Lycium andersonii A. Grey

Anderson's thorn bush
Solanaceae

A large, perennial shrub to bush found in the southern parts of California and beyond, Lycium andersonii A. Grey is a member of the nightshade family. Armed with true thorns, these plants are difficult to handle without injuring one's hands. The plants produce many white to lavender flowers in the spring, which mature into small, orange-red berries later in the year. Though the fruit is technically edible, getting to it is often not worth the effort (or injury).

Asclepias californica Greene

Milkweed
Apocynaceae

Found throughout most of southern California, Asclepias californica Greene is a perenial herbacious plant that is found growing in grassy flats, hillsides and low mountains. Aside from the showy flowers, one of the most distinctive characteristics of A. californica is that it's stems and the undersides of its leaves are densely tomentose, giving the plant a white appearance.


Flowers appear in April and usually last through July.