Native Plants in the Home Garden

T he variety of native plants in California make them an excellent choice for a drought tolerant garden. Most of them are less prone to pest and disease problems and are pollinator friendly. There are plants for each micro-climate here in our area. Just like us, they have an affinity for a specific location, much like ours in seeking new real estate.

Sources for native plant information

Lucky for us, there are many online sources and books on native plants and their care, in addition to gardens to view established plants. Starting with a web site or book with pictures of the plants in bloom or fully leafed out is the most fun way to get started. Native plants come in an array of colors, textures, shapes and sizes. Size can be an important aspect to consider, many native plants have a considerable spread in width, with a 6-8 foot spread not being unusual.

Online:

UC Davis Arboretum (https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/)

Las Pilitas Nursery (https://laspilitas.com)

Master Gardener site- https://ucanr.edu/ sites/uc_master_gardeners/local_gardening_articles_-_info/ Gardening__

California Native Plant Society(https:// www.cnps.org)

Books:

Baldwin, Bruce G, Goldman, Douglas, Keil, David J, Patterson, Robert, Rosatti, Thomas J & Wilken, Dieter (2012) The Jepson Manual. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press

Bornstein, Carol (2005) California Native Plants for the Garden. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma Press

Ellas, Peyton (2018) Gardening with California Native Plants. Morgan Hill, CA: Bookstand Publishing

Rowntree, Lester (2006) Hardy Californians: A Woman's Life with Native Plants. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press;

Schmidt, Marjorie G. & Greenberg, Katherine L (2012) Growing California Native Plants. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press

Gardens: Clovis Botanical Garden; Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden; Santa Barbara Botanic Garden; Veterans Memorial Building Garden Three Rivers; Mary Wattis Brown Native Garden at UC Davis Arboretum

Research prior to shopping is wise Plant shopping is a major temptation for gardeners and the plants are primped to tease you to buy. Researching the plants which will do well in your site and their requirements will focus your shopping and make for better outcomes in the garden. Native plants are generally drought tolerant, but some are native to shade, have specific growing conditions or prefer wet areas. Some native plants are toxic if eaten, a concern with children, pets and domestic animals.

Nurseries often pot plants in a soil-less mix, which allows water to drain very quickly and many water their plants regularly. If you take the plant home and set it out in the sun without regular watering, it may fade and die. Ensure smooth home life by asking how the plants at the nursery are packaged for sale and how they have been watered.

When to plant your new friends in the garden As a general rule, fall or early spring is the best time to plant shrubs, small plants or trees. The fall ground is still warm, there is a reasonable amount of sun light and the winter rains will allow for the establishment of a good root system. Seeds and bulbs may require special handling or timing to achieve the best results. Some native plant seeds are designed to be “processed” by passing through the digestive system of birds or other animals. There are techniques to break down the heavy seed coating to enhance germination of the seed kernel inside. It is again best to research your plants' usual situation and how to mimic it for best success.

The first season after planting does require some attention Even plants which will triple in width by the end of the season take time to get established. A garden area of native plants will need to be weeded regularly, especially the first spring. Depending on the amount of winter rain, newly planted natives will need regular watering their first year. Check the soil moisture near the plant with a moisture meter a couple of times a week initially. Watering deeply, but infrequently encourages a strong, deep root system, which will let the plant survive our hot summers with less water overall. Allow the soil to dry between watering, consistently wet soil will often cause the plant to die outright. There are some exceptions, bladderpod, (Isomeris arborea), which requires no attention after planting. It can survive on winter rain alone and just needs intruding weeds kept under control.

Concerns with the use of native plants In some seasons, the plants might not look like a well tended garden. It is wise to research the bloom and growing season for each native plant. The wide variety of plants means you can plan for flowering plants from spring to fall, and inter-plant with evergreens which is optimal for pollinators who need a continuous food source.

Plants may be native to California or a Mediterranean climate, but they are opinionated about location in your garden. Grouping native plants according to their water, soil and sun/shade needs is key. Overwatering is the primary culprit in native plant death in gardens. Some native plants can be mixed in with more moderate water use plants or used near lawn areas, but research on the native plants' requirements in essential for growing success with natives. Native plants often become established with a major tap root, so it is wise to plan their location carefully and not attempt to move them once established. The tap root causes them to generally require less water and is very helpful in reducing soil erosion on a slope.

Native plants are more expensive, and access is limited, they are not usually mass produced by growers and require special handling to become a sell-able size. This can make them a little more expensive 'initially'. In a perennial garden setting, they can be much more cost effective, as they are long lived and many spread substantially from their original size. I found a native, a butterfly bush, at a large garden center. This plant was a sorry looking specimen (going dormant) on the cheap plants rack. It became ultimately so large, it had to be pruned to fit the space in the garden and attracted butterflies to its flowers. Lucky us!

Determining the source of failure to thrive in native plants Even though you researched the plant's favorite location, drought tolerance and climate of origin, it did not survive, what next? Did anything change in your garden- a tree taken down, a new fence creating shade, a new pet sampling or being indiscreet in the vicinity? Particularly with native plants, a hidden problem, such as a broken underground irrigation line, may be soaking its root system. If a plant dies, it is smart to dig it up to check the development of the root system, did the roots spread at all after planting? Also check the planting hole, is it dry or wet and foul smelling? An overly saturated soil will prevent the roots from being able to exchange oxygen and the plant will die. Are native plants worth some extra effort?

Absolutely Native plants have character, with various bloom times, texture and colors. Once established, their water use and care is significantly less than other types of plant material. Beneficial insects and pollinators will be delighted to visit your garden. Most native plants are less prone to pest damage and by inviting in beneficial insects, you will find little need for pest control other than a spray of water over the leaves to disrupt any invaders. Sustainable Central Valley style gardening at its best.

The UCCE Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions at the following venues in:

Home & patio Springfest will held 2-8/9/102019, 11-6pm. We will be there to meet you in the Convention Center's court next to the Marriott. We will also be part of the Urban Farm Booth demonstrating Square Foot Gardening and Gutter Gardening. See you there!

World Ag Expo, 2-12/13/14-2019 look for us in the UCANR booth.

Visalia Senior Center Garden, every Friday from 11-12. 310 N. Locust Street.

Visalia's Farmer's Market in Sears Parking lot, you can find us each Saturday 9-12pm.

For answers to all your home gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners in Tulare County at (559) 684-3325. Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:30am; or in Kings County at (559) 8522736, Thursdays only, 9:30-11:30am; or visit our website to search past articles, find links to UC gardening information, or to email us with your questions: http://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/ We love to talk plants. Come ask us your gardening questions!