Woodland Wonders - Notes

1/6/2013

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Woodland Wonders:
Plants for Dry Shade

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants August 7 & 10, 2010
Project SOUND - 2010
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

For some gardeners, restoration of locally
native plant life is of key importance… What is my local Plant Community?

 Coastal
strand/bluff
 S. Coastal
Prairie
 Coastal
shrubland
 Coastal Sage
Scrub
 Chaparral –
parts of PV,
mostly at
higher
elevations
http://www.planetizen.com/node/23441

‘Very local’ native plants may be the easiest to grow – literally
‘grow themselves’
Riparian (wetland/streamside) communities

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Gardens are located in the space
between natural and human landscapes

Madrona Marsh Preserve gives a good idea of what many local
neighborhoods might have looked like in the past

The Riparian Woodland is a source for
local shade plants that like water

Many gardeners want to create a cool, shady oasis
http://www.nanscapes.biz/gardens.html

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1/6/2013

But what if you want/need both shade and water-wise?

http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/

Or you may just want to make the shady parts of your
Perhaps you’re lucky enough to have a mature oak(s) in your garden garden more water-wise

A few guidelines – choosing appropriate A few guidelines – choosing appropriate
plant species for your garden native plant species for your garden

 If you live near  If you live in an urbanized area
natural areas: you may also:
 Choose local native  Choose plants from appropriate
areas that are not immediately
plants (from locally local, but still are close by:
derived sources) –  Inland areas of L.A. Co.;
best choice  Local foothills;
 ‘Coastal’ (lowland) plants from
 Choose other native Orange or San Diego Co.
(and non-native)
 Choose plants from farther away
plants & cultivars that have appropriate
Consult with your local Land with great care – characteristics for your garden:
Conservancy/Preserve or local native should not invade or  Central/N. CA coastal areas
plant experts (CA Native Plant hybridize with local In fact, plants from ‘nearby areas’
 S. CA deserts
Society) to make good choices native plants may actually have grown in your
neighborhood at one time  Baja CA

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1/6/2013

The Southern Oak Woodland is our most The Southern Oak Woodland of CA
obvious source for dry shade plants  Precipitation: 15-25” annually
 Elevation: 1500-5000 ft in western S.
 Foothills of S. California
CA (including  Common trees/large shrubs:
L.A. and other
 Coast Liveoak (Quercus agrifolia) - also
local counties) Canyon Liveoak (Q. chrysolepis), California
Black Oak (Q. kelloggii), Engelmann Oak
 Inland valleys (Q. engelmannii ) and Valley Oak (Q.
of L.A. County lobata)
(Woodland  CA Walnut
Hills; Thousand  Blue Elderberry
Oaks; Diamond  California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia
Bar; Cal Poly californica)
Pomona)
 Toyon
 Lemonadeberry
 Sugarbush
http://www.rivenrock.com/october2007.htm  Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica),
© Project SOUND
 Sourberry/Tri-lobe Sumac © Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities/southern-oak-woodland

Southern Oak
Woodland Southern Oak
Woodlands have a
 Most often on North-facing
slopes, shaded canyons and distinctive ‘feel’ –
sheltered inland valleys – on dry shade
http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall01%20projects/AcornW.htm well-drained soils
 May be intersected by
intermittent streams http://www.laspilitas.com/California_birds/Sparoows_towhees_and_buntings/Chipping_sparrow/C
hipping_sparrow_in_your_garden.htm

 Oaks may grow in dense
clusters or more openly – a
woodland rather than a forest
 Smaller trees and shrubs
along with herbaceous plants,
ferns and grasses form a
vegetative understory which is
an important part of this
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/1594943902_ead554319f.jpg
community. http://grounds.stanford.edu/points/significanttrees/quercusagrifolia.html

One of the more common
understory plants is Poison Oak © Project SOUND
http://jamesgonzalez.net/images/trips/pinecreek/quercus_agrifolia.JPG
© Project SOUND

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Oaks are adapted to our Mediterranean climate Watering mature oak (or other Zone 1-2) trees
 Mature CA oaks survive on winter
rains and a summer dry period.

 Oaks set a deep tap root and have
many shallow surface feeder roots.

 Shallow oak roots extend beyond
the tree’s canopy. Feeder roots are
typically 1 to 3 feet below the
soil's surface.

 To keep S. CA oaks healthy you
need to replicate the summer dry
(Zone 1 or 1-2) water pattern; this
means using only plants with the
same summer water requirements  Do not water in ‘critical area’ (10 ft from trunk)
under oaks.
 Water only in dry spring and summer conditions (if at all)
 Water no more than once a month; no overhead watering
 Regularly watered lawns will kill  Let water soak to depth of 18-24 inches
http://ic.ucsc.edu/~wxcheng/wewu/quercusagrifolia.htm a native CA oak, usually by  Organic mulch (oak leaves) required, even in critical area – but
disease (root fungi)© Project SOUND not touching the trunk © Project SOUND

What do we mean by ‘dry shade’? Gardens in Mediterranean climates
(including S. CA) have three Water Zones

 Zone 1 – no supplemental water; soils are
dry in summer/fall.
 Zone 2 – occasional summer water; soil is
allowed to dry out between waterings.
http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/diggin-it/2009/0917/dry-shade-in-the-garden-a-checkered-solution
Watering is slow & deep to replenish the
soil water stores.
Your definition may
be very different  Zone 3 – regular water; soil is usually moist
http://www.hotgardens.net/santa_barbara_garden_tour.htm
from mine to soggy, even in summer.
http://ilonasgarden.com/ © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

The secret of a water-wise garden is to prioritize water
Water
Zone
Description Picture Result/consequence needs and group plants with similar requirements
Many Zone 1 plants (including
many native to western L.A.
No supplemental
Zone 1 water
county & deserts) become Regular water
summer dormant; some shade
species remain green
Dry; needs
Includes ‘CA Natives’ from drought-
Occasional water; many plant communities; tolerant
soil dries out occasional summer water plants
Zone 2 between deep helps many species to remain
waterings evergreen – many also extend
bloom season

Only native riparian and some
Regular water;
Zone 3 soil moist/ soggy mountain/N. CA species – will
kill many local CA natives
‘Water-wise’ ; occasional summer water
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00101.asp

Is it hard to grow plants under oaks (and other
summer dry trees)?
 Yes, but not impossible
 Challenges: summer drought
requirement; dense shade; root
competition
 Solutions:
 Choose plants that thrive in
dry shade:
 Plants from the Southern Oak
Woodland
 Plants from the Central and
Northern Oak Woodlands
 Other drought-and-shade
tolerant plants (often from
Chaparral)
 Prune to provide better air
http://syllable.rice.edu/LangEx_06_07/WIKI/index.php?title=Presentation_Group_1_with_ circulation, light
Andr%C3%A9s&printable=yes&printable=yes

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Central & Northern Oak Woodlands
Under many drought-tolerant trees you
have options/choices  Annual rainfall: 20-35 inches
 Dominant large trees/shrubs
 Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), Blue Oak
(Quercus douglasii), Coast Live Oak
(Quercus agrifolia) and Interior Live Oak
(Quercus wislizenii)
 Gray Pine ( Pinus sabiniana)
 Understory:
 Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.)
 Coffeeberry and Redberry (Rhamnus spp.)
 Currant and Gooseberry (Ribes spp.)
 Toyon
 In openings:
 Grasses & ferns
 Annual & perennial wildflowers : Goldfields
(Lasthenia spp.), Poppies (Eschscholzia
spp.), Lupines (Lupinus spp.) and other
forbs in spring.

Oak woodlands in Central &
N. CA get more rain – they The key is to group plants with like needs
look & feel more lush than
those of S. CA together

http://www.laspilitas.com/California_birds/Finches/House_finch/house_finch.html

You may find the ‘greener’ look of the
more northern Oak Woodland more to
your liking/needs
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities/central-oak-woodland © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Natural_Resources/Oak_Woodlands.htm

Shade is variable, even in an Oak Woodland

You need to become a Light shade
‘connoisseur of shade’  Definition: shaded but bright
 Examples:
 The sun's rays blocked by a tree,
 Light shade (FS/PS): wall or building for several hours at
midday, sunny the rest of the day
receives shade for less  Areas that receive filtered or
than four hours each day. http://www.rivenrock.com/blogcanyon062006.jpg
dappled sunlight for longer periods.
(edges of shady gardens or areas
under the canopy of lightly branched
 Partial or semi-shade trees)

(PS): assumes a half day of  Effects on plants:
shade.  Provides beneficial cooling/shade
during the heat of summer
 Full shade (FSH): occurs  Flower and foliage color may be
more brilliant
where there is no direct
 Most sun-loving plants can
sun. survive/thrive in light shade

http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Loeb/Loeb-Pages/index.html

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1/6/2013

Partial, medium or semi-
shade Full (dense) shade
 Definition: direct sun rays are  Definition: Little or no direct
blocked from an area for at least sunlight reaches the ground at any
half the day. time of the day.
 Similar to an open glade in the forest  There may be reflected light from
or the woods' edge sunnier areas of the yard or off
light-colored walls.
 Examples:
 Examples:
 Established landscapes with mature
trees; area receives some direct sun  Under thick tree canopies (under
http://www.nopalcactusblog.com/category/politics/

early or late in the day oaks and pines) or in dense groves of
trees
 Bright, north- or east-facing
exposures, slopes  Areas under stairways, decks or
covered patios on the north side of
buildings
 Effect on Plants:
 Protection from harmful effects of  Effect on plants:
direct sunlight  Relatively little available light
 Less available light – so best to utilize  Plant choice is critical since only
plants that require some shade limited plants will perform well in
such reduced light.
http://wildsuburbia.blogspot.com/2009/11/friends-of-south-pasadena-nature-park.html
http://longbeachnaturalareas.blogspot.com/2007/06/el-dorado-regional-park.html

Oak Woodlands are transitional – include
areas that are wetter & sunnier
 Seasonal riparian plants
 Plants of adjacent plant
communities:
 Valley Grasslands
 Chaparral
 Even Mixed Evergreen Scrub

http://www.urbanedpartnership.org/target/fragile_habitats/climate.html

http://longbeachnaturalareas.blogspot.com/2007/06/el-dorado-regional-park.html

Openings in Oak Woodlands increase the variety
© Project SOUND http://oakesfamily.net/nature.htm © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

Let’s say this is your front yard…

http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Loeb/Loeb-
Pages/index.html

 Get to know your shade – throughout
the year
 Choose plants that naturally grow
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Meuris/Meuris-Pages/index.html
well under oaks
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Richard/Richard-Pages/Image11.html

First let’s replace a shrub that’s gotten too
big & old…


Part of what attracts you is the variety of understory
plants © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

Possible shrubs for local Oak Woodland Three-lobe Sumac – Rhus trilobata
understory
 California sagebrush
(Artemisia californica)
 California blackberry (Rubus
ursinus)

Nevin’s Barberry
 Nevin’s Barberry
(Mahonia/Berberis nevinii )
 California coffeeberry
(Frangula/Rhamnus
californica)
 Sourberry/Three-lobed
Sumac (Rhus trilobata)
Coffeeberry
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU
© Project SOUND Extension and Western Area Power Admin., Bismarck, ND. © Project SOUND

Three-lobe Sumac – Rhus trilobata Three-lobed Sumac is loved by gardeners
because it’s so easy to grow…
 Naturally occurring:
 Soils: not too particular
 Many areas of western N. America –  Any texture; well-drained
Canada to Baja  Any pH
 Coastal and mountain areas of CA
 Light: full sun to part-shade
 In S. CA: coastal sage scrub, chaparral
and southern oak woodland  Water:
 Moist areas including stream-sides,  Very drought tolerant when established
seasonal drainages, and canyon bottoms  Can take some summer water – but may
become leggy
 sand dunes and sand hills
 Nutrients: fine with no fertilizer, but can
 dry rocky slopes tolerate light doses/organic mulches
 In same genus as Lemonade Berry,  Very hardy; takes a frost
Sugar Bush & Poison Oak (which it
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Rhus+trilobata resembles)  Rapid growth first 3-5 years; then
moderate
 Also known as Basket-brush, Sumac,
Sourberry, Skunkbrush  Lives 20-30 years
http://weather.nmsu.edu/nmcrops/ornamentals/SUMAC.htm


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Management of Three-lobe Sumac Three-lobe Sumac
pleases the palette…
 Planting:
 Best in fall/winter  Yellow flowers in spring
 If planting under oaks,  Butterflies & bees
don’t plant within 6 ft. of
trunk http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/sdpls/plants/Rhus_trilobata  Red berries in summer
.html

 Good transplant success  Birds love them (many species)
rates
 Make a tangy drink
 Pruning:  Excellent for jelly
 Can even eat them raw (tart)
 Can be pruned for shape
 Cut back severely (to 6  Even the foliage is eaten
inches) to rejuvenate old occasionally by large & small animals
That’s all – very easy to manage plant plants or produce straight
stems (e.g. for basketry)
 Remove any unwanted
suckers Many parts of the plant are used for
natural dyes

http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Quercus-agrifolia/

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* Bluewitch Nightshade – Solanum umbelliferum * Bluewitch Nightshade – Solanum umbelliferum

 Coastal and foothill regions from
OR to Baja – locally in the San
Gabriel Mtns/foothills.

 Dry, brush-covered slopes &
valleys – usually in chaparral and
low-elevation oak woodlands in
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7625,7682,7699
California

 A tough shrub which can grow in
rocky and clay soils

 Often springs up in areas
recovering from wildfires or
other disturbances

© 2009 Ron Wolf
© 2008 Ellen Tatum


Characteristics of the ‘Bluewitch’ Fabulous flowers
 Size:
 Blooms:
 2-4 ft tall  Mainly in spring-summer,
 3-5 ft wide when days are warm
 With water may bloom
 Growth form: some at other times
 Perennial sub-shrub – part woody
 Mounded to sprawling  Flowers:
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
(particularly in shade)  Large for the family – 1” +
 Fairly open branching  Light blue-purple color
with golden stamens
 Foliage:  Quite showy – close at
 Grayish to blue-green – rather night
pretty
 Caution: all parts of plant are  Fruits:
toxic if eaten  In summer/fall
 Green turning to purple;
 Roots: branching © 2009 Keir Morse
flat seeds like tomato
© Project SOUND Brother Alfred Brousseau @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database © Project SOUND

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One hardy plant…  Soils: Use Bluewitch in
 Texture: any well-drained; will tough spots
even take clays on slopes
 pH: any local

 Light:  On dry slopes – even
 Full sun to part-shade part-shade areas
 Water:  Under oaks and other
 Winter: adequate http://sbwildflowers.wordpress.com/wildflowers/solanaceae/solanum/solanum-umbelliferum/
water-wise trees
 Summer: very drought tolerant
(Zone 1 or 1-2) but looks a little
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 In difficult to water
better at Zone 2 (occasional
water) areas

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils  In a dry mixed bed with
grasses and wildflowers
 Other: prune to shape


Cultivar 'Spring Other perennials for S. Oak Woodland –
Frost' mostly sprawlers in shade

 Slightly smaller (2’ x 2’)
 Very light (gray) foliage
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1201  White flowers
Diplacus aurantiacus Stachys bullata
 Very attractive choice
for a white garden –
very unique, showy

Salvia spathacea Symphoricarpos mollis

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Coast Range Melic Grass - Melica imperfecta
Grasses are also an
important part of local
Oak woodlands –
especially in dappled
sun & sunny edges

http://www.laspilitas.com/California_birds/Sparoows_towhees_and_buntings/Lark_sparrow/Lark_sparrow_in_y
our_garden.htm

http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Melica-imperfecta/


Coast Range Melic Grass - Melica imperfecta
Melic grass in the garden
 Distribution: CA, Baja CA  As a specimen plant in
 Habitat: dry, rocky hillsides, small areas, rock gardens,
stable dunes, open woodlands deep pots
 Delicate-looking cool-season
 In natural meadows,
perennial bunching rhizomatous
grass grassy borders
 Height: 1-3 ft Width: 2-3 ft  Good for shaded areas –
 Flowers on graceful stems
meadows or under trees
above leaves – dark brown
 Soil stabilizer for slopes
fading to gold – Mar-June

 Local variation in  Restoring bare areas
characteristics
http://www.conservaseed.com/Melica%20imperfecta.htm
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Melica-imperfecta/ © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

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California Polypody- Polypodium californicum Characteristics of CA Polypody
 Size: 20” tall; individual plants ≈ 25”
wide – but often grow in spreading
clumps
 Leaves:
 Simple for fern – many leaflets with
serrated edges
 Drought deciduous – dies back in
summer
 No flowers: Sporangia are grouped in
round sori on the underside of the
leaflets.
 Rhizomes (underground
stems) – relatively slow-
spreading
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/californiapolypody.html

http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Polypodium-californicum/ http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/s
© Project SOUND dpls/plants/Polypodium_californi
© Project SOUND
cum.html

Growth requirements: not your eastern fern Polypody in the South Bay garden
 Sun: part-shade to full shade; can
tolerate full sun only right along  Bank cover on North-facing
coast, with adequate water slopes
 Soils:  On north sides of buildings
 Any well-drained
 Delicate, small scale fern for
 Does not tolerate alkali soils
foreground rock walls
 Water:
 In mossy (winter/spring wet)
 Moist in winter-spring – even rock gardens
tolerates flooding
 Gradually reduce water for  Excellent under oaks
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Polypodium-californicum/
http://www.davidlnelson.md/Cazadero/Ferns.htm

summer/fall dormancy – must have
Probably the easiest local dormant period  In shaded beds
fern for the garden;
 Nutrients: probably benefits from  In a “fern dell” – needs it’s
location is everything
organic mulch; not a “big eater” summer drought so place
appropriately

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1/6/2013

We could fill in with some shade-tolerant annuals Miner’s Lettuce – Claytonia perfoliata

http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/03/
© 2001 Steven Thorsted


Miner’s Lettuce is fine in sun or shade… Growing Miner’s Lettuce
from seed
 Herbaceous annual; makes a
good annual groundcover Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
 Extremely easy
 Size: 6-12 in. high; to 12 in.
wide  Sow in prepared soil in fall
(best) through spring
 Growth period: fall to spring
 Germinates with:
 Blooms:  Damp soil/fall rains
 Small, white
 Short days
 Feb-May
http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/minersl2.htm

 Foliage:  Re-seeds
 Attractive & unusual  May want to remove plants if
 Edible: usually raw in salads or too prolific – will depend on
as greens site

http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/phv66n3.editorial.html

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1/6/2013

Reasons to include Collinsia in your
Chinese Houses – Collinsia heterophylla
shade garden
 Easy, reliable annual
 Beautiful flowers
 Long blooming season
 Make great cut flowers
 Brighten up shady areas
of the garden
 Does fine in planters, pots
 Looks great with many
other flowers in planted
beds
 Fine under trees


© Project SOUND
But perhaps this is more your style – ‘Central Oak Woodland’ theme
© Project SOUND

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Woodland Wonders - Notes

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