October in California is the perfect time to plan ahead for blooms that truly belong. Native flowers adapt beautifully to local soil and weather, rewarding you with color and ease.
I always find this the best month to sow for spring brilliance. These 12 native choices will keep your garden thriving naturally.
1. California Poppy
Picture golden-orange petals dancing in the breeze, and you’ve got California’s state flower. California Poppy thrives when sown in fall across the state, giving roots time to establish before spring’s big show.
These cheerful blooms are drought-tolerant once established and require almost zero fuss. They self-seed readily, so you’ll enjoy them year after year without replanting.
2. Tidy Tips
Want something that looks like sunshine with frosted edges? Tidy Tips sport cheerful yellow petals tipped in white, creating a charming daisy-like appearance that brightens any California garden.
October planting gives these annuals a head start for spectacular spring blooms. They’re incredibly easy to grow from seed and attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies to your yard.
3. Blue-Eyed Grass
Don’t let the name fool you—this charming plant produces delicate star-shaped blue flowers, not actual grass. Blue-Eyed Grass adds a subtle elegance to California gardens with its slender foliage and petite blooms.
Fall sowing works beautifully for establishing these perennials before winter. They prefer sunny spots and well-drained soil, making them perfect for rock gardens or border edges throughout the state.
4. Farewell-to-Spring
Here’s a flower with a poetic name that lives up to its reputation. Farewell-to-Spring (also called Clarkia) produces stunning pink, red, or lavender blooms that signal summer’s approach across California.
Sowing in October allows these annuals to develop strong roots during cooler months. They’re surprisingly low-maintenance and create a cottage-garden vibe without requiring much water once established in your California landscape.
5. Baby Blue Eyes
Imagine a carpet of sky-blue blooms covering your garden bed—that’s the magic of this delicate annual. Baby Blue Eyes create stunning ground cover with their five-petaled flowers that seem almost too perfect to be real.
October is ideal for sowing these beauties in California gardens. They prefer partial shade and moderate water, blooming prolifically in spring to create an enchanting display that’ll make neighbors stop and stare.
6. California Aster
Looking for late-season color that keeps giving? California Aster produces masses of purple daisy-like flowers that bloom from summer through fall, providing crucial nectar for migrating butterflies.
Fall planting establishes these perennials perfectly across the state. They’re adaptable to various soil types and water conditions, making them foolproof choices for both beginner and experienced California gardeners seeking reliable native bloomers.
7. Lupine
Few flowers make a statement quite like these towering spires of purple, blue, or white blooms. Lupine adds dramatic vertical interest to California gardens while fixing nitrogen in the soil—a win-win for your landscape.
October sowing gives these perennials time to establish deep taproots. They’re somewhat particular about drainage but absolutely worth the effort, creating showstopping displays that pollinators adore throughout the state.
8. Scarlet Bugler
Hummingbirds can’t resist these brilliant red tubular blooms that seem designed specifically for their long beaks. Scarlet Bugler (a type of Penstemon) brings vibrant color and wildlife action to California gardens from spring through summer.
Fall planting works wonderfully for establishing these drought-tolerant perennials. They thrive in full sun with minimal water once established, making them perfect for water-wise landscapes across the state.
9. Checker Bloom
Think miniature hollyhocks with a wild, natural charm. Checker Bloom produces lovely pink to purple flowers on upright stems that sway gracefully in the breeze, adding movement and color to California landscapes.
October is perfect for getting these perennials established before winter. They prefer sun to partial shade and moderate water, blooming reliably each spring and attracting native bees throughout the Golden State.
10. Douglas Iris
Elegant and adaptable, these iris relatives come in gorgeous shades ranging from deep purple to creamy white. Douglas Iris brings sophisticated beauty to shady California gardens where many other natives struggle to bloom.
Fall planting allows rhizomes to settle in nicely. They’re surprisingly low-maintenance once established, tolerating coastal conditions beautifully and providing stunning spring flowers that complement ferns and other woodland plants across the state.
11. Sticky Monkeyflower
Bright orange blooms with a slightly sticky texture give this shrubby perennial its quirky name. Sticky Monkeyflower attracts hummingbirds like magnets while providing year-round greenery in California gardens.
October planting establishes these versatile natives before the rainy season. They handle full sun to partial shade and varying water conditions, making them adaptable choices for diverse landscapes throughout the state’s different microclimates.
12. Goldfields
When these annuals bloom en masse, they transform California hillsides into seas of gold—hence the perfect name. Goldfields create stunning visual impact with their cheerful yellow flowers that seem to glow in spring sunshine.
Sowing in October ensures robust plants come springtime. They’re incredibly easy to grow, requiring minimal care and thriving in poor soils where fussier flowers fail across the state’s varied landscapes.