Plant information sheets for lecture on container gardening

1. Coastal Woodfern – Dryopteris arguta (dry-OP-ter-iss ar-GOO-tuh )
Family: Dryopteridaceae (Woodfern Family)
Native to: West coast of North America, mostly in the northwest but S. to Baja; locally on Catalina
& San Clemente Isl, Santa Monica Mtns, San Gabriel Mtns. Normally grows on north slopes and/or
shady creeks in oak woodland, chaparral, coastal sage scrub up to 5000 ft. elevation.
Growth characteristics: spreading perennial fern mature height: 2-3 ft. mature width: 2-3 ft.
Robust native fern that is somewhat variable in its appearance. Some types have an almost ruffled
appearance; leaves are never stiff or sharp. Leaves dark green, about 1/3 as wide as long. Plants
attain largest size in foggy, moist climates. Will be drought-deciduous in dry summer conditions. A
regal-looking fern that spreads moderately from rhizomes.
Blooms/fruits: Non-bloomer. Spores are contained in rounded sori that are midway between the
midrib and edge of individual leaflets.
Uses in the garden: One of the best ferns for a woodsy appearance. Prettier than the Sword Fern.
Good choice for wet areas of the garden – perhaps in an area with sprinkler overspray. Would also
work well in large containers. Plant has been used as an antimicrobial medicine.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native ferns, including Woodferns.
Attracts: Good cover for birds, insects.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to full shade.
Soil Any well-drained soil; best in slightly acid soil (6.0-7.0).
Water Looks best with some water (Zone 2-3 to 3) but will take Zone 2.
Fertilizer Light applications OK
Other Best with an undisturbed leaf mulch.
Management: Easy to grow. Plant is host for the Sudden Oak Death (SOD) pathogen, so may be
hard to find in nurseries. Cut off old leaves (fronds) to improve appearance.
Propagation: from spores: challenging by divisions: relatively easy in winter/spring.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 7, 11 1/29/11
© Project SOUND

2. *Western/California ladyfern – Athyrium filix-femina (uh-THEE-ree-um FEE-lix FEM-in-uh)
Family: Woodsiaceae (Cliff Fern Family)
Native to: Northwestern N. America from AK to North & Central CA (poss. San Gabriels); moist
woods, moist meadows, and wetlands and along streams, in Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest,
Lodgepole Forest, Subalpine Forest, wetland-riparian, from lowlands to mid-elevations.
Growth characteristics: clumping perennial fern mature height: 2-3+ ft. mature width: 2-3+ ft.
Upright, evergreen perennial fern. Leaves (fronds), which are typical, compound fern leaves, unroll
from a central woody core. Fronds are lance-shaped (tapered at both ends). Foliage is a fresh bright
to medium green. Looks like a plant from moist places. Slowly spreading via rhizomes.
Blooms/fruits: No blooms, as this is a fern. Reproduces by spores.
Uses in the garden: Used in moist places, including around ponds and pools. Excellent addition to a
woodsy garden – looks like WA or OR woodlands. Good fern for shady places under trees or N. side
of building; sometimes used as groundcover. Makes an elegant container plant. Medicinal plant.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native ferns.
Attracts: Provides cover for birds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Best in part- to full shade in S. CA.
Soil Most soils, including clays; any local pH, including acidic.
Water Like moist soil/regular water. Water Zone 2-3 or 3.
Fertilizer Does best with light fertilizer, especially if container-grown.
Other Use organic mulch.
Management: Prune out old fronds as needed. Low-maintenance plant except for watering.
Propagation: from spores: yes by divisions: probably easy in spring.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 11, 56, 73, Monrovia Nursery 1/3/17
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

3. *Great polemonium/Royal sky pilot – Polemonium carneum
(pol-leh-MONE-ee-um car-NEE-um)
Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)
Native to: Northwestern U.S. (western) from Washington south to the San Francisco Bay Area;
moist to dry, open areas, grassy slopes and thickets in Northern Coastal Scrub, Coastal Prairie,
Yellow Pine Forest.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Winter-dormant herbaceous perennial from a woody root. Form is upright to mounded. Sticky,
compound leaves with up to 21 leaflets – fern-like in appearance. Color is medium green. Looks like
a traditional garden plant. Attractive foliage. Spreads (not aggressive) by rhizomes, seeds.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms off and on – April to fall. Flowers are loosely grouped along a flowering
stalk. Flowers are bell-shaped with five lobes and are over an inch wide. Flower color may be any
shade of pale pink, salmon pink, yellow, or pale lavender to medium purple. Very attractive!!
Uses in the garden: Often used as an accent plant in shady areas under trees, north or walls, etc.
Good choice for shady patios, including in containers. Charming ornamental with lovely pastel
flowers! Cultivar ‘Apricot delight’ has pink-apricot flowers and a mounded habit.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native flowering perennials.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat: attracts native bees and butterflies.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to fairly shady.
Soil Not picky; grows well in most soil textures and local pH.
Water Likes moist soil; Water Zone 2-3 to 3 (regular water).
Fertilizer Yearly dose of ½ strength fertilizer.
Other Organic mulch.
Management: Trim back lightly after blooming. Fairly easy to grow in right setting.
Propagation: from seed: easy from fresh seed by divisions: yes, in spring.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 46, 48, Amazon 1/4/17
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

4. California sweet cicely – Osmorhiza brachypoda (oz-mor-EYE-zuh brak-ee-PODE-uh)
Family: Apiaceae (Carrot Family)
Native to: Mountains & foothills of CA from San Diego Co, north (Central and southern Sierra
Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay, South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges (Santa Monica and
San Gabriel Mtns), Peninsular Ranges); moist ravines, coniferous forests, woodlands, 500-6500 ft.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Winter-dormant herbaceous perennial with fern-like foliage. Leaves are compound, hairy and have a
scent of licorice. Leaves arise from thick taproot. Plant has a pleasant, woodsy character.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring, usually Mar-April. Flowers tiny, green-yellow to white, in
clusters. Not super showy, but attract a wide range of insect pollinators. Seeds are flat, ribbed and
typical for the family.
Uses in the garden: Most often used in woodland gardens. Good under trees and in other shady
positions. Nice in combination with sedges, wildflowers like Baby Blue Eyes and Chinese Houses.
Does well in deep (at least 20 inch) containers, and will be green much of the year. Good habitat
plant. Root decoction used for coughs, colds. Infusion of foliage used to kill fleas (hair wash).
Sensible substitute for: Non-native herbaceous perennials.
Attracts: Good bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Only known host plant for the
California endemic moth Greya suffusca. Attracts fly pollinators and small native bees.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to quite shady.
Soil Well-drained soils; any local pH.
Water Likes moist soil. Regular water (Water Zone 2-3 to 3). Taper off in fall.
Fertilizer Yearly ½ strength for plant in containers.
Other Organic mulch.
Management: Prune out old leaves in winter if desired. Placement and water are key to success.
Propagation: from seed: fresh seed; rinse in water several times before planting by cuttings: ?
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 13 1/4/17
© Project SOUND

5. Splendid gilia – Saltugilia (Gilia) splendens (saul-too-JEE-lee-uh SPLEN-dens)
Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)
Native to: Endemic to California’s South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges and the San Jacinto
Mountains from Los Angeles to Monterrey Co. Locally in Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mtns.;
openings in brush or woods, chaparral, foothill woodland, yellow pine forest.
Growth characteristics: annual wildflower mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
Branching, upright annual wildflower with thin, mostly leafless stems. Bottom leaves larger, fern-
like, in basal rosette. Foliage is hairy and glandular. Over-all effect is quite open.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring – usually May-July. Flowers in open clusters of 8-12 flowers.
Flower shape varies from bell-shaped to trumpet-shaped. Flowers are very attractive, pale to
medium pink with blotches of yellow and purple. Blue-tipped anthers. Old-fashioned charmer.
Uses in the garden: Often used in natural plantings with native grasses, wildflowers and shrubs.
Very attractive massed. Good choice for containers. Attracts native pollinators, birds. Provides
lovely color accent in spring. Nice in woodland or cottage gardens.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native spring flowering perennials.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator & bird habitat: provides nectar, cover and seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Any local; any local pH.
Water Needs adequate winter/spring water. Taper off water as flowering wanes.
Fertilizer None needed; refresh soil if grown in containers.
Other No mulch or gravel.
Management: Allow seeds to ripen on dry plants; sprinkle seeds to re-seed or save in cool dry
place. Remove dead stalks and use for mulch.
Propagation: from seed: moderately easy with fresh seed; germination may take up to 6 weeks.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 19, 46 1/3/17
© Project SOUND

6. * Coastal Onion – Allium dichlamydeum (AL-ee-um die-clam-MID-ee-um)
Family: Alliaceae (Onion family); formerly Lilliaceae (Lily family)
Native to: Endemic to CA north and central coast; seasonally dry clay soil on or near sea cliffs
above the coast to about 300 ft. elevation.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb mature height: to 1 ft. mature width: to 1 ft.
Herbaceous, summer-dormant perennial from a true bulb. Three to six flat, grass-like leaves radiate
out from the base. Leaves are gray-green to medium green and may die back before flowering.
Entire plant has scent of onion when crushed or bruised.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in later spring – usually April to June. Flowers are in dense umbels at the
tip of the flowering stalk. Flowers are medium to bright pink or pink-purple – very pretty and
colorful. Flowers are small (to about ½ inch; 1.2 cm), bell shaped, with three petals & three
identical-appearing sepals. Anthers are yellow. One of our prettiest native onions.
Uses in the garden: Often used to naturalize with native grasses, wildflowers and perennials. Small
size makes it a natural for front of beds and along walkways. Excellent choice for containers. Very
showy when massed. Note: This is not an edible onion. All onions can be toxic to dog & cats.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Alliums and other bulbs.
Attracts: Attracts butterflies and small insect pollinators (often flies). Birds eat seeds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Clay soils are best, but OK in most; all local pH.
Water Adequate water in spring; dry in summer (Water Zone 1)
Fertilizer Not needed in ground; one dose of ½ strength for bulbs grown in containers.
Other No mulch or inorganic mulch.
Management: Prune dead leaves to tidy. Sprinkle dry seeds to multiply.
Propagation: from seed: easy with fresh seed by bulbs: divide in fall and replant.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 18, 30, 35 1/2/17
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

7. *White brodiaea – Tritelia hyacinthina (try-TELL-ay-uh hy-uh-SIN-thin-uh)
Family: Themidaceae (Brodiaea Family)
Native to: Coast Ranges, Central Valley and Sierras, from sea level to 7,200 feet; grassland,
vernally wet meadows, occasionally drier slopes in Closed-cone Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland,
Valley Grassland and wetland-riparian communities.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb/corm mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Herbaceous perennial wildflower from a corm. Two-three strap-like leaves emerge from base in
spring. Leaves are medium green and keeled beneath. Leaves wither in late spring.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring, usually April-June but may be earlier. Flowers small (to ~ ½
inch), white and funnel-shaped. Flowers grow in dense clusters at end of flowering stalk. Very
fragrant – perfumes all around it. Flowers attract many pollinators and smaller butterflies.
Uses in the garden: Many uses. Best placement is where you can enjoy the fragrance. Tuck around
shrubs and perennials in a dry bed. Combine with native grasses & wildflowers. Excellent choice for
containers (can be relatively shallow) and bowls. White color goes well with other bulbs. Does well
in rock gardens. Often used as cut-flower for fragrance and color. Fine under trees. Corm edible.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native bulbs/corms.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat: attracts native bees, Skippers and other butterflies.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Most local soils – not particular about texture, pH.
Water Moist soil until flowering ceases – then taper off. Summer dry is best.
Fertilizer Renew some soil yearly in containers.
Other Best with light organic or inorganic mulches.
Management: Prune out old leaves in summer (or leave as mulch). Store bulbs (including in
container) in cool dry place over dry season. Sprinkle seeds to propagate more plants.
Propagation: from seed: easy from fresh seed; 3 years to flowering size by offsets: easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 5, 8, 18, 62 1/4/17
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

8. California prickly phlox – Linanthus californicus (lie-NAN-thus ka-li-FOR-ni-kus)
Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)
Native to: California coastal mountains from Marin Co. south to Baja. Locally in Santa Monica and
San Gabriel Mtns.; dry slopes and banks to 5000' in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, coastal strand
and foothill woodland communities.
Growth characteristics: perennial/sub-shrub mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
Evergreen sub-shrub with prickly leaves. Over-all shape is informally mounded, many-branched
with rather dense foliage. Leaves are needle-like. Plant has a taproot – needs taller container.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms for a long time – may be Feb-Jun. Flowers are showy bright pink (usual)
but may be lavender to pale pink. Flowers can be up to 1 inch across and are densely clustered
above the foliage. Flowers open in the day; partly close at night. Flowers are trumpet-shaped with
a thin, white calyx and rounded pink petals (looks superficially like Vinca). Very pretty bloomer!
Uses in the garden: Most often used in natural plantings, with local shrubs, perennials and grasses.
Fine on slopes and other summer-dry places. Good candidate for taller (2 ft+ deep) containers.
Very striking plant that attracts many insects. Be sure to plant away from traffic – it’s prickly!
Sensible substitute for: Non-native flowering shrubs.
Attracts: Excellent insect & bird habitat: provides cover and nectar & seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade (probably best in our area).
Soil Well-drained soils; any local pH.
Water Looks best with a little summer water. Water Zone 2 (1-2 times a month then dry).
Fertilizer Not needed except in container (1 dose/ ½ strength each year).
Other Light organic mulches are fine.
Management: Prune out dead branches (if needed) in winter; may be short-lived (3-5 years).
Propagation: from seed: fresh seed by cuttings: ??
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 3, 11, 16, 45 1/5/17
© Project SOUND