Field Notes

Planting Palettes for Different Regions 

Plants speak in many languages. Their scents reach outward, enveloping us and grounding us in our surroundings. They shade us and provide shelter. They're a visual world unto themselves — of texture, of form, of every color imaginable.

Across California, the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and the tri-state area, we share some of our favorite plants categorized by shrubs, perennials, grasses, hedges, vines, and trees. Explore your location-specific palette here.  

Southern California Plant Region

Southern California sits in a Mediterranean climate zone defined by mild, wet winters and long, dry summers, shaping a plant palette adapted to drought, sun exposure, and seasonal extremes.

Get your Southern California plant palette here.

Northern California Plant Region

From fog-cooled coastal zones to inland valleys and foothills, Northern California spans a range of microclimates shaped by wet winters, long dry summers, and varied topography. Chaparral shrubs, grasses, and drought-adapted perennials thrive throughout the seasons.

Get your Northern California plant palette here.

Pacific Northwest Plant Region

The Pacific Northwest falls within a cool maritime climate zone characterized by wet, temperate winters and mild, relatively dry summers. Evergreen canopies, dense understories, and moss-laced landscapes define this region by texture, shade tolerance, and layered planting.

Get your Pacific Northwest plant palette here.

Tri-State Area Plant Region

Encompassing New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Tri-State area sits within a humid climate marked by cold winters, warm summers, and consistent rainfall throughout the year. Deciduous forests, meadow grasses, and flowering understory shrubs make up this plant palette shaped by four distinct seasons.

Get your tri-state area plant palette here.

Southwest Plant Region

The Southwest falls within an arid to semi-arid climate zone with low annual rainfall, intense sun, and dramatic temperature swings. This region’s plant palette is shaped by drought tolerance, silver foliage, and bold desert blooms.

Get your southwest plant palette here.

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