Bring California's spectacular coastline into your garden with lavender-purple Verbena 'De La Mina', rosy Red-flowered Buckwheat, golden Coastal Gumplant, and graceful Deer Grass. These flowering perennials and ornamental grass create a colorful, pollinator-friendly seaside retreat, with blooms from spring through fall and beautiful movement in the coastal breeze.
Imagine wandering down a winding stone path surrounded by purple flowers, rosy-pink buckwheat, golden daisies, and graceful grasses, with the Pacific Ocean stretching toward the horizon. Beyond the garden, rugged cliffs descend to turquoise coves, while a simple wooden bench invites you to stop and enjoy the view. This colorful planting captures the relaxed beauty of California’s spectacular coastline.
Four plants create the display: Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ (Cedros Island Verbena), Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (Red-flowered Buckwheat), Grindelia stricta (Coastal Gumplant), and Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass). Three are native to California, while the verbena originates from Baja California. Together, they combine long-lasting flowers, contrasting textures, and valuable resources for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Main plants used: Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens, Grindelia stricta, and Muhlenbergia rigens.
The combination of purple, pink, and yellow gives this garden its cheerful coastal character. Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ produces clusters of rich lavender-purple flowers over a long season, creating colorful, spreading mounds that attract butterflies and other pollinators.
Beside it, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens adds rounded clusters of rosy-pink flowers above compact foliage. Native to California’s northern Channel Islands, this buckwheat brings a distinctive coastal character and provides nectar for beneficial insects.
Grindelia stricta contributes bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that contrast beautifully with the cooler colors. Its sturdy growth suits exposed coastal conditions, while Muhlenbergia rigens forms graceful fountains of narrow leaves topped with airy summer flower stems.
The irregular stone path, scattered rocks, and modest wooden bench give the planting structure without competing with the ocean view. Repeated groups of the same four plants create a natural rhythm that feels both generous and relaxed.
Create a colorful, pollinator-friendly coastal garden with purple and pink flowering drifts, cheerful yellow daisies, graceful native grasses, and a winding path that frames the ocean view.
Approximate visual proportions, not exact plant quantities.
Let the winding stone path guide visitors toward the ocean view. Plant Verbena ‘De La Mina’ in broad drifts near the walkway, followed by rounded groups of Red-flowered Buckwheat. Weave Coastal Gumplant between them for golden accents, then position Deer Grass farther back where its tall, airy stems can sway without blocking the view. Keep the path clear of mature foliage and allow room for plants to spread.
Spring brings lavender-purple verbena flowers and the first rosy buckwheat clusters. Through summer, golden Coastal Gumplant daisies mingle with the pink and purple blooms, while Deer Grass develops graceful flowering stems. In fall, lingering flowers, aging buckwheat seedheads, and the grasses’ golden tones extend the display. Flowering varies with coastal exposure and local climate.
| Hardiness |
9 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, 24 |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerances | Drought |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Birds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Butterfly Garden, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Pollinator Garden |
| Hardiness |
9 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, 24 |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerances | Drought |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Birds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Butterfly Garden, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Pollinator Garden |
Recreate this garden. Specify the percentages you would like to have of each plant and input the dimensions of your garden space.We'll give you a shopping list so you know how many plants you need.
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina' (Cedros Island Verbena) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (San Miguel Island Buckwheat) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Grindelia stricta (Coastal Gum Plant) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
