Instructions for Planting California Native Plant Seed

October 6, 2025

When to Plant

Native plant seed should be sown or planted in the fall, ideally timed around the start of the rainy season. Seeds can be planted up until early spring, but the earlier the better. Avoid planting seed in the during the dry hot summer months.

Planning

Make a plan before starting out. Figure out what areas in your garden you want to plant, then determine which species would work there. Calscape is a great resource for planning and learning about different plant species. Annuals will flower and produce seed that will come up again every year, so plan accordingly. Perennial shrubs and trees will take time to mature and can be large so make sure the space is big enough to accommodate the mature plant. You can also plant annuals underneath to avoid bare ground (and weeds). Many native grasses are perennial and grow in a bunch form so individual plants take up more space than annuals.

Site Preparation

Remove existing weeds from the area you want to plant but take care not to dig into the soil more than a few inches as this will encourage more weeds to grow. Water the area before planting seed so the seed will stick to the soil better. Fence off the area to prevent pet or foot traffic if necessary. Label your seeding areas so you can identify the seedlings and plants later (and most importantly distinguish them from weeds!).

Planting Seed

Seeds can be sown directly into the soil or grown in pots or flats. There are reasons for each method. The great thing about growing from seed is you can play around and seed what works for your garden conditions.

Sow Directly

Seeds can be directly scattered into the soil and either lightly covered with soil or lightly raked into the soil. Don’t leave the seed exposed – it will dry out or be eaten by birds. This method works best for annuals but also works for most perennial species that don’t need pre-treatment. The advantage to growing perennials from seed is that they can adapt better to your planting area.

Grow in Pots

Seeds can also be grown in smaller pots and transplanted to your planting area or to containers when they are larger. This method is good for growing container plants or growing perennials that may need more care as seedlings.

Watering

Water the planting area gently immediately after planting. Keep the top layer of soil moist so the seeds and seedlings don’t dry out. If it’s a rainy year you may not need to water much but take care to keep the top layer of soil moist. As the seedlings mature, switch to less frequent but deeper watering to encourage the roots to grow deep into the soil (and eventually reach water on their own). Using this method, plants should be self-sufficient and not need regular watering after 2-3 years. During periods of prolonged drought or extreme heat, your plants will need occasional deep watering.

Weeding

Keep the planting area free of weeds while your seeds are germinating and your seedlings are growing up. Learn the common weeds in your yard so you can be sure you’re not pulling your natives out. When in doubt, wait to pull until you can identify it.