by Linda Carloni, Master Gardener and ABG Board Member
Plants that are native to California are becoming more and more popular, both as part of an established garden or as a replacement for a lawn. There are lots of good reasons for the increasing interest in native plants.
Why Plant Natives
First, studies have shown that generally more insects are attracted to natives, probably because the insects and the plants co-evolved together. Insects are critical to pollination, decomposition, seed dispersal, soil quality, balancing the populations of other organisms and providing food at the base of the food chain. Insect populations are rapidly diminishing and we need to encourage insects where we can. Native plants provide excellent habitat for birds and butterflies, again because the plants, butterflies and birds evolved together. Native plants are frequently drought-tolerant, critical in our increasingly warm and dry Bay Area. They generally have fewer pest problems, which lets the gardener avoid using pesticides. Overall, growing plants in the area in which those plants evolved makes it easier for the plant to succeed. Much more on why and how to create a sustainable ecosystem in your garden can be found here.
What Natives Should I Plant?
CA Native Snowberry
A wide variety of California native plants are commercially available: trees, shrubs, smaller plants and ground covers; natives that like shade, part sun or full sun; natives that need little to no water once established and those that need more. You can find natives that bloom at many different times of the year – important to supplying insects and birds the food they need year- round.
The variety can seem overwhelming. If you are a visual person, you might start by looking at Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates from EBMUD. It includes glorious pictures of garden settings that include both California native and non-native plants. California Native Plants for the Garden by Bornstein is also a tremendous resource, with lots of pictures.
The biggest treasure trove is CalScape, from the California Native Plant Society. If you like the look of a particular native, you can search its name in Calscape for a full description. Using the Advanced Search tool, you can also search for plants that have the particular characteristics you want in terms of sun, drainage, water requirements, ease of care, and many other characteristics. CalScape will even tell you what wildlife uses the plant.
Three local nurseries that are particularly good sources for natives are: Ploughshares (on Alameda Point), Native Here Nursery (a project of the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, located in Tilden Park) and East Bay Wilds on Foothill Blvd in Oakland (if you can’t find it anywhere else it may be here; limited hours – so call first). Note that natives do better when started from smaller containers.
Planting California Natives
Perhaps the most important thing to know about growing California natives is to plant in late fall, when the rainy season is starting. Also keep in mind:
- Like all plants, give natives the space they need to reach their mature size. The mature size may be stated on the pot, or you can find it on CalScape.
- Make a hole slightly less deep than the soil in the pot and twice as wide as the pot. Scrape the soil on the sides of the hole to roughen it if needed. Fully soak the soil before planting. Also water the plant in the pot. Let both thoroughly drain.
- Gently remove the plant from the pot and gently massage the sides of the dirt to loosen it. Place the plant in the middle of the hole so that the point where the stem emerged from the pot soil is about ½ inch above the eventual soil surface. Backfill the hole with native soil, patting it down firmly to remove any air pockets. Use the soil to make a little berm where the edges of the hole were. What you want to end up with is the plant on a ½ inch ”plant island” with a shallow moat around it to hold water. Water again.
- When the soil has drained at the surface, apply an inch or two of mulch, leaving 3 to 4 inches of space around the crown (where the roots meet the stem).
- If pictures are better than words, watch this excellent video on how to plant natives.
- Generally, natives get the nutrients they need from their native soil and need no amendment or fertilizer. In Alameda, if your soil is very sandy and the native is not a beach plant, you might add some compost for organic matter.
- Even if a native needs little water during most of its life, virtually all newly planted natives will need more water to become established, likely until after its first summer.
We live in an incredibly biodiverse state – why not help hang onto that biodiversity by planting some California natives this fall?