© Project SOUND
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with Calif. Native Plants in Western L.A. County Project SOUND – 2013 (our 9th year)
© Project SOUND
Life-friendly ‘Lawns’: native groundcover ideas that
provide bird & insect habitat
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
January 5 & 8, 2013
© Project SOUND
Maybe you’re considering re-
doing your lawn in 2013
© Project SOUND
A traditional sod lawn may be the best
solution... Tough – stands up to
kids, dogs, play and even worse
Evergreen – and a nice medium green color
Smooth – good playing surface
Gardener’s can manage them
Filters rainwater contaminants
http://molkkyusa.com/
May not be the best use of
water, gasoline, time and space
© Project SOUND
Ideally you should make gardening choices based on
conscious weighing of pros & cons…
…rather than simply going
with the ‘usual’ solution
1. Make a garden plan – even though it
may change over time
2. Choose plants (and hardscape) based
on their suitability for your needs and
garden conditions
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
What do you like about your current lawn?
A place for kids to play Green most of the year Cool in summer Mowing – it gets us outside
and working/exercising Looks good with the design
of the house Easy to maintain Reduces erosion; allows
water to infiltrate Takes up CO2 Whatever it is you like about
your lawn
© Project SOUND
What things don’t you like about your
current ‘lawn area’? Too water-thirsty Needs too much fertilizer &
pesticides Time spent mowing could be
spent more enjoyably Cost of gardener to maintain Not used any more – kids grown Poor habitat value Boring Full of weeds Lawn doesn’t grow very well –
too shady or too hot Doesn’t reflect the natural
heritage of western L.A. co.
What can I do to avoid these pitfalls in
my ‘new lawn’?
© Project SOUND
You may conclude that you do need some lawn, but
can reduce its size - or change the type of grass…
… giving you more space to use
as you desire (like providing
better habitat for birds & insects)
3. The ‘Life-friendly Gardening’ Principle:
Choose plants based their
habitat value
4. Also choose plants for their usefulness
to your family (food; cut flowers;
medicinal; dyes; etc.)
© Project SOUND
Garden of Dreams: Elderberry area
© Project SOUND
December, 2008
Garden theme: Edible Native Plants
© Project SOUND
Blue Elderberry
Constraints/conditions:
shade/sun mix (particularly when large plants mature)
clay soil
must take some foot traffic (mostly light)
Native Currants (Ribes)
© Project SOUND
Grass? Or something else
http://www.penick.net/digging/index.php?s=wildflower+center
Needs to have both teaching and
habitat value
Native to within a 20
mile radius of
CSUDH, if possible
What habitat resources might a ‘lawn
alternative’ provide?
Food Nectar
Pollen
Seeds
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
© Project SOUND
http://www.penick.net/digging/index.php?s=wildflower+center
When considering habitat, think about what creatures you want to
provide for: Birds? Insects? Reptiles? Spiders? Rabbits? Humans?
Look to Mother Nature and Native
Californians for helpful gardening advice
© Project SOUND
Let’s compare two ‘lawns’
Mowed Lawn - typical Mother Nature’s ‘Lawn’
© Project SOUND
http://austindhill.com/how-a-drought-encourages-devotional-life/ http://camissonia.blogspot.com/2010/04/treks-on-santa-rosa-plateau-vernal-pool.html
To many non-gardeners, the two look pretty much alike
Let’s compare two ‘lawns’
Mowed Lawn - typical Mother Nature’s ‘Lawn’
© Project SOUND
Single, non-native grass species
Mowed (removing seeds, cover, nesting materials, etc)
Multiple native species: Grasses - at least 3 species
+/- sedges (Carex)
Annual wildflowers
+/- bulbs, ferns, other perennials
Relatively un-mowed: full benefits of foliage, flowers, seeds, dried materials
Simple Complex
Let’s compare two ‘lawns’
Mowed Lawn - typical Mother Nature’s ‘Lawn’
© Project SOUND
Food Nectar
Pollen
Seeds
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
Food Nectar
Pollen
Seeds
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Several ways to add complexity to a ‘lawn’
Decrease the lawn area – plant other (habitat) plants around it
Replace the lawn with native sedge/grass lawn (partly un-mowed)
Create a more complex mixture of native grasses + other plants
Replace the lawn entirely with other native groundcovers
© Project SOUND
http://www.penick.net/digging/index.php?s=wildflower+center
Two great recent resources
© Project SOUND
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2009/10/emily-green-dry-garden-low-water-
gardening-drought-xeriscape.html
Garden of Dreams: Elderberry area
© Project SOUND
Need something
green & grassy
http://www.penick.net/digging/index.php?s=wildflower+center
© Project SOUND
Sedges (Carex species) can be a good evergreen alternative to grass
Relatively easy to establish & maintain
Evergreen – look ‘grass-like’ to most people (including your neighbors)
Can take a little more water – good for wet areas near neighbor’s lawn
Some can be mowed (for a more formal look) or left unmowed (for a more informal look)
http://blueplanetgardening.com/art-lawnsubs.html
In general, grasses are better habitat plants for local
insects and birds than are sedges
© Project SOUND
http://www.satoridesigns.net/?p=19
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/2673289141/
Carex species combine well
with native grasses,
groundcovers and shrubs to
give an interesting, varied
appearance - and better
habitat value!
© Project SOUND
Creeping Wild Rye - Leymus triticoides
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/leytri.htm
© Project SOUND
Creeping Wildrye is quite versatile
Any soil texture, but should be well-drained
Tolerates alkali soils & salty soils
Low/no fertilizer needed
Full sun to light shade
Water: it takes what it gets – will stay green with some summer water
© Project SOUND
Mowing your Creeping Wild Rye (or
other native grass)
Mowing is tolerated well
Mowing changes how it looks - will look just like a turf grass (Bermuda Grass)
Mow every 3-4 weeks during growth season only – or just once to keep it lower
Set mower high – as high as it will go is best
http://www.albrightseed.com/wildryeswalefilter.htm
Hint: this grass spreads by
runners – may want to grow in
contained area or limit water
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/review-push-reel-mower-lawnmower-sunlawn-lmm-40.php
© Project SOUND
Seaside Bentgrass/Thin Grass – Agrostis pallens
© Project SOUND
Dune (Seaside) Bentgrass – Agrostis pallens
Cool-season perennial bunchgrass that also spreads via runners & reseeding
Summer dormant in nature – turns an attractive golden brown
Native to dunes – does great in sandy and clay soils
Full sun to part-shade
Water: Zone 1-2 to 2-3 (for some summer green)
Use as an ornamental grass, meadow grass or (small) mowed lawn
Local cool season
grasses turn to gold
during summer/fall
© Project SOUND
July September
© Project SOUND
Weighing the pros & cons of locally native
‘lawn grasses’ Pros
Locally native
Tough; easy to grow
Can be very drought tolerant – deeply rooted
Can be mowed occasionally – or left un-mowed
Often very good habitat
Cons Some (like Saltgrass) are
coarse looking
Really best – and most water-wise – with some summer/fall drought
Wildflower Farms ‘Eco-Lawn’
© Project SOUND
http://www.anniesannuals.com/
plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp
?prodid=3421
Contains mixture of 7 fine-textured Fescues – mostly not CA native
Water-wise – extimated water bill savings ~ $200 for 1000 sq ft lawn in Torrance
Reasonable price: ~ $40 + shipping for seed to cover 1000 sq ft
Seed available from Wildflower Farms or Annie’s Annual’s
http://www.wildflowerfarm.com/index.
php?p=catalog&parent=4&pg=1
Native Mow
Free Mix
Product Information:
Low maintenance
Can be maintained as a turf lawn or left unmowed.
Contains: Western Mokelumne fescue- Festuca
occidentalis
Idaho fescue- Festuca idahoensis Molate fescue- Festuca rubra
Notes: Excellent shade and cold tolerance
Deep green glossy leaves
Slow growing, narrow leafed grass with blades that are very lax and flexuous
Provides soil stabilization for sloped area
© Project SOUND
http://www.ssseeds.com/product/Native-Mow-Free-Mix.aspx
5. Knowledge is power: consider where a
‘native grass’ grows for clues to it’s
suitability in your yard
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
But they ARE from northern CA – so need some summer water to look good
http://turfgrassmanagement.psu.edu/species.cfm
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?cod
e=G880 http://www.soquelcreekwater.com/images/Pho-Grass_festuca_rubra.jpg
Native Fescues can
make nice lawn
grasses
http://www.ibot.cas.cz/krkonose/mm/mm.htm
© Project SOUND
Red Fescue – Festuca rubra
Virginia Moore © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND
Red Fescue – Festuca rubra
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Festuca+rubra
Wide distribution – some sub-species even in Europe
In California: North coast
Foothills of northern mountains, Sierras usually <8000 ft
Sub-alpine forests (including those near the coast)
http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/PMCwebsite/pmcweb/chapter5/5-chamomile-fescue-
fireweed-fleabane.htm
© Project SOUND
Red Fescue: both clumping and running
Size: 1-2 ft tall (to 3 ft flowering stalks)
2+ ft wide
Growth form: variable Cool-season perennial grass; evergreen
with summer water
Some forms spread readily – usually noted as ‘creeping’
Other variants clumping/mounding if un-mowed; spreading modestly via rhizomes if mowed
Foliage: Fine-textured leaves
Medium green to more blue-green
Larval food for Skipper buterflies
Roots: deep roots + rhizomes
http://www.graniteseed.com/seeds/seed.php/Festuca_rubra
© Project SOUND
Flowers are typical for
fescue grasses
Blooms: In spring – usually Apr-June in
S. Bay
Flowers: On taller flowering stems
Wind-pollinated – flowers wave in the breeze
Seeds: Provide food for seed-eating
birds and other small creatures
Vegetative reproduction: via rhizomes
http://www.answers.com/topic/dudleya
http://www.graniteseed.com/seeds/seed.php/Festuca_rubra
© Project SOUND
Habitat considerations:
Native Fescues
Foliage Larger herbivores: deer, rabbits
Skipper butterflies
Nesting material for birds
Seeds Eaten by many seed-eating
creatures including birds, insects, etc.
Roots Good for the below-ground
ecosystem
http://www.callutheran.edu/wf/chap/flowers/fwr-1381.htm
© Project SOUND
Easily grown Soils:
Texture: just about any – clays are good
pH: any local
Light:
Best in part-sun in our area; good choice for under trees
Fine for shade
Water: Winter: needs good winter
rains/irrigation
Summer: moderate to regular to keep it looking nice – less than conventional sod lawn
Fertilizer: little/none needed; fine with occasional light dose
Other: tolerates garden conditions – easy-to-grow
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Festuca-rubra-'Point-Molate'/
© Project SOUND
Garden uses for Red
Fescue
Erosion control on hillsides/slopes
As a mowed or un-mowed lawn – creeping forms fill an area
For its habitat value – especially if managed for habitat
http://www.wnps.org/landscaping/herbarium/pages/festuca-rubra.html
http://daamaaextweb.gnb.ca/010-002/Details.aspx?Culture=fr-CA&Id=194&Pid=1884 http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=422
‘Molate’ Red Fescue
© Project SOUND
http://photobotanic.photoshelter.com/image/I0000Gq_hp6FuY7k
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=3439
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/betty-nelson
CA native cultivar from N. CA
A creeper/clumper
Mow or not – makes a ‘bumpy lawn’ if not
Needs occasional to regular summer water in our area
Good for part-shade/under trees
‘Patrick’s Point’
Bluer color – like ‘Canyon Prince’ Wild Rye
Narrower leaves – more delicate looking – and smaller than species
Needs part-shade to dappled shade
Not for hot gardens
© Project SOUND
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yG_BWGyr5gCqdv6QZGPdwg
http://grownatives.cnps.org/2010/08/16/seasonal-color-august-california-fuchsia/
Life-friendly grass
management
Choose CA native species (or natural cultivars)
Leave some/all un-mowed for seed (at least until seed has set) – some of the best habitat value of grasses lies in their seeds
Don’t tidy up all the dead leaves every year – save some for bird nest-building & insects/micro-organisms
Consider combining grasses with compatible species of annuals, perennials & bulbs
© Project SOUND
http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/a-wind-blown-garden-on-a-sea-ranch-bluff/
© Project SOUND
Carex pansa with Nassella tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) and Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer
Grass)
#holt_829_520
© Saxon Holt
Red Fescue managed for
habitat
http://www.saxonholt.com/webgalleries/Harris_StockPhotos/link3.html
© Project SOUND
Some bunchgrasses combine the traits of
bunching and sod-forming grasses
Some Fescues [Example: Festuca rubra – Red Fescue]
Bentgrasses (Agrostis)
Wild Ryes (Elymus; Lymus)
Gramma grasses (Bouteloua)
Native Bluegrass (Poa)
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/geoImages/BainCalif/CAL400/BUNGRASS.HTML
These grasses are often used both
as ornamental grasses (specimen
plants) as well as for natural ‘lawns’
(mowed or un-mowed)
© Project SOUND
Idaho Fescue/Blue Bunchgrass – Festuca idahoensis
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
Idaho Fescue: useful in shady areas – or with
regular water Soils:
Texture: any well-drained soil, but prefer sandy; not salt-tolerant
pH: any local
Light: extremely adaptable
Best in part-shade in most gardens; fine under trees, shrubs, north-facing
Full sun in cool gardens only
Water: extremely adaptable
Young plants: keep well-watered (Zone 2-3 tapering to 2) until established (1 year)
Summer: Zone 1-2 (will turn golden) to Zone 2-3 (fairly regular)
Fertilizer: very tolerant
http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Festu
ca&Species=idahoensis
© Project SOUND
Idaho Fescue cultivars:
naturally occurring variants
Blue-gray foliage:
‘Siskiyou Blue’ medium size Lighter-colored seed
heads
‘Warren Peak’ Slightly larger Silver-pink flower stalks
Blue-green foliage: ‘Tomales Bay’
Very small, dainty Flower stalks quite
upright
‘Siskiyou Blue’
‘Tomales Bay’
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/online_album/1311.htm
‘Warren Peak’
http://www.bluestem.ca/images/festuca-idahoensis.jpg
6. It’s often easier to work with the
physical conditions in a garden (soil
characteristics, light, etc.) than to try to
change them dramatically
© Project SOUND
Garden of Dreams: Elderberry area
Backbone plant(s) – sunny & shady Thin Grass – Agrostis pallens
Yarrow (Achillea millefolia)
Filler plants: Sunny
Purple Three-awn (Aristida purpurea - self-seeded; may be removed)
Other annuals that have self-seeded
Shady Dune Strawberry (Fragaria
chiloensis)
Southern Honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata)
Annuals: (edibles)
Miner’s Lettuce
Red maids
© Project SOUND
When designing a mixed groundcover
First choose a backbone species
Should have good spreading/ covering characteristics
Should fulfill other requirements: light, water, drainage, height, etc.
Should be relatively hardy
May be evergreen – or not
Should ‘play well with others’
Should have some ‘value added’ characteristics: Good habitat
Edible/medicinal/dye
Unusual flower or foliage
© Project SOUND
Then choose filler plants that complement
the backbone species
Should be:
Compatible with garden conditions & requirements
Compatible with backbone species
Add something extra to the mix: Foliage shape/color
Flower color
Fragrance
Habitat value
Human value: edible/medicinal/dye
© Project SOUND
Southern Honeysuckle
Dune Strawberry
How we ‘created our mix’ – with a lot of
help from Mother Nature
Grew plugs of Agrostis pallens & Yarrow from seed
Planted central area in backbone grass; edges with yarrow
Planted filler strawberries, honeysuckle and annual edibles around the edges
Let them all grow together
Were patient – Mother Nature takes her time!
© Project SOUND
Management considerations
Never mowed or cut, but could cut all or just the central part
Yarrow flowers cut after seeds utilized (collected; eaten by birds)
Never spray with pesticides/ herbicides – just hand weed
Gophers & an occasional ‘phantom dump’ of sand/gravel provide disturbances – not all bad
Water Zone 2 – once a month from June to Sept
Looks pretty year-round – appropriate for natural-looking garden
Attracts plenty of birds, insects
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
January April
July/August October
Mowed Lawn - typical Elderberry Area ‘Lawn’
© Project SOUND
Food Nectar
Pollen
Seeds
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
Food Nectar (Yarrow,
strawberry are primary)
Pollen (all but grass)
Seeds (all components)
Fruit (strawberry)
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
How does the ‘Elderberry Area’ lawn stack up in terms
of habitat for birds and insects?
© Project SOUND
The ‘lawn’ contributes to the
richness of the ‘Garden of
Dreams’
A shady slope in need of a ground cover
© Project SOUND
Conditions/constraints:
11% slope; need something to hold soil
no-walk zone; discourage walking on
shade (relatively quickly as Mulefat grow)
relatively water-wise (no sprinklers)
Decided to feature herbaceous
groundcovers from the Mint family
© Project SOUND
Backbone plant(s) Woodmint (Stachys bullata)
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
Filler plants Mugwort (Artemisia douglasii)
Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
Melic Grass (Melica imperfecta)
Columbine (Aquilegia)
CA Fuschia (Epilobium canum) - sunny edge)
Other (in hedgerow) CA wild Rose (Rosa californica)
CA Bricklebush (Brickellia californica)
Fragrant Pitchersage (Lepechinia fragrans)
Why mints? Should have good
spreading/covering characteristics
Should fulfill other requirements: light, water, drainage, height, etc.
Should be relatively hardy
May be evergreen – or not
Should ‘play well with others’
Should have some ‘value added’ characteristics: Good habitat
Edible/medicinal/dye
Unusual flower or foliage
© Project SOUND
X
X
X
X
X
X
California Woodmint (Hedgenettle) - Stachys bullata
Characteristics of CA Hedgenettle
Drought deciduous perennial herb; but does like water
Size: 1-3 ft high, 3-4 ft wide (spreading)
Foliage: Dark green, softly hairy,
“wrinkled” Scented: light lemon-mint
Flowers:
pink to lavender-red, with white markings on the lower lips
Blooms Mar-May/June Attracts bees, hummingbirds
Succeeding with Stachys bullata
Does best in part-shade
Plant in well-drained soils
While drought tolerant, does better with moderate water, and tolerates seasonal flooding
Useful in north- and east-facing banks, rockwalls
Use it in woodland gardens or perennial gardens
Remember that it suckers freely – will spread moderately especially if watered – makes a good groundcover
http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol317/im/s03/ft2/ft20-47.html
Hummingbird Sage – Salvia spathacea
Hummingbird Sage – great for attracting
birds & butterflies
Hummingbirds collect nectar from the flowers – hummingbirds actually pollinate the flowers
Seed-eating birds eat the seeds
Butterflies are also attracted by the nectar
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/sages.htm
Many attractive features
Fragrant, sweet-smelling foliage
Leaves make a tasty tea – that may help as a decongestant
Brilliant magenta-pink flowers
Flowers make a good cut flower
Bright green foliage
Shade tolerant – can be used under trees
Very drought tolerant
http://www.pgmuseum.org/WildflowerTour/CrimsonSage.htm
Hummingbird Sage: a
versatile ground cover
Likes any well-drained soil Prefers soils with decayed
organic matter
Tolerates clay soils
Can tolerate full sun near coast – but best in partial shade
Water sparingly in summer – monthly – let dry in between
Can tolerate full salt spray – so fine for coastal gardens
© 2003 Michael Charters
Herbaceous groundcovers from the Mint
family and compatible filler plants
© Project SOUND
Backbone plant(s) Woodmint (Stachys bullata)
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
Filler plants Mugwort (Artemisia douglasii)
Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
Melic Grass (Melica imperfecta)
Columbine (Aquilegia)
CA Fuschia (Epilobium canum) - sunny edge)
Other (in hedgerow) CA wild Rose (Rosa californica)
CA Bricklebush (Brickellia californica)
Fragrant Pitchersage (Lepechinia fragrans)
© Project SOUND
Mowed Lawn - typical Elderberry Area ‘Lawn’
© Project SOUND
Food Nectar
Pollen
Seeds
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
Food Nectar (most components)
Pollen (all but grass)
Seeds (all components)
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
How does the Shady Slope ‘Lawn’ stack up?
Maintenance/other
© Project SOUND
Pretty low-maintenance
Clip off dead flowers after seeds are utilized
Cut back dramatically in fall/early winter
Water monthly from May/June to Aug/Sept; at this point used both soaker hose & simple sprinkler on hose
Be patient – takes longer for herbaceous perennials to fill in
© Project SOUND
Now let’s visit another local garden
© Project SOUND
Notice how the hardscape not only provides access, but
is an important design element
Several ‘lawn alternative’ areas in Mother
Nature’s Backyard
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
* Creeping Sage – Salvia sonomensis
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
Creeping Sage
creeps & drapes
Wonderful groundcover on a shadier slope
Groundcover under trees and shrubs
Cascading over a low wall
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=33
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=33
http://back40feet.blogspot.com/2008/03/regional-parks-botanic-garden.html
© Project SOUND
Compact growth form
Probably a natural hybrid with Salvia mellifera
Requires well-drained soil – judicious summer water
Tends to be short-lived
Available at Theodore Payne Foundation.
Cultivar ‘Dara’s Choice’
http://ohric.ucdavis.edu/photos/ornament8.htm
http://www.ventura.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=242
95&return=b_aS
MNBY Entry area:
Evergreen groundcover
Backbone plant ‘Yankee Point‘ Ceanothus
good spreading/covering characteristics
fulfill other requirements: light, water, drainage, height, etc.
relatively hardy ?? Compacted soil
evergreen
‘value added’ characteristics:
Good habitat
Edible/medicinal/dye
Unusual flower or foliage
Filler plants Bulbs (Allium; Camassia quamash)
Filler annual wildflowers (Lupines)
© Project SOUND
What the evergreen entry groundcover lacks
© Project SOUND
Food Nectar
Pollen
Seeds
Fruit
Greens/larval food
Insects
Nesting materials
Shelter
Simple ground covers that lack some habitat elements are
fine, as long as these are provided somewhere else in the
garden
X
X
Conditions/constraints Relatively hot – surrounded by brick pathway
Need to cover the fountain base
First thing you see when you enter the garden
Want to demonstrate importance of habitat plants © Project SOUND
MNBY: Fountain planter
MNBY: Fountain planter
Backbone plants
Pacific Aster (Symphyotrichum /Aster chilense)
California Goldenrod (Solidago californica)
Filler plants
Idaho Fescue just to give some off-season color/ greenery – and demonstrate several choices for around a fountain
© Project SOUND
Watered by ‘soaker drip’ system
with additional slight splash from
bubbler fountain
© Project SOUND
Pacific Aster: a plant
of many habitats
Grasslands
Salt marshes
Coastal dunes and bluffs
Coastal grasslands and scrub,
Even open disturbed habitats in evergreen and Pacific coast coniferous forest
© 2004, Ben Legler
Not surprisingly, there are phenotypic variants
© Project SOUND
Soils: Texture: any – sand to clay
pH: any local
Light: Full sun to light shade;
Probably best color in light shade
Water: Winter: adequate
Summer: wide range (Zone 1-2 to 3); probably best as Zone 2 – too aggressive with more water.
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: can be heavily pruned, even mowed, occasionally. Cut back in fall after flowering.
© 2004, Ben Legler
Pacific Aster can do
well with little care
© Project SOUND
Pacific Aster: not for
everywhere…
Best contained, as it is an aggressive competitor: Pots & planters
Areas bounded by walks, or other boundries
Parking strips – if managed
Usually used in combination with native grasses, bulbs, sub-shrubs (Epilobium canum; Goldenrods) in native meadows; can be mowed back in fall
Appropriate for Cottage Gardens
Good for stabilizing slopes
© 2005 Andrea Jesse
Excellent choice for butterfly gardens
© Project SOUND
California Goldenrod – Solidago californica
http://plants.montara.com/ListPages/FamPages/Astera7.html#solcan
© Project SOUND
CA Goldenrod: an adaptable perennial
Size:
1-3 ft tall (flowering stalk may be taller)
2+ ft wide; spreading
Growth form: Bunching perennial
Fast growing; more so with regular summer water
Dies back (to the ground) in fall/winter
Foliage: Leaves dark green to gray-green;
typical of Sunflower family
Roots: Spreads via rhizomes
http://plants.montara.com/ListPages/FamPages/Astera3.html#cirocc
© Project SOUND
Great nectar plant – true
butterfly magnet
Important nectar source in summer/fall in the wild.
Provides nectar for wide range of butterflies & hummingbirds:
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta) Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) Skippers Others
Seed-eaters eat the seeds
http://www.wildscaping.com/plants/plantprofiles/Solidago_californica.htm
http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/flowers/index.php?action=show_
item&id=27&search=
The insects (and spiders) appear to
approve of our life-friendly choices
© Project SOUND
How many Skippers can you see in
this photo?
Our last area also has some interesting aspects
© Project SOUND
shade developing over time – as the Blue Elderberry becomes a tree
parts are near the rain garden – some seasonal flooding possible
parts need to tolerate foot traffic – other parts not
compacted clay-loam soil
Choice of backbone plants is crucial
Ideally, one species to tie the entire area together visually
Must look fairly nice – at the garden entry
Needs to look appropriate with the ‘Yankee Point’ Ceanothus
Must tolerate several light/water regimens
© Project SOUND
Grass or something else? In your garden, the choice is yours.
Western Yarrow – Achilla millefolia
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
http://www.magney.org/photofiles/CluffVistaParkOther1.htm
http://www.ojaigarden.com/2010/04/
http://www.angieslist.com/articles/different-sea-green-california-lawn-alternatives.htm
Why Yarrow makes a good lawn substitute
Spreads quickly, giving good cover
Super for banks and other areas that can’t easily be mowed
Spreading habit inhibits weeds
Can be mowed – occasionally and on high setting w/ rotary mower
Companion plant – attracts beneficial insects, repels others
Does well on poor, dry, sandy soils - or heavy clays - where other plants grow poorly
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/yarrow.JPG
Western Yarrow may be just the thing
for your yard!
Slopes, hillsides
Mixtures
Good garden plant for fresh or dry floral arrangements
Foliage is pleasantly fragrant when crushed
Can be mowed to form a highly competitive ground cover to control soil erosion.
Flowers!!!
Good butterfly plant
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Managing a Yarrow ‘lawn’: several options
Cutting plants back by one-half to two-thirds before they flower can produce stockier, shorter plants that don't flop as much.
Plants can also be sheared back after flowering to rejuvenate the foliage
Mow with a rotary mower to a height of 4-6 inches after established
Yarrow has importance in many cultures
Medicinal
Young leaves can be used in salads – have a peppery flavor
Mystical uses: It was once associated with evil, as evidenced
by its alternative names Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, and Bad Man's Plaything, and was used in spells.
In France and Ireland, people wanting to be more clairvoyant hold Yarrow over their eyes.
Dried stalks were used to throw the I Ching, an ancient Chinese system for guidance and wisdom.
The Druids used Yarrow stems to foretell the weather.
http://www.viable-
herbal.com/singles/herbs/s585.htm
http://www.ceres-co.com/store/images/products/yarrow.jpg
MNBY: around the Elderberry & rain garden
Backbone plant(s) Yarrow (Achillea millefolia) – sunny &
shady areas
Woodmint (Stachys bullata) – shady areas
Catalina Perfume (Ribes viburnifolium) – shady areas; no-walk area at back of bed
Filler plants Sun/part-sun
Salty Susan
Blue-eyed grass
Carex
Juncus
Shady Strawberry
Melic grass
Southern and Purple native Honeysuckles
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
Catalina Island Currant/ Evergreen Currant/ Catalina Perfume – Ribes viburnifolium
© Project SOUND
You’ve probably seen Catalina Perfume used as a shady groundcover….
© Project SOUND
Garden uses for Evergreen Currant
One of our very best native dry-shade groundcovers
Super under oaks and other large
Zone 1 native trees/shrubs
Great on slopes; and it’s scented!!!!
Will cascade over walls and raised planters
In the habitat garden: hummingbirds butterflies & bees like the flowers. Birds can use for cover. Fruit-eating birds eat the fruit.
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?strLetter=R&plant_id
=1363&page=
Easy to grow: just prune occasionally to control
or shear with string-trimmer to rejuvenate
MNBY: around the Elderberry & rain garden
Backbone plant(s) Yarrow (Achillea millefolia) – sunny &
shady areas
Woodmint (Stachys bullata) – shady areas
Catalina Perfume (Ribes viburnifolium) – shady areas; no-walk area at back of bed
Filler plants Sun/part-sun
Salty Susan
Blue-eyed grass
Carex
Juncus
Shady Strawberry
Melic grass
Southern and Purple native Honeysuckles
Hummingbird Sage
© Project SOUND
Blue-eyed Grass in nature
Generally a component of grasslands or mixed grassland/ annuals
Water: Fall/winter rains
Dry summers http://www.watershednursery.com/nursery/plant-finder/sisyrinchium-bellum/
Many reason the include Blue-eyes Grass
in your garden
Attractive flowers over a long blooming season
Does well in many situations: rock garden, meadows, borders
Nice in containers
Useful for filling in around plantings of shrubs and trees
Nice with native grasses and other wildflowers such as California Poppy, Blue Flax and Clarkia
Bluedicks – Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum
http://biology.csusb.edu/PlantGuideFolder/DichelostemmaCap/DichelostemmaCapPlant800.jpg
Using native bulbs in the garden
For cultivated beds
Near south- and west-facing walls
In rock gardens and around rocks – or beside a pathway
In rain gardens and near seasonal pools
As a component of mixed prairie plantings
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Dichelostemma/Dichelostemma_capitatum_Kern.jpg
Remember – must have dry period in summer, so place accordingly
© Project SOUND
February 2012 April 2012
August 2012 December 2012
© Project SOUND http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/tips/sunny_slopes.php
1. Knowledge is power
2. It’s easier to work with the
physical conditions in a
garden (soil characteristics,
light, etc.) than to try to
change them dramatically
© Project SOUND
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/barbara-leitner%E2%80%99s-garden?show=slide
3. Make a garden plan –
even though it may
change over time
4. Choose plants based on
their suitability for your
needs and garden
conditions
http://joansbolton.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/a-new-lawn-alternative-california-native-sod/webnative-bentgrass-2/
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Callahan_2008/index.html
All other things being equal:
5. Choose plants for their habitat value
6. Choose plants for their usefulness (food; dyes; etc.)
© Project SOUND
copyright © Lee Dittmann
See previous talks on ground cover plants
– now at ‘Native Plants at CSUDH’ blog
2012
Feb - Low and Northerly – Groundcover Plants from the Northern and Central CA Coast
2011
Jan - Lawns Gone Wild: Local Native Alternatives to the Sod Lawn
2009
Jan - Beyond the Lawn Parking Strip - Designing and Growing a Water-wise Native Parking Strip
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
Come and visit our gardens