1. 1
South Bay Native Plants Used for Edible Greens (salad greens or steamed/cooked greens)
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
Trees and Large Shrubs
X
Atriplex lentiformis ssp.
breweri
Coast Quailbush/
Big Saltbush
To 8 ft t
To 20 ft
w
Green/Su FS
Any incl.
alkali,
salty
1-2 1, 2, 16
Young leaves &
stems: cooked.
Salty
X
Lavatera
assurgentiflora ssp.
glabrata & assurgentiflora
Island (Rose)
Mallow
8-12 ft
tall &
wide
Magenta/yr
round
FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 1, 2, 13
Young leaves –
cooked greens
Smaller Shrubs
X
Eriogonum
fasciculatum
California
Buckwheat
1-3 ft tall
3-6 ft
wide
Pink/Sp-F FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 7, 10,
13, 14, 16, 18,
19
Young stems -
raw or cooked
X
Lotus scoparius var.
scoparius
Deer Vetch/ Deer
Broom
3-5 ft
Yellow-red/
Sp-Su
FS
Any well-
drained
1 to 1-2
1, 2, 3, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
Young stems -
cooked
Perennial Vines
X Lathyrus vestitus
Wild Sweetpea;
Canyon Pea
3-9 ft
Purple-white/
Spr
PS/FSH any 1-2 1, 2, 8, 13
Young leaves –
cooked greens/
Raw greens
X
** Vitis californica
‘Roger’s Red’
‘Roger’s Red’
California Grape
> 20 ft White/Spr FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3 1, 8, 13 See V. girdiana
X Vitis girdiana Desert Grape > 25 ft White/Su PS any 2-3
2, 3, 10, 13,
20
Leaves –
cooked/ stuffed
Green shoots -
raw or cooked
Perennial Groundcover Plants
X
* Heuchera maxima
(incl. many cultivars &
hybrids)
Island Alumroot
1- 3 ft
White/Spr
PS/PS/
FSH
Any, incl.
clays
1-2 to
2-3
1, 3, 7, 8, 13,
14
Leaves - young
leaves steamed
or boiled
X Phacelia ramosissima
Branching (Strand)
Phacelia
2-4 ft tall
& wide
Lavender/
Spr-Su
FS/PS any 1 to 2-3
1, 2, 10, 12,
16
Young leaves –
cooked greens
Herbaceous Perennials
X Artemisia dracunculus California Tarragon;
1-3 ft tall
2-3 ft w
White/F FS/PS
Well-
drained
1-2 10, 16
Leaves - raw or
a flavoring in
soups, etc.
X Atriplex californica CA Saltbush
1 ft t;
spreading
Yellow/Sp-F FS sandy 1-2 to 2 1, 6, 20
Leaves –
cooked; salty

2. 2
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X Atriplex leucophylla Beach Saltbush
1 ft tall
3-7 ft w
Green/Su FS
Sandy
best
1-2 10, 16
Leaves –
cooked; salty
X
Chenopodium
californicum
California goosefoot
2-4 ft tall
2-3 ft w
Green/Su-F PS Any 1-2 to 2 5 Leaves cooked
X Claytonia sibirica Candyflower
1-2 ft tall
3-4 ft w
Pink/Sp PS/FS Any 2-3 to 3
5, 11, 13,
39, 46
Leaves: raw or
cooked
X
Epilobium ciliatum ssp.
ciliatum
Fringed Willow-herb
1-4 ft tall
1-3 ft w
Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS Any 2 to 3
2, 10, 14,
21, 24
Young stems &
leaves: cooked
X Limonium californicum
California Sea-
Lavender
1-2 ft tall
and wide
Purple/Su-F FS
Any;
sand to
clay
2-3 to 3 10, 14, 16 Leaves - boiled
X
* Lomatium
californicum
California Lomatium 2-3 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS/PS Most 2 to 2-3 30
Young green
stems
X Lomatium utriculatum Common Lomatium 2-3 ft tall Yellow/Sp FS
Any, incl.
clays,
alkali
2-3 to 3 2, 30
Young green
stems
X Mimulus cardinalis
Scarlet
Monkeyflower
To 3 ft Red/Spr-Fa FS/PS any 2-3 to 3
3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 16, 19
Young stems:
cooked
X
Mimulus moschatus
(var. moniliformis)
Musk Monkeyflower
1 ft tall &
wide
Yellow/Sp-Su FS/PS any 2-3 to 3 8
Leaves: boiled
as greens
X * Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel
< 1 ft tall
2-4 ft
wide
Pink/Sp PS/FSH most 2-3 to 3 2, 11, 24
Young leaves,
sparingly
X Phacelia distans
Common Phacelia;
Wild Heliotrope
1-2 ft tall Violet/Sp FS/PS
Well-
drained
1 to 1-2 10
Young leaves –
cooked greens
Polygonum
hydropiperoides
Smartweed
2-4 ft tall
and wide
Pink/Su-f FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2 2
stems: cooked
as greens
X Rumex hymenosepalus Canaigre Dock
1-2 ft tall
spreading
Pink/Sp FS/PS Most 1-2 to 2-3
2, 6, 13, 16,
38
Young stems –
peeled, cooked
or raw like
rhubarb
X
Rumex salicifolius var.
salicifolius
Willow Dock
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Pink bract /
Su
FS
Well-
drained
2 to 3 10, 13 (? var.)
Leaves & stems
- steamed or
baked
X
Sidalcea malviflora ssp.
malviflora
Dwarf Checker
Mallow
To 1 ½ ft
Pink-
lavender/
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 8, 13, 19
Young leaves –
cooked greens

3. 3
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X * Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf Stonecrop
< 1 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2 to 3 1, 3, 6, 8, 13
Young leaves,
raw
X Solidago californica
California
Goldenrod
2-4 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 1-2 to 2-3
2, 7, 10, 13,
14
Leaves: cooked
greens or added
to soups
X
Solidago spectabilis
var. confinis
Southern Goldenrod
3-6 ft tall
spreading
Yellow/Su-F FS/PS Any 2-3 10
See S.
californica
X
Urtica dioica ssp.
holosericea
Hoary Nettle
2-4 ft tall
& wide
Green/Su FS/PS Any 2-3 10, 16
Rash-
producing
Young leaves -
boiled for
greens or soup
Herbaceous Annuals & Biennials (also short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals) – no water after flowering
Amsinckia eastwoodiae
Eastwood’s
Fiddleneck
1-2 ft tall Gold/Spr
FS
Well-
drained
1 16
Young shoots -
cooked
X
Amsinckia menziesii
var. intermedia
Common Fiddleneck 1-3 ft tall
Yellow-gold/
Spr FS/PS
Well-
drained
1
10, 16
Young shoots -
cooked
Amsinckia spectabilis
var. spectabilis
Wooly Breeches 1-2 ft tall Yellow/Spr
FS/PS
Well-
drained
2-3 ?
Young shoots -
cooked
X
Atriplex argentea ssp.
expansa
Silverscale Saltbush
1-3 ft tall
& wide
Yellow-green/
Su
FS
Well-
drained
1-2 10
Leaves- raw
(young) or
cooked; salty
Atriplex pacifica
Pacific Saltbush/
South Coast
Saltscale
½-1 ft tall
mat-like
Green/Spr-F FS
Well-
drained
1-2 1?
Leaves- raw
(young) or
cooked; salty
Atriplex serenana var.
davidsonii & serenana
Bractscale
1-3 ft tall
spreading
Green/Spr-F FS Any 1-2 10
Leaves- raw
(young) or
cooked; salty
X Calandrinia ciliata Red Maids
< 1 ft tall
1-2 ft w
Bright
pink/Spr
FS Any
2-3 to 3
5, 10
Young leaves –
raw or cooked
X Camissonia bistorta California Sun Cup
< 1 ft tall
1-3 ft
wide
Yellow/Spr-
Su
FS/PS Any 1-2 1, 10, 13, 16
Young leaves
used for cooked
greens
X Camissonia californica
California/Mustard
Primrose
1-3 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/Spr FS
Well-
drained
1 10, 13, 16
Young leaves
used for cooked
greens

4. 4
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X Camissonia ignota Jurupa Hills sun-cups
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/Spr FS
Clays
best
1-2 13
Young leaves
used for cooked
greens
Camissonia micrantha
Small Evening
Primrose
6-18 in. T Yellow/Spr FS
Sandy
best
1-2 10
Young leaves
used for cooked
greens
X
Castilleja exserta ssp.
exserta
Purple Owl’s Clover 1-2 ft tall Magenta/Sp FS
Well-
drained
1
2, 5, 16 (our
ssp)
Young plants -
cooked
X
Cirsium occidentale
var. californicum &
occidentale
Cobwebby Thistle
4-6 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
Pink/Spr-Su FS
Well-
drained
1-2 2, 13, 19, 21
stems - raw;
peeled cooked as
greens
X
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
Miner’s Lettuce 1 ft tall White/Spr-Su PS/FSH any 1-2 2, 5, 10
Leaves – raw as
salad or cooked
X Helenium puberulum
Rosilla;
Sneezeweed
1-5 ft tall
1 ft wide
Yellow-
brown/ Su
FS any 2-3 to 3 2, 6, 13, 21
Young leaves &
stems - raw
Lepidium nitidum
Shining
Peppergrass
1 ft tall &
wide
White/ FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 10
Young leaves -
boiled
X
Leptosyne (Coreopsis)
bigelovii
Bigelow’s coreopsis
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Yellow/Sp FS/PS Any 2 5, 10, 16
Young plants;
raw or cooked
X Mimulus guttatus Seep Monkeyflower 1-5 ft tall Yellow/W-Spr FS Any 2-3 to 3
1-3, 5, 8, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
leaves: raw like
lettuce, boiled as
greens
X
Oenothera elata ssp.
hirsutissima & hookeri
Hooker’s Evening
Primrose
5+ ft tall Yellow/Su FS
Well-
drained
1-2 to 2-3 10, 16
Young leaves –
steamed or
boiled
X
Phacelia cicutaria var.
hispida
Caterpillar Phacelia 1-2 ft tall Light Purple FS
Any well-
drained
1 10, 16
Young leaves –
cooked greens
X Phacelia grandiflora
Large-flowered
Phacelia
1-3 ft tall Purple/Spr FS/PS
Well-
drained/
sandy
2 to 3
8, 10, 13, 16,
17, 19
Young leaves –
raw or cooked
greens
X Phacelia parryi
Parry’s Phacelia
(Fiddleneck)
1-3 ft tall
Purple-
white/Sp
FS/PS
Any well-
drained
2-3 13, 16
Young leaves –
cooked greens
X Plantago erecta
California (Dotseed)
Plantain
< 1 ft tall White/green FS/PS any 2-3 2, 16
Young leaves –
raw or cooked in
soups, stews
Plantago ovata Desert Plantain < 1 ft tall
White-
green/Spr
FS
Any well-
drained
2-3 10, 16
Young leaves –
raw or cooked in
soups, stews

5. 5
I Scientific Name Common Name Size
Flower/
season
Light**
Soil
Water
Zone+ Availability Notes
X
Platystemon
californicus
Cream Cups 1-2 ft tall
Yellow-
white/Spr
FS/PS Any 1 to 1-2 5, 10
Young leaves -
eaten as greens
X
Trifolium
albopurpureum
Indian Clover < 1 ft
Purple-
white/Sp
FS
Any well-
drained
1-2 to
2-3
5, 16
Young leaves
raw or cooked,
sparingly
X Trifolium ciliolatum Tree clover 1-3 ft
Pink-
purple/Sp
FS/PS
Any well-
drained
1-2 to
2-3
5, 10
Young leaves
raw or cooked,
sparingly
X Trifolium fucatum
Bull Clover/Sour
Clover
1-3 ft Yellow/ FS
Any well-
drained
1-2 to
2-3
5, 16
Young leaves
raw or cooked,
sparingly
X Trifolium gracilentum Pin-point Clover 1-3 ft
Pink-
purple/Sp
FS
Any well-
drained
1-2 to
2-3
10, 16
Young leaves
raw or cooked,
sparingly
X
Trifolium
microcephalum
Small-head Clover
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Pink-purple/
Sp-Su
FS
Any well-
drained
1-2 to
2-3
10, 16
Young leaves
raw or cooked,
sparingly
Trifolium obtusiflorum
Creek (Clammy)
Clover
1-2 ft tall
& wide
Lavender/
Sp-Su
FS/PS
Any well-
drained
2 to 3 10, 16
Leaves - boiled &
eaten (drain
bitter water)
X Trifolium willdenovii Tomcat Clover 1-2 ft Pink/Sp-Su FS/PS Any
1-2 to
2-3
10, 16, 19
Young leaves
raw or cooked,
sparingly
Veronica peregrina ssp.
xalapensis
Purslane Speedwell 1 ft White/Sp FS/PS
Any well-
drained
2-3 to 3 2
Leaves/stems –
raw or cooked
Viola pedunculata Johnny Jump-up < 1 ft Yellow/Sp-Su FS/PS
Well-
drained
bare soil;
1 19
Young leaves –
cooked greens;
Flowers – raw (in
salads)
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges)
X Juncus textilis Basket Rush
3-5 ft tall
3-8 ft wide
Spreading/
bunching
perenn. rush
FS/PS Any 2-3 to 3 1, 2, 14
Shoots - raw,
cooked in ashes,
or boiled
X
Schoenoplectus (all
species)
Tules/Bullrushes
3-7 ft tall
spreading
Gold/Su FS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 8, 13, 14
Young shoots –
raw or cooked
X Typha (all species) Cattails
3-7 ft tall
spreading
Cattail/Su FS Any 2-3 to 3 2, 8, 13, 14
Young shoots –
raw or cooked
3/6/2016

6. 6
I : X = Gardening Information Sheet available on-line (http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html) or at the
Madrona Marsh Nature Center
This list available at: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/gourmet-greens-list
* may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant
** light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade
+ Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;
2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn)
Note: Be sure that you know how to properly identify and prepare native plants before you eat them. Some plant parts are toxic,
as are large quantities of some plants. It’s always safest to label the edible plants in your garden until you get to know them.