Step into any nursery and you can find whatever you need to fill
your garden. There are shrubs, flowers and trees to choose from in
plenty of sizes, shapes and colors. However, you might want to
consider one more thing before picking plants for your backyard
– whether a plant is native to California.
Step into any nursery and you can find whatever you need to fill your garden. There are shrubs, flowers and trees to choose from in plenty of sizes, shapes and colors. However, you might want to consider one more thing before picking plants for your backyard – whether a plant is native to California.
According to the California Native Plant Society, native plants that have grown and evolved in California are an integral part of the ecosystem because they were established in the environment alongside native animals and insects. Planting native plants helps support the natural relationships between organisms in the environment. In addition to their environmental importance, native plants are also easier to care for.
“(Native plants are) suited to the climate, so one of the huge advantages is that you need much less later,” said Sue, a volunteer at Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Native plants may need a lot of water for the first year, she said, but in two to three years, they start to take care of themselves.
Dave Davis of Sierra Azul, a nursery in Aptos, had several suggestions for native plants to grow in all areas of the backyard. He recommended a variety of flowering plants and shrubs for sunny backyards.
“Sages in general are a good bet,” he said, particularly the Cleveland sage, which has grey-green foliage and masses of blue flowers. The perennial shrub reaches a height of about 5 feet.
Davis also suggested California lilac, a flowering shrub with airy blue-purple blooms. Its shiny green foliage makes it ideal for “people needing that tidy look in their backyards,” he said. The shrub can grow between 4 and 6 feet.
Seaside daisy, another flowering plant, sports pink or white daisy-shaped flowers with large yellow centers and grows on the coast from Oregon to central California. The perennial, which has dark green foliage, can be between 6 and 12 inches tall.
Coast silk tassel is a good plant if you need to fill a large space in the yard. It can grow to be 15 to 25 feet in diameter and has large, foot-long “catkins,” or strands of white or silvery blossoms hanging from its foliage.
For shady spots, such as under trees and overhangs, Davis recommended ground covers and shrubs.
Heuchera, also known as alum root, grows well under oak trees. The tough shrub can grow to approximately 2 feet tall. It has maple-like leaves, and its airy blooms can be pink, white or purple. Because of its delicate flowers, Davis suggested planting them in large groups to get be noticeable.
Salal, which can be 3 to 5 feet tall, “has white-pink flowers that hang upside-down,” said Davis. It’s found mostly in the Pacific Northwest but is also native to California. Depending on the variety, the shrub can reach heights of 10 feet.
Columbine, a deciduous plant, “has really striking red and yellow flowers,” said Davis. “They look almost aerodynamic.” The perennial, which has light-green foliage, can grow to 2 or 3 feet.
To care for native plants, gardeners should follow some basic rules about watering. The biggest mistake Davis sees is assuming drought-resistant native plants don’t need to be watered. If you’re putting a nursery plant in the ground, “it needs to be watered weekly until it shows signs of growth,” he said.
For more information on native plants and how to care for them, visit California Native Plant Society online at www.cnps.org.
