin Biological Orchard and Garden

The Biological Orchard and Garden (BOG) is a hub for outdoor learning. The drought-tolerant plants that grow there are all from Mediterranean regions with similar summer-dry climates as Davis, including the Mediterranean, South Africa, Chile and Australia. The beds demonstrate the diversity of plants that can grow in the Sacramento Valley and provide students and campus visitors with a variety of species to observe and study.

Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants

The Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants includes an extensive collection of native plants that work well in home landscapes, arrayed along meandering paths under stately oaks. The garden showcases a native meadow—a California-style lawn—and many Arboretum All-Stars, our recommended plants for Valley-wise gardens.

Weathering the drought: on campus and at home

Over the past year the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden has managed to cut back water use across campus by over 30% from 2013 — that is already well above Governor Brown’s recent 25% water reduction mandate. Read more about how we accomplished this using targeted tree care, irrigation improvements, lawn conversions and using regionally-appropriate plants!

Volunteers plant California natives in new garden

Throughout November and December volunteers from student groups, community members, local Rotary Clubs as well as our long-term and loyal UC Davis Arboretum volunteers, have come out to the future site of the UC Davis California Native Plant GATEway Garden to help plant thousands of native grasses. We cannot thank them enough. Their investment in this educational and community resource is very much appreciated. We could not manage these large-scale improvements without their help.

California Native Plant GATEway Garden construction to begin soon

Thanks to funding from Museums for America, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and UC Davis, the weedy field at the very east end of the Arboretum will soon be transformed to a garden featuring plants native to the lower Putah Creek watershed. The garden will feature themed plantings and interpretive signs to educate the public about regional flora and fauna, the history of the Putah Creek watershed, and how to create sustainable landscapes with native plants.