I designed and produced this 28-pg bimonthly newsletter

1. A GUIDE TO GARDENING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
24 the
N
gardener’s
companion
v
mar/apr 2002
IN THIS ISSUE
Exotic Edibles
Native Ribes
Virtual Trees
Spring Color

2. As spring emerges, garden centers bustle with activity and nearly pulsate with color. Take it all in, and
treat yourself to some of the season’s brightest stars.
Featured below: a potpourri of spring-flowering plants with one important common thread: they all
perform well in our Mediterranean climate with moderate to minimal care. You may have to hunt for a
few (certainly a pleasurable diversion). Try specialty nurseries and spring garden sales (see Upcoming
Events, page 19) for the new and unusual. Also suggested here: bulbs, warm-weather annuals and
edibles of all sorts.
Before shopping, measure the area to be planted carefully. Buy only as many plants as you need and
space them generously, according to their mature dimensions.
a time to plant
spring color
O R N A M E N TA L S
TREES Acacia spp. (wattle), Bauhinia variegata (purple Lampranthus spp. (iceplant), Solandra maxima (cup-of-
orchid tree), Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) and C. o. gold vine), Wisteria spp. and cvs.
‘Forest Pansy’, Leptospermum laevigatum (Australian tea
tree), Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem thorn, Mexican PERENNIALS Amsonia spp. (blue star flower),
palo verde), Tabebuia chrysotricha (golden trumpet tree) Argyranthemum frutescens (Marguerite daisy), Aurinia
and T. impetiginosa (pink trumpet tree) saxitilis (basket of gold AKA yellow alyssum), Brachyscome
multifida and hybrids (cut-leaf and Swan River daisy),
SHRUBS Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Erysimum spp. (wallflower), Doryanthes palmeri (spear
waxflower), Chaenomeles spp. and cvs. (flowering lily), Geranium spp. (cranesbill), Helleborus spp. (helle-
quince), Cistus spp. (rockrose), Echium candicans (pride bore), Iberis sempervirens (perennial candytuft),
of Madeira), Eremophila spp. (emu bush), Fuchsia spp. Helianthemum spp. and cvs. (sunrose), Rehmannia elata
and cvs., Grevillea spp. and cvs., Leptospermum spp. (Chinese foxglove), Sisyrinchium striatum
and cvs. (tea tree), Loropetalum chinense spp. and cvs.,
Prostanthera spp. (mint bush), Rhaphiolepis indica BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS & RHIZOMES Begonia
(Indian hawthorn) (tuberous), Bletilla striata (ground orchid), Caladium
bicolor (fancy-leafed caladium), Canna cvs., Cyrtanthus
VINES & GROUNDCOVERS Beaumontia grandiflora sp., Ixia spp. (wandflower), Polianthes tuberosa
(Easter lily vine), Clytostoma callistegioides (violet trum- (tuberose), Schizostylis coccinea (crimson flag), Tigridia
pet vine), Jasminum polyanthum (pink jasmine), pavonia (Mexican shell flower)
14 | the gardener’s companion m a r c h a p r i l 2 0 0 2

3. Look for these bulbous plants in containers: PERENNIALS & BULBS Aquilegia formosa (western
Alstroemeria spp. and cvs. (Peruvian lily), Dierama pen- columbine), Dicentra formosa (western bleeding heart),
dulum (fairy wand), Gladiolus spp., Homeria spp., Iris Dodecatheon clevelandii (shooting star), Erigeron glau-
spp., Ixia spp. (wandflower), Ornithogalum spp. (star of cus (seaside daisy), Heuchera spp. and cvs. (alum root,
Bethlehem, et al), Tritonia spp., Veltheimia bracteata, coral bells), Iris douglasiana and Pacific Coast hybrids,
Watsonia spp., Zantedeschia spp. and cvs. (calla), Satureja douglasii (yerba buena), Sisyrinchium bellum
Zephranthes spp. (zephyr flower, rain lily) (blue-eyed grass) and S. californicum (yellow-eyed grass)
ANNUALS Ageratum (floss flower), Brachyscome
iberidifolia (Swan River daisy), Browallia (amethyst E D I B L E S
flower), Cerinthe major, Cosmos, Gomphrena (globe
amaranth), Iberis umbellata (globe candytuft), Lobelia FRUITING PLANTS Almond, apple, apricot, blue-
erinus, Lobularia (alyssum), berry, cane berry, fig, grape, jujube, kiwi, nectarine,
Nicotiana, Petunia, Salpi- peach, Asian pear, pecan, persimmon, pineapple guava,
glossis (painted tongue), plum, pluot, pomegranate, quince, rhubarb, strawberry
Sanvitalia procumbens
(creeping zinnia), Heli- VEGETABLES
anthus (sunflower), Tagetes ALL AREAS: artichoke, chayote, chicory, cucumber,
(marigold) melon, mesclun, onion, potato, pumpkin, shallot,
squash (winter and summer), sunflower.
After mid-April: Celosia ALONG THE COAST: root crops
(cock’s comb), Portulaca (beet, carrot, radish, turnip)
(moss rose), Verbena, and leaf crops (lettuce,
Zinnia spinach).
AFTER MID-APRIL, ALL AREAS:
SUCCULENTS Aloe ciliaris (climbing aloe), bean, corn, eggplant, okra,
Aporocactus flagelliformis (rat-tail cactus), Bowiea vol- pepper, tomato
ubilis (climbing onion), Dudleya spp. (live forever),
Gasteria spp., Hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca), many HERBS
cacti (inc. Mammillaria spp.) ANNUAL: basil, borage, car-
away, chervil, cilantro (corian-
der), dill
C A L I F O R N I A N AT I V E S PERENNIAL: chamomile, chive,
curry plant, garlic, garlic chive, hyssop, lemon verbena,
TREES Aesculus californica (California buckeye), Cercis mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sorrel, sweet marjo-
occidentalis (western redbud), Ceanothus ‘Ray ram, tarragon, thyme and more
Hartman’ (California lilac)
SHRUBS Arctostaphylos spp. and cvs. (manzanita),
Carpenteria californica (bush anemone), Ceanothus
spp. and cvs. (California lilac), Dendromecon spp. (bush
poppy), Fremontodendron spp. and cvs. (flannel bush),
IT’S TOO LATE TO PLANT: cool-season vegetables (inc.
Malacothamnus spp. (chaparral mallow), Mahonia spp.
broccoli, cabbage, head lettuce, pea) and winter-annual
and cvs. (barberry), Ribes spp. and cvs. (currant, goose-
berry), Rosa spp. (rose), Salvia spp. and cvs. (sage) flowers (inc. poppy, primrose, snapdragon, stock).
VINES & GROUNDCOVERS Asarum caudatum (wild DON’T PLANT: Herbaceous peonies, unless you garden
ginger), Calystegia macrostegia ‘Anacapa Pink’ (island where winters are dependably chilly (such as in the
morning glory), Clematis lasiantha (pipestems), foothills or at the base of a canyon). Tree peonies are a
Galvezia speciosa (island snapdragon) better bet for areas with warmer winters.
m a r c h a p r i l 2 0 0 2 the gardener’s companion | 15