What's In-Store
Discover 12 Color-Intense Plants to Brighten Your Bay Area Garden 🌸
Looking to add some serious personality to your garden this season? These 12 vibrant, pollinator-friendly plants are ready to bring bold, lasting color to Bay Area landscapes. From sun-loving salvias and cheerful gazanias to shade-tolerant columbines and coral bells, each one offers something special — whether it's eye-catching blooms, texture, or pollinator appeal.
You’ll find options for full sun, part sun, and shady corners, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your space.
🌞 Full Sun Favorites (6+ Hours of Direct Sun)
1. Osteospermum (African Daisy)
Native to South Africa, these daisy-like blooms add bold, cheerful color to gardens and are loved by pollinators.
- Bloom Time: Spring through fall
- Light: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – attracts bees and butterflies
- Great For: Borders, containers, mass plantings
2. Bougainvillea
Beloved for its brilliant, papery bracts, bougainvillea originated in South America and thrives in hot, dry climates. Though not a big pollinator plant, it's unmatched for bold color and coverage.
- Bloom Time: Nearly year-round in warm microclimates
- Light: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low once established
- Great For: Fences, trellises, large containers, slope coverage
3. Poppies
Beloved for their delicate petals and vivid color, poppies (especially native California types) support local pollinators.
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Light: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – especially native bees
- Great For: Wildflower gardens, naturalized areas, borders
4. Gazania
These low-growing, sun-loving flowers open in the daylight and provide color from spring through fall.
- Bloom Time: Spring through fall
- Light: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low
- Pollinator-Friendly: Occasionally visited by bees
- Great For: Edging, containers, drought-tolerant gardens
5. Lupine
This classic spring bloomer not only looks beautiful but also enriches your soil and supports native pollinators.
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Light: Full sun (tolerates part sun inland)
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- Great For: Wildflower plantings, borders, soil improvement
6. Salvia
A favorite among hummingbirds and bees, salvias are long-blooming, tough, and ideal for low-water landscapes.
- Bloom Time: Late spring through fall
- Light: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
- Great For: Pollinator gardens, mixed beds, containers
🌤 Part Sun to Part Shade (Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade)
7. Nemesia
These sweetly scented flowers come in a variety of vibrant shades and are well-suited for cooler spring weather.
- Bloom Time: Early spring through summer
- Light: Part sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – especially bees
- Great For: Containers, borders, seasonal displays
8. Delphiniums
Tall and stately, delphiniums are perfect for adding vertical interest to part-sun gardens and provide excellent forage for bees.
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Light: Part sun; avoid strong afternoon sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – bees love them
- Great For: Cutting gardens, borders, cottage-style planting
9. Foxglove (Digitalis)
These dramatic blooms rise on tall spikes and are a magnet for bees and hummingbirds. Note: Toxic if ingested.
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Light: Part shade preferred
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – bees, hummingbirds
- Great For: Pollinator gardens, shaded beds, vertical accents
10. Columbine (Aquilegia)
With whimsical, nodding blooms, columbines attract pollinators while adding a touch of elegance to partially shaded spots.
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Light: Part sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – hummingbirds and bees
- Great For: Woodland gardens, under trees, shaded borders
11. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Known for colorful foliage, coral bells also send up delicate floral spikes in spring that hummingbirds can’t resist.
- Bloom Time: Spring to early summer
- Light: Part shade (some varieties tolerate sun)
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Pollinator-Friendly: Yes – especially hummingbirds
- Great For: Shade gardens, containers, foliage interest
🌥 Bright Shade to Part Shade
12. Rieger Begonias
These compact, rose-like begonias bloom prolifically in cooler temps and shaded conditions. Though not known for attracting pollinators, they brighten up dark corners beautifully.
- Bloom Time: Fall through spring
- Light: Bright shade to morning sun
- Water Needs: Moderate; avoid soggy soil
- Great For: Shaded patios, containers, protected garden beds
Powerful Pair: Give Your Plants the Best Start
Set your new plants up for success with this dynamic duo:
SummerWinds Potting Soil – Crafted specifically for Bay Area gardens, this premium blend of natural and organic ingredients is ideal for both indoor and outdoor containers. It provides excellent drainage, aeration, and the right balance of nutrients to help your plants thrive.
E.B. Stone Organics Sure Start – A transplanting essential! This organic starter fertilizer is rich in natural phosphorus and other nutrients that help newly planted flowers, veggies, and ornamentals develop strong roots and steady, healthy growth.
Use together when planting for the strongest start possible — especially for our color-rich, bloom-heavy favorites!
