California Dutchman’s pipe vines flower in winter, feed caterpillars and are native to California. Interesting flowers, easy care and ecological benefits, all in one easy to grow plant!
Category Archives: Native plants
Time to cut back the California asters
After months of steady growth, the asters were reaching for the sky, with an average height of about 54 inches. Time to act. Last year, some of the asters were trimmed too late, almost completely eliminating their flowers. Others were done earlier, resulting at a solid floral display held below eye height. Untrimmed, the plantsContinue reading “Time to cut back the California asters”
Yellow irises
Many irises are great plants for water-saving Mediterranean gardens. Bearded iris and Pacific Coast Hybrids are happy with natural rainfall in winter and spring, then go mostly dormant during the dry months.
California natives in bloom (and leaf)
California native plants in the garden
Time to trim the meadow
The asters are dry and non-ornamental, the sedges will soon start their growth cycle, and the other herbaceous perennials will join them – so this was the time to cut everything back. The clippings are left in place to break down, keeping nutrients in the meadow so we don’t need to add fertilizer. The perennialsContinue reading “Time to trim the meadow”
California Dutchman’s pipe at peak bloom!
It may seem strange for a plant to flower at the beginning of February, but that’s what this plant likes. Its leafless stems are covered with a profusion of strange greenish flowers that somebody thought looked like a Dutchman’s pipe. I suppose if they have to look like something, other than what they really are,Continue reading “California Dutchman’s pipe at peak bloom!”
A new native grass for the meadow
This is one of those plants whose common name – Alkali Sacaton – is only a bit more comprehensible than its Latin name – Sporobolus airoides. The Latin name is a lot more fun to say, however. We picked up a small fuzzy looking tuft of grass in a four inch pot at Elderberry FarmsContinue reading “A new native grass for the meadow”
A (mostly) native garden by a stream
A mostly native garden thrives along a suburban streambank.
Native plant, yes. Hardy plant, sort of
Just because a plant is native doesn’t mean it’s completely hardy. I suppose if all our native plants were from our exact location, things would be fine. However, like the wicked witch, they had houses dropped on them and are no more. Not even ruby slippers remain. Fooled by warmer weather, this hummingbird sage (SalviaContinue reading “Native plant, yes. Hardy plant, sort of”
Planting Irises
Irises are inconvenient. They bloom in spring, but should be planted in fall. With bearded iris, this means ordering after strolling though fields of blooming plants, ordering, and waiting until late August to get your plants and put them in the ground. For native iris, we purchased in spring, planted the pots, then removed theContinue reading “Planting Irises”