City of Monterey | Trees/Urban Forestry

Common Plants

Trees | Tall shrubs & Perennials | Short shrubs & Perennials | Vines | Ground covers
The most commonly used plants in Monterey’s City Parks, public grounds, medians and traffic islands.
Both the Latin and common name are listed.

Trees	Characteristics
Acer palmatun Japanese maple	Deciduous, shade to part sun 20 ft
Arbutus marina (no common name)	Red berries reddish bark, 20 ft
Eucalyptus nicholii Peppermint leaf Euc.	Weeping habit to 40 ft peppermint smell
Laurus nobilis Sweet bay	Aromatic leaves used for cooking 25 ft
Liquidamber Sweet gum	Deciduous, nice fall color 40 ft
Maytenus boaria Mayten	Graceful weeping habit, 30 ft
Pinus canariensis Canary Island pine	Slender, graceful pyramid to 50 ft
Robinia idahoensis Idaho loqust	Deciduous, with Magenta flowers in spring, 30 ft
Sequoia sempervirens Coast redwood	Rapid growth to 50 ft needs regular water
Tall shrubs & Perennials	Characteristics
Alyogyne heugilli Blue hibiscus	Large blue flowers 8 ft Sun
Ceanothus Julia Phelps Ceanothus	Dark blue flowers, 6 feet Sun
Echium candicans Pride of Madera	Long spikes of blue, purple or pink flowers, sun
Euryops pectinatus Euryops	Yellow flowers, tough plant, sun
Impatiens olivari Evergreen impatient	Good choice for part to deep shade pink flowers
Lavatara maritima bi color Tree mallow	7 ft lavender flowers purple centers, sun
Phlomis fruiticosa Jerusalem Sage	Fragrant gray leaves, yellow flowers in summer
Phormium tenax New Zealand Flax	7 ft sword like leaves long black flower spikes, sun
Podocarpus gracillor Yew pine	Sun or shade against a tall wall
Polygala dalmaisiana Sweet pea shrub	Purple flowers nearly ever-blooming, sun or lt. shade
Salvia leucantha Mexican sage	Purple flowers, aromatic leaves.
Tagatees lemonii Bush marigold	Yellow flowers very fragrant leaves
Romneya coulterii Matilija poppy	Large white flowers with yellow centers 7 ft
Viburnum tinus S.B. Laurustinus	White flower clusters Sun or lt. shade
Westringia fruticosa Australian rose	Fine gray green leaves white flower

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Short shrubs & Perennials	Characteristics
Agapanthus orientalis Lily of the Nile	Flower spikes like fireworks 4 ft blue or white
Artemesia Powis Castle Artemesia	Gray aromatic foliage, 3 ft sun
Acanthus mollis Bears breech	Large deep green leaves will grow in shade.
Bidens ferulifolia Bidens	Profuse bloom of bright yellow flowers, sun
Coleonema pulchrum Breath of heaven	Aromatic leaves with many pink flowers, sun to shade
Correa pulchella Australian fuschia	Hardy low grower with Fuchsia colored flowers
Dietes vegeta Fortnight lily	Sword like leaves with white with blue flowers
Erigeron karvinskianus Santa Barbara daisy	Low growing with many light pink flowers
Gaura lindheimeri Gaura	Loaded with pink or white flowers 3 ft, sun
Heuchera maxima Island alum root	2 ft plants with 18 in flower stems with flowers
Lobelia laxifolia Lobelia	very hardy with red flowers with yellow tips.
Salvia x bees bliss Salvia	Aromatic gray foliage with trailing habit
Vines	Characteristics
Bougenvilla Bougenvilla	Full sun on south wall purple, red or gold flowers
Hardenbergia violacea Lilac vine	Lavender or white flowers very hardy
Jasminum polyanthumum Pint jasmine	Very fragrant many light pink flowers
Loniceria hildebrandiana Burmese honeysuckle	Large leaves with fragrant yellow tubular flowers
Solanum jasminoides Potatoe vine	Profuse bloom of white flowers, fast grower
Thunbergia gregorii Orange clock vine	Orange flowers, fast grower frost tender
Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria	Deciduous vine, blue or white flowers
Ground Covers	Characteristics
Ajuga repens Carpet bugle	Bronze to green leaves purple flowers, shade
Campanula Bellflower	Blue flowers with trailing habit shade tolerant.
Ceanothus Carmel creeper Ceanothus	Blue spring flowers fast grower, sun
Gazania hybrids Gazania	Trailing or clumping in wide range of colors

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