We appreciate LA’s always-on blooms and those just arriving
November 2025. LA never stops blooming! Of course we’re grateful. The wildlife that depends upon the blooms and berries of our native foliage are even more so. See our Blooming Now Boards in Pinterest or our Bloom Stories in Instagram to meet the plants providing habitat as we head into rainy season. Here are a few of our favorites
Always-On: Bladderpod
Like the Mallows we highlighted in October, Bladderpod seems to perpetually bloom. In the hot, dry months when others are dormant and in the depths of rainy season, these distinctive blooms become important sustenance for nectar-loving wildlife. People also pay more attention to them.
New Arrival: Bush Poppy
Bush Poppy’s blooms look more like those of Beach Primrose on steroids than our more prevalent California Poppy. Many describe their blooms as buttercup in color, yet their translucence gives them a quality of sunshine itself. These burst of bright-and-happy emerge as we enter rainy season and can stay with us through spring.
yet be surprised at the exceptional in-garden performance of their foliage.
The foliage and performance can be equally charming. A known fire-follower in the wild, Bush Poppy performs very well in a garden – when you have somewhere rocky, dry, and sunny with well-drained soil. It grows relatively quickly and will naturally hold its round shape and silver-green leaves throughout the year.
New: Fragrant Bloom
The foliage of many California native plants carry their fragrance. Blooms simply intensify or add new notes to the joy of breathing among them. This is the case with Woolly Blue Curls. Some think they smell like the Purple Pie Man of Strawberry Shortcake fame.
For those too young to catch the reference, Las Pilitas Nursery describes Woolly Blue Curls’ fragrance as “sweet like freshly cut cedar with a bouquet of lavender.” Speaking of the young, Woolly makes a great plant in a play-focused garden, as its’ a feast for the scenses. While spikie in appearance, its’ blooms are truly woolly-soft in addition to fragrant. If you watch and wait awhile, you’ll soon be in wonder at the butterfly-traffic they attract. The foliage also invites games. It looks so much like rosemary, yet it is soft and not-at-all sticky to the touch.
For those who celebrate Dodgers wins and/or Hanukkah, Woolly Blue Curls is a great way to bring some authentic LA pride and/or all-natural holiday color. Its’ blooms make lovely cut flowers for indoor decor.
More Blooms
Want more? Our Bloom Stories in Instagram show what we see around LA. Check out our Blooming Now Boards in Pinterest to collect a plant palette of your favorites. You can also collect ideas in Houzz, where we post our go-to California Native Plants and and tour-worthy gardens. Of course, our favorite option is to get outside to meet these beauties live and in-person – maybe in one of our demonstration gardens.
