Plant information sheets to accompany lecture on Katherine Brandegee

1. Giant Buckwheat/St. Catherine’s Lace – Eriogonum giganteum
ssp. formosum & giganteum (er-ee-OG-uh-num jy-GAN-tee-um)
Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)
Native to: San Clemente (var. formosum) and Catalina (var. giganteum) Islands; Dry slopes and
ridges, rocky cliffs in chaparral, coastal sage scrub.
Growth characteristics: perennial shrub mature height: 3-8 ft. mature width: 4-6+ ft.
Large rounded shrub with spreading branches and silvery-green foliage. Semi-deciduous.
Attractive gray-green foliage.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms May-Aug. Tiny pink-cream flowers in dense flat heads held above the
foliage. Flowering heads look like baroque lace (hence the name ‘St. Catherine’s Lace’. Showy.
Flowers turn to bronze-red as they age.
Uses in the garden: Tall informal hedge, on dry sunny slopes, erosion control, specimen plant. Dried
flowers can be used in arrangements. Nice against walls or in the back of beds. In large pots, it can
be pruned up to show its thick, rough trunk and branching structure. Showy and big, it requires
adequate space to showcase its character.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native open-branched shrubs.
Attracts: Excellent nectar source of bees, butterflies and other insects. Larval food for Blue and
Hairstreak butterflies. Also good bird and small animal habitat: provides cover and seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full to partial sun
Soil Best in rocky, well-drained soils; any local pH
Water Little to no summer water (will be somewhat drought deciduous)
Fertilizer None needed
Other
Management: Easy to grow. Cut back after blooming. Hybridizes with other native buckwheats, so
don’t plant near native buckwheat stands.
Propagation: from seed: yes, use fresh seed by cuttings: hard/semi-softwood in late summer/
fall
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-3, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28 11/29/10
© Project SOUND

2. * Calico Monkeyflower – Mimulus pictus (MIM-yoo-luss PIK-tus )
Family: Phrymaceae (Lopseed Family) ; formerly in Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)
Native to: Endemic to southernmost Sierra Nevada and adjacent Tehachapi Mountains (Tulare &
Kern Counties). In bare, sunny areas around shrubs in forest/woodland areas and on rock outcrops
on granitic soils - elevation 300 - 4200 ft.
Growth characteristics: annual wildflower mature height: < 6 in. mature width: < 1 ft.
Tiny annual Monkeyflower that often grows in mat-like low patches although it may be erect.
Leaves are oval to lance-like, pointed, densely hairy and light to mid green. Stems hairy.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring (Mar-May). Flowers are small < ½ inch across, but very showy.
Petals appear flattened. The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a dark reddish calyx of
sepals with uneven lobes. The base of the carolla (tube) is maroon-purple, the end of the petals are
white, striped with maroon-purple. Very unusual – looks like calico print, hence it’s common name.
Uses in the garden: Most at home in damp shady places. An unusual addition to home water
features such as streams, bog gardens, around fountains. Charming in containers and handing
pots, where it will drape over the edges. Plant it where you can enjoy the unusual flowers.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native annual wildflowers.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Morning sun to shade; fine in dappled shade under trees or N-side of structures.
Soil Likes a well-drained, sandy soil but possible in others; pH 5.5-7.5
Water Regular water (Zone 3); likes a moist soil.
Fertilizer Fine, especially in containers.
Other Fine with soil organics, including amendments.
Management: Plant in winter/early spring in place of in pots. Keep seedlings from drying out. Will
re-seed if happy – remove seed capsules if you don’t want it to re-seed.
Propagation: from seed: seeds very small – barely cover & keep moist.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 19 3/2/11
© Project SOUND

3. *Swamp larkspur – Delphinium uliginosum (del-FINN-ee-um you-lee-gin-OH-sum)
Family: Ranunculaceae (Ranunculus Family)
Native to: Narrow endemic from inner North Coast Ranges (Napa, Lake and Colusa Cos.), Northern
CA; wet heavy soil, near streams or swamps in serpentine areas amidst Chaparral, Valley Grassland.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 2-4+ ft.
Spreading, herbaceous perennial from a fleshy root. Usually short-lived. Basal leaves fan-shaped
(unusual among the larkspurs), fleshy and smooth. Stem may be reddish, especially near base.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms late spring to early summer – May-Jul. Flowers on towering stalks typical
for the larkspurs; up to 40-45 flowers per stalk. Flowers are an intense, dark blue – very attractive.
Flowers have the unique shape typical of larkspurs – prominent blue sepals and upward-pointing
‘spur’. Very pretty member of an attractive genus.
Uses in the garden: Most often used in watered perennial gardens. In our area weed to be placed in
a moist area – pond/pool edge or other well-watered place. Excellent choice for a bog container.
Does well with Mimulus cardinalis, Hoita macrostachya and Epipactis gigantea.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Larkspurs (Delphiniums) and Hollyhocks.
Attracts: Excellent hummingbird habitat.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade best in our area; morning sun.
Soil Heavy clays best;
Water Regular water through blooming; slowly taper off in late summer.
Fertilizer ½ strength in early spring – especially in containers.
Other Organic mulch would be useful; leaf mulch is excellent.
Management: Probably a challenge to grow in our area. Remove spent foliage after seeds are
collected or dispersed.
Propagation: from seed: cold-moist 1 wk; fungicide to prevent damping off by divisions: ???
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 48 5/1/16
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

4. *Brewer’s clarkia – Clarkia breweri (CLARK-ee-uh BREW-er-eye)
Family: Onagraceae (Willowherb Family)
Native to: Rare endemic from Northern CA Coastal ranges; shale or serpentine scree in Chaparral,
Foothill Woodland, Northern Coastal Scrub.
Growth characteristics: annual wildflower mature height: <1 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Annual wildflower with upright top sprawling habit. Stems are branched, often red-purple in color.
Leaves narrow. Plant appearance similar to a miniature Elegant clarkia.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring (Apr.-Jun.). Flowers are pink or purple and appear square.
Flowers have four petals, each with an unusual, projecting middle lobe. Showy and unique, even
amongst the Clarkias. Flowers have an intensely sweet fragrance - also unique.
Uses in the garden: Many uses for this wildflower. Often incorporated into wildflower areas or
prairies, with other annuals and native grasses. Lovely choice for containers or bare spaces around
water-wise shrubs. Good choice for fragrance garden – plant where you can enjoy the scent.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Godetias and other annuals.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat: provides nectar and pollen for Hawkmoths & others. Birds
will also eat the seed.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Well-drained in nature; probably most soils.
Water Adequate water during growth; taper off after blooming.
Fertilizer Not needed.
Other Thin inorganic mulch or none; no thick organic mulch
Management: Collect seeds or let re-seed naturally before removing spent stems.
Propagation: from seed: easy with fresh seed
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 37, 46 4/29/16
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

5. Chaparral Bush Poppy – Dendromecon rigida (den-dro-MEE-kon RIH-ji-da)
Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
Native to: Coastal CA and Sierra/Cascade range foothills. Locally on Catalina Island & in Santa
Monica Mtns; common shrub in dry slopes, washes, especially in areas of recent burns.
Growth characteristics: clumping woody shrub mature height: 4-8 ft. mature width: 4-6 ft.
Upright, evergreen shrub with stiff branches and a dense, irregular crown. Narrow, grey-green
leaves and grayish-white bark contrast nicely with the bright yellow flowers.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms are very showy, yellow, 1 to 2 inches across. Blooms primarily in late
winter through spring, but may bloom sporadically throughout year in western L.A. county.
Uses in the garden: Mostly used as a specimen plant due to it’s attractive flowers & foliage. Nice in
front of south-facing walls, as a background shrub, on slopes or as a colorful accent in a large-scale
mixed planting. Would do well in large planters, un-watered parking strips. Good with Ceanothus,
Toyon and Salvias.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native shrubs with lacy foliage like hibiscus.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant. Nectar source for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees & other
insects. Also provides cover for birds. Larger mammals (like deer) may browse foliage.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun
Soil Well-drained (sandy best);
Water Very little summer water needed once established. May give occasional summer
water, but best with none.
Fertilizer None needed
Other
Management: To maintain a tidy appearance, cut back to one-third after the main bloom period.
This is a summer drought plant; does best if planted with others with this requirement.
Propagation: from seed: need smoke treatment by cuttings: hardwood or root cuttings;
layering.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24, 25 2/25/11
© Project SOUND

6. Early onion – Allium praecox (AL-ee-um PREE-cox)
Family: Alliaceae (Onion Family) (also placed in Lilliaceae and Amaryllidaceae)
Native to: Coastal hills/mountains of S. CA and Baja California, including the Channel Islands; clay
soil on shaded, grassy slopes, mostly in Chaparral, S. Oak Woodland.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2+ ft.
Herbaceous perennial from a true bulb. Two to three leaves, linear and grass-like, appear in
winter/spring and wither with the dry season. Leaves have odor of onions when crushed. Bulbs
small, with gray-brown coat. Offset bulbs not clustered around parent bulb.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – usually Mar-Apr but may be earlier. Flowers in a loose cluster of
up to 40 flowers (typical for onions). Flowers are pink or pink-purple tinged. The flowers are well
above the leaves and quite attractive. Attracts a wide range of interesting native pollinators.
Uses in the garden: Most effective featured in foreground, along walkways or in containers.
Welcome addition to prairie plantings, with native grasses, annual wildflowers. Tuck in around
drought tolerant shrubs and perennials; or mass under trees for a woodsy look. Even grow in
summer-dry, shady areas of the edibles garden.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Alliums and other small non-native spring bulbs.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to shade; needs at least afternoon shade.
Soil Heavy clays are best, but can be grown in most; any local pH
Water Needs moist ground until it flowers; more tolerant of summer water that other
native bulbs. Water Zone 2 works well.
Fertilizer ½ strength in spring for container-grown.
Other Light mulches fine.
Management: May be difficult to get established. Will reseed on bare ground if happy.
Propagation: from seed: probably easy by divisions: dig & replant some bulbs every 2-3 years
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 10, 16 5/2/16
© Project SOUND

7. *Glassy onion – Allium hyalinum (AL-ee-um high-YAH-lin-um)
Family: Alliaceae (Onion Family) (also placed in Lilliaceae and Amaryllidaceae)
Native to: Sierra foothills from Kern to Butte Counties and Coast Ranges of Lake, Alameda, Santa
Clara, Merced, and San Benito Counties; heavy, clay soils & rocky outcrops on shaded slopes, 150 to
5000 ft elevation.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb mature height: 1 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft., spreading
Herbaceous perennial from a true bulb. Several narrow leaves appear each spring; become brown
(but are persistent) after blooming. Bulbs small, gray-brown with cells in irregular herringbone
pattern. Plants produce offspring bulbs that are not clustered around the parent. All parts of plant
have aroma of onion; leaves are good substitute for chives.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – Mar-May. Flowers in loose clusters at tips of the flowering stalk
– up to 25 flowers per inflorescence. Flowers are white to pale pink, with 6 tepals (like petals) that
become transparent with age. Pretty in an old-fashioned way. Wrinkled black seeds.
Uses in the garden: Pretty little bulbs for the spring foreground, along walkways or in pots. Good
native for edibles garden. Looks good around shrubs or mixed with wildflowers and native grasses
in a ‘prairie’ or meadow. Does well in raised beds, or beside a large rock or wall.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Alliums and other non-native small bulbs.
Attracts: Good pollinator habitat: attracts native bee and fly pollinators.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Most – perhaps better in clays; any local pH.
Water Likes plenty of winter/spring water. Let dry out in summer, but can take some
summer water (Water Zone 2 is probably best).
Fertilizer ½ strength in spring if grown in containers.
Other
Management: Separate plants every few years and replant. Re-seeds well in most gardens.
Propagation: from seed: easy, in fall/winter by divisions: separate bulbs in fall.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 14, 18, 43 5/1/16
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND