Prudent Pruning - Notes
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Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Prudent Pruning
Plants of the S. CA
Chaparral
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants November 6 & 9, 2010
Project SOUND - 2010
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
The chaparral tells an interesting story, if you how to read it What is the chaparral plant community?
Chaparral is California’s
most extensive plant
community.
It is also the state’s
most characteristic
wilderness
It dominates foothills
and mountain slopes
from the Rouge River
Valley in southern
Oregon to the San
Pedro Martir in Baja
California.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2789/
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Chaparral Area in California by County (acres)*
San Diego 1,003,441
Los Angeles 553,789
Riverside 499,160
Santa Barbara 440,645
San Luis Obispo 417,718
Monterey 369,345 http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/biomes/ChaparalStaMonicaA.jpg
Ventura 326,447
http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/habitats/atstejnegerihabitatla508.jpg
San Bernardino 276,010 Santa Monica Mtns - mostly higher elevations Lower elevations - San Gabriels
San Benito 246,623
Santa Clara 188,427
Orange 111,550
Marin 37,566
San Mateo 36,152
Santa Cruz 32,328
*From Fried, J.S., C.L. Bosinger, and D.
Beardsley. 2004. Chaparal in Southern and
Central Coastal California in the Mid-1990's:
Area, Ownership, Condition, and Change.
http://www.californiachaparral.com/awheresthechaparral.html http://www.californiachaparral.com/awheresthechaparral.html
USFS Resource Bulletin PNW-RB-240
© Project SOUND Malibu State Park Cleveland National Forest © Project SOUND
How does chaparral differ from coastal
sage scrub?
Chaparral Coastal Sage
Scrub
1. Often (not always) slightly
higher elevation (500-4500 1. Often lower elevation &
ft) & further from coast nearer/on the coast
2. Hotter summers; winter lows 2. Cooler summers: fog – more
temperate in general
3. More rainfall: 20-40” per yr – 3. Less rainfall: 15-20”
some may even fall in mid-late
summer (summer monsoons)
4. Soil usually loam/clay
Chaparral looks somewhat like Coastal Sage Scrub…. 4. Soil often rocky
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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How do chaparral/coastal sage scrub differ? Why Sclerophyllous
Coastal Sage Scrub leaves?
Chaparral
Small, Sclerophyllous leaves
are advantageous in a semi-
arid climate because they
reduce evaporation thorough
Xyloccocus bicolor a variety of traits including:
waxy coatings
thicker cell layers
5. More small shrubs (< 6 ft); recessed stomata, the pores in
5. More tall shrubs (> 6 ft); soft-leaved (‘soft chaparral’) leaves permitting evaporation
sclerophyllous (hard-leaved) 6. Shrubs tend to be separated and the exchange of oxygen
6. Shrubs tend to grow together with space between – can
into a dense thicket walk though it and carbon dioxide
© Project SOUND Rhamnus ilicifolia © Project SOUND
How do chaparral/coastal sage scrub differ?
Chaparral Coastal Sage Scrub
http://interwork.sdsu.edu/fire/resources/san-diego-habitats.htm
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities/coastal-sage-scrub
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2789/
7. More complex understory:
7. Fewer understory plants – too perennials, grasses
dark under the large shrubs
8. Many summer-dormant
8. Fewer summer-dormant plants plants http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/tag/exotics/
© Project SOUND http://groups.ucanr.org/SAFE/Fire_in_Southern_California_Ecosystems/ © Project SOUND
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Walking through chaparral requires a path The topography has an effect on vegetation
The aspect of a hillside
makes a great difference in
the composition of the
chaparral.
North facing slopes are a
lot moister
Toyon, Manzanita, Scrub oak,
Pitcher sage, Kekiella , and
Poison oak.
The south facing slopes are
arid:
Remember: aspect also is important Dominated by Chamise, Black
in CSS – both are plant communities sage, Woolly blue curls and
Bush poppy, (Dendromecon
sensitive to topography (both have rigida).
http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/
‘sun’ and ‘part-shade’ plants)
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
How do chaparral/coastal sage scrub differ? Evidence that fire has played a key role in
Chaparral Coastal Sage Scrub Chaparral
Even-age ‘stands’ of
vegetation – suggests
recruitment/sprouting only
after fire
Long-lived seeds that require
fire/smoke to germinate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52509763@N00/310103199/
http://palosverdessource.com/tag/rancho-palos-verdes/
Rapid regeneration from
http://www.desertmuseum.org/desert/habitats/chap/chapgallery.php?print=y specialized re-sprouting
9. Can remain as stable CSS organs – ‘burls’/lignotubers
9. Successional community – climax community for a long
tends to progress to Oak Presence of fire-follower
time
Woodland or Pine Forest species – endemic to post-fire
10. Fire plays a key role in years/regions
10. Fire plays a key role in clearing out underbrush;
‘setting the successional clock’ lesser role in the setting
‘successional clock’ SOUND
http://www.desertmuseum.org/desert/habitats/chap/chapgallery.php?print=y
© Project © Project SOUND
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Chaparral is a transitional community – at
least historically Does chaparral ever reach climax any
more in S. CA?
The Chaparral is usually a successional
plant community that gradually moves
to oak and pine forest, if the soil
depth supports it
Over time, just the presence of the
Chaparral can change the actual
characteristics of a site:
http://picasaweb.google.com/guidesharon/Spring#5274932832288037602
change the pH one unit
effectively ‘double’ the precipitation
produce a litter layer (mulch layer of
leaves) in which the pines and oaks can
germinate.
These changes only occur if the
chaparral doesn't burn for decades or
maybe centuries - no one really knows
the time line.
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://room42.wikispaces.com/Savanna+Climate
Recovery after fire Characteristics of chaparral plants
Mainly woody shrubs
Takes 3-4 years
Chaparral communities in
Depends on species – California occur from sea level to
first 2 years recovery high mountains. Each elevation has
by either re-sprouting its own mix of species
http://www.laspilitas.com/easy/easy_wildflower_picture.htm or seed Plants like manzanita
(Arctostaphylos spp.) Ceanothus
Soil moisture is (Ceanothus spp.) and chamise
important – higher (Adenostema fasciculatum) are
elevation and N-facing common themes in southern
slopes in lower California chaparral.
elevations do best
All chaparral plants in California
Ultimately, smaller are adapted to wet winters and
species are crowded dry summers, and they like well-
out drained soils.
http://interwork.sdsu.edu/fire/resources/Chaparral.htm
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities/chaparral
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Chaparral plants are also good food Common large Chaparral shrubs: S. CA
Several species of scrub oaks - Quercus
Young plants and succulent foliage are berberidifolia most common and widespread.
always a temptation – and easier to Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum)
access
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Ceanothus leaves are browsed by deer
year-round Various Ceanothus species
Rabbits, deer and other herbivores Various manzanita (Arctostaphylos) species
can browse heavily in fall/ winter Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina)
Deer eating Ceanothus
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/F7xecrsLEk2wFiIEETx41A
Sugar bush (Rhus ovata)
Holly-leafed cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
Spiny redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia)
Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus
betuloides).
Redshanks (Adenostema sparsifolia)
Chaparral comes from the
Spanish and means "having
Silk-tassel bush (Garrya spp.)
Brush Rabbit
scrub oaks".
http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/plants/shrubs/rabbit-brush.aspx
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Chaparral shrubs are lovely Chaparral plants say ‘buy me, buy me!’
Evergreen foliage
Most have abundant
springtime or summer
blooms.
http://dunncreekfarm.blogspot.com/2010/04/organic-farming-from-hell.html Berries add color in the late
summer and fall when the
rest of the region is drab.
Any given patch of chaparral
will contain several of the
common large shrub species
but one or two will be
predominant.
And then there are the
showy smaller plants that
grow in sunny patches….
http://jimmundy.name/garden_album/slides/Ceanothus_looking_toward_front_door.html
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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And that’s how pruning figures into the story Buckbrush – Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Buckbrush – Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus You’ve likely seen it
in the wild…
Western U.S. from
OR to N. Baja Just another large shrub most
of the year
In CA, common in Covered with snow-like blossoms
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/botany/herbarium/projects/ceanothus/CeCu/index.html foothills except in in spring – some say reminiscent
deserts & Central of a cherry or apple tree
Valley http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ceacun/all.html
Common on dry,
rocky slopes, fans &
ridges, to 6000', in
foothill chaparral,
pinyon-juniper and
yellow pine woodland
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/2409689371/
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6586,6589,6594,6595
© Project SOUND
N. CA Chaparral © Project SOUND
http://www.tulipsinthewoods.com/wild-plants/buckbrush-ceanothus-cuneatus/
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Flowers: showy white
Buckbrush has many characteristics of ceanothus
Ceanothus
Size:
4-8 ft tall Blooms:
4-8 ft wide Mar.-May or even later at
higher elevations
Growth form: Depends on the climate
Fast-growing woody shrub patterns/ rain & temperature
Form usually erect, multi-stemmed –
rarely prostrate Flowers:
http://www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/shrubs.html#Cea_cun May assume shrub or more tree-like Usually pure white, but may be
form - may be variable because it a pale blue
hybridizes with similar species.
Flowers quite large for
Bark gray Ceanothus – note the
interesting shape - regular with
Foliage: 5 alternating petals and sepals
Small, simple leaves with waxy coat and 5 stamens growing opposite
Color: green to gray-green of petals
Roots: deep, much-branched taproot Insect pollinated
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://www.tulipsinthewoods.com/wild-plants/buckbrush-ceanothus-cuneatus/
Fruits & seeds are Plant Requirements Soils:
typical for Ceanothus Texture: well-drained
preferred
pH: any local
Fruits are sticky,
rounded 3-lobed Light:
Full sun to light shade –
capsules with “horns” common for chaparral shrubs
near the top
Water:
Seeds are dispersed Winter: needs good deep
when the capsule winter rains
explodes and propels Summer: none to occasional
(Zone 1-2 probably best)
them some distance.
Fertilizer: use an organic mulch
Seeds remain dormant
Other: resents being moved;
until a fire promotes plant out when small
germination
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ceanothus-cuneatus
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://www.hazmac.biz/060410/060410CeanothusCuneatus.html
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Buckbrush Ceanothus makes a good large shrub Human uses of Buckbrush (and other
Wonderful for erosion control Ceanothus species
and naturalizing on slopes
Good shrub for large-scale
plantings Tea from leaves and flowers
Good for dry, rocky hot sites – Dyes: green from the flowers;
not for near the coast red from the root.
Wonderful habitat plant: Stands were burned & coppiced
Bees love nectar to produce young, straight
http://natureshutterbug.com/wordpress/2010/02/17/a-different-kind-of-snowy-white-with-many-insects/
Larval host plant for White- shoots for basketry material
streaked saturnia moth
(Saturnia albofasciata) All parts of plant can be used
Seeds eaten by bushtits, to make a mild, fragrant body
mockingbirds, quail and finches
soap or shampoo
Cover for many wildlife species
including California quail, black-
tailed jackrabbit, brush rabbit,
and mourning dove http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_c/ceacun.html
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Pruning lessons from Ceanothus Chaparral shrubs
Usually doesn’t need much – has a are very efficient
nice natural shape – if treated
correctly in the first few years
For plant health, remove
If a branch is no longer
dead/crossing branches – will likely
receiving adequate
sunlight, the plant can
have a few of these each year even
self-prune that branch
in a mature plant. - that is, allow it to die.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1120298861053871638LibNcZ
The understory of the
chaparral is a tangle of
dead branches.
If you don’t want that
look, prune out the
dead branches
http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Ceanothus_cuneatus_cuneatus.htm
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Pruning lessons from Ceanothus
If you want to shape plants, start
in the first year – after the first
few years, the deer can’t get to
the leaves to ‘prune’ them
Light tip pruning in the first few
years promotes fuller foliage
Best not to cut out any wood
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ceacun/all.html thicker than a pencil – no self-
respecting deer would eat
anything larger (and tougher) than
that
Use selective pruning to remove
http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Ceanothus_cuneatus_cuneatus.htm
entire branches that are
unwanted Do light pruning right after flowering (summer pruning):
flowers occur only on previous year’s wood - so if you remove
that in fall – no flowers
http://www.tulipsinthewoods.com/wild-plants/buckbrush-ceanothus-cuneatus/ © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Pruning lessons from Ceanothus Chaparral Mallow – Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Can’t really limit size by
pruning – will only shorten life
Choose an appropriate sized
plant for the space – you and
the plant will be happier
http://blass.com.au/definitions/malacothamnus
http://www.stylelist.com/?sem=1&ncid=bannadusstyl00000026
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/buckbrush.html
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Chaparral Mallow: feature
Chaparral Mallow – Malacothamnus fasciculatus
depend on the setting
Many areas of CA that have foothills –
N. CA to N. Baja Size:
3-12 ft tall
Common shrub throughout chaparral
and coastal sage scrub on dry slopes 4-12 ft wide; spreading
and fans to about 2500‘
Growth form:
Often seen on disturbed ground and Woody shrub
along roadsides; fire-follower. Stems are wand-like
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5042,5073,5079 Fast to moderate growth
May form a dense shrub or be
more tree-like – depends on
water, ‘pruning’, ?genetics
Foliage:
Gray-green (more green with
water) rounded leaves
Softly hairy; pretty
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/sdpls/plants/Malacothamnus_fasciculatus.html
http://teacher-us.com/young/prsnl_ed/field_photos.htm
© Project SOUND http://blass.com.au/definitions/malacothamnus © Project SOUND
Flowers like a picture… Typical chaparral plant Soils:
Texture: just about any, but
Blooms: likes well-drained best
Off & on from April pH: any but very alkali (> 8.0)
through fall
Light:
Heaviest bloom usually in
Full sun to part-shade
spring
Flowers: Water:
New plant: treat as Zone 2
Moderate size; ~ 1” across
Established: needs little to no
Typical mallow shape
supplemental (Zone 1 or 1-2);
Color: pink (very light to
Will lose leaves in drought
medium)
Over-watering will make it
Super attractive – lots of spread faster – and may kill the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Malacothamnus_fasciculatus_2.jpg
blooms along the wand-like plant
stems
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Vegetative reproduction:
suckers from roots © 2005 Janell Hillman
http://bugguide.net/node/view/295204/bgimage © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Chaparral Mallow:
pretty & informal ‘Casitas’ cultivar
Lovely as an informal hedge
Upright habit
Super choice for a wildlife garden:
Nectar for: Hummingbirds, West
To 6-8’ tall and
Coast Lady, Western checkered wide
skipper, and Large White Skipper
Attractive gray-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mechanoid_dolly/4590614319/
Larval food plant: Gray Hairstreak green foliage
Cover and nesting sites Selected for
Would work well in a chaparral or garden use
Edwardian-themed garden
Available – TPF &
Large foundation plant others
Slopes & hillsides
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malacothamnus_fasciculatus_1.jpg http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Malacothamnus_fasciculatus_'Casitas'
Watering lessons from Chaparral Mallow Pruning lessons from Chaparral Mallow
(that impact pruning/management) (and other suckering shrubs)
Growth rate often dependent on
water – faster with more water Watering practices
impact pruning
Often growth rate is inversely
correlated with plant longevity: Some plants will always
‘live hard & die young’ look informal – these are
not plants that take to
Most mallows (and other spreading formal pruning, so choose
shrubs) are opportunists: they accordingly.
spread as much as water allows
Even if you limit summer water,
Work with – not against –
most will still spread – for example the plant’s natural
in wet winters. This is part of the tendencies
plant’s survival mechanism – growing This plant will not ‘stay in
new shoots in areas where
competition for light/water are
place’ forever – needs to
less spread out
© 2009 Neal Kramer
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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* Creeping Sage – Salvia sonomensis * Creeping Sage – Salvia sonomensis
Foothills of the Sierras
and coastal mountains of
central & N. CA – also in
the mountains of San
Diego Co. into Baja
Chaparral, oak woodland,
yellow-pine forest
Northern areas: dry, rocky
slopes below 6500 ft.
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Salvia+sonomensis San Diego Co: in the
understory, with part-sun
Remember: dry, rocky slopes in N. CA are not like our dry, rocky slopes
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Creeping Sage is a groundcover: true to Soils:
its heritage as a ‘Mint’ Plant Requirements Texture: likes a well-drained
soil – sandy or rocky best but
Size: clay is fine if not over-watered
1-2 ft tall pH: any local
4-10+ ft wide Light:
Growth form: Best in light shade (dappled
shade under taller trees or
Low to mat-like semi-woody shrubs) or morning sun.
groundcover
Spreads with time – J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Water:
branches just keep growing Winter: likes good winter
outward water; supplement in spring in
dry years
Foliage:
Summer: Zone 1-2 best after
Grayish-green, elliptical
the first year; can wash off
leaves, woolly underneath
leaves
and puckered above
Attractive and aromatic Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php
?id_plant=saso © Project SOUND © 2004 Christopher L. Christie © Project SOUND
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/salvia/msg0502361430447.html
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