Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada ecoregion climbs from the oak-studded foothill towns east of Fresno and Sacramento up through conifer forest to the crest. Foothill gardens deal with hot dry summers and occasional snow; higher elevations get a real winter. Foothill natives like western redbud, flannelbush, and foothill penstemon handle the summer drought that kills thirstier plantings.

Conditions: Decomposed granite and rocky loam, hot dry summers in the foothills, snow above roughly 3,000 feet.

Cities and areas: Fresno, Visalia, Sonora, Placerville, Grass Valley, Mariposa.