In the Garden Articles

Fall Planting: Great Natives

by Joan S. Bolton

To my way of thinking, fall is just about the best time of year in the garden. Of course, spring and early summer aren't too shabby, either. But fall provides the best opportunity for planting most perennials, shrubs and trees. The soil is still warm and welcoming. The late summer's hot, dry, windy days are fading. And it's comfortable working outdoors again.

New plants like fall because cooler temperatures and shorter days mean they're not as likely to wilt or dry out while they establish their roots in your garden soil.

Natives are especially happy to be planted now, because winter rains will help get them growing. By next summer, they should be well positioned to survive with only an occasional soak, rather than regular watering.

The following natives are great candidates for cultivated gardens.

Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis)

This sun-loving, evergreen shrub is native to coastal bluffs and bears tight, overlapping leaves that resemble traditional boxwood. The most fanatical gardeners may clip it into topiaries or formal hedges. The rest of us are content to leave it alone to spread rapidly in rolling waves. Two low-growing versions are good for sweeps on open slopes: Pigeon Point grows 2 feet tall and 8 feet wide, while Twin Peaks #2 grows 3 feet tall and 8 feet wide.

Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica)

The snow-white flowers on this slow-growing, evergreen shrub are reminiscent of camellias. But the plants have a looser habit, with upright, somewhat floppy stems bearing flowers close to their tips. Bush anemone will grow in full sun, but its narrow, dark-green or bluish-green leaves look fresher in part shade. The plants may eventually reach 6 feet or taller. They're easy to trim to keep within bounds.

California lilac (Ceanothus)

Most varieties of this evergreen shrub bloom in late winter or early spring, with wands of flowers toward their tips in shades of blue -- from powder puff to dark navy. There are a few whites and pinks as well. The leaves are typically glossy and green. However, variegated types, such as the bushy El Dorado and ground-cover Diamond Heights, are splotched with yellowy chartreuse.

Size varies, too. Cliff Schmidt is among the largest, growing up to 20 feet tall and blooming in baby blue. Concha grows 6 to 8 feet tall and bears dark-blue flowers. Centennial, Anchor Bay, Heart's Desire and Ceanothus hearstiorum are among the lowest, reaching only about 2 feet tall yet spreading 4 to 6 feet wide. With more varieties becoming available all the time, be sure to read the label for height and spread.

California lilacs are best with good drainage and full sun. If the rains don't provide, water them well over the winter. Keep them away from regular irrigation after that.

Seaside daisy (Erigeron glaucus)

This low-growing, long-blooming daisy is becoming ever more popular, with a series of new selections coming on the market. All bloom in shades of lavender, with yellow centers. They include Cape Sebastian, Wayne Roderick, Bountiful and Sea Breeze. It's interesting to note that the species is native to coastal dunes, bluffs and beaches, yet in the garden, it tends to grow fuller and produce more flowers in fertile clay than in loose, sandy soil. In either setting, trim the dead flowers to encourage repeat blooming.

Buckwheat (Eriogonum)

The many native species of buckwheat are great habitat plants, providing sustenance to butterflies, bees, birds and beneficial insects. They ask only for sun, good drainage and next to no water.

St. Catherine's lace (Eriogonum giganteum) grows 4 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. In summer, it appears as a shimmering mass of flat-topped clusters of grayish-white flowers. The flowers shift to a warm, russet brown in the fall, marking the changing seasons.

eriogonum grande var. rubescens 05 205 163

Much lower to the ground and much deserving of recent buzz is red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens). The oval, clumping leaves are green on top and white underneath. In late summer, pompoms of hot pink flowers hover above, attracting butterflies.

Island snapdragon (Galvezia speciosa)

Hummingbirds love sipping nectar from the clusters of scarlet tubular flowers that bloom just about year-round on this evergreen shrub. Although the plants are said to grow well in full sun, my best efforts have been in dry shade, beneath a coast live oak. The tidy, light-green leaves offer a sense of lushness, yet the plants are surprisingly drought tolerant.

Island snapdragon grows 5 to 7 feet wide and about 4 feet tall. Its branches do flop -- it's not a manicured look unless you prune regularly.

Pacific Coast iris (Iris Pacific Coast Hybrids)

These are not rigid or upright, like a florist or bearded iris. Instead, they are grassy, foot-tall spreading clumps that bear spring or summer flowers at their tips, or sometimes nestled in the leaves. The flowers range from white, lavender and purple, to pink and soft gold.

The plants are not particularly impressive as single specimens. Instead, they look best when planted in an informal mass. Provide sun or shade, with good drainage. If you garden in heavy clay, plant on a slope or in a raised bed. Regular irrigation produces greener leaves; the plants may go a tad dormant with no summer water.

Monkey flower (Mimulus)

The native species is often seen growing out of cliffs along local roads and hiking trails, blooming in light and dark shades of orange, from spring through summer. Many of the hybrids are more compact, growing only 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, with flowers ranging from pure white to yellow, burgundy or dark red. Provide sun to filtered shade, good drainage, loose soil and little summer water.

Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)

This evergreen, warm-season perennial grass is perfect for the edge of a meadow or path, or on a slope, where it will help control erosion. Deer grass grows big: its dense, green clumps spread 3 to 6 feet wide.

Meanwhile, its upright, undeniably soft leaf stalks stretch up to 5 feet tall, turning a tawny brown in late summer. It forms a striking silhouette as a single plant, or a dramatic drift of many. Provide full sun and decent drainage.

Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)

Common in the local back country, this evergreen shrub forms a robust screen, 8 to 12 feet wide and up to 20 feet tall. Plant several for a solid hedge. You can easily trim it to a more manageable size. But if you try to keep it less than 4 feet wide, it may become woody at the base.

Lemonade berry's small, sticky fruits really do taste like lemon. They're edible and attract birds. The plants are good windbreaks and help control erosion control. Provide sun or shade, and little summer water.

Pink-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum)

The many varieties of this deciduous shrub are good companion plants beneath sycamores, native alders or anywhere else with not-quite-dry shade. The species grows 5 to 12 feet tall, while Claremont grows 8 feet tall and Spring Showers grows 6 feet tall.

All bear streamers of dainty pink flowers in spring and summer, and attract hummingbirds.

Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)

This giant, semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is great for the back of the border, where its narrow stems can soar a seemingly impossible 6 to 10 feet, all the while bearing large, floppy white flowers at the tips. The stalks collapse at the end of the summer. Cut them off within a foot of the ground for a new surge the following spring.

Matilija poppies are notoriously difficult to get going. But once you do, don't let them take over the rest of your garden. Dig out any runners that pop up in unwanted places. Provide full sun, poor soil and no summer water.

Blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)

This large deciduous shrub also needs room, growing 8 to 25 feet tall and wide, with many upright stems forming a thicket of green leaves. It's easy to train into a small, multi-trunked tree that you can plant beneath.

Flat-topped clusters of ivory white flowers appear in spring, then mature into sky-blue edible berries in summer that attract birds. Water occasionally for the lushest feel. Although blue elderberry tolerates fairly dense shade, it will produce the most berries in full sun.

California fuchsia (Zauschneria californica)

This shrubby perennial is inconspicuous most of the year. But in late summer, it bursts into bloom with hundreds of bright coral or firecracker red tubular flowers that bring in the hummingbirds.

California fuchsia prefers rocky slopes and sandy soil and is best with some summer water. Trim it to a few inches from the ground over winter. This will rejuvenate the plants and let you more easily spot any runners or volunteer seedlings that may appear.

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Seeds of Wisdom

Fall is a great time to plant most trees, shrubs and perennials. But wait until next spring to install subtropicals and tropicals, such as bougainvillea, citrus, hibiscus and palm trees, which are vulnerable to frost and freezing temperatures, especially when newly planted.