9 Plants That'll Make Your Southern California Garden Flourish

Bees are particularly drawn to white, yellow and blue; their eyes register a color called "bee ultraviolet" that guides them to nectar. Bluish lilac blossoms attract them and smell great to us, too.

The California poppy is a sure thing--it’s the state flower, after all. Try to leave some of the spent blossoms on the flower after blooms fade, since the plants self-seed from year to year.

Drought-tolerant Salvia, which comes in many varieties such as tall, short and chill-resistant, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.

This profusion of white native morning glory makes bees happy, because they prefer masses of similar flowers grouped together. It makes neighbors happy because it hides a chain-link fence.

Many of the plants bees like best have large, tubular flowers with petals that act as a landing platform. Penstemon, like this red variety, fit the bill.

California wildflower seed mixes, which vary slightly from year to year, are made up of blooming annuals native to the coast and central valley.

Rose buckwheat produces plumes of flowers and grayish, spoon-shaped leaves that grow in clumps two feet across and a foot high; they’re great for slopes.

The Santa Barbara Daisy is a tiny, low-growing flower that’s a great border for taller plantings.

The flannel bush’s bright yellow blossoms attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and it can grow to be the size of a tree. Helpful hint: Want to lure in more butterflies? Keep a shallow container of pebbles filled with water so they can perch while drinking.