Hearst Garden Plants

Botanical Name: Bougainvillea cultivars Family: Four-O’Clocks Family (Nyctaginaceae) Origin: Native to South America At Hearst Castle: Bougainvillea is trained to grow on the exteriors of all three guest houses. It also grows on the central balustrade of the South Terrace… Read More

Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis Family: Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) Compositae Origin: Mediterranian native Comments: It is thought that ST. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) dedicated Calendula officinalis to the Virgin Mary and gave the flowers the name Mary’s gold, or marigold. To… Read More

Botanical Name: Eschscholzia californica Family: Poppy Family (Papaveraceae) Origin: Native to California and Oregon. At Hearst Castle: This California native plant is found along the highway and roads up to the Castle. A common spring companion is the native lupine…. Read More

Botanical Name: Zantedeschia aethiopica Family: Arum Family (Araceae) Origin: Native to South Africa At Hearst Castle: Scattered throughout gardens; for example at Neptune Terrace. Grown at San Simeon in W. R. Hearst’s time; yellow calla (a different but very similar… Read More

Botanical Name: Quercus agrifolia Family: Beech Family (Fagaceae) This family of 6 genera and hundreds of species includes important hardwood trees such as beeches, tanbark oaks, oaks, and chestnuts. Origin: Native to Coastal California At Hearst Castle: Many growing naturally… Read More

Botanical Name: Cryptomeria japonica Family: Redwood Family (Taxodiaceae) Origin: Native to Japan and China At Hearst Castle: One tree along the North side of the tennis courts; this tree is a relatively recent planting from the 1970′s. Comments: Because the… Read More

Botanical Name: Cyclamen persicum or Cyclamen hederifolium Family: Primulaceae (Primula family) Origin: C. hederifolium is from Southern Europe into Turkey. C. persicum is from Greece, Lebanon and North Africa. At Hearst Castle: There are several plants on the North Tea… Read More

Botanical Name: Narcissus Family: Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae) Origin: Native to Europe and North Africa At Hearst Castle: Daffodils can be spotted intermingling with the azaleas and rhododendrons along the east esplanade. Also, in the upper bed above the tennis courts…. Read More

Botanical Name: Daphne odora ‘Marginata’ Family: Thymelaeaceae (Daphne Family) Origin: Native to China and Japan. At Hearst Castle: A few plants are planted along south esplanade near the back courtyard of Casa Grande . W. R. Hearst was very fond… Read More

Botanical Name: Delphinium elatum Family: Ranunculaceae Origin: Native to mainly northern hemisphere temperate zones. At Hearst Castle: Delphiniums can be found in a number of places usually used as bedding plants; planted inside the parterres throughout the formal Mediterranean gardens… Read More

Botanical Name: Cedrus deodara Family: Pine Family (Pinaceae) Origin: Native to Himalayas At Hearst Castle: One located at Main Terrace, two near the tennis courts, and many in the Pergola area. Deodar cedars were planted in W. R. Hearst’s time;… Read More

Botanical Name: Rhododendron cultivars Family: Heather Family (Ericaceae) Origin: There are 1000′s of cultivars organized into dozens of groups. These have been hybridized from 100′s of naturally occurring species native to North America, Asia, and Europe. At Hearst Castle: There… Read More

Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea Family: Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae) Origin: Western Europe At Hearst Castle: Foxgloves naturalize in shady places and so can be found in abundance at the Castle where only a few were originally planted. Some places to find… Read More

Botanical Name: Fuchsia boliviana varietyluxurians Family: Evening-Primrose Family (Onagraceae). A family of about 20 genera and 500 species found only in the New World. It consists mostly of annuals and herbaceous perennials with a few shrubs. Includes many native wildflowers… Read More

Botanical Name: Cordyline australis Family: Agave Family (Agavaceae). Family of about 500 species includes yuccas, tuberose, true dracena, sansevieria, as well as agaves. This family is related to Lily Family and is sometimes included in it. Origin: Native to New… Read More

Botanical Name: Rhododendron ‘Charlotte Hodgett’ Family: Heath Family (Ericaceae) Origin: Of hybrid origin. Rhododendron species are native to North America, Asia, and Europe. At Hearst Castle: Large specimen of Charlotte Hodgett is located at top of stairs from Neptune Terrace… Read More

Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis Family: Lily Family (Liliaceae) Origin: Most cultivars come from Middle East and the Mediterranean Region At Hearst Castle: You can find them throughout the formal beds of the castle. Comments: Mentioned in a letter, Hearst is… Read More

Botanical Name: Taxus baccata ‘Stricta’ Family: Yew Family (Taxaceae) Origin: The variety ‘Stricta’ is of horticultural origin, and the species Taxus baccata is native to Europe, North Africa, and Western. Asia At Hearst Castle: One on either side of the… Read More

Botanical Name: Cupressus sempervirens ‘Stricta’ Family: Cupressaceae Origin: Native to southern Europe and western Asia At Hearst Castle: Italian Cypresses are important elements in the formal, Italianate gardens at Hearst Castle. They are planted at the Neptune Pool, the North… Read More

Botanical Name: Anemone hybrida (Often sold as Anemone japonica) Family: Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Large family of more than 1500 species of mostly herbaceous plants in the Northern Hemisphere. Origin: Of hybrid origin from species native to China and Japan. At… Read More

Botanical Name: Buxus microphylla var. japonica Family: Boxwood Family (Buxaceae) Origin: Europe and Asia At Hearst Castle: Japanese Boxwood are found all throughout the formal Castle beds. They are used as a low hedge that surrounds the esplanade. Another common… Read More

Botanical Name: Callistemon citrinus Family: Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae). Includes Eucalyptus, Australian Brush Cherry, Guava, and New Zealand Tea Tree, as well as the true Mediterranean Myrtle. Origin: Native to Australia. At Hearst Castle: Bottlebrushes are found growing along the Castle… Read More

Botanical Name: Magnolia liliiflora (Magnolia quinquepeta) Family: Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae) Origin: Native to China At Hearst Castle: One specimen is located behind the marble bench on the Main Terrace in the center opposite Galatea on the Dolphin and the lily… Read More

Botanical Name: Myrtus communis Family: Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) Origin: Native to Mediterranean region At Hearst Castle: Myrtle is used extensively as hedging throughout the grounds of the Enchanted Hill. The circular hedge near the south entrance to the Assembly room… Read More

Botanical Name: Amaryllis belladonna Family: Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae). A large family with more than 1000 species closely related to the Lily Family. Most are herbaceous perennials with bulbous roots. Includes many plants cultivated for their attractive flowers, such as Agapanthus,… Read More

Botanical Name: Nerium oleander Family: Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae) Origin: Native to Mediterranean region At Hearst Castle: Oleanders were used abundantly in the gardens of the Enchanted Hill from the early 1920′s. The Pergola driveway features Oleanders specially trimmed into multi-trunked… Read More

Botanical Name: Viola x wittrockiana Family: Violaceae Origin: Eurasia At Hearst Castle: Planted as a border, pansies can be seen in the garden beds between all three guest houses, and all along the esplanade walk. Comments: In a letter,dated September… Read More

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Peace’ Family: Rose Family (Rosaceae) Origin: France 1945 At Hearst Castle: A fine example of ‘Peace climber’ is located on the south-east wall of La Casa del Mar. Also there are a pair climbing up the Mexican… Read More

Botanical Name: Petunia hybrida Family: Tomato Family (Solanaceae) Origin: Many hybrids of original South American species At Hearst Castle: In Mr. Hearst’s day, Petunias were planted extensively for summer color in flower beds and pots throughout the grounds of the… Read More

Botanical Name: Punica granatum Family: Pomegranate Family (Punicaceae). This is a very small family of only 2 species, both in the genus Punica. Origin: Native to southern Asia, but long cultivated and naturalized in the Mediterranean region. At Hearst Castle:… Read More

Botanical Name: Pyracantha species Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family) Origin: China and the eastern Mediterranean At Hearst Castle: Pyracantha plantings occur in several places through out the formal Castle grounds as well as out in the pergola area, especially along the… Read More

Botanical Name: Antirrhinum majus Family: Scrophulariaceae Origin: Most from the Western Mediterranean region At Hearst Castle: These bedding plants can be seen in the 4 Italian cypress beds located adjacent to the Neptune Pool. They are also planted inside of… Read More

Botanical Name: Trachelospermum jasminoides Family: Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae). Large family with more than 1000 species, including ornamental plants such as Oleander, Periwinkle, Natal Plum, and Frangipani. Members of the family usually have stems with milky juice. Origin: Native to China… Read More

Botanical Name: Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ Family: Pea Family (Leguminosae) Origin: A cultivated variety (cultivar) of the Honey Locust, which is native to eastern United States. At Hearst Castle: One tree along stairs east of B House; this tree is a… Read More

Botanical Name: Heteromeles arbutifolia Family: Rose Family (Rosaceae) Origin: Native to California, including hilltop at Hearst Castle (found in Sierra Nevada foothills, coastal ranges south to Baja California) At Hearst Castle: There are many Toyons in the Pergola area, along… Read More

Botanical Name: Lantana montevidensis Family: Verbena Family (Verbenaceae) Origin: Native to South America At Hearst Castle: Trailing Lantana is used freely around the Esplanade, spilling in cascades over the retaining walls of the inner flower beds. Comments: Near the guest… Read More

Botanical Name: Tulipa Family: Lily Family (Liliaceae) Origin: Mediterranean region and across Asia to Japan. At Hearst Castle: Used as an annual for spring color in the parterres between La Casa del Mar and La Casa del Sol. Can be… Read More