Hide that (ugly) wall 2012

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND

Hide That (Ugly) Wall
or Fence

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve
November 3 & 6, 2012

© Project SOUND

The ugly wall/fence: we’ve all seen them

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/CA/Long-Beach/6147-Brayton-
Ave-203_P828073.htm

http://chrissuh.com/find-a-home/los-angeles/
© Project SOUND

What options do I have?

© Project SOUND

Options for dealing with an ugly
wall/fence
 Turn it into a focal point
 Paint it to create a design element

 Put a new fence in front of it

 Cover it with something nice – clad it

 Hide/camouflage it:
 Paint/cover it to make it disappear

 Hide it in plain sight – plant / place
something interesting in front of it
 Camouflage/soften with plants

© Project SOUND

Wall art/murals can make a strong statement

http://www.mcgonaglestudio.com/otherExpressions.php

© Project SOUND
http://www.classicmurals.com/galleriffic-2.0/classic_murals_garden_patio.html http://decorateyourfence.com/Fence_Murals.html

Even chain-link fences can be works of art

So most fences can be turned
into the equivalent of an artist’s
canvas
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ancawonka/2326986871/

Modernizing old
walls with additions
& tasteful color

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t698367.html

http://rhsblog.co.uk/category/garden-trellis-to-offer-privacy-for-walls-or-a-fence-london/ © Project SOUND

Weigh the pros/cons of
making your wall a focal point
 Pros
 Unique look – can literally
make a yard come alive
 Adds colors not available in
plant world
http://www.abecoley.com/murals
http://www.archidir.com/house-design/sustainable-barrow-timber-house-design-by-andrew-  Can be an artistic adventure
maynard-in-melbourne/

 Cons
 Need to be an artist – or
hire one
 Difficult to plant around –
dominates the landscape
 May get tired of it

http://muralsforyou.net/category/backyard-mural/
© Project SOUND
http://uglyhousephotos.com/wordpress/?p=15751

wall/fence


 Cover/re-face it with something
nice – clad it


 Hide it in plain sight – plant
something interesting in from of it

© Project SOUND

Put up a new fence in front of it
 Pros
 May help keep the peace with your
neighbor – s/he keeps the old one
 Looks nice and new – your choice of style
 Don’t need to remove old fence

 Con
 Cost
 ?? wastefull

http://sunshinecontractingcorp.com/fencing/composite-vinyl/

http://www.sousaironworks.com/wood.htm

© Project SOUND

Maybe you don’t need to re-fence the
whole area
 Save the expensive fencing material
for areas that are focal points
 Some ideas: a large freestanding
screen, arch or arbor; a fountain;
wall art; shelves to hold flower pots;
a large tile mosaic picture
http://www.jmsfeatures.com/

© Project SOUND
http://www.houzz.com/wall-trellis-design/ls=4
http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com/2010/06/privacy-screen-project-final-reveal.html

Or maybe you can find a more
economical solution
 You may not need a whole new
fence – just something to cover it
 By making less of a statement with
the fence/wall, you have more
room for creative use of plants
http://www.landscapingnetwork.com/products/fencing-gates/bamboo.html

http://www.landscapingla.com/patios/hidden-backyard-patio/
© Project SOUND

Re-facing/covering
an old wall
 We tend to think of stucco (we do
live in the California, after all);
many more options

http://www.todayshomeowner.com/build-a-concrete-block-wall-the-easy-way-
 Pros:
with-quikrete-quikwall/
 Cost – may be less than a new
fence/wall; small jobs can be done
by the home-owner
 Durability
 Can be an important design element
 Usually easy to combine with plants
– more backdrop than focal point
 Cons:
 Not appropriate for all house styles
 Usually light colors

© Project SOUND

Fence cladding – hiding the wall/fence
 Fence cladding : any material that is
affixed to the front of the
fence/wall to disguise it or to create
more privacy.
 Pros:
 hide an ugly, tired looking fence that
http://article.wn.com/view/2012/05/30/Former_Rockwall_mayor_
is in otherwise good condition
Bill_Cecil_in_runoff_for_county_Commis/

 Can be much cheaper than replacing
the fence altogether
 No negotiating a new fence with a
neighbor (who may be perfectly
happy with what’s already there!).
 Better fit with some home styles –
more possibilities

© Project SOUND

Cladding materials  Bamboo cladding – Comes as rolls of
bamboo reeds that are fixed
together, or as thicker bamboo rods.
Environmentally friendly; perfect for
a tropical look.
 Timber cladding – Perennially popular
- natural beauty of timber never goes
out of style. Timber cladding can be
applied vertically or horizontally and it
can be left natural or painted,
http://besthomedecorators.com/solid/solid-black-bamboo-fences.html depending on your goals and
http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/woodcare/latticepanelinstallation.htm preferences.
 Lattice cladding – relatively
inexpensive and good for growing
plants on/in front of. Readily
available & easy to install. Can be
painted/stained to accentuate or
make it disappear.

© Project SOUND
http://rhsblog.co.uk/2012/07/02/cedar-timber-batten-cladding-trellis-privacy-screen/

Cladding materials:
more choices all the time
 Stone cladding/veneer – Expensive but
nice looking. Stone cladding uses thin
pieces or “tiles” of stone that are
attached to the fencing surface in some
ways, and you can choose from a variety
of natural stones.
 Brick veneer/cladding
 Vinyl/plastic siding
 Fiber cement siding/panels – Cheap,
long lasting and effective. Easily
attached to existing fence; very strong.
This means that you can fix things
directly to the cladding and paint it the
color of your choice.
 Metal cladding
© Project SOUND
http://clippings.com/projects/extension-and-refurbishment-of-badies-health-centre-4951

Some ideas to make your wall/fence a garden accent
 Screens mounted on to a wall to create
an interesting feature. Laser-cut steel
screens come in many patterns and
options, with finishes including rust,
stainless steel and powder-coated colors
for design highlights.

http://www.ottawahort.org/2009may27tour.htm  Garden art is popular and there are many
options, including three-dimensional wall
panels. Choose the colors carefully and
ensure the sculpture finish is suitable.
 Lighting will create interesting effects
and the options with colored LEDs can
transform and improve the look of an
ugly wall at night.
http://www.decorfortheoutdoors.com/outdoor-wall-decor.html

© Project SOUND

wall/fence




 Hide it in plain sight – plant
something interesting in from of it

© Project SOUND

Paint/stain can accentuate or hide a fence or wall
 A coat of paint gives your fence a
new look and hides any blemishes
 Certain colors help the fence blend
into the surroundings, making it less
noticeable; others accent it.
 To camouflage the fence with paint,
consider the colors in the
surrounding landscape.
 A dark gray-green or gray-brown
http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news/?cat=130
color helps the fence blend in with
existing plants.
 The dark color often seems to
In general, matt or semi-gloss disappear and makes other elements
paints blend in better than shiny of your landscape, including plants
textures and your home, the focal point
© Project SOUND

What fades into nothing in this wall art?

http://www.rhinoink.ca/murals/murals-floral.html

Answer: the colors that blend in with the natural landscape beyond

© Project SOUND

The disappearing fence

http://www.creatingabeautifulworld.org/

Basic principles (for hiding a wall/fence with color):
1. Darker is better (looks like shadows)
2. Grayer is better (looks like in the distance)
3. Match darker areas in the surrounding landscape – bring color chips home
© Project SOUND

http://www.digginfood.com/2010/08/gutter-gardens/ http://www.metalmates.com.au/html/colorbond_fencing.html

http://www.housetohome.co.uk/room-idea/picture/country-gardens-10-of-the-best/9
© Project SOUND

Privacy slats
 Privacy slats come in either
metal or plastic vinyl.
 These slats are threaded
through the links of the chain
http://www.ricksfencing.com/blog/chain-link-fencing-not-just-for-baseball-diamonds/ to create screening.
 Privacy slats now come in a
variety of style, textures, and
color including faux "hedge"
slats and ones that offer total
privacy.
 Privacy slats average $3 to $4
a linear foot for a 6" fence.

http://www.macsfence.com/chainlink.html © Project SOUND

The same color principles apply to privacy slats

http://www.pexco.com/pages/PexcoFenceFeatherLock.aspx

© Project SOUND
http://besthomedecorators.com/black/black-vinyl-coated-chain-
link-fence-with-privacy-slats-flickr.html

Why is she spending all this time on
fences/walls?

Because hardscape – including fences/walls
– sets the stage for the garden © Project SOUND

Hardscape sets the stage…

© Project SOUND
http://garden-designs.org/2011/07/04/perennial-garden-design/ http://www.hortuscapes.com/CLWclassslides.html

wall/fence




 Hide it in plain sight – plant (put)

© Project SOUND
http://my.gardenguides.com/forums/topic/14267?page_no=3

Bladderpod – Cleome isomeris/ Isomeris arborea

© Project SOUND

Bladderpod – Cleome isomeris/ Isomeris arborea

 CA, AZ and Baja
 Literally from the shore to
the eastern deserts in S.
California
 Wide habit distribution
 hills, bluffs, and stabilized
dunes of the sea coast
 Hills and desert washes at
the desert edges.
 CA’s only member of the
Caper family (Capparaceae)
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Isomeris+arborea

© Project SOUND

Characteristics of  Size:
 2-10 ft tall (usually 3-6 ft)
Bladderpod  3-6+ ft wide

 Growth form:
 Woody shrub; spreading shape
 Develops interesting gnarled
branches with age – very
decorative (like bonsai tree)
 Moderate growth rate;
moderately long-lived (30+ years
in Zone 1-2 or 2)

 Foliage:
 Medium-textured
 Light gray-green; nice color
 Unusual odor when crushed
 Drought deciduous

 Roots: long taproot – don’t move once
established © Project SOUND

Bladderpod is well suited for the water-
wise garden
 Soils:
 Texture: must be well-drained;
likes a sandy or rocky soil
 pH: any local, including very
alkali

 Light: full sun

 Water:
 Winter: resents too much
tolerates seaside conditions water; may need to plant on
(salt-spray; wind) but will be berm if drainage is poor
smaller, shorter
 Summer: Zone 1-2 to 2 (will
retain leaves); very drought
tolerant – don’t over-water!!
Rejuvenate an old plant by coppicing
 Fertilizer: none
© Project SOUND

Bladderpod’s flowers and pods are fantastic
 Blooms:
 A little bit year-round
 Feb-May is main bloom season in
coastal lowlands

 Flowers:
 Unusual and showy – many
flowers at one time
 Bright yellow, bell-shaped;
exserted anthers (male parts)
 very attractive to bees (it’s
main pollinators) and
hummingbirds

 Seeds:
 Inflated, bladder-like pod
 Large seeds; may reseed if
happy
© Project SOUND

Bladderpod is a perfect ‘attention grabber’
 Attractive color foliage
 Unusual and/or attractive
shape
 Nice bark
 Pretty flowers/funky pods
 Wonderful wildlife visiting/
feeding at it

 Who has time to notice the
fence !!!

© Project SOUND

Another good choice would be a manzanita

© Project SOUND

* Baja Birdbush – Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia

© 2005 TRNERR P. Roullard
© Project SOUND

* Baja Birdbush – Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia
 Very limited range (narrow endemic) :
San Diego Co. and N. Baja
 In Chaparral from 180-2500‘

 listed as endangered under the
California Endangered Species Act.

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3582,3583

©2005 TRNERR P. Roullard © Project SOUND

An unusual and lovely shrub of small tree
 Size:
 6-10 ft tall
 6-8 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Erect, multi-branched evergreen
shrub
© 2005 TRNERR P. Roullard
 Reddish-brown bark; peels in thin
sheets to expose smooth, white or
gray-green stems – hence the
common name ‘Palo blanco’;

 Foliage:
 thick, linear leaves - shiny green
above and pale green beneath
 Looks almost like an olive

© Project SOUND

Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: well-drained, rocky
 pH: any local except alkali

 Light:
 Full sun best
 Part-sun OK

 Water:
 Winter: adequate
 Summer: looks best with
occasional water (Zone 2 ore
1-2) but very drought
tolerant.

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

 Other: leaf mulch/self-mulch

© Project SOUND

Garden uses for Palo
Blanco
 As a unique and rare
specimen plant – like a
manzanita
 As a small tree – somewhat
like Crepe Myrtle in
architecture
 In a white/moonlight garden

 Does well in large pots

 Can even make an informal
hedge
 Good for hot gardens

http://www.flickr.com/photos/briweldon/5209373967/ © Project SOUND

Hiding in plain
sight really works!

© Project SOUND

Walls/fences can provide
food and beauty
 Hanging pots/planters with greens, herbs

 Used to support melons & other vines

 Fruit trees espaliered along a wall

http://monkeyfister.blogspot.com/2009_04_26_archive.html

http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/landscaping/design/Chai
http://www.bellewood-gardens.com/2006/Garden%20Writers'%20Get-Together.html nReaction.aspx © Project SOUND

 First introduce in the Roman times
Espaliers and later mastered in the European
Middle Ages, espaliers were a way of
planting fruit trees and berry-
bearing shrubs in limited spaces
(small courtyards) because they are
trained to grow vertically along flat
surfaces.
 They can be created using fruit trees
and/or selected native shrubs/trees
http://thisbountifulbackyard.com/2012/05/13/mothers-day-trip-to-
chicago-botanic-garden/
(need to have proper growth
structure)
 Great use of narrow spaces

 An espalier can add color, texture,
smell and many other elements to a
dull wall/fence.

© Project SOUND

Espaliered Fremontodendron – England & CA

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/02/stunning-flannel-bush-comes-with-prickly-
problems.html

© Project SOUND

Currants & gooseberries – Ribes – make
good smaller espaliers

http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/a-currant-affair/ © Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/4492039839/

Espaliers can be formal or informal

http://gardenista.com/posts/driveway-fruit-tarts-a-love-story

© Project SOUND

Espaliers require
support & pruning

http://www.featurepics.com/online/Espalier-Tree-Trellis-1629138.aspx

http://www.julieorrdesign.com/ten-attractive-native-garden-allstars

‘Ray Hartman’ Ceanothus © Project SOUND

* Cascara – Frangula (Rhamnus) purshiana

© Project SOUND

* Cascara – Frangula (Rhamnus) purshiana
 Western North America from southern British
Columbia south to central California, and inland to
western Montana
 Rich bottom lands, sides of canyons, usually in
coniferous forests; moist soils
 Closely related to other Frangula like Coffeeberry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana

© Project SOUND
Susan McDougall @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Cascara: Coffee Berry-like, but big
 Size:
 20-30 ft tall
 20-30 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Large, winter-deciduous shrub or
small tree
 Short trunk – many stout, upright
branches
 Outer bark is brownish to silver-grey;
twigs red-brown
 Dense growth

 Foliage:
 Leaves large, simple: shiny green
above, yellow in fall
 Handle all parts with gloves – strong
laxative
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana © Project SOUND

Flowers small – fruits showy
 Blooms: in spring - usually April-May

 Flowers:
 Small, yellow-green; you have to
look to see them
 Insect pollinated – good bee plant
 Fruits:
 Rather like Coffeeberry
 Ripen late summer/fall
 Very pretty – and loved by birds,
bears and other critters

 Seeds:
 Large
 Easy to germinate with proper
stratification: 3-4 months

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana © Project SOUND

Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: most
 pH: any local

 Light:
 Sun along coast; part-shade
probably best in most gardens
 Can take quite shady conditions

 Water:
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=57199  Winter: water in dry spells
 Summer: likes regular water –
Water Zone 2-3 or 3 (good near
a neighbor who waters a lot)

 Fertilizer: light doses fine; best
with leaf litter/leaf mulch

 Other: prune to shape when young

© Project SOUND

Cascara in the garden
 Nice specimen tree
 Good for informal hedge/hedgerow
 Can espalier along a wall
 Great for damp, shady spots – for
example to north of pines
 Great wildlife plant

© 1989, Clayton J. Antieau

© 2004, Ben Legler

©2012 Vernon Smith © Project SOUND

wall/fence



http://londonmarkets.overblog.com/tag/News
‘Living walls’ are  Paint/cover it to make it disappear
becoming popular
 Hide it in plain sight – plant/place

© Project SOUND

Vines and climbers are age-old solutions
to hiding an ugly wall/fence

http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2011/04/infinity-fountain-installed-body-broken.html

http://landscaping.about.com/od/galleryoflandscapephotos/ig/Fence-
Pictures/Roses-Hiding-Chain-Link-Fences.htm

© Project SOUND

Grapes are a classic way to hide a wall

© Project SOUND

The wall at Madrona was pretty dull
before ‘Roger’s Red’ came to town

© Project SOUND

The Honeysuckles (Lonicera species)
 Arching shrubs or twining vines
 Family Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle
family)
 Native to the Northern Hemisphere.
 ~ 180 species, mostly from China (~
100 species); ~ 20 native to N.
America.
 Common garden vines:
 Lonicera japonica (Japanese
Honeysuckle, White Honeysuckle)
 Lonicera sempervirens (Coral
Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle)
 Local Natives: Lonicera hispidula,
Lonicera subspicata
 Many species have sweetly-scented,
bell-shaped flowers that produce a
sweet, edible nectar.
© Project SOUND

Honeysuckles can be
trained to cover a
fence/wall
 Foliage of many species used
medicinally
 Hummingbirds love the
flowers !!!!.
 The fruit is a red, blue or black
berry containing several seeds; in
most species the berries are
mildly poisonous, but our local
native have edible berries, and
birds will eat most honeysuckle
berries.
 The foliage is eaten by the
larvae of some butterfly & moth
species
© Project SOUND

* Orange Honeysuckle – Lonicera ciliosa

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Lonicera&Species=ciliosa
© Project SOUND

* Orange Honeysuckle – Lonicera ciliosa
 A plant of the Pacific Northwest –
British Columbia to Northern CA and
east to Montana

 North slopes and creek and river
banks, mostly in moist forested areas


http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Lonicera&Species=ciliosa © Project SOUND

Orange Honeysuckle -
a twining vine
 Size:
 to 15+ ft long

 Growth form:
 Semi-woody vine/climbing shrub
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Lonicera_ciliosa.html
 Creeping, trailing, climbing or
twining habit – usually grows
through other plants
 Old vines can kill trees – kind of
like a boa constrictor

 Foliage:
 Medium to dark green, paired
simple leaves
 Winter deciduous

 Roots: trailing stems will root
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
where they touch the©ground
Project SOUND

Flowers are fantastic
 Blooms: in spring - usually May-
June in our area

 Flowers:
 Usually red-orange; may be
more yellow-orange
 Trumpet-shape – typical of
the Honeysuckles
 In very showy clusters – this
plant is a show-stopper in
bloom
 Hummingbirds love them!!

 Berries:

© 1997 John Game

© Project SOUND
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Lonicera_ciliosa.html

Orange Honeysuckle is for shady gardens…
 Soils:
 Texture: just about any
 pH: any including slightly acidic
(under pines, firs)

 Light: light shade to quite shady;
this is a forest plant

 Water:
 Winter: can take some flooding
 Summer: likes moist soil – Zone
2-3 or even 3

 Fertilizer: likes organic
amendments/ richer soils

 Other: cannot take heat
© Project SOUND

Orange Honeysuckle lights up dark corners
of the garden
 As an attractive pot plant
 In a woodsy garden – like
many of our ‘mature’
gardens
 Sprawling over a wall or
fence
 As a groundcover under
trees that need regular
water
 Any other place that is
shady and gets a little
regular water
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/ofp/lon_cil.htm
© Project SOUND

For garden vines, use
a native alternative…

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?
Genus=Lonicera&Species=ciliosa

Cape Honeysuckle - Tecomaria capensis
Native to Australia Orange Honeysuckle – Lonicera ciliosa

© Project SOUND

Chaparral Clematis – Clematis lasiantha
 Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western
California, Southwestern California, Baja
 Locally in San Gabriel & Santa Monica Mtns
 Hillsides, chaparral, open woodlands, climbing
over shrubs and low trees, near streams and in
canyons to ~ 6000'

Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database © Project SOUND
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500397

Clematis = climber/sprawler
 Size:
 8-30 ft long
 8 – 10 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Vine or half-woody vine-
stemmed perennial
 Stems scrambling to climbing;
not as vigorous as C.
ligusticifolia
 Winter-deciduous

 Foliage:
 Bright green leaves; leaves
are pinnately divided into
three – typical for native
Clematis

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CLLA3 © Project SOUND

Flowers/seeds - remarkable

 Blooms:
 In spring – generally Mar-
May

 Flowers:
 Creamy white and yellow
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
 Very showy; a mature vine
can be covered
 Attract hummingbirds &
lots of other pollinators

 Seeds:
 Have long, plume-like ‘tails’ –
very unusual, pretty.
 Pretty easy to start from
seed – cold-moist treat
© Project SOUND
http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/vbowers2.htm

 Soils:
Plant Requirements  Texture: any well-drained; fine
with sandy or clay
 pH: any local – 5.0-8.0

 Light:
 Likes shaded roots, sunny tops
 Morning sun only in hot, dry
gardens

 Water:
 Winter: supplement if needed;
http://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/Ecosystem/FloraFauna/flowers.html fine with winter flooding
 Summer: occasional water –
Water Zone 1-2 to 2; drought
Prune back to 1 ft. above ground tolerant
every 3-5 years to rejuvenate
 Fertilizer: none needed/leaf mulch

 Other: organic mulch

© Project SOUND

Clematis: habitat & more
 As an attractive pot plant
 to adorn a pergola or archway
 quickly covers a fence or trellis
 Nice addition to mixed
hedgerow
 Wonderful insect plant –
attracts all kinds of little guys
http://www.gardenbuddies.com/forum/messages/64189/1246469.html

© Project SOUND
http://www.naturalhistoryclass.org/pid/images/Clematis_lasiantha.jpg

Nothing softens a wall/fence like plants – but
they don’t all have to be vigorous vines

Narrow screens, hedges & hedgerows

Sprawling perennials/sub-shrubs

© Project SOUND

* Twinberry (Honeysuckle) – Lonicera involucrata

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lonicera_involucrate.shtml
© Project SOUND

Twinberry (Honeysuckle) – Lonicera involucrata
 Typically a plant of the Pacific
Northwest

var. involucrata  Ranges from AK to N. Mexico –
east to CO & NM
 In CA, a plant of northern and
central mountains and coastal
forests
 Generally found in moist, shady
places, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole
var. ledebourii
Forest, Subalpine Forest, Coastal
Strand, Closed-cone Pine Forest,
wetland-riparian
 Two varieties
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Lonicera+involucrata+var.+ledebourii
© Project SOUND

Twinberry Honeysuckle: depends on light
 Size:
 6-12 ft tall (can be pruned to 6’)
 6-12 ft wide

 Growth form: depends on light
 Sunnier locations: upright shrub
(sort of like Snowberry)
 Shadier: more of a vine-like
scrambler
 Fast growth; winter-deciduous

 Foliage:
 Simple leaves; pleasant color,
shiny above
 Looks like a regular garden
shrub

Image © 2004, Ben Legler
 Roots: shallow, fibrous
© Project SOUND

http://web.mac.com/stone0579/iWeb/piaandco/Blog/F174E0C4-C7B2-4137-B55F-F9A88C9C038F.html

 Soils:
Plant Requirements  Texture: any, including sand
 pH: best with 4.5-7.0

 Light:
 Full sun only along coast
 Part-sun is ideal; morning sun or
high shade is perfect
 Shadier: ok, but little flowering

 Water:
 Winter: tolerates flooding
 Summer: likes water – Zone 2-3
or 3

 Fertilizer: fine with low-dose
fertilizer of decomposing leaf
compost

 Other: organic mulch; dislikes heat;
Image © 2004, Ben Legler prune heavily in fall/winter
© Project SOUND

Flowers are pretty –
berries are showy

 Blooms: mostly in spring – but a few
in summer

 Flowers:
© 2004 George W. Hartwell
 Tubular ‘hummingbird flowers’
var. involucrata  Yellow or yellow-with-red
 In pairs
 Berries (drupes):
 Dark purple when ripe
 Showy
 Mildly toxic if eaten – taste
bitter (kids esp. sensitive)
 Fruit-eating birds eat them

© 2005 George W. Hartwell

© Project SOUND
var. ledebourii

Garden uses for
Twinberry
 As an accent shrub in moist areas of
the garden – rain gardens, pond edges
 As an informal or semi-formal hedge
in shady areas
 In a woodland garden
 As a habitat shrub for birds
© 2004 Larry Blakely

var. involucrata

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronsullivan/731696039/
© Project SOUND
var. ledebourii

Other uses of Twinberry
 Foliage
 Infusion of leaves used to bath sore
eyes and on skin sores, boils, itches
 Infusion (and bark itself) used on
wounds and as a dressing on burns
 Infusion of bark ingested for chest
complaints or as general tonic

 Berries
© 2007 Neal Kramer

 Used for gray and purple dyes for
fibers
 Used to make a scalp topic, dandruff
treatment and hair dye (to ‘keep away
the gray’)

Plant not used much now
© Project SOUND

Growing from cuttings
– it’s a honeysuckle
 Semi-softwood cuttings
in summer
 Hardwood cuttings in
fall
 Layering in the garden
 Keep in a shaded area
 Use well-drained
potting soil
 Keep moist

http://www.ippswr.org/home/ipps
na/Denver/PPT-PDF/Buzzo.pdf

© Project SOUND

Scarlet Keckiella – Keckiella ternata
 Tehachapi Mountain Area,
Transverse Ranges (San
Gabriels), Peninsular Ranges
 Dry slopes and canyons to
7000', chaparral, yellow pine
forest, pinyon-juniper woodland
http://www.bonap.org/BONAPmaps2010/Keckiella.html
 AKA Wand Penstemon; Whorl-
leaf Penstemon; Whorl-leaf
Keckiella; Blue Stemmed
Keckiella; Summer Bush
Penstemon
 Looks like a Penstemon – but
times have changed!

© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aking1/7299555410/

Keckiella’s - once were Penstemons
 Used to be called “bush penstemons”

 David Keck segregated them into a
separate subgenus, Hesperothamnus,
in 1936.
 They became Keckiella when studies
showed that they differed from
penstemons in having a hypogynous
nectary disc

Formerly placed in family  Name honors Keck (1903-1995), who
Scrophulariaceae (Figworts); did the first systematic treatment of
recently moved to the genus Penstemon. Keck is known
Plantaginaceae (Plantains) for his work on experimental
taxonomy and he collaborated with
Philip Munz on A California Flora

© Project SOUND

Former Scrophulariaceae (now Tribe Antirrhineae,
Family Plantaginaceae)

 Antirrhinum L.
 Asarina Mill.
 Galvezia Dombey ex Juss.
 Gambelia Nutt.
 Keckiella
 Linaria Mill.
 Maurandella (A.Gray) Rothm.
 Neogaerrhinum Rothm.
 Nuttallanthus D.A.Sutton
 Sairocarpus D.A.Sutton

Many have a common name that
includes ‘Snapdragon’
© Project SOUND

Scarlet Keckiella: bushy or viney
 Size:
 4-8 ft tall
 2-4 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Drought-deciduous sub-shrub
 Erect & shrub-like (sun)
 Viney or wand-like (shade)
 Local variety has waxy, blue-
green stems

 Foliage:
 Leaves simple, oblong, toothed
– become folded in dry
weather
 Nice, medium green
©2005 Aaron Schusteff

© Project SOUND
http://socalbutterflies.com/plants_html/keckiella_ternata.htm

Fiery red flowers
 Blooms: spring-summer
(sometime from May to Sept)

 Flowers:
 Narrow, tubular
‘hummingbird flowers’ – 1-2
inches long; nice cut flowers
 Scarlet to red-orange
 In small, loose clusters along
wand-like stems
 Attract hummingbirds, long-
©2011 Neal Kramer
tongued insects (butterflies;
bees)

 Seeds:
 Small; use fresh - need light
to germinate
 Cold-moist treat 1-2 mo
© Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/keckiella-ternata-septentrionalis

Tough chaparral  Soils:
plant  Texture: most well-drained
 pH: any local

 Light:
 Full sun – compact, more
flowers
 Part-shade (morning sun or
high shade) - fine

 Water:
 Winter: supplement as needed
 Summer: chaparral treatment;
occasional (once a month)
summer water, esp. in August
(monsoons)

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

 Other: needs organic mulch – let
©2005 Aaron Schusteff
leaf litter build up beneath
© Project SOUND

Keckiellas: shot of color
 As understory in a chaparral
garden
 On slopes and hillsides
 Draped over a fence or wall
 Lovely with purple
penstemons, chaparral
clematis or other Keckiellas

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/keckiella-ternata-septentrionalis

© Project SOUND

Hide that (ugly) wall 2012

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais de cvadheim

Mais de cvadheim (20)

Último

Último (20)

Hide that (ugly) wall 2012