An Occasional Look at Some of Our Hard-Working California Native Plants
What’s so smart about adding California native plants to your landscape? The simple answer is the delightful experience of growing a tree, shrub or perennial that gives back in so many ways. The sight of a flock of Cedar Waxwings feasting on Toyon Berries. Screaming orange California Poppies peppering the roadside. The summer surprise of big pink and purple orchid-like flowers blooming on a desert willow. A cold hummingbird is enjoying a sip of nectar from a February blooming manzanita. After you fall in love with these plants for who they are and what they bring to your garden, you’ll appreciate their good looks and practicality, thriving with whatever nature throws at them – hot, dry summers and cold, sometimes rainy winters. Here’s a focus on small native trees, usually grown with a multi-trunk form:
Western Redbud Cercis occidentalis – Beauty in every season, from the showy pink flowers clinging tightly to bare branches in spring, to the pretty heart-shaped leaves which turn a rich yellow in the fall.
Ray Hartman Ceanothus Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ – Grow this as a single trunk tree, or plant it as a shrub and sculpt it into an attractive, purple-blue flowered evergreen tree.
Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis – Long narrow willow-like leaves belie the water sipping nature of this small tree. Pick one with the flower color you prefer, from pale pink to deeper burgundy, purple or two tones. Enjoy the flowers as much as hummingbirds do.
California Buckeye Aesculus californica – Large palmate leaves graced by showy spikes of white flowers in late spring. Adapted to dry climates by dropping its leaves as early as August, it is nevertheless beautiful when bear with its ghostly pale gray limbs.
Flannel Bush Fremontodendron species – Big, bright yellow flowers bring the wow to this fast-growing, evergreen showstopper.
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