Green shrubs 2018-notes

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with California Native Plants in Western L.A. County
Project SOUND – 2018 (our 14th year)
© Project SOUND
Evergreen shrubs: their
importance for gardens
and health
C.M. Vadheim, K. Dawdy (and T. Drake)
CSUDH (emeritus), CSUDH & City of Torrance
Madrona Marsh Preserve
December 1 & 6, 2018
2018 Season – Gardens that sooth
© Project SOUND
Gardens that heal
During the 2018 season we’ve:
 Discussed evidence linking good
health and exposure to the
out-of-doors
 Discussed the elements of
outdoor exposure linked to
good health
 Learned how to incorporate
these elements into our
gardens, to make them even
better places to live, enjoy and
de-stress
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
Today we’ll be focusing on green
 Psychologic and physiologic
effects
 Why green is particularly
important in mediteranean
and dry-climate gardens
 The key role of evergreen
shrubs in garden design
 Ways to use evergreen
shrubs in any size or type of
garden
© Project SOUND
It’s true, evergreen shrubs can hide a
multitude of sins….
© Project SOUND
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/492581277966115036/?lp=true
But evergreen shrubs can add so much
more to a garden
That’s why gardeners in just
about every climate include
evergreen plants in their
landscapes
© Project SOUND
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/g3367/privacy-landscaping/https://www.pinterest.com/pin/134896951310560090/?lp=true
Why include evergreens in our gardens?
 Because they create useful hedges
and screens
 Because they make us feel cool and
comfortable, even on a hot day
© Project SOUND
https://www.remodelaholic.com/13-ways-hide-outdoor-eyesores/
https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/pictures/southwestern-
landscaping_42/88005-nm-casa-serena-landscape-designs-llc-
garden-walkway_2825/
 Because they look good
year-round
 Because they create
structure in a garden design
 Because people like green

12/3/2018
Worldwide, men & women like different colors…
© Project SOUND
http://neilpatel.com/2015/05/14/the-psychology-of-color-how-to-use-colors-to-increase-conversion-rate/
…but the most favorite colors overall are blue and green
Why do humans like certain colors more
than others? It’s complex….
© Project SOUND
http://oceanquigley.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-series-of-california-landscape.html
Some findings make intuitive sense
 Babies prefer bright, primary colors
 Color preference changes with age: blue/green
are adult preferences (yellow/gold are low
preference for adults, high for children)
 People who are cold prefer warm colors like
red and yellow; warm hues (long wave-lengths)
raise the heart rate, appetite [increased
anxiety/arousal response]
 People who are hot prefer cool colors like blue
and green; they decrease blood pressure,
increase relaxation responses, creativity
© Project SOUND
 Learning also plays a role in preferences: culture and context
are important, particularly for adults
Physiologic effects of green exposure
 Researchers have found that green can improve reading ability.
Some students may find that laying a transparent sheet of green
paper over reading material increases reading speed and
comprehension.
© Project SOUND
 The color green – in the
middle of the visual
spectrum - is restful for
eyes and produces the least
amount of eyestrain.
 It is the color of balance –
between warm and cool, and
associated with relaxation
responses
What explains this?

12/3/2018
Color of surroundings affect the psyche…
© Project SOUND
.. unfortunately, there’s surprisingly little good research on
the psychologic effects of color
Color is complex: it’s comprised
of three characteristics;
luminance (brightnesss), chroma
(purity/grayness) and hue
Color-in-context model
 Some color responses are learned; others
are biologically inherent (‘innate’)
[example: red increases physiologic
stress responses]
 Innate color responses are modified by
social learning, as a person ages [example:
learn that red is associated with danger]
 Core premise: the influence of color on
affect, cognition, and behavior varies as
a function of the psychological context
in which the color is perceived.
© Project SOUND
https://www.stickwix.com/shop/stop-sign/
Example: Red shirt study
 Context (learned): red can signal either
failure [red marks on exam] or
attraction [Valentines]
 Subjects were told that they would be
interviewed about either:
 Dating practices on campus
 Intelligence
 Shown photos of their future
interviewer (opposite sex) wearing
either red or blue shirt
 Time to walk to the interview room
measured
© Project SOUND
Color in Context: Psychological Context Moderates the Influence of Red
on Approach- and Avoidance-Motivated Behavior. Brian P. Meier, Paul R.
D’Agostino, Andrew J. Elliot et. al. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40333.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040333
© Project SOUND
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/uimages/2011/01/color-meanings-symbolism-chart-green.png

12/3/2018
Worldwide, men & women like different colors…
© Project SOUND
http://neilpatel.com/2015/05/14/the-psychology-of-color-how-to-use-colors-to-increase-conversion-rate/
…but the most favorite colors overall are blue and green
Primordial landscapes: ingrained in our DNA?
 When young children from different
nations are asked to select which
landscape they prefer, there is a
strong preference for savannas
with trees.
 There is also a preference for
landscapes with:
 Water
 Both open and wooded areas
 Trees with branches at a suitable
height for climbing and taking foods
 Features encouraging exploration
such as a path or river curving out of
view
 Seen or implied animals
 Some clouds.
© Project SOUND
http://www.placesyoullsee.com/20-pictures-of-the-real-life-
garden-of-eden/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Hill_-
_Indian_by_a_lake_in_a_majestic_California_landscape.jpg
© Project SOUND
On a deeply primitive level, humans respond to green as an indication
of safety, fertility and wealth. Green indicates an environment rich
with water resources. Green creates a deep sense of reassurance, and
can make you feel safe and calm.
https://designersart.com/art/lush-hillside-farm/
It’s no wonder that people like gardens
with evergreen trees & shrubs
© Project SOUND
https://cleantechnica.com/2017/11/24/stone-edge-farm-sandbox-microgrid-development/
Abundant resources
Calm reassurance

12/3/2018
Green surroundings help us relax:
the reasons are likely both innate
and learned
© Project SOUND
It’s no wonder we’re seeing green showing up in
more and more places these days
Take-home message – to increase sense of
calm/serenity (decrease arousal; increase pleasure)
 Use short wave-length
colors – blue, blue-green,
green
 Use colors of lower
saturation (e.g., ‘grayed’
colors)
 Use colors of bright to
medium brightness (rather
than dark colors)
© Project SOUND
http://fuelcalculator.info/green-and-grey-bedroom/
Take-home message – to increase sense of
calm/serenity (decrease arousal; increase pleasure)
 Use short wave-
length colors – blue,
blue-green, green
 Use colors of lower
saturation (e.g.,
‘grayed’ colors)
© Project SOUND
http://fuelcalculator.info/green-and-grey-bedroom/
 Use colors of bright to medium
brightness (pastels rather than
dark colors)
Fortunately, it’s easy to create a restful
garden using California native shrubs
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
People show decreased stress responses
in certain environments
© Project SOUND
Studies in several countries suggest that the more ‘man-made/urban’
items in a landscape, the less restful it is (even when you’re just
viewing pictures or looking out the window)
Man-made elements: straight lines, sharp
angles and unnatural colors
© Project SOUND
Many gardens include views that highlight man-made
elements. Screening these elements from view can
make a garden more relaxing.
Green Magic 1: create a more relaxing
landscape by screening man-made elements
© Project SOUND
Let’s take the example of the white fence
© Project SOUND
We could make the fence ‘disappear’ with
color …but a green hedge makes more sense

12/3/2018
We’ve discussed the value of hedges and
privacy screen several times
© Project SOUND
http://fynbosgardens.blogspot.com/2013/07/hedges.html
Carefully chosen shrubs add color,
food and habitat as well
Best long-term native choices for large
hedge/screen: larger textured
 Rhus
 R. integrifolia
 R. lentii
 R. aromatica [formerly R. trilobata]
 Heteromeles arbutifolia
 Mahonia
 Prunus
 P. illicifolia
 Quercus
 Q. cornelius-mulleri
 Q. dumosa
 Q. durata
 Q. palmeri
 Q. turbinella
 Q. wislizeni
© Project SOUND
R. integrifolia
Heteromeles arbutifolia
© Project SOUND
*Pink-flowering sumac – Rhus lentii
http://timeless-environments.blogspot.com/2012/05/pink-flowering-sumac-rhus-lentii.html
 Cedros Island, and western coastal Baja CA
Mexico
 On bluffs, in canyons and among desert
scrub vegetation.
© Project SOUND
*Pink-flowering sumac – Rhus lentii
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4915345
First collected by Dr. John Allen
Veach on a California Academy
of Sciences expedition to
Cedros Island in 1859

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Shrub similar to Lemonadeberry
 Size:
 4-8+ ft tall
 6-15+ ft wide
 Growth form:
 Evergreen shrub; either
green or blue-green (water)
 Densely branched – good for
hedging
 Mounded shape
 Foliage:
 Leaves leathery, succulent
 Attractive but not obtrusive
– good background or hedge
plant
https://inlandvalleygardenplanner.o
rg/plants/rhus-lentii/
©2018 Joey Malone
© Project SOUND
Flowers are fantastic
 Blooms: winter spring – Jan-Apr,
depending on weather
 Flowers:
 Small flowers in open clusters
(like Lemonadeberry)
 Color may be much brighter than
Lemonadeberry – very showy
 Attracts tons of pollinators
 Fruits:
 Similar to Lemonadeberry
 Ripen to red-pink in late spring
 Can be used to make ‘Rhus-ade’,
syrup or jelly
 Birds and animals also eat them
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rhus_lentii
© Project SOUND
A bit more difficult
than Lemonadeberry
 Soils:
 Texture: most are fine; not
for very poor drainage
 pH: any local (6.0-8.0)
 Light: full sun to light shade
 Water:
 Winter: normal rainfall;
water if needed
 Summer: very occasional to
occasional (up to 1-2 times
per month); Water zones 1-2
to 2.
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
 Other: fine with a shallow
organic mulch
https://inlandvalleygardenplanner.org/plants/rhus-lentii/
© Project SOUND
Use like Lemonadeberry
 As a background or foundation
shrub; nice all year long
 Does well on slopes
 For a large hedge or hedgerow
 Prune up as a small tree
 Even as an attractive pot plant
https://garden.org/plants/photo/167126/

12/3/2018
Mahonia species would be an attractive
alternative
© Project SOUND
Mahonia aquifolium
https://www.primrose.co.uk/mahonia-aquifolium-oregon-grape-4560cm-bare-root-p-
103728.html
https://www.laspilitas.com/garden/California_native_hedges.html
Mahonia nevinii
Prunus ilicifolia: a good, reliable water-
wise choice for a screen
© Project SOUND
Screening shrubs don’t necessarily need
to be large/tall in order to do the trick
 Consider the views from places where you spend time. You
may be able to block annoying/stressful views with a well-
placed, medium-sized evergreen shrub
© Project SOUND
Best long-term native choices for medium
hedge/screen: finer-textured
 Atriplex
 Lycium
 L. andersonii
 L. brevipes
 L. californicum
 L. fremontii
© Project SOUND
Cercocarpus ledifolius
http://rockies.audubon.org/news/unsung-hero-winter-dry-garden
Lycium
http://www.watersmartplants.com/ms/PlantDetails?id=5577#
 Simmmondsia chinensis
 Baccharis pilularis
 Cercocarpus
 C. betuloides
 C. ledifolius
 C. minutiflorus

12/3/2018
The genus Lycium
 Flowering plants in the nightshade
family, Solanaceae
 ~ 70 to 80 species; 9 native to CA
Floristic Province
 Occur on most continents, in
temperate and subtropical regions
 South America has the most species,
followed by North America and
southern Africa
 Species have long been used
medicinally, around the world
© Project SOUND
https://essentiallivingfoods.com/products/goji-berries
© Project SOUND
Wolfberry – Lycium andersonii
© Project SOUND
California Boxthorn – Lycium californicum
http://www.newportbay.org/plants/califboxthorn.html
© Project SOUND
California Boxthorn – Lycium californicum
 A local endemic:
 S. CA coast, Channel Islands into Baja
CA
 Western L.A. Co. and south
 Washes and hillsides, coastal bluffs, coastal
sage scrub, below 1500‘
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7625,7636,7642
©2015 Wynn Anderson

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Right at home on
the PV bluffs…
 Fine with salty soils,
salt-spray, high winds
& blowing sand
 Habitat is
disappearing – on
CNPS ‘rare’ watch list
© 2004 Michael Charters
© Project SOUND
CA Boxthorn:
interesting or homely?
 Size:
 3-6 ft tall (occasionally to
10 or 12 ft tall)
 4-8 ft wide (occasionally
wider)
 Growth form:
 Dense, woody shrub
 Drought-deciduous
 Ends of branches have
thorns (hence ‘boxthorn’)
 Foliage:
 Small, very succulent leaves
http://www.smmflowers.org/bloom/species/Lycium_californicum.htm
© Project SOUND
Flowers: slightly tomato-like
 Blooms: Spring - usually Mar-June in S.
Bay
 Flowers:
 Small; < ½ inch
 Green-white to somewhat purple tinged
 Look like members of the nightshade
family – yet unique
http://www.calflora.net/
bloomingplants/californi
aboxthorn.html
http://www.smmflowers.org/bloom/species/Lycium_californicum.htm
© Project SOUND
Using the fruit…think
‘tomato’
 Fruits are firm and red when
ripe – usually in summer
 Birds will eat the fruits
 Fruits are not sweet – more
tart
 Fruits can be dried for later
use
 Can be used to make a sauce
that’s somewhat like a
tomato sauce
Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: any well-drained,
sand to clay, rocky
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun to light shade
 Water:
 Winter: needs winter rains
 Summer:
 Very drought tolerant –
but loses leaves
 Best Water Zone 2
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor
soils
CA Boxthorn thrives on seaside
conditions; excellent for sea
bluffs
© Project SOUND
CA Boxthorn has a place in some CA
gardens…..
 On seaside slopes
 As a barrier plant or hedge
 As an unusual – and rare –
specimen plant
 As an interesting, edible
container plant
Whatever look or size you use, native
evergreen shrubs make great relaxing screens
 Range of water requirements and heat
tolerance
 Many can be pruned formally
 Several good choices for most garden
situations
© Project SOUND
https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-
california/plants/192--cercocarpus-alnifolius
Cercocarpus alnifolius
Baccharis pilularis 'Twin Peaks'
Larrea tridentata Attriplex species
http://www.sb.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnu
m=24565&return=l5_p25
Yes, there are alternatives to plastic!
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
Compare the gardens on the left to the
one below
 All are water-wise
 All have plenty of hardscape
 One is much more pleasant
© Project SOUND
https://dryheatblog.wordpress.com/category/education/speaking/
What makes these
gardens so attractive?
At least part of the answer lies
in the amount of green they
include, even with lots of
inorganic mulch/hardscape
© Project SOUND
https://allfortheboys.com/home/2017/06/28/phoenix-summer-
flashlight-tours-desert-botanical-garden.html
https://publish.extension.org/mastergardener/tag/xeriscaping/
Green Magic 2: help soften areas with lots
of concrete or other hardscape
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/354869645615817878/https://www.pinterest.com/pin/498703358707443046/
https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/desert-landscaping/
Evergreen plants soften,
no matter what the setting

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
* California Juniper – Juniperus californica
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperus_californica_Mount_Diablo.jpg
https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/desert-landscaping/
© Project SOUND
* Common Juniper – Juniperus communis
var. montana (saxatilis)
© Project SOUND
Common juniper: woody groundcover
 Size:
 1-5 ft tall
 4-10+ ft wide
 Growth form:
 Evergreen
 Mounded to mat-like;
spreading w/ age
 Live 150+ years
 Moderate growth rate
 Foliage:
 Blue-green or medium green
 Sharp needles in bundles of 3
 Bark – red-brown, thin peeling
 Foliage makes nice orange dye
©2009 Barry Breckling
©2012 Jean Pawek
© Project SOUND
Female fruits are showy
 Blooms: spring
 Flowers: male and female; usually
on separate plants
 Female fruits/cones:
 Look like berries – typical of
junipers
 Take 2 years to ripen
 Begin green, then red; blue
with white bloom when ripe
 Human uses:
 Seasoning (esp. for meat,
fish)
 Flavor for beverages
©2012 Jean Pawek
©2010 Louis-M. Landry

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
 Texture: just about any
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to light shade;
fine under high canopy
 Water:
 Winter: adequate; no
standing water
 Summer: best with occasional
– Water Zone 1-2 or 2
but fine with leaf mulch
 Other: nice natural shape, but
can be pruned; watch for Juniper
Blight
©2008 Louis-M. Landry
http://web.ewu.edu/ewflora/Cupressaceae/Juniperus%20communis.html
© Project SOUND
Common juniper in the garden
 As an attractive pot plant, bonsai
 Evergreen groundcover, under tall trees
 Rock gardens
 Woodland/habitat gardens
 In Asian-themed gardens
http://www.bonsai.de/shop/images/SH040_wacholder_juniperus_communis_bonsai.jpg
http://conservationgardenpark.org/plants/443/common-juniper/
Susan McDougall @ USDA-NRCS
PLANTS Database
Uses for juniper berries
 To season meat, particularly
wild game & fish (salmon)
 As a flavoring for alcoholic
beverages:
 Gin (uses other seasonings as
well as juniper berries)
 Juniper-flavored liqueurs
 For tea (fresh or dried)
 Note: intense flavor (a little
goes a long way) – often mixed
with other teas, flavoring agents
© Project SOUND
http://www.seachangesavouries.ca/juniper-tea/
http://theteacosy.tumblr.com/post/4075869086/8-different-teas-and-what-they-do
Juniper tea is said to aid digestion
But junipers (even native species) are just
the beginning
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
Native plant growers keep developing
new evergreen groundcover cultivars
© Project SOUND
Artemisia
Baccharis
Ceanothis
There’s a real need for easy-to-grow shrubs to ‘soften’
the urban hardscape
Groundcover shrubs aren’t the only solution
© Project SOUND
https://ag.txstate.edu/facilities/gardens/zen-garden.html
Trees and shrubs provide the living
architecture of the garden
© Project SOUND
https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/tips/a1019/how-to-create-the-perfect-winter-garden-wonderland/
In regions with cold winters, evergreen shrubs
provide contrast to gray & white of deciduous plants
© Project SOUND
https://blackwalnutdispatch.com/tag/piet-oudolf-winter-garden/

12/3/2018
Winter gardens require the right balance
of evergreen and deciduous plants
© Project SOUND
http://www.slowfooddenver.org/winter-garden-tips/
Late summer and fall are our equivalent
to snow-country winter
© Project SOUND
It’s the best time to evaluate our garden design –
particularly our key contrasts
The two most
important fall
contrasts
© Project SOUND
Green vs. non-green
Light vs. dark
A few tricks for creating a colorful Southern
California fall garden
1. Provide backgrounds that
highlight fall accent plants
2. Plan enough green foliage to
ensure:
 The garden still looks viable
 Enough contrast for the colorful
parts of the garden
3. Select plants that provide fall
color accents:
 Leaf color
 Bright fall flowers
 Colorful seeds, fruits or other
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
Depending in the garden size and accent
colors, 25-40% green coverage
© Project SOUND
Ironically, large landscapes may get by with less green than
smaller ones
Green Magic 3: green provides important
contrast for dormant/deciduous plants
© Project SOUND
http://nativesnowsocal.blogspot.com/2016/12/wildlife-habitat-garden-in-southern.html
Why are some trees/shrubs evergreen?
Or more importantly, why are others deciduous?
© Project SOUND
Quercus john-tuckeri
Quercus lobata
The earliest plants – large or small – were evergreen
© Project SOUND
But the climate then was warm, rich and moist
https://pixels.com/featured/prehistoric-middle-devonian-landscape-science-source.html

12/3/2018
A few definitions: evergreen vs deciduous
 Seasonal leaf loss has evolved
independently several times during
evolution of plants.
 Plants that lose all of their leaves
for part of the year are known as
deciduous plants. Those that don’t
are called evergreen plants.
 Deciduous plants are usually:
 Winter/cold deciduous
 Drought deciduous
 Some plants are situationally
deciduous.
© Project SOUND
Willows are winter-deciduous
Some CA natives are situationally
drought deciduous
Advantages of two different life strategies
Evergreen
 Less energy spent on growing
new leaves
 Often longer growing season
 Often adapted to lower soil
nutrient levels
 Usually have developed
characteristics that let them
conserve water:
 Leaf shape/size
 Leaf protections
 Plant shape
 Deeper roots
 Good self-mulching
 Etc.
Deciduous
 Better able to withstand winter
winds, snow load, drought, ?fire
 Shed pest-infested leaves
 Young leaves less susceptible to
pests/disease than older leaves
 Less energy invested during times
of stress (cold or drought)
 Often greater leaf area for more
photosynthesis
 Allows better pollination, especially
for wind-pollinated species
© Project SOUND
Native scrub oaks of
Los Angeles Co.
© Project SOUND
http://www.panoramio.com/user/8297073?photo_page=272
Quercus berberidifolia
J.S. Peterson, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Quercus dumosa
Quercus durata
Quercus durata var. durata
Native scrub
oaks – LA Co.
© Project SOUND
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_pacifica.jpg
Quercus john-tuckeri
Quercus palmeri

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Quercus turbinella
© Project SOUND
Nuttall’s scrub oak – Quercus dumosa
J.S. Peterson, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
 CA & Baja. Locally: Santa Monica Mtns,
Catalina, Verdugo Hills/Hollywood/Griffith
Park, San Gabriels
 Collected by Blanche Trask, Ernest Braunton,
W.H. Brewer, Leroy Abrams, The Brandegees,
the Parish brothers, many others
 Introduced into cultivation in California by
Theodore Payne.
© Project SOUND
Nuttall’s scrub oak – Quercus dumosa
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id
=233501023
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Fagaceae/Quercus%20dumosa/Quercus%20dumos
a.htm
Quercus dumosa vs. Quercus berberidifolia
© Project SOUND
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/quespp2/all.html
Quercus berberidifolia
©2018 Susan McDougall
Long, pointed
Short & rounded
Branches at nearly right angle to stem Trichomes visible
©2009 Anna Bennett
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_berberidifolia

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Nuttall’s oak: large shrub or small tree
 Size:
 6-15 ft tall
 6-15 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Evergreen shrub/tree
 Branches at nearly right angles
– stiff appearance
 Pale bark
 Rounded shape w/ age
 Foliage:
 Leaves leathery, holly-like
 Shiny green above; hairy below
 Dense foliage
 Larval food for butterflies
 Roots: deep
© Project SOUND
Flowers: understated
 Blooms: winter to early spring
- usually Feb-Mar
 Flowers:
 Typical for oaks; wind
pollinated
 Separate male/female
flowers on each plant
 Acorns:
 Elongated
 Caps same diameter as nut
 Edible (with processing) by
humans; eaten by birds,
animals
http://coasttocactus.sdnhm.org/plants/nuttall-scrub-oak
© Project SOUND
 Texture: any well-drained
 Light: full sun to part-shade
 Water:
 Winter: good winter rains
 Summer: drought-tolerant to
occasional; Water Zones 1-2
to 2 (sandy soils)
 Other:
 Best with self-mulch
 Needs little/no pruning; can
be pruned up
 Low maintenance
http://www.plantmaster.com/share/eplant.php?plantnum=26009
© Project SOUND
Scrub oaks are good
for smaller areas
 Excellent on dry slopes, for
erosion control
 Appropriate for parking strips
 Can bonsai – or trim as a
hedge/screen
 Make a good small trees, with
excellent shade
 Superb habitat plants
 Butterflies
 Other insects
 Wide range of birds
 Provides food, perches,
nesting sites (CA Towhee)
© 2002 Charles E. Jones
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3642572283_1852921712.jpg?v=0
http://edenbythebay.blogspot.com/2012
/11/street-trees-through-seasons-
nuttalls.html

12/3/2018
An attractive evergreen shrub draws attention away
from drought deciduous shrubs and perennials
© Project SOUND
And that’s important in the fall garden
© Project SOUND
https://instapage.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-color-psychology
Evergreen shrubs needn’t be tall to do the trick
© Project SOUND
https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/81838232/list/stroll-through-10-
inspiring-california-native-gardens
http://www.ocplants.org/eplant.php?plantnum=24194&return=l18_aZ
Placement and area covered
are keys to success
Green Magic 4: well-placed green (any size)
takes attention away from dormant plants
© Project SOUND
http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-theodore-payne-native-plant-tour-20180407-story.html

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
California Buckwheat - Eriogonum fasciculatum
© Project SOUND
California Buckwheat - Eriogonum fasciculatum
 Southwestern U.S.
 to Utah, Arizona, nw Mexico
 s Sierra Nevada, Central
Western California,
Southwestern California,
East of Sierra Nevada,
Desert
 Common. Dry slopes, washes,
canyons in scrub < 2300 m.
 fasciculatum : derived from
a Latin word meaning
"bundles" and describing the
way the leaves are attached
to the leaf stem in little
bunches or 'fascicles'
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/Syllab
us2/factsheet.cfm?ID=639
var. fasciculatum
var. foliolosum
© Project SOUND
Characteristics of California Buckwheat
 Size: similar to Dune Buckwheat
 2-5 ft tall
 3-5 ft wide
 Growth form:
 low mounded semi-evergreen
shrub
 Many-branched
http://www.newportbay.org/plants/index.html
 Foliage:
 Leave alternate, but densely clustered
at nodes, evergreen, narrow lanceolate
(nearly needle-like)
 Situationally drought-deciduous
http://www.birdmom.net/wildflowerspink.html
© Project SOUND
CA Buckwheat cultivars make good
groundcovers
 ‘Dana Point’ - brighter green leaf, more
mounding than species. 4-5 ft. tall
 'Bruce Dickinson' – good for
groundcover; stays close to the
ground, spreads nicely, and holds good
form throughout the year.
 ‘Theodore Payne' – low groundcover (1
ft high; 1-3 ft spread)
 'Warriner Lytle' - sprawling low
growing buckwheat; can grow to 2 feet
tall but is often more prostrate,
hugging the ground like a mat
‘Dana Point’
'Warriner Lytle'

12/3/2018
Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Theodore Payne’
 Size: Ground cover; forms clumps
6 inches high and 6 to 7 ft wide.
 Exposure: Full/part sun.
 Bloom season: White flowers
with pink cast throughout
summer.
 Pruning needs: Little to none;
prune to shape as desired.
 Water needs: Very low; once
established, irrigate deeply once
a month.
© Project SOUND
https://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/home-
garden/article18154718.html
 Excellent pollinator/
butterfly/bird habitat
Tips for using evergreen
groundcovers as foils
© Project SOUND
Ceanothus griseus horizontalis
 Placement is key:
 Front of bed
 Along walkways
 Cover enough area: 1/3 to 1/2 of
area in ‘public’ places
The ‘green’ can be a mix of shrub species, species and
sizes: but they need to visually dominate
© Project SOUND
http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-theodore-payne-native-plant-tour-20180407-story.html
Green Magic 5: Trees and shrubs provide
the living architecture of the garden
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
Open-plan architecture is popular now
© Project SOUND
https://www.porterdavis.com.au/blog/posts/2016/10/open-plan-living
The benefits and drawbacks to very open
plans
 Benefits
 Easy to move around in
 Efficient
 Feels ‘open’
 Drawbacks
 Lack of privacy
 Noisy
 Lack of mystery – you see it
all at first glance
 Must have very unified
design to make it all work
together
 Must keep it very tidy
© Project SOUND
The most popular ‘open-plan’ designs
usually have some private areas (rooms)
 Bedrooms
 Bathrooms
 Closets
 Utility areas
© Project SOUND
http://cbat.info/small-open-floor-plan-kitchen-living-room/
The analogy holds for the garden
© Project SOUND
http://www.allgreengrass.org/news/green-lawn-enterprise-nevada-garden-ideas-
backyard/425
https://www.gardendesign.com/los-angeles/venice-courtyard.html
There’s no right or wrong, but a
garden with partitioned rooms
does provide some advantages

12/3/2018
First, we need to understand what a
garden room is
 Like a room in your house, a
garden room is a part of the
garden set off from the
rest
 Usually has ‘walls’ which may
be actual walls, screens,
shrubbery or implied walls
 May be devoted to specific
garden activity
 In the best designs, garden
rooms are both integrated
into – but are apart from –
other areas of the garden
© Project SOUND
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/286330488788648708/
Reasons for considering garden rooms
 To hide/consolidate unsightly
or utilitarian equipment or
functions:
 Air conditioning or heating
equipment
 Utilitarian sheds or storage
 Trash containers
 Clothes line
 Etc.
© Project SOUND
 To give any garden a more pleasing shape
 Yards that are too shallow and wide to be attractive
 Yards that are too deep, and appear overly narrow
 Other awkwardly-shaped garden areas
© Project SOUND
Dividing area into rooms
creates more pleasing shape
© Project SOUND
https://www.canva.com/learn/what-is-the-golden-ratio/

12/3/2018
Breaking up long,
narrow spaces
 Long narrow gardens can look like a
railroad car
 The key is to break up the space.
 Use shapes, plants and structures
to create screens; turn a thin
corridor into a series of different
areas (‘rooms’).
 Many garden designers prefer
partial screens – letting you catch
glimpses of what’s beyond, rather
than completely blocking off the
section behind them.
© Project SOUND
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/woods-lot-turned-magical-garden-rooms
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Torrance/20328-Roslin-Ave-90503/home/7716379
Use smaller
evergreen shrubs to
create a half-wall
 Gives each area a more pleasing
shape
 Allows parents to keep an eye on
kids – gives each some privacy
 Creates ‘rooms’ based on
function
 Eating/conversation
 Children’s play
 Adds needed green and habitat
© Project SOUND
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Torrance/20328-Roslin-Ave-90503/home/7716379
© Project SOUND
* California Copperleaf – Acalypha californica
http://www.inaturalist.org/photos/310547
© Project SOUND
* California Copperleaf – Acalypha californica
 Peninsular Range of San Diego County and
the western Colorado (Sonoran) Desert.
 Rocky slopes and along washes to about
4000 ft.
 Chaparral, Southern Oak Woodland
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College ©2012 Gary A. Monroe

12/3/2018
The Copperleaves: genus Acalypha
 Family: Euphorbiaceae
 One of the largest euphorb
genera: approximately 450 to
462 species
 60% of species native to the
Americas and about 30% in
Africa
 Species primarily tropical or sub-
tropical
 Some species grown as house or
garden plants; some, indeed, have
copper leaves
 Many used in traditional medicine
(for wide range of ailments)
© Project SOUND
http://posture.doonks.com/Acalypha.html
http://www.gardenality.com/Plants/1461/Perennial-Plants/Copper-Leaf-Acalypha.html
© Project SOUND
California copperleaf: an attractive shrub
 Size:
 3-4 ft tall
 3-4 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Mounded sub-shrub with many
slender branches
 New bark red; older is gray
 Evergreen
 Foliage:
 Leaves small, simple with wavy
edges
 Very neat appearance
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
©2012 Gary A. Monroe
© Project SOUND
Flowers are dramatic
 Blooms: off & on with
rains/irrigation; main bloom
seasons in spring and fall
 Flowers:
 Separate male, female
flowers along spikes
 Female flowers have long,
slender, red/pink styles,
leafy bracts
 Male flowers darker, with
white pollen visible
 Very pretty in bloom!
 Seeds: small, dark, pitted
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Euphorbiaceae/Acalypha%20californica.htm
© Project SOUND
Easy garden plant
 Soils:
 Texture: adaptable; clays OK
 Light:
 Full sun to part-shade
(afternoon shade best in hot
gardens, pots)
 Water:
 Winter: needs good rains
 Summer: very adaptable; Water
Zones 1-2 to 2-3; looks best 2
to 2-3
 Other: nice natural shape; wear
gloves when handling – sap may
cause rash
©2012 Gary A. Monroe
http://www.plantsystematics.org/imgs/dws/r/Euphorbiaceae_Acalypha_cali
fornica_26523.html

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Nice green shrub
 Useful as small, evergreen shrub
or accent plant
 Sometimes used as low hedge
 Looks great with local native
plants or in desert-themed garden
 Attractive in planters or large
containers
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/10--acalypha-californica
http://snowbirdpix.com/sonoran_desert_plant_page.php?id=1603
 To make a yard seem
either smaller or larger
© Project SOUND
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/lush-home-garden-landscaping/all
Ironically, a small, ‘open-plan’
garden often seems smaller than
one divided into a small number of
rooms
 To provide privacy/intimacy or a
quiet area for:
 Sitting/observation areas
 Conversation groupings
 Al fresco dining
 A hot tub or spa
 A meditation garden
 A shady reading nook
 Etc.
© Project SOUND
https://www.bullfrogspas.com/blog/63-hot-tub-deck-ideas-secrets-of-pro-
installers-designers/
https://blog.gardenloversclub.com/gardens/garden-designs/
See the 2017 series
© Project SOUND
This yard has plenty of room
for a variety of activities. It
just needs to be used more
effectively

12/3/2018
A quiet area doesn’t have to be fancy…
…it just needs to provide
privacy and (hopefully)
green shade
© Project SOUND
http://www.maxsyma.com/category/visiting-new-mexico/
https://visitelpaso.com/explore/things_to_do/nature-
tourism/categories/botanical-gardens/places
Fortunately, S. CA offers many native alternatives
© Project SOUND
http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2014/05/27/the-dirty-politics-that-saved-the-santa-monica-mountains/chronicles/who-we-were/
© Project SOUND
Hoaryleaf ceanothus – Ceanothus crassifolius
©2004 Michelle Cloud-Hughes
 Endemic to coastal mountains of S. California & Baja
 Grows in coastal and montane chaparral.
 Collected by Leroy Abrams, the Brandegees, Alice
Eastwood, Howard McMinn, Philip Munz, S.B. Parish
 Introduced into cultivation in California by Theodore
Payne.
© Project SOUND
Hoaryleaf ceanothus – Ceanothus crassifolius
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.ph
p?tid=18433
http://www.smmflowers.org/bloom/species/Ceanothus_cra
ssifolius_crassifolius.htm

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Hoaryleaf ceanothus: a medium shrub
 Size:
 3-12 ft tall
 6-8 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Evergreen woody shrub/small
tree; multi-branched
 Open, vase-like form
 Pale bark
 Growth slower than most
ceanothus
 Foliage:
 Leaves small, like scrub oaks
 Shiny above; very hairy
beneath
©2010 Neal Kramer ©2009 Thomas Stoughton
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Rhamnaceae/Ceanothus%20crassifolius.htm
© Project SOUND
Early white flowers
 Blooms: winter to early spring –
often Jan-Feb in coastal LA Co.
 Flowers:
 Shape & size typical for
ceanothus
 White flowers in dense,
rounded clusters (can look
like snowballs)
 Very showy in a good year
 Attract butterflies, insect
pollinators
 Fruits :
 Sticky, dark fruits typical
for ceanothus
 Eaten by birdsCharles Webber © California Academy of
Sciences
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/141--ceanothus-crassifolius
© Project SOUND
One of the best
ceanothus for us
 Soils:
 Texture: most local, including
clays
 Light: full sun to light shade
 Water:
 Winter: supplement as needed in
dry years
 Summer: Drought-tolerant to
occasional (monthly); Water
Zone 1-2 or 2.
 Other:
 Fine with shallow organic mulch
 Prune as desired (not needed);
shape young plants
http://biology.csusb.edu/PlantGuideFolder/CeanothusCrass/Cean
othusCrassPage.htm
This is a ceanothus that can
take the heat!
© Project SOUND
Good basic evergreen
 As background or foundation shrub,
particularly paired with native from
Santa Monica Mtns
 Prune as medium hedge or screen
 Pruned up as small tree; perfect for
small yards
 Does fine on slopes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_crassifolius
©2006 Chris Wagner, SBNF
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Rhamnaceae/Ceanothus%20crassifolius.htm

12/3/2018
 To make a garden
more interesting, by
providing a sense of
mystery & surprise
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
Chamise – Adenostoma fasciculatum
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
 Foothills of CA south to Baja
– including Channel Islands
 Dry slopes & ridges;
chaparral & mesas below
5,000 ft.
 Most common chaparral
species throughout the
foothills and coastal
mountains of California -
present in ~ 70% of
California chaparral.
 Also called ‘Greasewood’
Chamise – Adenostoma fasciculatum
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Adenostoma+fasciculatum
© Project SOUND
Low-growing variety & cultivars
make nice woody groundcovers
 ‘Black Diamond’
 Dark green foliage
 Low-growing; can be used as a
groundcover or bonsai
 ‘San Nicolas’
 Truly prostrate form from San
Nicolas Island
‘Black Diamond’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/3358077566/in/set-72157621930969588/
Adenostoma fasciculatum var. prostatum

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Chamise – a typical Chaparral shrub
 Size:
 6-10+ ft tall & wide
 size really depends in water
 Growth form:
 Dense, mounded shrub – excellent
cover plant for habitat
 Many stiff branches; bark is red-
brown (young) to peeling-gray
(older wood) – wood ‘greasy’
 Foliage:
 Leaves needle-like – in bundles
(fascicles) – hence the name
‘fasciculatum’
 Aromatic; can be deciduous in
drought
 Roots: sprouts from a burl after fires
– rejuvenation pruning
© 2008 Thomas Stoughton
Steven Perkins @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
Flowers - really showy
 Blooms: any time from Feb-June;
usually April-May in the Madrona
Native Plant Garden
 Flowers:
 Small, tubular white/cream
flowers
 5 petals – look like member of
Rose family
 Blooms clustered on long
flowering branches – literally
1000’s of blooms
 Attracts insect pollinators
 Seeds:
 Hard coats – require acid
scarification or brief
exposure to heat.
© Project SOUND
Chamise is one
tough shrub
 Soils:
 Texture: any as long as it is
fairly well-draining
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun
 Water:
 Winter: don’t over-water
 Summer: very drought
tolerant, but better with
occasional summer water (Zone
1-2 or 2) – keeps it green
 Other: pinch low-growing
forms to keep low – will need
severe pruning to rejuvenate –
you’re the ‘fire’http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/chamise.html
© Project SOUND
Chamise: might be right
for your garden
 Excellent choice for slopes –
good erosion control
 Brightens up an area in bloom
 Nice background plant –
interesting foliage shape, color
 Can be hedged or used as a
screen
 Of course, a great cover plant
for all sorts of ground-
dwellers – birds, lizards, small
mammals (rabbits, etc.).
 Teas/salves from foliage/bark
used for skin infections;
branches for arrow shafts
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/adenostoma-fasciculatum
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/adenostoma-fasciculatum

12/3/2018
Trees and shrubs can provide living walls
for garden rooms
© Project SOUND
Evergreen shrubs can create vistas
 A vista is a ‘framed view’ that accentuates
its best qualities.
 By using plants and built structures to
manage what you can see, you can make a
vista:
 appear more appealing
 hide detracting elements
 or make it seem further away.
 Even a very ordinary outlook can look
spectacular when you control how much of
it is viewed from any angle.
 The vista gives an instant illusion of depth
– even when there is precious little – and
so expands your garden’s horizons.
© Project SOUNDhttp://gardendrum.com/2014/01/06/garden-vistas/
A meandering path creates a sense of
mystery – ‘where is it leading?’
It also can make a small
garden appear much larger
© Project SOUND
https://danielfeau.com/en/sales/france/houses-private-mansions
In sunny, hot climates, green trees and
shrubs are often used as accent plants
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
 To permit you to use plants
or design styles that are
very different – and might
seem to clash – in the same
garden
© Project SOUND
https://www.homestratosphere.com/outdoor-garden-steps/
https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/51120109/list/5-ways-to-use-pastel-
plantings-in-contemporary-gardens
Garden rooms allow you to create
an island of calm pastels in a hot-
colored garden
Evergreen Magic 6: use unique evergreen
shrubs as accent plants
© Project SOUND
http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_DispPl?NAMENUM=693
3
© Project SOUND
*Red barberry – Mahonia haematocarpa
©2014 Richard Spellenberg
 Eastern Mojave Desert mountains; San Bernardino &
San Diego Co. east to AZ & NM
 Grows on rocky slopes and canyons of mountains, in
Pinyon-juniper woodlands, grasslands, and desert
chaparral from ~3000-7500 ft. elevation.
 Collected by S. B. Parish
 AKA Berberis haematocarpa
© Project SOUND
*Red barberry – Mahonia haematocarpa
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-
bin/get_cpn.pl?Berberis+haematocarpa
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id
=233500230
https://delange.org/Barberry/Barberry.htm

12/3/2018
© Project SOUND
Characteristics of Red barberry
 Size:
 6-12+ ft tall
 6-12 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Evergreen large shrub/small
tree
 Upright to mounded shape
 Pale bark
 Foliage:
 Medium to blue-green
 Compound leaves; leaflets spiny
like holly
 Different; decorative
©2016 Wynn Anderson
© Project SOUND
Flowers in spring
 Blooms: time depends on weather
– often Jan-Mar. in milder climates
 Flowers:
 Bright yellow flowers typical of
the Mahonia/Berberis
 Very sweetly scented
 Attracts lots of pollinators
(and passersby as well)
 Fruits:
 Ripen late spring
 Red/purple when ripe
 tart, edible fruits make great
jelly/syrup etc.
 Birds also eat them
©2014 Richard Spellenberg
© Project SOUND
Water-wise and
tough plant
 Soils:
 Texture: well-drained soils;
loves sandy or rocky
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to part-shade;
quite adaptable
 Water:
 Winter: supplement in dry
winters
 Summer: occasional summer
water is best (Water Zone 1-
2 to 2)
 Other: gravel or thin organic
mulch
https://tohonochulpark.org/shop/products/desert-barberry-or-algerita-berberis-
haematocarpa-mahonia/
Prune out oldest ¼-1/3 of stems
each fall. Wear protective eye
glasses, shirt, gloves; this is a really
prickly one!
© Project SOUND
This is a diva shrub!
 As an attractive, year-round accent
 As a background shrub, to highlight
foreground species
 As a formidable hedge/hedgerow
 Pruned up as a small tree
https://santafebotanicalgarden.org/december-2011/
http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_DispPl?NAMENUM=
6933

12/3/2018
So, should you create garden rooms?
© Project SOUND
http://www.allgreengrass.org/news/green-lawn-enterprise-nevada-garden-ideas-
backyard/425
https://www.gardendesign.com/los-angeles/venice-courtyard.html
No right or wrong, but a
garden with partitioned
rooms does provide some
advantages
Step one: decide where you’re most
comfortable on the continuum
© Project SOUND
http://www.artificialgrassportland.com/grassph
otos/fake-grass-carpet-halsey-oregon-rooftop-
backyard/978/
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/inside-the-secret-gardens-
of-venice-california/
Totally open mostly distinct rooms
http://www.ujecdent.com/funky-backyard-
garden-ideas.py
Today we’ve focused on green
 Psychologic and physiologic
effects
 Why green is particularly
important in mediteranean
and dry-climate gardens
 The key role of evergreen
shrubs in garden design
 Ways to use evergreen
shrubs in any size or type of
garden
© Project SOUND
We’ve learned that evergreen shrubs can
be used to create a bit of garden magic
1. To screen views of man-
made elements, thereby
creating a more relaxing
garden
2. To soften the harsh
appearance or too much
concrete of other
hardscape
3. To provide essential
contrast for
dormant/deciduous plants
© Project SOUND

12/3/2018
We’ve learned that evergreen shrubs can
be used to create a bit of garden magic
4. To distract attention from
seasonally dormant/deciduous
native plants
5. To provide the architecture
used to create relaxing garden
rooms
6. To create garden focal points,
using accent plants with unique
features
© Project SOUND
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Torrance/20328-Roslin-Ave-
90503/home/7716379
https://www.frostsgardens.co.uk/blog/2017/3/26/divide-
conquer-garden-partitions/
Next month we’ll discuss using accent plants
to make your garden even more magical
© Project SOUND

Green shrubs 2018-notes

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Ähnlich wie Green shrubs 2018-notes

Ähnlich wie Green shrubs 2018-notes (20)

Mehr von cvadheim

Mehr von cvadheim (20)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

Green shrubs 2018-notes