Blog Archives - Page 13 of 15 - Summer-Dry | Celebrate Plants in Summer-Dry Gardens

28 12, 2015

Irises

Irises

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:27-07:00Categories: Blog, perennials|Tags: california native, nora harlow, perennials|

Pacific Coast iris 'Copper' flowering in garden with Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon' Plants that are dormant or not actively growing during the hottest months are well adapted to summer-dry climates, including many California natives. Irises, both native and not, are a beautiful choice. Iris douglasiana hybrid Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana) forms an upright clump of sword-shaped or grasslike green leaves, mounding and spreading with age by underground rhizomes. Flowers are blue-violet, deep purple, or occasionally white, often two or three on each upright stem in late winter to mid-spring. Native to coastal California and Oregon, this Pacific

21 12, 2015

Lavenders

Lavenders

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:25-07:00Categories: Blog, perennials|Tags: nora harlow, perennials|

Masses of Lavandula 'Provence' draw the eye toward a pot and distant sculpture Lavenders are so at home in California that it’s hard to believe they’re not native here. Lavenders have green to grayish green or silvery gray, narrow, softly toothed or smooth margined aromatic leaves and upright stems of tubular lavender, purple, pink, or white flowers. There are many species and dozens of named varieties in the trade. The best known and most widely grown is English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), a woody perennial subshrub, two to three feet tall and four feet wide, with long, narrow, silvery

14 12, 2015

Snowberry

Snowberry

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:25-07:00Categories: Blog, shrubs|Tags: california native, nora harlow, shrubs|

Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is one of those plants that remind you that California does, after all, have seasons. A delicate-looking shrub with a strong constitution, snowberry has small, somewhat sparse, oval to slightly lobed blue-green leaves and an airy, rounded habit. The early summer flowers are bell-shaped and pinkish white, not particularly showy but quite charming clustered at the ends of branches and attractive to hummingbirds. The fall berries are indescribably lovely to behold. Clusters of large, brilliant white, waxy fruits stand out against any background. There are few shrubs with berries as white and wonderful

3 12, 2015

Monkeyflower

Monkeyflower

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:24-07:00Categories: Blog, shrubs, perennials|Tags: california native, nora harlow, shrubs, perennials|

Mimulus aurantiacus with Phacelia campanularia Gardeners in summer-dry climates often seek out plants that when fully established can survive without any supplemental water. This may require some tolerance for the dried-out appearance that many of these plants take on in late summer as they hunker down to make it through to the next rains. Bush monkeyflower or sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) is a natural candidate for summer-dry gardens that feature the colors of California. This is the deep orange to yellow-orange flower that, along with lavender lupine and bright orange poppies, graces California roadsides, parklands, and open spaces

3 11, 2015

California wild grape

California wild grape

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:24-07:00Categories: Blog|Tags: california native, nora harlow, vine|

Vitis californica 'Roger's Red' in fall color California grape (Vitis californica) is a large, fast-growing, deciduous vine that provides quick summertime privacy and shade as well as brilliant yellow, orange, or red fall color. In summer or fall, the lush foliage is thrilling when backlit by afternoon sun. Native to riparian areas of California and Oregon, this headstrong vine grows thirty feet tall and wide with its preferred regimen of shaded roots, tops in full sun, and moderate summer water. Vines climb by tightly twining tendrils that stand firm against the most determined pulling and will advance high

17 10, 2015

Mahonia

Mahonia

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:23-07:00Categories: Blog, shrubs|Tags: nora harlow, shrubs|

Mahonia aquifolium 'Golden Abundance' There are many lists for planting under trees, especially native oaks. I don’t plant anything under native oaks. I think they need the root space, and the fallen leaves themselves are beauty enough for me. But there are many other shaded situations that call out for groundcover. Mahonias (sometimes called Oregon grape) are bold-textured evergreen shrubs or mounding groundcovers for part sun to almost full shade. Many are native to California, especially northwestern parts of the state. I’ve seen mahonias growing well in highly cultivated, over-irrigated landscapes, but most look best in untended or

13 10, 2015

Penstemons

Penstemons

Nora Harlow2024-06-27T19:25:23-07:00Categories: Blog, perennials|Tags: california native, nora harlow, perennials|

Penstemon x gloxiniodes 'Maurice Gibbs' It’s easy to see why penstemons are so popular with gardeners everywhere. Their tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers, usually on tall spikes, put on a brilliant show from late spring until fall. Flower color ranges from shades of purple to red, blue, white, yellow, or pink, often with contrasting markings at the base. Hummingbirds and butterflies are drawn to them. Some penstemons are tall and upright, excellent in the mixed border; others are low mats perfect for the rock garden; and still others are sprawling mid-size mounds. All need good to excellent drainage, but