Weitere ähnliche Inhalte Kürzlich hochgeladen (20) Low & Northerly 20121. Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND
2. Low and Northerly:
Groundcover Plants from the
Northern and Central CA Coast
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
February 4 & 7, 2012
© Project SOUND
3. What makes a good
groundcover plant?
Low growth habit
Evergreen – nice color
Dense foliage – few gaps
Fast growth to mature size
– then slow
Long-lived
Flowers, fruits and other
features that make it good
habitat
And, for today’s subject,
should be woody (or at
least half-woody)
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/northern-coast © Project SOUND
4. The California coast has inspired for centuries
http://www.bon-voyage.co.uk/destinations/california_holidays/itineraries © Project SOUND
5. But the CA coast inspires gardeners for a
different reason…
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/ranlo/2/1279124248/northern-california-coast.jpg/tpod.html
© Project SOUND
6. Some of our best native groundcovers come from
the N. & Central California coast
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND
7. Central &
N. Maritime
Chaparral
“within the zone of
summer fog incursion”
Features:
greater exposure to
summer fog,
humidity
mild temps. and
moderate drought
pressures
adaptations to
different
disturbance regimes
(less frequent fire).
© Project SOUND
http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/reference/subissue_detail.php?SUBISSUE_ID=1
8. ZONE 16: Central and Northern
Sunset Zones California Coast thermal belts
Thermal belts (slopes from which cold
air drains) in a coastal climate
Ocean dominated about 85 % of the
time and by inland weather about 15%
A summer afternoon wind
More summer heat than Zone 17;
warmer winters than inland
Cooler summers than Zones 22-24
ZONE 17: Marine effects in
Southern Oregon, Northern and
Central California
Mild, wet, almost frostless winters;
cool summers w/ frequent fog or wind.
Muted sunlight much of the year
http://www.digitalseed.com/gardener/climate/plantclimate_map_ca.html
Summer highs ~ 65-70º F
© Project SOUND
9. Let’s take a road
trip up Hwy 1
Central coast
Point Sal/Guadalupe
San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
Big Sur
Rocky point
Yankee Point/Diamond Heights
Northern coast
Point Reyes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg
Ft. Bragg
© Project SOUND
10. Our Central and Northern Coastal areas a
unique in many ways
© Project SOUND
11. We share some plants with the Central
and Northern Maritime chaparral
Black sage – Salvia mellifera
Purple Sage – Salvia leucophylla
Sticky Monkeyflower – Diplacus
aurantiacus
Blue-eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium
bellum
Some grasses - Nassellas
Many native wildflowers
© Project SOUND
12. Arctostaphylos andersonii
Manzanitas of the A. canescens
A. crustacea
northern maritime Arctostaphylos cruzensis
chaparral A. edmundsii
A. glutinosa
A. hookeri hearstiorum
A. hookeri hookeri
Many of these species are A. montaraensis
rare or endangered in the A. montereyensis
wild, but grown regularly in A. morroensis
the garden
A. nummularia sensitiva
A. ohlone pro. sp.
A. pajaroensis
A. pumila
A. purissima
A. silvicola
A. tomentosa (all ssp & forms)
© Pr SOUND
13. Not surprisingly, our local flora has the most in
common with that of the Central Coast
The closer the native
home of a plant to our
own, the more similar are
the:
Soils
Temperatures
http://coast-santabarbara.org/
Rainfall
Etc
Plants from nearby
coastal areas are easier
to grow than those from
further up the coast
© Project SOUND
14. California rainfall – quite a range, even
along our coasts
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread775456/pg2
© Project SOUND
15. Our first stop: Point Sal
Located in the northwestern part of
Santa Barbara County, near the city
of Guadalupe
Between Vandenberg Air Force Base
and the Guadalupe Dunes.
Sandy/rocky promontory
*
http://www.cityprofile.com/california/photos/36781-guadalupe-point-sal-state-beach1.html
http://www.localhikes.com/HikeData.ASP? © Project SOUND
DispType=1&ActiveHike=0&GetHikesStateID=&ID=4266
16. Home to a unique flora
Transition zone between N. & S.
CA: unique plant species
assemblages.
A mosaic of coastal sage scrub
and foothill needle-grass with
wildflowers, Giant Corepopsis
http://kcbx.net/~bdenneen/ Much influenced by ocean
breezes, salt spray – like our
own immediate coast
© Project SOUND
http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2001/09/fieldwork2.html
http://www.ryono.net/pointsal/pointsal.html http://blogbisogno.wordpress.com/2009/08/page/2/
17. Salvia leucophylla ‘Pt.
Sal Spreader’
Naturally occurring variants
from Point Sal
Look like Purple Sage except
usually shorter (2-3 ft)
http://www.sm.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=24489&return=l2_aO
Very variable in size,
depending on water, other
conditions
Purple Sage cultivars &
hybrids may be easier to
grow than the species
© Project SOUND
18. We continue our
road trip up Hwy 1
Central coast
Point Sal/Guadalupe
San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg
© Project SOUND
19. Hearst Castle – San Simeon
http://www.nordicgeospatial.com/about_us
http://www.coastandocean.org/coast_v23_no3_2007/articles/Hiking_Hearst_04.htm © Project SOUND
20. Hearst/San Simeon Coast/ Arroyo de la Cruz
Old ocean beaches and bluffs
The soil varies from a near adobe through
red clay on hard pan to a gray sand-rock
composite.
It receives summer fog and rainfall of about
20-30 inches/yr
It is one of the most moderate climates in
the world. Every day has a high of 60-65
degrees F. and a low of 50 degrees F.
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/location.cgi?
flags=0&year=current&latdeg=35.591167&longdeg=121.131667 Project SOUND
©
http://justinsomnia.org/2006/09/driving-down-the-big-sur-coast/
22. The Arroyo de la Cruz region: special
© 2011 Chris Winchell
Mouth of Arroyo de la Cruz, ridge immediately south of creek, east of Hwy 1 (San
Luis Obispo County, California, US)
© Project SOUND
23. Arroyo de la Cruz – unique conditions =
unique plants
A variety of communities, chaparral, coastal sage scrub,
riparian and grassland, mark this unique area. Its importance
lies in the number of endemics that are found in this
relatively small area; indeed, it has been called the "Cruzian
pocket of endemism."
Ten species of plants considered rare or endangered are
found here. Most have a restricted range.
It is the type locality of at least two species, Arctostaphylos
hookeri ssp. hearstiorum and Ceanothus hearstiorum which are
found nowhere else.
Other rare species include Allium hickmanii, Arctostaphylos
cruzensis, Bloomeria humilis, Calochortus clavatus ssp.
recurvfolius, Campanula obispoensis (?), Ceanothus maritimus,
Sanicula hoffmannii and Sanicula maritima.
© Project SOUND
24. Arroyo de la Cruz has also provided us
some wonderful garden cultivars
Sisyrinchium bellum
'Arroyo de la Cruz‘
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
var. thyrsiflorus
'Arroyo de la Cruz‘
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/billbouton/sets/72157603552645540/
Ceanothus maritimus
'Valley Violet‘
© Project SOUND
25. * Arroyo de la Cruz Manzanita –
Arctostaphylos cruzensis
© 2011 Chris Winchell
© Project SOUND
26. * Arroyo de la Cruz Manzanita –
Arctostaphylos cruzensis
Endemic to coastal areas from northwest San
Luis Obispo Co. to Southern Monterey Co.
Grows on old ocean beaches and bluffs
Occurs in a variety of habitats, including
maritime chaparral, coastal scrub, conifer forest,
and valley-foothill grassland.
Receives summer fog/rainfall of 20-30” per year
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3466
© 2011 Chris Winchell © Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-cruzensis
27. Low-growing Manzanitas:
perfect for your garden?
Attractive, ‘neat-looking’ foliage
©J.S. Peterson Red bark on interesting
trunks/branches
Low-maintenance under the right
conditions:
Needs good drainage
Low water in summer - susceptible
to fungal diseases; deep watering
(Zone 1/2)
Jo-Ann Ordano © California Academy of Sciences No fertilizer
Flammable: manzanita plants contain Coastal varieties will thrive along
volatile compounds, which burn like a immediate coast – even right next
torch when ignited – no a good choice to beach
for fire-prone areas
© Project SOUND
28. Ground cover manzanita
Size:
2-3 ft tall
5-10 ft wide
Growth form:
Spreading, low : mat-like to
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-cruzensis
mounded
Shreddy red bark
Dense – good coverage
Foliage:
Leaves bright green, shiny;
may be hairy when young
Densely over-lapping on
branch
Roots: no basal burl – so can’t
re-sprout
© Project SOUND
29. Who can resist a
manzanita in bloom?
Blooms:
Winter/early spring
Usually Dec-Feb in S. Bay
Flowers:
© 2006 Steve Matson Small, urn-shaped flowers typical
of manzanita
Pale pink blush
Large clusters – very showy
Sweet scent
Fruits:
The edible ‘little apples’
Hairy, ½ inch diameter; ripe in
late summer or fall
© Project SOUND
30. Soils:
Central coast plant Texture: adaptable – sandy soils in
nature
pH: any local – 6.0-8.0
Light:
Full sun only right along coast
Afternoon shade in most gardens;
remember, average temperatures
cooler (60-65º F. where it’s native)
Water:
Winter: good winter rains
Summer:
Needs supplemental summer water
– Zone 2 to 2-3
Needs leaves washed down during
dry summer – remember the
summer fogs
Other: shouldn’t need much pruning;
sterile technique, after blooming
© Project SOUND
© 2002 David Graber
31. Good looking
evergreen shrub
Used as an evergreen woody
ground cover – substitute for
ivy
Good for slopes
Pair with its native associates
for an evergreen medley:
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-cruzensis
Ceanothus hearstiorum
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Ceanothus griseus
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Iris douglasii
Baccharis pilularis
Salvia mellifera
Diplacus aurantiacus
© Project SOUND
32. Why the variability in growth habit?
© 2006 Steve Matson
© 2011 Chris Winchell
Tilden Botanical Garden
Regional Parks Botanic
Garden is a botanical garden in
Tilden Park, Berkeley CA USA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctostaphylos_cruzensis
© Project SOUND
33. Some species occur along the entire CA coast
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mechanoid_dolly/5682527020/
© Project SOUND
35. Western Blue-eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium bellum
Not a grass at all – a
member of the Iris
family (smallest
member of the Iris
family)
Distribution: Much of
CA, OR
Habitat:
Open, generally moist,
North/Central coast areas have produced grassy areas
some attractive variants – now available as Woodlands
cultivars for the garden
36. Sisyrinchium bellum
'Arroyo de la Cruz'
Dwarf selection - ~ 6 inches
tall
Unusually large--1 1/2 inch
wide--purple flowers in spring
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1292
Flowers a vivid purple flowers
are held a bit above the 6 inch
high foliage clump.
Useful in a dry border, on a
bank, and in a rock garden.
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/5712113309/
37. Other sisyrinchium cultivars
‘Rocky Point’
Dwarf habit, with
broader leaves and
violet blossoms
Rocky Point, Big Sur
http://nativeson.typepad.com/plants/2010/05/sisyrinchi
um-bellum-rocky-point.html
‘Ft. Bragg’
Dwarf habit, with
broader leaves
Soft lavender in
color, with violet
centers
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv20278.php
Cliffs near Ft. Bragg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreedyphoto/page6/
© Project SOUND
39. Two California Daisys
E. foliosus (Leafy):
Erigeron foliosus
Mountain ranges & hills of C.
& western S. CA
Dry, sunny, rocky, brushy or
wooded or grassy slopes
coastal sage scrub, chaparral
and southern oak woodland
E. glaucus (Seaside)
Central to N. Coast (into OR)
Coastal bluffs, dunes,
Erigeron glaucus beaches
Coastal Strand, Coastal Sage
Scrub, Northern Coastal
Scrub
© Project SOUND
40. Seaside Daisy – Erigeron glaucus
Compact growth habit: < 1 ft
Leaves:
Thicker, fleshier
Larger: spatula shaped
More basal
Roots:
Rhizomes
Plant spreads into dense
http://www.calhortsociety.org/seed-exchange/seed-exchange-2002/seed-list-pages/large/Erigeron-glaucus-2.jpg mat-like colony
Flowers: no differences
Much more “lush appearing” than leafy
fleabane
© Project SOUND
41. Borders
Using Erigeron
Edges & low hedges
glaucus
Accent plant
In a rock garden
Near pools & ponds
Ground cover
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/pictures/a269.jpg
Great addition to a North coast
themed garden
© Project SOUND
42. Horticultural cultivars of
Seaside Daisy
Variable in size and number of
flowers and plant
Choose the one you like best
http://www.mostlynatives.com/notes/erigeronglaucuscs.jpg
‘Cape Sebastian’ cultivar
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/eriglasb.htm
‘Sea Breeze’ cultivar
http://www.callutheran.edu/Academic_Programs/Departments/
Biology/Wildflowers/gf/plants/category/gar-1670.htm
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2213
‘Olga’ cultivar ‘Bountiful’ cultivar
© Project SOUND
43. Ceanothus of the northern maritime
chaparral
Ceanothus cuneatus var.
fascicularis
Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus
Ceanothus gloriosus var. exaltatus
Ceanothus gloriosus var.
porrectus
Ceanothus hearstiorum
Ceanothus maritimus
© Pr SOUND
44. Ceanothus – California Lilacs
Some 55 species
Common names: California Lilac, Mountain lilac,
Wild lilac, Buckbrush, Blueblossum
Quite variable in habit:
evergreen and deciduous
prostrate to erect shrubs and small trees.
Flowers small, in clusters, showy en masse
Flower color: white through many shades of blue, deep violet.
Range: southern Canada to Guatemala
Mainly in California (over 40 species)
Some also in the eastern US and Rocky Mountains.
Have the ability to fix large amounts of nitrogen via root-inhabiting
microbes (actinomycetes).
© Project SOUND
45. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var.
thyrsiflorus 'Arroyo de la Cruz'
Bright shiny leaves
Medium-blue flowers
Large mounding shrub or
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ceanothus-
thyrsiflorus-big-sur-california-lilac groundcover, great for
erosion control or a low,
broad hedge.
Best with a little summer
water and afternoon
shade in our climate
© Project SOUND
http://plantayflor.blogspot.com/2010/09/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus-var-repens.html
46. * Hearst’s (San Simeon) Ceanothus –
Ceanothus hearstiorum
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_hearstiorum
© Project SOUND
47. * Hearst’s Ceanothus – Ceanothus hearstiorum
Central coast endemic – San Luis
Obispo & Monterrey counties – near
Arroyo de la Cruz; very rare in nature
Coastal, low, grassy hills
Receives summer fog/rainfall of 20-
30” per year
© 2006 Steve Matson
© Project SOUND
48. Hearst’s Ceanothus – low grower
Size:
generally < 1 ft tall
3-6 ft wide
Growth form:
Evergreen woody (half-woody)
shrub
Prostrate habit; radiates out from
Picture from Rob Rizzardi
central stem like a star
Slow-growing but long-lived
Foliage:
Leaves bright to medium green
Small, narrow and glandular; unique
Has a nice scent when wet
© Project SOUND
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_hearstiorum
49. Heavenly, old-
fashioned flowers
Blooms: in spring – usually Mar-
Apr in our area
Flowers:
Small with prominent anthers
– typical of ceanothus species
Lavender to medium blue
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_hearstiorum
In dense clusters – very showy
Sweet scented; old-fashioned
Can be used to make a mild
soap –as can the foliage
Fruits: hard knobby fruits –
birds eat the seeds
© Project SOUND
50. Hearst’s Ceanothus Soils:
likes clay Texture: clays best, loams/rocky
fine – not for sandy soils
pH: any local
Light:
Full sun on immediate coast
Afternoon shade in hotter inland
gardens
Water:
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-hearstiorum/ In the wild: summer fog and
rainfall of about 20-30 inches.
Every day has a high of 60-65º F.
and a low of 50º F.
In your garden: Water Zone 2 or 2-
3 (occasional summer water); rinse
off leaves every few weeks in dry
summer periods
Other: organic mulch; prune after
blooming or to remove diseased
© Project SOUND
Picture from Rob Rizzardi
51. Low-growing Ceanothus
Ground covers – slopes
In large planters
To hide retaining walls
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3107
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-hearstiorum/
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/may.htm
© Project SOUND
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1249
52. Coastal ground covers conquer slopes
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/slope.html
Artemisia californica Canyon Gray Canyon , Ceanothus hearstiorum, Ceanothus
Yankee Point, and Salvia sonomensis Mrs. Beard Mrs. Beard.
© Project SOUND
55. Lower-growing Coyote Bush cultivars
‘Pigeon Point' – low groundcover
1-2 ft tall
Up to 12 ft wide
Very bright green foliage; larger leaves
than species
Most common dwarf form for coastal
areas
‘Twin Peaks 2’ – low groundcover or
hedge
Usually 1 – 3 ft tall; will mound to 5 ft
if not regularly sheared
6 ft wide
Dense growth; can be shaped
Leaves smaller, darker gray-green &
more deeply toothed than species
© Project SOUND
56. On our way to Big Sur, we enjoy the coast near Morro Bay
Central coast
Point Sal/Guadalupe
San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg
Maritime chaparral at the Los Osos
Elfin Forest Preserve on Morro Bay,
San Luis Obispo
© Project SOUND
57. California’s famous ‘Elfin Forests’
Elfin forest is a nickname given to
several similar dwarfed plants
ecosystems, mainly in coastal
Temperate Californian and
montane Tropical regions
Include communities of
dwarfed/tiny plants.
Some CA Elfin Forests:
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
(N/ CA coast)
El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area
(Morro Bay)
San Luis Obispo Elfin Forest
(Higher up on Cuesta Ridge in SLO
county).
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32661-d2169512-Reviews-
Elfin_Forest_Preserve-Los_Osos_San_Luis_Obispo_County_California.html © Project SOUND
58. California’s famous ‘Elfin Forests’
Unusual areas: chaparral that
can be waterlogged in the
winter, and arid and nearly
desert-like in the summer
Plants have adapted accordingly,
and are generally much shorter,
smaller, and compact than
http://blog.slocountyhomes.com/2009/03/elfin-forest-boardwalk-trail.html/
related plants elsewhere.
Even trees and shrubs, such as
Cypress (Cupressus), Oak
(Quercus), and Madrone
(Arbutus menziesii) rarely grow
more than 20 ft (7 m) tall in
these plant communities.
http://www.kayharden.com/galy16b.html © Project SOUND
60. Maritime Ceanothus – Ceanothus maritimus
Endemic to San Luis Obispo County California,
where it is known from only a few occurrences
in the vicinity of Hearst Ranch.
Grows on old ocean beaches and bluffs < 500 ft;
soil varies from a near adobe through red clay
on hard pan to a gray sand-rock composite
High precipitation (20-30”); summer fog;
temperate climate
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6586,6589,6625
© 2011 Chris Winchell
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ceanothus-maritimus
© Project SOUND
61. Low-growing Maritime Manzanita
Size:
1-3 ft tall
5-6 ft wide
Growth form:
Evergreen woody shrub; moderate to
slow growth rate
Low, spreading or more mounded
habit
Reddish gray bark aging to gray
Stems stiff-looking
Foliage:
Leaves small, wedge-shaped, shiny
medium green above; hairy beneath
Roots: support nitrogen-fixing bacteria
© 2006 Steve Matson © Project SOUND
62. Who can resist ‘em?
Blooms:
In spring – usually Feb to April
in our part of the world
Flowers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_maritimus
Dense clusters of typical 5-
part pattern of ceanothus
Deep blue to violet to almost
white
Sweet scented – good for
insect pollinators
Native Californians used to
make mild soap
Fruits: dry capsule, usually horned
at top; birds eat seeds
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ceanothus+maritimus © Project SOUND
63. A plant for the coast – Soils:
and beyond Texture: adaptable – best in
clays, fine in sandy soils
pH: any local
Light:
Full sun on coast, to part shade
inland (morning sun fine)
Good under tall trees
Water:
© 2011 Chris Winchell
In wild: 2x our annual rainfall;
summer fogs
Summer: needs water at least
several times a month in inland
gardens – Zone 2 to 2-3
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: dislikes being moved and
pruning – leave it alone if possible
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-maritimus/
© Project SOUND
64. Maritime Ceanothus
in the garden
Good choice for fire-prone
areas, with summer water
Slopes
Groundcover – neat-looking
Parking strips
Pair with other low coastal
groundcovers: Salvia
leucophylla ‘Pt. Sal’, Ceanothus
maritimus, and Lessingia
filaginifolia ‘Silver Carpet’
http://www.vcstar.com/photos/2010/feb/08/86887/ © Project SOUND
65. Ceanothus maritimus
‘Frosty Dawn’
Selection of Ceanothus maritimus from
the hills south of Arroyo de la Cruz in San
Luis Obispo County
2 feet tall by up to 5 feet wide
Performs best in coastal climates but has
also proved successful in inland gardens.
Lovely and tough
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/eastbaywilds/sets/72157625418384199/
© Project SOUND
http://greenlifestudios.com/gallery-detail.php? http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Ceanothus_maritimus_'Frosty_dawn'
id=15&cat_id=2&keywords=Frosty_Dawn_California_Lilac
66. Ceanothus maritimus
‘Point Sierra’
This selection of the Maritime
ceanothus has smaller leaves than
most. With its stiff branching the
effect is similar to Cotoneaster.
Denser and lower than the species,
this maritimus selection is tolerant
of interior heat if given modest
shade
2 to 3 feet tall by up to 5 feet wide
with thick leathery 1/4 to 1/2 inch
long leaves
Lavender blue flowers appear in
early spring.
The blue violet flowers emerge
from dusty white buds in late
winter.
© Project SOUND
67. Ceanothus maritimus
‘Popcorn’
A tidy groundcover that requires
little maintenance. Heavy bloomer.
Compact, thick leaves. Best on coast.
Good substitute for cotoneaster. 3'
H x 6' W. Moderate to slow.
White flowers in spring
http://cascadiannurseries.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-look-monrovias-new-introductions.html
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_c/ceamarpop.html © Project SOUND
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Ceanothus_maritimus_'Popcorn'
68. Ceanothus maritimus
‘Valley Violet’
UC Davis Arboretum All-
Star selection, 2010.
3 ft tall; 3-4 ft wide
http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/allstars_detail_57.aspx
performs well in a variety
of settings. It can take
full sun or part shade,
requires very little water
once established, develops
into an attractive mound
that needs no pruning
Super-showy violet colored
flowers on long flowering
stalks – really different
© Project SOUND
69. Onward & upward to
Big Sur
Central coast
Point Sal/Guadalupe
* San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
Big Sur
Rocky point
Yankee Point/Diamond Heights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg
Point Sur
© Project SOUND
71. Little Sur Manzanita – Arctostaphylos
edmundsii
http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/documents/2005-200610653.pdf
Many of the low-growing manzanitas grow in sandy coastal areas,
suggesting that well-drained soils are important
© Project SOUND
72. * Hooker’s Manzanita – Arctostaphylos hookeri
Beatrice F. Howitt © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND
73. * Hooker’s Manzanita – Arctostaphylos hookeri
Native range
extends from the
coastal San
Francisco Bay
Area to the
Central Coast
http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/factsheet.php?SPECIES_ID=1 Sandy, coastal
pine or oak
woods, coastal
scrub < 1000 ft
© 1991 David Graber
© Project SOUND
74. Hooker’s Manzanita is a
natural groundcover
Under trees
On slopes
In front yards - evergreen
http://absbonsai.org/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=834
http://128.253.177.181/imgs/dws/r/Ericaceae_Arctostaphylos_hookeri_18909.html
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-hookeri-wayside-manzanita
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=173 © Project SOUND
75. Rainfall: Big Sur area
Our rainfall
Much cooler summers as well –
summer highs in the 70’s © Project SOUND
76. Hurricane Point
near Big Sur
The many climates of Big Sur result in
an astonishing biodiversity, including
many rare and endangered species
Arid, dusty chaparral-covered hills
http://xasauantoday.com/2011/09/16/serra-hill/
exist within easy walking distance of
lush riparian woodland.
The mountains trap most of the
moisture out of the clouds; fog in
summer, rain and snow in winter.
This creates a favorable environment
for coniferous forests, including the
southernmost habitat of the coast
redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), which
grows only on lower coastal slopes that
http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~karthik/pics/2005-06-1-BigSur/web/html/dscf0076.html
are routinely fogged in at night.
Big Sur Coastline from Hurricane Point http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Sur
© Project SOUND
78. * Carmel Creeper – Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis
Northern & Central CA coast
(var. horizontalis from Monterey
Co.)
Chaparral, coastal scrub, closed-
cone-pine forests.
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6586,6589,6615
http://www.sb.watersavingplants.com/listplants.php?index=9
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/80651083@N00/tags/montereycounty/ © Project SOUND
79. Carmel Creeper: it creeps
Size:
2-3 ft tall
6-15 ft wide
Growth form:
Woody (half-woody) evergreen
groundcover; fast-growing
May be flat or slightly mounded
Foliage:
Shiny, medium/dark green leaves –
almost unreal looking
Dense foliage – hardly see
branches
Neat, attractive appearance
Roots:
Symbiotic relationship with N-
fixing bacteria © Project SOUND
80. Flowers: ooh la-la
Blooms: winter through spring:
any time from Dec. to April
Flowers:
Usually a bright medium
blue, but may be lighter
Dense clusters of tiny
flowers – really showy in a
good year (many years)
Sweet scent attracts bees
and other insect pollinators
Seeds:
In strange dry capsules that
split open; birds eat them
© Project SOUND
81. Extraordinarily Soils:
adaptable Texture: any, from sand to heavy
clay
pH: any local
Light:
Full sun only along coast
Part-shade (afternoon shade)
best in most situations – good
under trees
Water:
Winter: supplement in dry winters
Summer: Occasional summer
water – Zone 2 for species and
cultivars
Fertilizer: none needed, but light
fertilizer won’t kill it
© Project SOUND
82. Garden uses for Carmel Creeper
As an attractive ground cover:
Under trees
On slopes
Mounded over walls/retaining walls
© Project SOUND
83. Ceanothus griseus
‘Diamond Heights’
Variegated leaves
3 - 4 ft. wide; low
Scant, light blue flowers in spring
Best with light shade in hot regions.
http://blog.jannelsonlandscapedesign.com/?cat=78
http://thehumanfootprint.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/california-natives-part-3-groundcovers-
© Project SOUND
http://www.bambooandmore.info/2012_01_09_archive.html manzanitas-ceanothus/
84. Ceanothus griseus
‘Hurricane Point’
2-3 ft. tall x 20 ft wide in
many years
Slower growth but give it
room to spread
Flowers light blue
'Yankee Point' has been
called a more restrained
version of this cultivar.
© Project SOUND
85. ‘Kurt Zadnick’
Ceanothus
2 to 3 feet tall, spreading
or trailing 6 feet or more
Bright indigo blue flowers
in spring
More garden tolerant than
Yankee Point
© Project SOUND
http://www.landscaperesource.com/plants/ceanothus-kurt-zadnik.htm
86. ‘Yankee Point’ –
Carmel Heights
Ever wonder where
‘Yankee Point’ ceanothus
http://www.sawbuck.com/property/California/93923_Carmel/7659172-98-Yankee-Point
originated?
http://www.carmelrealtycompany.com/index.cfm/person-Barbara_Ehrenpreis_11.htm
http://www.sammcleod.com/properties/111YANKEEPOINT.html
© Project SOUND
87. Ceanothus griseus ‘Yankee Point’
Old garden standard – 30+ years
2-3 ft tall and 10 ft wide; fast
Darker leaves than species
Great groundcover, slopes, etc.
http://www.fresno.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?
plantnum=24194&return=l5_aS
© Project SOUND
88. Management of low-
growing Ceanothus
Proper watering is key:
Overwatering is often the cause of
death; make sure they are in well-
drained soil.
Once established, apply deep
infrequent irrigation in the dry season.
http://www.cuyamaca.edu/oh170/Thumbnail_Pages/Ceanothus_griseus.asp
Do not fertilize; like slightly acidic
‘Yankee Point’ soils so use organic mulch
Only minimal pruning
Pinch back tips during the growing
season to shape – unless you have deer
Prune branches only if they are less
than 1” in diameter, and only after the
spring bloom when flowers have faded.
Use sterile technique
Ceanothus tend to be short-lived (5-15
years) often due to disease (too much
water, fertilizer, pruning)
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/cegrhyp3.htm
© Project SOUND
89. Ceanothus: a hit in European gardens
“Ceanothus thyrisflorus, blueblossom,
was the first California species to receive
both botanical and horticultural
recognition . . . when it was collected by
botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on the
Russian ship Rurik’s expedition to
California in 1816.
“The Royal Horticultural Society received
seeds of Ceanothus thyrisflorus from
Richard Brinsley Hinds from the 1837
expedition of HMS Sulphur, making it the
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/ceanothus-california- first California species introduced into
European gardens “
lilac_1.asp
Even today, it is not uncommon in Britain
to see Ceanothus espaliered against a
south-facing brick wall.
© Project SOUND
90. Our trip takes us to the
San Francisco Bay
Central coast
Point Sal/Guadalupe
San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
Big Sur
Rocky point
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg Yankee Point/Diamond Heights
Northern coast
Point Reyes
Ft. Bragg
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/mapped93/index.php?p=dom-NCCC SOUND
© Project
91. * Glossyleaf Manzanita – Arctostaphylos nummularia
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctostaphylos-nummularia/
© Project SOUND
92. * Glossyleaf Manzanita – Arctostaphylos nummularia
North Coast, Outer North Coast
Ranges, w San Francisco Bay Area
(Mount Tamalpais, Santa Cruz Mtns)
Rocky sites, woodland, coniferous
forest, < 1500 ft
AKA ‘Fort Bragg Manzanita’
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3510
http://www.thevoiceofalliant.com/FunSun.html
http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/mount-tamalpais.html © Project SOUND
93. Glossyleaf Manzanita: variable habit
Size:
2-6 ft tall; usually 2-3 in nature
4-6 ft wide
Growth form:
Dense evergreen shrub
Habit varies from low and spreading
(rocky, exposed sites), mounded to
© 2006 Steve Matson
larger upright shrub (forest sites)
Red bark
Foliage:
Leaves rounded, tidy looking
Dark shiny green above; lighter
beneath
Roots: no burl – don’t coppice!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_nummularia_1.jpg © Project SOUND
94. Manzanita flowers
Blooms:
In winter; usually Dec-Feb
locally, tho’ may be a few
blooms at other times
Flowers:
© 2006 Steve Matson
Small, urn-shaped flowers
typical of the genus
Pale pink; sweetly scented
Flower clusters slightly more
open and other species
Flowers pollinated by large
bees – ‘buzz pollination’
Fruits:
Edible ‘apples’ in summer/fall
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctostaphylos-nummularia/ © Project SOUND
95. Grows under rage of Soils:
Texture: well-drained – sandy or
conditions rocky best
pH: slightly acidic; may want to
amend with peat moss
Light:
Best with afternoon shade
Good choice for under trees
(pines; oaks)
Water:
Winter: gets a lot in its native
habitat – supplement if needed
© 2004 Aaron Schusteff
Summer: gets summer rain and
fog – Zone 2-3 and wash-downs
Fertilizer: light applications of acid
fertilizer
Other: best near the coast
© Project SOUND
96. Garden uses for Glossyleaf Manzanita
Mounded groundcover under pines
and similar tall trees
Along coast, with other species
for a north coast themed garden:
Allium unifolium, Diplicus aurantiacus,
Baccharis pilularis, Pinus attenuata,
Fragaria vesca, Satureja douglasii
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND
© 2004 Aaron Schusteff
97. Arctostaphylos nummularia
‘Small Change’
Selected for its small leaves which
are bronze when young.
2-3' H x 3-4' W; mounding or
spreading
Coast: full sun; Inland: part shade
Well-draining, acidic soils - good
choice for planting under pines.
Provide afternoon sun and extra
water in inland gardens.
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Arctostaphylos_nummularia_'Small_Change'
© Project SOUND
98. Versatile ‘Emerald Carpet’
hybrid is garden friendly
and low
Hybrid between Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi and A. nummularia – best
traits of both parents
groundcover to very low hedge
http://www.pasadena.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=243&return=l8_aK
© Project SOUND
99. The climate above San Francisco Bay is
quite different from ours
http://angrylambie-landscapes.buzznet.com/user/photos/wildflowers-northern-california-coast/?
id=66160771
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes © Project SOUND
100. Point Reyes
~ 30 miles (50 km) north of San
Francisco on Highway 1
A prominent cape
The Point Reyes Peninsula is bounded by
Tomales Bay on the northeast and Bolinas
Lagoon on the southeast.
The headland is protected as part of
Point Reyes National Seashore.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes
© Project SOUND
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes
102. Point Reyes: northern
Maritime chaparral at Point Reyes
maritime chaparral intergrades with mixed evergreen forest
and is bordered by coast redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens) groves and
riparian woodlands
Common maritime chaparral species at
Point Reyes include Eastwood's
manzanita (Arctostaphylos
glandulosa), glossyleaf manzanita
(Arctostaphylos nummularia), chamise
(Adenostoma fasciculatum), giant
chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla),
http://www.meetup.com/bay-areakayakers/events/12581031/
buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), and
chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana). Also
of importance in this vegetation type are
the rare species Bolinas Manzanita
(Arctostaphylos virgata), Point Reyes
ceanothus (Ceanothus gloriosus var.
exaltatus), and Mason's ceanothus
(Ceanothus masonii).
© Project SOUND
http://www.math.cmu.edu/~pikhurko/Gallery/110320PointReyes/33.html http://roadjournals.viamagazine.com/2012/01/17/point-reyes-national-seashore-
hiking-tamales-point-trail/
103. * Point Reyes Ceanothus – Ceanothus gloriosus
© 2006 Steve Matson
© Project SOUND
104. * Point Reyes Ceanothus – Ceanothus gloriosus
North Coast (Marin, Sonoma
Counties), San Francisco Bay,
north Central Coast
var. porrectus (Mt. Vision
ceanothus) - rare variety endemic
to Marin County in the vicinity of
Point Reyes
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6586,6589,6608
var. gloriosus (glory mat) - smaller
mat-forming variety known mainly
from Marin County
Seaside bluffs and the slopes of
the coastal mountains
Coastal Bluff scrub, closed cone
conifer forest, coastal dunes,
coastal scrub below 1700'
© Project SOUND
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8u9p--NTHGj834b-n31gzg
105. Ceanothus gloriosus: varieties differ in height, habit
Size:
2-6 ft tall (depends on var.)
6-12+ ft wide
Growth form:
Var exaltatus: large shrub
Var. gloriosus: low, almost
http://beling.net/articles/about/Ceanothus_gloriosus mat-like groundcover, but
may be mounded
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Bark red aging to gray
Evergreen; fairly fast growth
Foliage:
Leaves bright, fresh to
medium green, shiny on top
May be toothed like holly
© Project SOUND