There's also the houseplant section at any Home Depot type of store. They might have a nice red Cordyline (Ti plant), and they can grow to a nice size. Just plunk the plant in the soil, pot and all (make sure it has large holes at the bottom of the pot), and pull it up for a nice houseplant in the winter. If you're looking for perennials for that spot, that's a lot harder to fit the bill. A few suggestions (some of them might be hard to find, but you never know): -Cornus sericea - red twig dogwood (might be taller than what you want) -Berberis thunbergii - Barberry (dwarf varities are available) -Astilbe chinensis 'Vision Red' (there are many dark leaved Astilbes out there) -There are tons of dark leaved Cimicifugas out there too - 'Hilside Black Beauty' is a very common one. (These might be listed as Actaea in some places - they've been renamed to that from Cimicifuga, but it hasn't quite caught on yet) BP

1) To show people that native plants are beautiful, excellent choices for landscaping, to help stop foreign invasive plants from being used. True, but often natives just do not respond the same way to cultivation as they tend to be soil specific, requiring more aeration of the general clayey type soils that constitute the fill that is used in lots homes are built upon. And as people tend to have lawns the way the lawn is handled is generally how the rest of the yard is handled, and that is as easily as possible. 2) To support native plants and animals. These plants were selected because a number of native California butterflies, birds, moths, etc. feed on them. We are also trying to expand the territory of the lonely little grey fox that lives near the conservancy. While many of the plants you list may be attracted to butterflies and moths as well as hummingbirds, you need plants that produce seeds that birds will eat and in your list only the Ribes appears to be so. Plants that are annuals or biennials that produce small seeds for finches or larger seeds for the larger birds of your area, which you need to research. Also butterflies need plants such as milkweed for their caterpillars to feed on. "Lonely little gray fox"??? Grey foxes are solitary hunters! And they can climb trees which is one of their escape routes from dogs. You need large trees with cavities in them for the fox to hide in. Also you will need debris piles, such as piled up branches etc for rodents to live in that the fox can feed on. 3) the bushier plants are meant to discourage trespassing. There is a real issue of homeless people basically invading sections of the river and destroying it. We want to use these plants as a barrier to save the last pristine section of land, which is only maybe a fourth of a mile long, less wide. None of the plants you list can create a suitable barrier apart from the Cornus and even it is not enough to dispell intruders. You need plants like THISTLES fronted by NETTLES to form a wall at least 5 feet deep to discourage intruders but once these idiots learn you are growing Datura then forget it as they will simply find a way to destroy your barriers to get to this plant that is used as a drug. I could not believe that you would list such a dangerous plant like this. It should not be encouraged to be grown. 4) open the door for more native planting projects. If this one is successful, we would do greater habitat restoration projects, where we would actually plant more things that would naturally occur in the area. I really think you people should contact the California Native Plant Society in your area and really talk this over with them. They have the knowledge and resources that can assist you. Check the link. Here is a link that might be useful: CNPS Santa Clara Valley

My soil here is clay but I grow my Salvias in raised beds so they drain well during some of our heavy downpours. We can better answer your questions with some more info... 1)Do you know which Salvia you have? I have about 8 different species that are red. 2)Is you plant in sun or shade? I prune some of my plants twice a year then feed w/a slow release organic fertilizer 6-12-6(No Salt). The potassium helps in areas where it is tied up in the soil and unavailable to the plant. 3)What part of California? Art

It may be true that the rock keeps the roots of some sun plants too cool, but you might have better luck with sun plants if you put the plants in when already at a mature size before the rudbeckias come up in the year. You don't say if you're trying to start from seed back there, which would be hopeless because it's cool on the ground. As for selection, I'm wondering about a red astilbe, but I have to admit I don't like the mental image of that with the rudbeckia. You could go with coloured foliage - Eupatorium, or Joe Pye weed, in one of the "Chocolate" varieties. How about a tall red rose otherwise?