New rain helps California native plants take root

California native plants have often been featured in this column for multiple reasons. Because we are now in the season the rains help newly installed plants to form roots, an overview of these plants is timely for those planning to develop their gardens.

California gardeners have these principal reasons to grow California native plants:

They are easy to grow because they are fully adapted to the soil, climate, and physical environment of their specific territory; they have symbiotic relationships with other plants and animals that are native to the same area, particularly insects that birds depend upon; they are highly varied attractive additions to the landscape.

We have ready access to exotic (i.e., non-native) plants and might enjoy growing varieties that have adapted to climates similar to our own gardens. These are plants native to the world’s so-called Mediterranean climates, also called summer-dry climates. Combining native and exotic plants in your landscape can be successful and satisfying.

Still, naturalists and horticulturalists often recommend including a substantial percentage of native plants in your garden because they support specific insects that provide nutrition for many birds that we appreciate.

The ideal mix of natives and exotics depends on several factors, including the gardener’s individual preferences. A landscape with all native plants clearly would be fully compatible with the web of life in your garden, while a 50-50 mix could be supportive of the insects that have evolved to depend on native plants. A strong advocate of symbiosis in the garden, entomologist Doug Tallamy recommends including at least 70% native plants.

Some gardeners might regard California native plants as wild-looking and less attractive than other possibilities, but they could be thinking of untended plants in their natural habitats, rather than well-managed garden specimens. Many plants require seasonal pruning or dividing to achieve their best appearance.

Following are a few samples of the California native plants that enhance my garden and require minimal maintenance.

The Western Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis) is a deciduous shrub that can grow in sun or partial shade to 10 feet high and wide, with burgundy red flowers that have a fragrance like red wine.

The Bush Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus), with a blossom of Pacific Coast Iris ‘Canyon Snow’, grows 5 feet high and wide, with light orange blossoms that attract bees and hummingbirds. Some cultivars have blossoms that vary in color from white to red.

Pacific Coast Irises are available in a wide variety of colors, resulting from the work of many hybridizers. This selection has a pleasing combination of purple shades and white, with streaks of yellow.

Lewis’s Mock-Orange (Philadelpus lewisii), named for explorer Meriwether Lewis of the 1860 Lewis and Clark Expedition, is a deciduous shrub with a generous display of white blossoms, that produce a “heavy, sweet scent similar to orange blossoms with a hint of pineapple.” This is a fast-growing plant, to 10 feet tall and wide in full sun or part shade. Annual maintenance consists of cutting about one-third of its stalks to the ground, to constrain its shape.

The Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia) is an evergreen shrub that grows low and wide in coastal area (3 feet tall, 30 feet wide); pruning can control its size. Its dark red, tart-flavored fruits are significant food source for birds and small mammals.

The Pink-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum glutinosum) blooms February to April, feeding hummingbirds and bees, and later produces blackberries that delight birds. In the spring, hard pruning will contain its size, which could grow in shade to 12 feet tall and wide. Other cultivars include the White Icicle (R. s. ‘Ubric’) and the red-flowered Chaparral Currant (R. ‘Barrie Coate’).

The Fried Egg Poppy or Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) grows best in fast-raining, even sandy soil and a sunny location. It will reach 6 feet tall and will spread vigorously through rhizomes (which could be removed routinely.) In spring and summer, it provides a fine display of ‘papier mache” white blossoms with yellow centers.

Many books on California native plants are available. Searching Amazon.com for “California plants” will generate a list of about 75 books to buy or find in your local library. Some books focus on plants of southern California or the state’s inland areas and would not be most helpful for Monterey Bay area gardeners.