Suggestions for replacing the lawn around my fruit trees with California native species?

Question

I'm working on creating a palette of native species compatible with persimmon, peach, and cherimoya trees. There's an arroyo willow in the lawn area already, too. Suggestions?

Southern California, about a mile from the coast as the crow flies.

Answer 1

Head over to the various local botanical gardens and take notes. Your current trees require more water than most of the S. Cal. natives, so you'll want slightly more moisture tolerant plants than natives typical of your area near the introduced trees -- look at species you'd be likely to find along the streambanks before they got channelized. Not sure where you are, but Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont is probably where you might start looking. Or Santa Barbara Botanical Garden?

See also: http://www.cnplx.info/

Book starters:
* California Native Plants for the Garden, Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien, Cachuma Press
* California Native Trees and Shrubs, Lee W. Lenz, Rancho Santa Ana
* Ceanothus, David Fross and Dieter Wilken, Timber Press
* Complete Guide to Native Perennials of California, Glenn Keator, Chronicle Books
* Complete Guide to Native Shrubs of California, Glenn Keator, Chronicle Books
* Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens, Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook, UC Press
* Growing California Native Plants, Marjorie Schmidt, UC Press
* Native Landscaping From El Paso to L.A., Sally Wasowski and Andy Wasowski, McGraw-Hill
* Native Plants for California Gardens, Lee W. Lenz, Day Printing Corp.
* Native Treasures: Gardening with the Plants of California, M. Nevin Smith, UC Press

http://www.cnps.org/
http://www.cnps.org/cnps/horticulture/garden_links.php

Answer 2

Where are you - northern or southern California?
That's important information.
Are you looking for shrubs or plants instead of grass? That's important information as well.
Your best bet is to go to a local nursery, that's garden nursery and not garden center of a big-box store, and ask some questions from someone knowledgeable there. The person working at the local nursery will know the best plants for your area.
In a pinch, try sages, California laurel, toyon, and California poppies to start.

Answer 3

I just replaced most of my SoCal lawn with natives, too.
You probably already know about it, but my favorite reference site was LasPilitas.com. They have a nursery with very knowledgeable employees down in Escondido. My favorite plants are the monkey flowers, sages, and the sunset manzanita.
good luck!

Answer 4

Mine is the majestic White Oak. If I lived in California, it would be the Giant Seqouia!

Answer 5

I grew up in Southern California and the only thing we had for a lawn was crabgrass and in the back it was crabgrass, weeds and sticker plants.