Growing Native Plants

Gardening Success with California Native Plants

KNOW THE PLANT’S NATURAL HABITAT
Is it a wet or dry grower?

Does it need fast-draining soil or heavy clay or something in between?

Does it prefer a dry, sunny area; sun with water; dry shade, or shade with water?

UNDERSTAND CALIFORNIA’S MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE
Plant after the rains begin. The roots will grow and establish themselves and withstand the summer drought.

The plants must be watered deeply several times during the first two summers until root systems are fully developed.

Plants in containers must be watered regularly, except those which go dormant in the summer such as Brodiaea, Trillium, Delphinium, Saxifrage, etc.

WATERING PRECAUTIONS
Mulch to prevent weed growth, keep roots cool, and reduce evaporation. (Organic material makes the best mulch, but rock will do).

Avoid frequent shallow irrigation. Irrigate slowly, deeply, avoid run-off. Try not to let the soil dry out completely between waterings; it is easier to maintain moisture than to re—wet the soil.

Avoid having water stand at the base of the plant. The soil should never remain saturated for more than a few hours to avoid root-crown rot.

SUN WITH WATER

Small — 3’ and under
Arabis blepharophylla (Rock Cress)
Clarkia amoena (Farewell to Spring)
C. unguiculata (Elegant Clarkia)
Erigeron glaucus (Seaside Daisy)
Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry)
Downingia concolor (Wild Lobelia)
Gilia capitata (Globe Gilia)
Iris species
Lewisia cotyledon & varieties
Lupinus bicolor (Blue &White Lupine)
L. nanus (Sky Lupine)
Mimulus species (Monkeyf lower)
Pellaea andromedaefolia (Coffee Fern)
Sisyrinchium calif. (Yellow—eyed Grass)

Medium — 4—6’
Calycanthus occidental is (Spicebush)
Carpenteria calif. (Bush Anemone)
Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud)
Galvesia speciosum (Island Snapdragon)
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)
Rhamnus calif. (Coffeeberry)
Ribes aureum (Golden Currant)
R.sanguineum glut. (Red-flowering Currant)
Trichostema lanatum (Woolly Blue Curls)

Large — 8’ and over
Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf Maple)
A. negundo calif. (Box Elder)
Fraxinus oregona (Oregon Ash)
Juglans hindsii (Calif. Black Walnut)
Lithocarpus densiflorus (Tanbark Oak)
Lonicera involucrata (Coast Twinberry)
Picea sitkensis (Sitka Spruce)
Populus fremontii (Western Cottonwood)
P. tremuloides (Quaking Aspen)
Pseudotsuga macrocarpa (Big Cone Spruce)
Quercus lobata (Valley Oak)
Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry)
R. ovata (Sugar Bush)
Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia)
S. sempervirens (Coast Redwood)
Umbellularia calif. (Bay Laurel)

DRY SUNNY AREAS

Small - 3’ & under
Arctostaphylos ground covers (Manzanita)
Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Bush)
Ceanothus ground covers (Calif. Lilac)
Delphinium nudicaule (Scarlet Larkspur)
Eriogonum giganteum (St.Catherine’s Lace)
E. grande rubescens (Red Buckwheat)
Eschscholzia californica (Calif. Poppy)
Iris species
Lupinus species (Lupine)
Mimulus aurantiacus (Monkeyf lower)
Penstemon heterophyllus
P. spectabilis
Salvia clevelandii (Sage)
S. sonomensis (Sonoma Sage)
Sedum species
Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue—eyed Grass)
Zauschneria calif. (Calif. Fuchsia)

Medium - 4-6’
Arctostaphylos species (Manzanita)
Carpenteria calif. (Bush Anemone)
Ceanothus species (Calif. Lilac)
Dendromecon harfordii (Island Bush Poppy)
Galvesia speciosum (Island. Snapdragon)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Oenothera hookeri (Yellow Evening Primrose)
Rhamnus calif. (Coffeeberry)
Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry)
R. ovata (Sugar Bush)
Ribes malvaceum (Currant)
Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy)
Yucca calif.

Large — 8’ and over
Aesculus calif. (Calif. Buckeye)
Arbutus menziesii (Madrone)
Arctostaphylos species (Manzanita)
Calocedrus decurrens (Incense Cedar)
Ceanothus species (Calif. Lilac)
Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud)
Fremontodendron calif. (Flannel Bush)
F. mexicana (Flannel Bush)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Juglans hindsii (Calif. Black Walnut)
Lyonothamnus floribundus (Catalina Ironwood)
Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)
Populus frexnontii (Western Cottonwood)
Prunus ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry)
P. lyoni (Catalina Cherry)
Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak)
Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry)
R. ovata (Sugar Bush)
Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia)

SHADE WITH WATER

Small — 3’ & under
Adiantum pedatum (Five-finger Fern)
A. capillus-veneris (So. Maidenhair Fern)
Aquilegia formosa (Columbine)
Asarum caudatum (Wild Ginger)
Athyrium felix-femina (Lady Fern)
Clarkia concinna (Red Ribbons)
Dicentra formosa (Bleeding Heart)
Dryopteris arguta (Wood Fern)
Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry)
Gaultheria shallon (Salal)
Heuchera maxima (Island Alumroot)
H. micrantha (Alumroot)
Oxalis oregana (Redwood Sorrel)
Tolmiea menziesii (Piggy-back Plant)
Vaccinium ovatum (Huckleberry)
Vancouveria hexandra (Inside-out Flower)
Viola species (Violet)
Whipplea modesta (Yerba de Selva)

Medium — 4-6’
Calycanthus occidentalis (Spicebush)
Mahonia aguifolium (Oregon Grape)
Ribes viburnifolium (Evergreen Currant)
Woodwardia fimbriata (Giant Chain Fern)

Large — 8’ and over
Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf Maple)
A. negundo calif. (Box Elder)
Aristolochia calif.(Dutchman’s Pipe Vine)
Fraxinus oregona (Oregon Ash)
Lithocarpus densiflorus (Tanbark Oak)
Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood)
Umbellularia calif. (Bay Laurel)

DRY SHADE

Small - 3’ & under
Aquilegia formosa (Columbine)
Cynoglossum grande (Hound’s Tongue)
Dodecatheon hendersonii (Shooting Star)
Dryopteris arguta (Wood Fern)
Fragaria californica (Wood Strawberry)
Iris species
Mimulus aurantiacus (Monkeyf lower)
Pityrogramma triangularis (Goldback Fern)
Polypodium californicum (Calif. Polypody)
Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern)
Satureja douglasii (Yerba Buena)
Ribes viburnifolium (Evergreen Currant)

Medium - 4-6’
Holodiscus discolor (Cream Bush)
Lonicera hispidula (Calif. Honeysuckle)
Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry)
Ribes sanguineum glut.(Red-flowering Currant)
R. viburnifolium (Evergreen Currant)
Syrnphoricarpos rivularis (Snowberry)
Vaccinium ovatum (Huckleberry)

Large — 8’ and over
Abies grandis (Grand Fir)
Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf Maple)
Lithocarpus densiflorus (Tanbark Oak)
Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce)
Quercus lobata (Valley Oak)
Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia)
Umbellularia calif. (Bay Laurel)

SEED GERMINATION

ANNUALS: Native wildflowers will do reasonably well if they are sown where they are to grow in time to catch the fall rains, but they will do better if sown in prepared ground from which weeds and grasses have been removed and kept away as the plants grow. Many annuals will reseed themselves from year to year. California poppies, Clarkia species, Linum species, Gilia species, Nemophila, Oenothera sp., Collinsia, and Lasthenia are examples of annuals which will do well in our area.

PERENNIAL PLANTS: Shrubs, trees and flowering perennials are best started in containers and planted in place later. You may use nursery flats or smaller containers. The containers must be clean. A prepared potting mix is best for germinating seeds since it will be sterile and weed free. Seeds may be broadcast over the soil or put in furrows and covered with very fine soil or sand. Water well and keep moist. Place in a warm, protected area, out of the direct sun. As soon as the second set of true leaves has emerged, transplant to another flat where the seedlings will have room to develop. Handle the plants by the leaves to avoid injury to the stem. If roots are entangled, soak root ball in water. Once the seedlings are established (about a week) expose them to increasing amounts of light. Fertilize regularly. In about six weeks these seedlings will be ready to plant in the ground or into individual 4” containers.

DIRECT SEEDING: Trees and shrubs with large seeds can be successfully grown in place. This method requires soil preparation, protecting the plants from animals, removal of competing weeds, and minimum irrigation and fertilization. Pamphlets which go into more detail include Direct Seeding Woody Plants in the Landscape from UC Cooperative Extension and Oak to Acorn. Plants which may be tried include Aesculus californicus (Buckeye) , Ceonothus species (California lilac), Fremontia, Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon), Quercus species (Oaks) , and Cercis occidentalis (Redbud).

SEED TREATMENT

Treatments given to seeds to help break the dormancy if recommended on package:

SCARIFICATION: Treatments given to soften or break the seed coats so the embryos can emerge. This is done in the case of seeds that have hard seed coats. This can be the actual cutting of the seed coat or soaking it in hot water overnight. Lupine, Cercis, are examples.

STRATIFICATION: Storing seeds at cool (33° to 50°) temperatures for a month or so before sowing. Place the seeds in damp (not wet) sterile potting medium (purlite and peat moss or commercial potting mix). Place this damp mixture in a container in the refrigerator.

Note: This was based on a publication provided by the Milo Baker Chapter of the California Native Plant Society