Overwhelm with California Native Plant Selections

12 years ago

My front yard is lava rock/gravel with a few trees. I'd like to plan a water-wise planting. (San Diego - Zone 23) The yard has three obvious zones. I'm thinking 6-inch to one-footers near the street, 1-2 foot plants in the middle and 3 footers near the house. So the visual effect would be a rising landscape of plants.

Every specific list of plants (California natives, water-wise, shrubs, etc.) gives me a long list of plants alphabetical by name (which might as well be in Chinese) with no clue to the size, color or anything else without me individually tracking down each one.

I'd love to see lists like.....

California Natives, water-wise, ground cover

California Natives, water-wise, 6 inches to one foot

California Natives, water-wise, 1 to 3 feet

Maybe even with photos so I could get ideas about color selection.

I just got "Western Gardner" which has several lists like this, plants for pots, water-wise plants, etc. So I'm tending to use this book only.

Are there other net sources that will help me get a breakdown like I describe above?

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Comments (9)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
12 years ago
Keep in mind that many CA natives are extremely microclimate specific. What thrives in Santa Cruz shrivels in Barstow, for example. The Las Pilitas website is an excellent place to start. Many articles there on what works and what does not. ( I do not work for LP nor have any connection to them)

Also check into your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society.

Here is a link that might be useful: las pilitas website
wcgypsy
12 years ago
San Diego County Library has some excellent native plant books...one in particular that I'm looking at right now is
'California Native Plants for the Garden' by Carol Bornstein, David Fross and Bart O'Brien. It's an excellent book with great info and plant pictures in landscape situations. Check it out....literally....lol.
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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
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Beautiful Cori Ann! Does it smell as wonderful as the descriptions? I meant to post back that out of my original 6 plants that "Failed," 5 miraculously started to show green leaves. Apparently bunny munching didn't destroy the root system. I was glad I hadn't gotten around to removing them yet. So we put chicken fence around to protect from grazing and they are slowly growing. Nothing like yours for sure, but I was amazed that they tried to come back. No blooms.
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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
12 years ago
I totally agree with hoovb, sdgardener. I live about 15 minutes away from Las Pilitas (they're up here in N. County, in Escondido off of the 15 and old 395). They will definitely get you set up. They can help you to lay out a CA native garden that will do well in our area. And David Fross' books are excellent, especially his one on Ceanothus and his join venture with Carol Bornstein, "California Native Plants for the Garden', definitely worth purchasing. There are many, many excellent choices that will do very well here. Las Pilitas can help you to "build" a garden, starting with low and moving back to taller CA natives. Also, the San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society is quite active, and another great resouce, see their link below.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: California Native Planty Society-San Diego Chapter
lynne3450
12 years ago
Very exciting that you've decided to undertake a CA native, low water garden!

Do you know what exposure your new plants will get? (N, S, E, W?) That's important in helping you decide which ones to plant.

Many CA natives will appreciate full sun. I'm assuming you have well-draining soil? They say to dig a hole 1' x 1' and fill it with water from the hose. Watch how long it takes to drain to determine if your soil drains well or if it's thick like clay. You'll want to know this information, too, when you go to Las Pilitas to select your plants.

You'll want to think about what you have in mind and what your goals are. Color? Hummingbirds and butterflies? Scent? Do you prefer succulents?

Try to go on a garden tour to pick up some inspiration. The books recommended above are great.

It simply takes time to learn the names of the plants you like. Just keep reading and looking at photos online.

And remember to give each plant plenty of space when you put them in the ground. Respect the space requirements! (I learned that lesson the hard way!)

Salvias= sages

Ceanothus = California lilacs

Arctostaphylos = manzanita

Those are pretty popular broad categories for some interesting CA natives if you like flowering plants. A good place to start, in my opinion :)
buddyben
12 years ago
I second the Bornstein book. I, too, started my native plant garden from scratch about 6 years ago. The Bornstein book was my main resource by far. I am pretty much self-taught and it wouldn't have been possible without that book.
sandiego.gardner
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the great tips!
I've taken some photos of my yard, so I'll take them to Las Pilitas soon to see what they have to say.
I would never have thought of the public library! I used to spend a LOT of time there, but (for me) the Internet has made libraries obsolete. I pass by two on the way to work, so they will be stops for me soon.
Thanks again.
wcgypsy
12 years ago
Really, I would look at the Bornstein book before going to Las Pilitas. You can take more time in making your decisions and this book shows you pics of full size plants in actual conditions. You go to Las Pilitas and you'll see plants in pots that don't give you any idea of what that plant is really going to look like when it's grown. You may also see just what you want to know what to look for when you do go to the nursery...it avoids impulse buys that may not be the best choices. You may see something you want for a particular site that Las Pilitas doesn't have available the day you're there and you'll never know about it....You may also want to take an outing to the native plant section at San Diego Botanic Gardens (formerly Quail Gardens). The first Tuesday of each month is 'Free' day...no charge for entry. Or even, take a day and go look at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens to see natives growing in 'real life', not pots....
lgteacher
12 years ago
You can also contact your local Master Gardeners for information. http://www.mastergardenerssandiego.org/

Here is a link that might be useful: What's Growing On?
chezron
12 years ago
SD Gardener,
There is another book specifically for So Cal called Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern California by George Oxford Miller. This book doesn't have as many plants as the Bornstein book but it has really good photos. Have you joined the California Native Plant Society yet? They have a San Diego chapter that has an excellent online forum. They answer my questions all the time. Try to learn the botanical names as they are commonly used. There is another excellent book called Designing California Native Gardens by Keator and Middlebrook. The book emphasizes planting plants together that come from the same plant community. This makes sense as they share the same site requirements. They also look good together. Good luck.

Overwhelm with California Native Plant Selections

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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

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Overwhelm with California Native Plant Selections

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