Celebrate California native plants this week and all year

Through Saturday, it’s California Native Plant Week, and I can’t think of a better time to plant two or 12 or 222 California natives. 

These are the plants that grew here before suburbs and urbs, before gardeners from other areas began importing their favorites from other parts of the country or the world. Our native plants are uniquely adapted to our climate and to our native pollinators (including birds). 

In the spirit of celebration, I put together a quick (and fun, I hope) quiz on California natives. See how much you already know about them:

1. Which was the first native plant to receive an “official” state designation?
a) California redwood, state tree
b) Purple needle grass, state grass
c) California poppy, state flower

2. The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), by the way, beat out which other native(s) to win the title of state flower? Choose any that apply:
a) Windpoppy (Papaver heterophyllum) 
b) Coulter's matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) 
c) Mariposa lily (Calochortus sp.)
d) Red ribbons (Clarkia concinna) 
e) California sunflower (Helianthis californicus)

3. Which of these natives is NOT a ceanothus?
a) Buck brush
b) Coyote bush
c) Deerbrush
d) Oregon tea tree

4. Which native plant has been endangered by poachers in the wild?
a) Bluff lettuce (Dudleya farinosa)
b) Black sage (Salvia mellifera)
c) Desert agave (Agave deserti)
d) Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

5. Oak trees (Quercus sp.) are considered a keystone species for California wildlife – important especially for native birds. Which of these oaks is not a native?
a) Blue oak (Q. douglasii)
b) Garry’s oak (Q. garryana)
c) Engelmann oak (Q. engelmannii)
d) Pin oak (Q. palustris)
e) Black oak (Q. kelloggii)

6. California has how many types of native plants, according to the California Native Plant Society?

a) 1,000
b) 2,500
c) 5,000
d) 6,000

Bonus: How can gardeners celebrate California Native Plant Week?