Gardening with Native Plants - California Native Plant Society

1. California Native Plant Society
is a statewide, nonprofit organization of amateurs
and professionals with a common interest in
learning about and preserving California native
plants. Membership is open to all.
The mission of CNPS is to increase
understanding and appreciation of California’s
native plants and to conserve them and their
natural habitats through education, science,
advocacy, horticulture, and land stewardship.
CNPS
2707 K Street, Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95816
916-447-2677 • fax 916-447-2727 Gardening with
California
www.cnps.org
Monarch butterfly on lilac verbena (Verbena lilacina) with sandhill
s
­ agebrush (Artemisia pycnocephala) in background. Photo: Peigi Duvall
Native Plants
Photos: Cover: Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea). Photo: Toni Corelli •
Background images: Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora) and Varied-col-
ored lupine (Lupinus variicolor). Photo: Toni Corelli • Below: Bush anemone
Explore the Variety (Carpenteria californica). Photo: Drew Ready.
California’s unique geography has produced
one of the world’s loveliest and most diverse
floras. Large, white Matilija poppies, aromatic
sages, a vine maple’s russet fall leaves, the
cinnamon colored bark hanging on a Catalina
ironwood—these are but a few examples of our
native flora’s beauty and richness. Introduce a
few native plants into your existing garden, or
go totally native. Fall in love with the glorious California Native Plant Society
diversity of California’s native plants. Dedicated to the Preservation
of California Native Flora
Why Garden With Native Plants? Lower Maintenance
While California’s native plants have graced In a garden environment, native plants Pink-flowering
currant (Ribes
gardens worldwide for over a century, few of do best with some attention and care, sanguineum
var. glutinosum
the landscapes designed for but require less ‘Claremont’) and
giant chain fern
our state’s gardens reflect the water, fertilizer, (Woodwardia
fimbriata) at
natural splendor for which pruning, less or Rancho Santa Ana
Botanic Garden.
California is famous. By no pesticide, and Photo: Peigi Duvall
gardening with native plants, less of your time
you can bring the beauty to maintain than
of California into your do many common
own landscape while also garden plants.
receiving numerous benefits. Invite Wildlife
Native plants, hummingbirds, butterflies, and
California wild lilac (Ceanothus impressus). Photo: Peigi Duvall
other beneficial insects are “made for each
Save Water other.” Research shows that native wildlife
Take advantage of water- clearly prefers native plants. California’s
conserving plants in your landscape. Once Reduce Pesticide wealth of insect pollinators can improve
established, many California native plants Native plants fruit set in your garden, while a variety
need minimal irrigation beyond normal have of native insects and birds will
rainfall. Saving water conserves a vital, developed help keep your landscape free of
limited resource and saves money, too. their own mosquitoes and plant-eating bugs.
defenses
A beautiful mixed border of native sages, Encelia, and Clarkia at
Golden West College Native Garden. Photo: Dan Songster
against
many Support Local Ecology
pests and While creating native landscapes
diseases. Since can never replace natural habitats lost
most pesticides A restful spring garden with golden to development, planting gardens, parks,
kill indiscriminately, poppies and native grasses at Santa
Barbara Botanic Garden. and roadsides with California native
beneficial insects become Photo: Peigi Duvall
plants can help provide an important
secondary targets in bridge to nearby remaining wild areas.
the fight against pests. Reducing or Recommend native plants to homeowner
eliminating pesticide use lets natural associations, neighbors, and civic
pest control take over and keeps garden departments. You can also get involved
toxins out of our creeks and watersheds. with local land-use planning processes.

2. Where To Find Native Plants
Going Native
placing and caring for your new plants. Find
Places to see native plants include national more information at native plant nurseries and
forests, state parks, specialty nurseries, their websites.
arboretums and botanic gardens, and
With a little curiosity and research, you can
nature preserves, as well as in books broaden your plant palette. Choose plants
and on websites. Several premier that flower through the seasons. Fill your
gardens open to the public garden with plants that display a riot of
are East Bay Regional Park colors, have deliciously aromatic leaves,
District’s Botanic Garden, or attract specific wildlife. Plant a
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic themed landscape such as a rock garden
Garden, Santa Barbara or wildflower meadow. Discover natives
Botanic Garden, UC Berkeley that are deer- or fire-resistant.
Botanic Garden, and UC Santa In every garden, the right environment
New growth on a bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). Photo:Toni Corelli
Cruz Arboretum. Due to growing Bluff lettuce (sun, soil, water, etc.) must be found or
(Dudleya farinosa).
demand, conventional nurseries and Photo: Carol Mattsson created for plants to thrive. It is easier 1–4 times per month. For a garden full of thriving
garden centers are beginning to carry and advisable to select plants that suit the native plants, check plant-specific watering needs
California native plants. If you don’t find the site rather than to modify the site from authoritative sources.
plant you are looking for, ask for it by name. to suit the plants. Like all gardens,
even established native
landscapes require some Soil
routine maintenance to Most native plants perform better
look their best. without any fertilizer. Extra
nutrients push plants to grow
quickly, sometimes beyond naturally
Growing supportable levels, and can shorten
Conditions their life span. Mulching can be a
Like all living things, valuable practice in low-maintenance
native plants grow Growing together—young Califor-
gardening. A layer of mulch slows
nian with Farewell-to-Spring (Clarkia
best under natural and amoena). Photo: Mark Bourne water evaporation, discourages weed
familiar conditions, germination, and creates a favorable
also known as biotic communities. environment at the soil interface for beneficial
Common California plant biological bacteria. Adding organic matter to soil
communities include northern may be necessary where development has left an
and southern oak woodland, valley infertile top layer.
grassland, chaparral,
desert, coastal sage
Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), common horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and scrub and bluff, mixed
western virgin’s bower (Clematis ligusticifolia). Photo: Drew Ready
evergreen, and redwood forest.
Choosing plants that are native to your
Where To Buy Native Plants
landscape’s community will help ensure
n NPS chapter plant sales—links to local
C
their optimum health and performance.
chapters are at www.cnps.org.
n rboretums and botanic gardens
A
Planting
n ative plant nurseries—listed in books and on
N Although most California natives can
the Internet (e.g. www.cnps.org/horticulture). be planted at any time of year, it is best
to put them in the ground during the
fall and early winter. This gives them
No Wild Collecting, Please!
time to establish a healthy root system
Collecting plants without a permit is illegal on
and build the energy for new growth
California public lands, and wild transplants
and stunning floral displays in spring
often have a poor survival rate. Your local A colorful Southern California garden featuring
and summer.
CNPS chapter or native plant nursery can also flowering shrubs such as flannelbush (Fremonto-
Pruning dendron sp.) and island bush poppy (Dendromecon
provide information on hybridization of rare and harfordii). Photo: Barbara Eisenstein
Watering While many non-native
endangered species and
preserving gene Flowering bright green dudleya (Dudleya virens ssp. hassei) and bear Many native plants can garden plants are often
grass (Nolina parryi ssp. wolfii) add texture and form to a vibrant native Silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Western
pool integrity. garden. Photo: David Fross survive with minimal pruned throughout redbud (Cercis occidentalis), and wild lilac
(Ceanothus sp.). Photo: Chris Lewis
supplemental water the year to keep up
once they have become with their water- and
Getting Started established (after two to five fertilizer-induced
Visit a native plant years). Proper watering can growth, for most native
supplier. Your local present a challenge when plants pruning once per
CNPS chapter is a first becoming acquainted year is sufficient. Check
great source for plant with native plants. Under- plant-specific pruning
suggestions. Many watering of young native tips from authoritative
have their own plant plants is a frequent cause of sources as plant
sales where members death, while over-watering preferences vary. Give
are eager to share can cause root rot and kill them room to grow
their experience and more established species. by properly spacing
knowledge. Make your Some native species them in your garden
selections, and then can maintain a healthy design. Crowded plants
follow the supplier’s appearance for much of the need more frequent
instructions for year while being watered only pruning and care. n