The Ooooooos and Ahhhhhhs in Our Authentic Gardens
July 2026. LA never stops blooming! By the 4th of July, it can feel like the city celebrates a sesquicentennial each year. Of course, there’s an abundance of red, white, and (Dodger) Blue. Whatever their color, LA’s July blooms have equal support from the native birds, bees, butterflies, and wildlife who depend on them for summer snacks.
Think of what’s Blooming Now as LA’s reminder to take a moment to ooooooooo and ahhhhhhhh over how lucky we are to be here together.
The Blues: Berries and Blooms!
Blue in the garden brings an element of surprise that seems to bring the most delight. We hear: “That blue? But it’s sooooooo blue! Is that real?” Yes. Yes. It is! 100%
Of course, it’s not just blooms. In July, clusters of blue berries also seem to arrive with some visual boom and bang!
Oregon Grape: Those emerging from the dark, glossy green foliage of California native Oregon Grape tend to turn the most heads. They form tight clusters and the blue is… extraordinary. For the color geeks, it runs anywhere from Pantone Blue Process C to Azure. No, I’m not kidding!
Elderberry: This tricky tree may send up multiple forms of firework in July. It’s large lacy blooms spread out the sparkle. It’s blue berries will be a little cloudy in color when compared to those of Oregon Grape. Yet. They are worth their own awwwwwwwwes, as they have the same diaphanous quality of the blooms.
Pro Tip: Our designers love to include blue blooms and berries in gardens with Spanish and Mediterranean architecture. You’ve likely notices California Lilac blooms used this way in some of our spring tour gardens. When lilac blooms fade, these summer lovelies emerge to draw attention to Saltillo tiles and tile roofs.
The Reds: Firecracker and Scarlet Bugler Penstemon
Aptly named, Firecrackers and Scarlet Bugler show up just in time for the celebrations. They also arrive as Island Snapdragon blooms fade, leaving an absence of red in the garden. The timing makes them a great addition for those who always want to see a little red in the garden. Another option for fans of Scarlet, Cherry, and Tomato hues: Apples! Manzanita that is.
Manzanita berries, the reason it earned the name “Little Apple” arrive in July too, along with Beach Strawberries and Golden Currants, which can be a translucent tomato red.
Pro Tip: Little Apples, Strawberries, and Currants don’t mind being handled – in fact, they can be quite delicious! In contrast, try not to pay attention too much attention to penstemons. Looking is okay. Just don’t water, fertilize, or fuss. They prefer you just ooooo, ahhhhhh and move along please!
More Blooms
It’s impossible to have too many summer blooms! We share what we see as we see it in our Bloom Stories in Instagram. You can save our in-garden favorites from our Blooming Now Boards in Pinterest or collect ideas in Houzz, where we post our go-to California Native Plants.
Of course, our favorite option is to get outside! To meet these beauties live and in-person join us on tour or visit one of our demonstration gardens.
