SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS
FOR SCHOOL & URBAN GARDENS
By Betsey Landis
Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Chapter
California Native Plant Society
August 2011
For the convenience of teachers, the Southern California Native Plants for
School & Urban Gardens book has been split into three sections and saved as four
separate pdf files (Section II: Planting has been split into two files because it is too
big to conveniently download as one file). These files in part or as a whole are free
to educators, those working on school garden projects, and those working on
public urban garden sites, but the contents of the files may not be sold without
permission of the Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Chapter of the California
Native Plant Society. The Los Angeles/Santa Monica Chapter will print copies of
the book in small quantities for special orders.
Go to www.lacnps.org and find Southern California Native Plants for School
& Urban Gardens to download the pdf files. The book, Southern California Native
Plants for School & Urban Gardens and the author, Betsey Landis, should be cited
as the source of any information, illustrations or photos from this book used in
electronic media or in print.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OF
PDF FILES: SECTIONS I, II(a & b), III
Section I
Two sheets of photos (may be used as covers for Section I or the entire book)
Title page
Acknowledgements
Table of contents
Introduction to book
Starting:
Practical advice
Funding
Planning:
Types of native plant gardens suitable for schools
Sketch of school: Finding a site
Garden planning sheets
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR SCHOOL & URBAN GARDENS
by Betsey Landis, (CNPS, L. A./Santa Monica Mountains Chapter website: www.lacnps.org)
Section IIa
Planting:
Planting advice
Column headings and terms for landscaping tables
Southern California native plants suitable for containers:
Introductory text
Table of southern California native plants suitable for containers
Plant community gardens:
Introductory text
Tables of information on the following plant community gardens:
Chaparral
Coastal sage scrub
Grassland
Riparian
Woodland
Native American gardens:
Introductory text
Tables of information on the following native American gardens:
Chaparral
Coastal sage scrub
Riparian
Butterfly gardens:
Introductory text
Tables of information on the following butterfly gardens:
Chaparral
Coastal sage scrub
Riparian
Extra tables for garden planners
Section IIb
Two sheets of photos (may be used as covers for Section II)
Southern California native plants for school & urban gardens main database
Section III
Two sheets of photos (may be used as covers for Section III)
Appendices:
Glossary
Native plant nurseries
References
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS
FOR SCHOOL & URBAN GARDENS
by Betsey Landis
Los Angeles / Santa Monica Mountains Chapter
California Native Plant Society
Revised August 2011
Available in three sections as pdf files
SECTION IIa: PLANTING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
21
PLANTING ADVICE
23
COLUMN HEADINGS AND TERMS
26
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT TABLES WITH
TABLES OF CONTENT AND INTRODUCTORY TEXTS
NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
33
PLANT COMMUNITY GARDENS:
CHAPARRAL
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
GRASSLAND
RIPARIAN
WOODLAND
45
51
55
63
69
75
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDENS:
CHAPARRAL
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
RIPARIAN
83
87
95
101
BUTTERFLY GARDENS:
CHAPARRAL
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
RIPARIAN
105
111
119
125
EXTRA TABLES FOR GARDEN PLANNERS
21
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
129
22
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PLANTING ADVICE
Because schools may be near industrial areas, may have had herbicides
and/or other chemicals applied to the soil around the school or had chemicals
dumped in the soil when the school was built, remodeled or repaired, and because
knowledge of native plant edibility is imprecise and sometimes incorrect:
WARNING!
Never let students put any part of a plant in their mouths unless it is a
classroom exercise and the teacher is sure that the plant parts are edible and do not
cause allergic reactions.
Before planting any plant you intend to eat, have the soil tested for heavy
metals and other poisonous contaminants. If the soil is contaminated, remove or
treat the soil then retest the soil on the site for the garden before planting any
edible plant.
1. Clearing the garden site:
Parents, teachers, students and community volunteers may all be needed to clear a
site for a garden. Asphalt, root-bound ivy patches or other weedy or long-neglected
plantings may need to be removed. Rototilling or loosening the soil with spades
and garden forks can become a one-time gardening party or may be done in small
sections by different classrooms in the school taking responsibility for one section-to clear it, to prepare the soil, to plant it and to maintain the plants.
2. Planting times:
Plant young shrubs and trees in the garden between December and March for best
results. Even with summer watering, many plants will die if planted too late in the
spring.
Seeds may be sown in late spring, summer or fall, depending on the normal end of
flowering time of the plant species, when the plant usually distributes its seeds.
Check in the native plant database in this book to see when the flowering time for
each species is over.
23
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
3. Placement of plants:
To be healthy and thrive the plants must receive the correct amounts of sun, shade
and water. One of the main design considerations is giving the plants room to
grow. Many of these plants grow very quickly and will crowd out the other plants
if too many plants are placed in too small a space. Check the growth rate and
mature size when planning your garden. Species like white, black or purple sage
and deer grass form large clumps quickly and have extensive root systems. They
need lots of room.
Note that trees must not be planted near foundations or walls or water mains. Most
of the trees have large canopies (a coast live oak needs a fifty-foot diameter clear
space to grow in, for instance). Tall shrubs (small trees) might be preferable for
most school situations.
Fewer plants are better. In California gardens are usually overplanted with the
expectation of instant dense greenery and immediate flowers. After a year fifty
percent of the plants in these gardens will be dead, crowded out by the hardiest
individuals. In school gardens cost is important as is having the same plants for
growth studies, plant community studies and leaf and seed experiments over
several years. Plant less and harvest more.
In general, one one-gallon shrub needs at least thirty-six square feet of garden
space. Annuals and other herbs can be grown in between the larger plants. Cover
the garden with a thick layer of mulch and scatter the seeds of annuals or
herbaceous perennials over the mulch.
4. Planting:
For best results when planting young native plants buy no larger than one-gallon
plants. The best method is to dig a hole and fill it with water several times,
preferably over two or three days. The purpose of deep watering the hole is to
encourage the roots to grow downward, away from the surface where they might
dry out in hot weather.
All of the sample selections in this book were chosen because they are able to
survive in soil conditions ranging from poorly-draining clay to fast-draining sand.
However, if you have clay or silty clay soil and it is very heavy, you may have to
add some soil amendment and dig the hole bigger and deeper so that the water will
drain away from the plant.
24
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
The plant should be placed in the hole with all the dirt from the container. The
container dirt may contain mycorrhizae (fungi) that the plant roots need to survive.
The plant should be watered in its container before planting.
After planting the dirt should be tamped down firmly around the plant making sure
no air pockets are left around the roots. Water the dirt to make sure it has settled
into the hole and that the plant is securely anchored in an upright position. More
dirt may have to be added if any roots are exposed by the watering.
Depending on the garden's soil conditions, fertilizer usually is not necessary and
may even harm the roots of some plants.
5. Watering:
Do not water the plant again after planting until the surface inch of soil has dried
out. Since clay can form a crust, break up the soil gently around the base of the
plant if you see the water running off and not soaking into the soil. A two- to fourinch layer of mulch around the base of young plants will retain moisture and
suppress weeds. So the water won’t run off, create a basin around each plant.
Do water deeply around the base of each young tree, shrub or perennial to
encourage its roots to go down. Do not wet the entire area of the garden as this
encourages the young plants to grow surface roots that will dry out in hot weather.
Once established, all chaparral, coastal sage scrub and desert plants should need
only winter rains except during extended periods of drought or extremely hot
weather. However, monthly watering will extend the flowering season.
SHOVEL (SPADE)
PRUNING
SHEARS
SCISSORS
GARDEN
FORK
TROWEL
HAND FORK
DIGGING
PLANTING & WEEDING
PRUNING & TRIMMING
25
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
COLUMN HEADINGS AND TERMS FOR
LANDSCAPING TABLES
The native plants in this data base were chosen because they are native to
southern California and particularly to Los Angeles County, most are available
from nurseries or seed companies, and the native species represent typical trees,
shrubs and herbs/flowers found in natural areas. These selections are only a tiny
fraction of the 6000 species native to California, but they are the most appropriate
for modeling southern California habitats in a school garden situation
NUMBER COLUMN: The numbers in this first column come from the main
database at the back of the book.. Each category of plant (Tree, Shrubs and Cacti,
Perennials and Succulents, Annuals, Bulbs, Ferns, Perennial Grasses, and Vines)
has its own set of numbers.
COMMON NAME: Generally accepted, non-scientific, name given to a plant
species, subspecies or variety.
(* = thorns): When an asterick appears beside the common name, the part of
the plant with thorns or spines will be identified. Many schools do not allow, or
severely restrict, the use of plants with thorns or spines in school landscaping.
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME: Scientific name of a plant species, subspecies or
variety in the Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California edited by James C.
Hickman, 1993 or the latest edition (partially available online in 2011). When a
genus in Jepson is rendered unusable from a landscaping standpoint, because so
many previously recognized species were lumped under one name, the Jepson
identification has been omitted.
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME): The Jepson Manual renamed and reclassified some
species. Many of the older classifications are found in A Flora of Southern
California by Philip A. Munz, 1974. The previously-recognized scientific names
for those species are still used by many botanists, ethnobotanists, horticulturalists
and herbalists, so they are included in the tables in parentheses.
26
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
HABITAT: These are very general terms that apply to the structure of the plant
habitat and sometimes the location of the habitat.
Chaparral: Habitat with one or two species of trees at the most, a
dominant shrub layer containing tall shrubs or small trees (10-20 feet in
height) and a sparse to abundant herb layer. Vines are also often found in
this habitat.
CSS, Coastal Sage Scrub: Habitat with no tree layer, a dominant shrub
layer usually less than six feet in height, and an herb layer that may contain
grasses, annuals, herbaceous perennials and bulbs. CSS needs fog.
Creosote Bush: Desert wash habitat dominated by creosote bush with no
tree layer, a dominant shrub layer and, in season, a dominant herb layer.
Forest: Habitat with 75% to 100% tree canopy, a dominant tree layer, with
a few shade-loving shrubs in the shrub layer along with ferns and shadeloving bulbs and annuals.Vines grow high in this habitat, seeking sunlight.
Grass, Grassland: Habitat with no tree layer, a sparse to non-existent shrub
layer and an abundant herb layer dominated by grasses with some annuals,
herbaceous perennials and bulbs.
Joshua Tree Woodland: Desert woodland dominated by Joshua Trees.
Montane or Mt. Woodland: Woodland habitat at higher elevations usually
dominated by pines.
P-J, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland: is a desert or desert mountain woodland
dominated by pinyon and juniper trees.
Riparian: Habitat along seasonally-flowing or year-round streams, springs
or seeps. The habitat has trees that are often deciduous, an abundant shrub
layer (with vines) and an herb layer containing herbaceous perennials,
annuals, ferns and grasses.
Savanna: Habitat with <10% tree canopy, few shrubs and a dominant herb
layer. Tree layer may be 80 – 100 feet tall. Grass dominates the herb layer.
27
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Scrub or Sage Scrub: Desert or dry inland habitats having the same
structure as Coastal Sage Scrub.
Strand: Habitat having no tree layer, a shrub layer usually less than four
feet in height and an herb layer that is either very low or about the same
height as the shrub layer. This habitat is sand: coastal or desert dunes.
Woodland: Habitat with a dominant tree layer, a sparse shrub layer (with
vines) and an herb layer that may range from grasses to a wide variety of
herbaceous perennials, annuals, ferns and bulbs.
(ALTITUDE), ('=feet): This represents the range of feet above sea level in which
the plant species normally lives.
FLOWER TIMES: The seasons of the year during which the plant species usually
blooms, or, in the case of pines, when the cone seeds mature.
GROWTH: The shape of the plant: how fast it grows, its maximum height under
ideal growing conditions and sometimes a long life, and the width of the plant.
These are guides for placement in the garden or for judging the size of the
container needed.
1y/Max Ht.: The "1y" represents the height a healthy plant will attain in
one year. The "Max Ht." represents the maximum height the plant will attain.
This could occur in one season or one hundred years.
Width: The width or diameter of the mature plant, expressed as "number
of feet spread" since the plant shape is usually irregular. If the word
"spreads" appears in the column with no number, this means the plant
keeps growing outward either above or below the ground and may take over
the garden or the container, crowding out other plants.
SOIL TYPE: The type of soil or range of soils the plants can live in. Most are
self-explanatory.
(pH): pH can range from 0 to 14. Neutral pH is 7. Acid pH is less than (<)
7. Alkaline pH is greater than (>) 7. Some plants require acid soil, some
require alkaline soil conditions, some plants will die if the soil is not
28
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
neutral. This is necessary information and a good basis for experimentation
especially when no information is given. All pH values come from Bert
Wilson, 1993, A Manual of California Native Plants,Las Pilitas Nursery.
WATER NEEDS: The water requirements of the plant are divided into three
catagories:
small: Needs water until it is established, little or no water after that and no
summer water. Don't irrigate.
moderate: Needs water until it is established, occasional water (once or
twice per month) during summer.
ample: Needs to have its roots moist. Water once a week. "Deep water"
means to really soak the root system occasionally so that the water gets
several feet into the ground. "Drain well" means that the roots will rot if
the water stands around the plant and does not drain into the soil and away
fairly quickly. Those plants usually require sand or gravel to grow in.
SUN or SHADE: The sun exposure for a plant is very important. There are three
terms:
full sun: Plant should be in full sunlight all day.
cool sun: Plant should be in sun only part of the day and in shade the rest of
the day. Or the plant may be where it receives indirect or filtered sunlight.
shade: Plant should not receive any direct sunlight. The plant should be in
shade the entire day.
ATTRACTS BIRDS or INSECTS: Most plants attracts birds or insects when the
plant is in bloom. If bees are a problem, then plants may be chosen that bloom in
the summer when school is not in session, though not all plants attract bees. Since
some schools may want a butterfly garden or a bird sanctuary, this information will
help choose plants for those locations.
29
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
BUTTERFLY: This column only appears in the Butterfly Garden: Sample
Selections section of this book.
COMMON NAME: Generally accepted, non-scientific, name given to a butterfly
species or subspecies.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Scientific name of a butterfly species or subspecies.
References are a number of popular guides to local butterflies.
LARVAL FOOD (F), ADULT NECTAR (N): The butterflies listed in this
column are known to use these plants, either as food sources (F) for the larval
forms or as nectar sources (N) for adult butterflies.
Please note that butterflies vary widely in their flying range and habitat
requirements. Some of the butterflies are very rare and will not normally be
found in a garden situation. Do not expect that every butterfly listed for a particular
plant species will show up when that plant species is added to the garden. Over
time some of the wider-ranging butterfly species may find their
way from nearby natural areas or roosting areas to the garden.
If student are raising butterflies, the garden design must include food plants for
the butterfly larva, food sources for the adult butterfly, as well as adequate shelter
and any other resources required by that butterfly species.
FRUITS: EDIBLE? YES or NO: This column indicates if the seed or fruit are
edible or may be toxic to some degree.
“yes, with processing”: This means do not eat the fruit or seed raw! The
processing may be boiling leaching, drying and/or combining with other foods.
Careful research needs to be done before preparing any plant materials with that
notation.
Students should not put any part of any plant in their mouths unless the teacher or a
qualified expert has given permission for them to do so. An easy way to sample the
aroma or flavor of a plant is to rub a leaf or bruise a fruit with your fingers and
smell it, instead of tasting it. As a general rule everyone should wash their hands
and face thoroughly after working with any plants.
30
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
NATIVE AMERICAN USES: The information provided may help those teachers
and schools interested in an ethnobotanic garden or container garden. Since native
American uses varied widely around California, only those uses identified with
southern California native Americans have been included. Many of these plants
were used by early settlers and some are used today by ethnic groups and people
interested in natural foods and herbal remedies.
When a plant is identified as having a “medicine” use, this does not mean that the
plant or the part having a “medicine” use is edible or that the class should
experiment with preparing the “medicine”. For instance, a tea made of plant leaves
steeped in boiling water for five minutes may be a good medicine, while a tea
made by steeping the same plant leaves for an hour could have serious medical side
effects, and the raw leaves of this same plant could well be inedible.
BISEXUAL FLOWER
MORNING GLORY
Calystegia macrostegia
31
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
32
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
NATIVE PLANTS
SUITABLE
FOR
CONTAINERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
33
INTRODUCTORY TEXT
35
TABLE OF NATIVE PLANTS
SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
37
33
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
34
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
SELECTED NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR
CONTAINERS
All native plants grown in containers require a well-drained soil mix. In
general you can purchase prepackaged "Supersoil" and add bulk "Perlite"
(=Spongerock) at a 2:1 ratio. That means 2 parts of Supersoil to 1 part of Perlite.
When working with Perlite, be sure to wear an appropriate dust mask.
The plants listed here were chosen because they are native to southern
California, however all California native plants require ample water when grown in
containers (remember, they are not able to send their roots deep into the soil to
search for water). Most of these plants will generally require watering several
times a week. A number of them will require daily watering during summer heat
waves--especially after they have filled their containers with roots.
Try to shield or insulate black plastic pots from direct sun--the pots can heat
up to the point that the sensitive young roots are killed, leading to the death or
decline of the plant.
Container size should be the largest available for trees, shrubs and vines.
This means 15- to 20-gallon pots for young trees, 36 -inch boxes for larger plants.
Usually you should not buy anything bigger than a 1- to 5-gallon size in a tree,
shrub or vine, if you want to be assured of a healthy plant. Then transplant the
tree, shrub or vine immediately to a larger container to give its roots room to grow.
The smaller the container size for these plants, the more often they will require
watering and transplanting.
Nearly all the annuals, perennials, cacti and succulents may be grown and
kept in 5-gallon containers.
(The above information was provided by Bart O'Brien, Director of Horticulture,
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.)
Almost anything can be used as a container for plants. The one requirement
is that there must be drain hole, or holes, in the bottom of the container. If a plant
sits in undrained water day after day, its roots rot and the plant dies. These are not
aquatic plants.
35
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
On the other hand, many of the plants will not survive if the soil is totally
without moisture, because the roots then dry out and cannot take in water and
nutrients to feed the plant. A moisture gauge is helpful, so is a finger thrust down
into the soil to see if it is moist an inch or so below the surface. If the plant is a
drought-resistant plant, only water it when the soil is dry on the surface and dry an
inch or so below the soil surface. The lowest roots need to stay moist, but not wet.
SYCAMORE
Platanus racemosa
(PALMATE SHAPE)
OAK
Quercus agrifolia
MULEFAT
Baccharis salicifolia
SIMPLE LEAVES
LEAFLET
LEAFLET
LEAFLET
WALNUT
Juglans californica
ROSE
Rosa californica
LUPINE
Lupinus succulentus
(PALMATE SHAPE)
COMPOUND LEAVES
36
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
GROWTH
Spring
Riparian
(<8000')
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Spring
Spring
Spring
full sun
full sun
full sun
ample
ample
ample
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
SUN
or
SHADE
ample
WATER
NEEDS
clay, sandy ample
(pH 4-7)
clay
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
silty,sandy
(pH 5-8)
silty,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
sandy loam ample
(pH 6.5-8.5)
6'/45'
clay,gravel ample
25'+spread (pH 6-7.5)
4'/30'
clay, sandy ample
20'+spread (pH 5-7.5)
2'/20'
30'/100'
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
when mature.)
Spring
10'/50'
20'spread
Winter10'/50'
Spring
40'spread
Winter3'/75'
Spring
Spring
30'/80'
Riparian
(<9000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
('=feet)
20 feet or taller
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(300-8000')
Riparian
(<6500')
Riparian
(<6500
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
no
no
no
all
all
all
food, tools,
bark:fiber
baskets,
medicine
arrow,pipe,
roots:tools
medicine
dyes, to
smoke meat
building
material
bark:food
building
material
bark:food
building
material
medicine,
poles, baskets
medicine,
poles, baskets
rope,medicine
poles,baskets
baskets
Pinyon-Juniper=pinyon Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
all
butterflies,
birds
butterflies,
birds
butterflies,
birds
all
all
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
37
SHRUBS (May be perennials, but shrubs have woody stems, often multiple stems & are <20 feet tall.)
CSS,Chaparral, Fall
2'/ 5'
clay,sandy small
full sun
8 California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Woodland
4'spread
(pH 5-8.5)
(<2500')
Chaparral,
Spring
2'/22'
clay,sandy moderate full sun
24 Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
Woodland
10'spread (pH 5-8)
(<6000')
Desert Riparian Spring3'/20'
clay,sandy moderate full sun
25 Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuta
(<5000')
Summer
15'spread (pH 6-9)
Woodland
Summer
2'/15'
loam
ample
shade
28 Dogwood
Cornus sericea ssp.sericea
Riparian
10'+spread (pH 4-7)
(Cornus stolonifera )
(<9000')
Creosote,CSS, Spring
3'/15'
clay,stony moderate full sun
42 Desert Olive
Forestiera pubescens
Chaparral
10'spread (pH 6-8)
to small
(Forestiera neomexicana )
(300-6000')
17 Black Cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa
(P. balsamifera ssp.trichocarpa )
27 Narrowleaf Willow
Salix exigua
28 Red Willow
Salix laevigata
29 Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
16
15
2
1
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES (Woody trunk or trunks,
Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
White Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Western Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Western Cottonwood
Populus fremontii ssp.fremontii
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
102 Roundleaf Snowberry
Symphoricarpos rotundifolia
var. parishii
(Symphoricarpos parishii )
85 California Rose
Rosa californica
86 Wood Rose
Rosa gymnocarpa
87 Fragrant Rose
Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana
(Rosa woodsii var. glabrata )
88 Thimbleberry
Rubus parviflorus
90 Sandbar Willow
(Salix hindsiana )
91 Longleaf Willow
Salix melanopsis
99 Blue Witch
Solanum umbelliferum
(S. umbelliferum var.incanum )
100 Snowdrop Bush,Snowbell Bush
Styrax redivivus
(S.officinalis )
101 Creeping Snowberry
Symphoricarpos mollis
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (Continued)
44 Island Snapdragon
Gambelia speciosa
(Galvezia speciosa )
51 Desert Lavender
Hyptis emoryii
83 Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
WinterSpring
Winter
Creosote Bush
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
Riparian
(<6000')
Chaparral,Forest
(100-6000')
Desert Riparian
(3000-4000')
1'/2'
2'/14'
1'/3'
6'spread
SummerFall
Spring
Spring
1'/4'
spreads
2'/16'
Spring
Summer
2'/6'
spreads
3'/20'
SpringSummer
Spring
38
2'/8'
20'spread
1'/6'
4'spread
2'/10'
2'/10'
3'spread
2'/8'
5'spread
2'/4'
20'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
granitic
(pH 5-7.5)
clay
(pH 4-7)
loam
(pH 7?)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
ample
moderate
moderate
moderate
shade
shade
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
shade
cool sun
moderate
moderate
shade
moderate
medicine,
poles,baskets
baskets
no
no
no
no
no
no
food
food: buds
medicine
food:buds
dye, baskets
food:buds
tea, medicine
food
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
Pinyon-Juniper=pinyon Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
all
insects
butterflies
butterflies
all
all
all
all
all
cool sun
cool sun
bees
medicine
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
hummingbird no
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
full sun
cool sun
SUN
or
SHADE
moderate
small
drain well
moderate
moderate
WATER
NEEDS
sand,gravel ample
(pH 6-7.5)
loam
ample
loam
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
loam
(pH 5-7)
sandy
(pH 6-8)
sandy
(pH 6.5-8)
sandy,clay
(pH 5.5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Forest Riparian
(<8000')
Riparian
(<3000')
Riparian
(2500-7500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,Island,
Woodland
(<5000')
Mt. Woodland
(4000-11000')
WinterSpring
CSS, Island
(<1500')
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
FLOWER
TIMES
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
('=feet)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
76
67
55
52
50
45
39
35
16
8
7
6
2
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
SUN
or
SHADE
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
shade
full sun
full sun
cool sun
shade
cool sun
WATER
NEEDS
small
ample
ample
ample
small
drain well
small
small
ample
ample
moderate
ample
moderate
small
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Pinyon-Juniper=pinyon Juniper Woodland
medicine
medicine
baskets
food,
medicine
ritual
medicine
medicine
medicine
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
insects
insects
insects
insects
insects
all
butterflies
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
39
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
HABITAT
GROWTH
SOIL
(ALTITUDE)
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TYPE
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
('=feet)
TIMES
Width
(pH)
PERENNIALS (Herbaceous perennials, may have woody base, subshrubs.)
White Yarrow
CSS,Chaparral Spring3'/3'
all
Achillea millefolium
(<3000')
Summer
spreads
(pH 4-8)
Yerba Mansa
Riparian, Marsh Spring1.6'/1.6'
silt,sandy
Anemopsis californica
(<6500')
Fall
(pH 5-9)
Columbine
Riparian
Summer
2'/5'
clay,gravel
Aquilegia formosa
(<8000')
(pH 4-7.5)
(A. formosa var. truncata )
Spikenard
Riparian
Summer
3'/9'
clay,sandy
Aralia californica
(<6000')
Beach Evening Primrose
Strand, Island
Spring1'/1'
sandy
Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia
(<300')
Summer
6'spread
(Camissonia cheiranthifolia )
Conejo Buckwheat
CSS
Spring?/1'
clay
Eriogonum crocatum
(150-500')
Summer
3'spread
(pH 6-8)
Western Wallflower
CSS, Chaparral, Spring3'/3'
gravel
Erysimum capitatum
Pinyon-Juniper Summer
2'spread
(pH 5-8)
(<8000")
Common Rush
Riparian
Summer
3'/3'
clay,sandy
Juncus patens
(<5000')
spreads
Sea Lavender
Strand,
Summer- 2'/2'
silt, sandy
Limonium californicum
Salt Marsh
Fall
(<200')
Blue Flax
Mt.Woodland,
Spring3'/3'
clay,rocky
Linum lewsii
Pinyon-Juniper Summer
(pH 5-7)
(1500-9000')
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Riparian
Spring2'/2'
clay,sandy
Mimulus cardinalis
(<8000')
Fall
2'spread
(pH 4-9)
Yerba Buena
Chaparral,
Spring1'/1'
clay,sandy
Satureja douglasii
Woodland
Fall
3'spread
(pH 6-7.5)
(<3000')
Checker Mallow
Grassland,CSS Spring
3'/3'
sandy clay
Sidalcea malviflora
(<1500')
(pH 6-7)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
FLOWER
TIMES
CSS, Chaparral, Summer
Woodland,
Island
(<7000')
Riparian
(<8000')
Chaparral,Island, WinterWoodland,
Spring
Grassland
(<3000')
JoshuaTree,
Spring
Creosote Bush
(500-4000')
Riparian
Fall
(2500-5000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
('=feet)
10'/10'
clumps
10'
2'/ 4'
3'/3'
2'/2'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
WATER
NEEDS
clay,sandy
silty
sandy
(pH 6-8.5)
small
ample
moderate
small
drain well
clay, sandy moderate
(pH 5-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
full sun
all
cool sun
leaves,stems:
food
Pinyon-Juniper=pinyon Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
no
hummingbird no
cool sun
leaves,stems:
food
yes:with
famine food,
processing roof thatch,
arrow shafts
no
no
no
no
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
hummingbird no
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
full sun
full sun
shade
cool sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
40
SUCCULENTS AND CACTI (found under PERENNIALS (P) or SHRUBS (S) in main data base.)
CSS,Chaparral, Spring
<1'
rocky
small
27 Lax Dudleya (P)
Dudleya cymosa
Woodland
1' at base (pH 6-8.5) drain well
(200-8500')
CSS,Chaparral, Spring2'
clay,sandy small
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya (P)
Dudleya lanceolata
Woodland
Summer
2' at base (pH 5-7.5) drain well
(100-4000')
CSS,Chaparral, Spring2'
sandy,rocky small
29 Chalk Dudleya (P)
Dudleya pulverulenta
Woodland
Summer
2'+at base (pH 5-7.5) drain well
(<3000')
Coastal Bluffs
Spring
?/2'
rocky
moderate
30 Island Live-forever (P)
Dudleya virens
(<1300')
1.5'at base
drain well
PERENNIAL GRASSES
8 Giant Wild Rye
Elymus condensatus
(Leymus condensatus )
FERNS
8 Giant Chain Fern
Woodwardia fimbriata
83 Greata's Aster
Symphyotrichum greatae
(Aster greatae)
80 Desert Mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (Continued)
78 Blue-eyed Grass (Iris)
Sisyrinchium bellum
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
11 Globe Gilia
Gilia capitata ssp.abrotanifolia
10 California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
8 Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla
var. heterophylla
ANNUALS
6 Elegant Clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata
73
65
64
63
62
48
Spring
WinterFall
Spring
Spring
Summer
Spring
Spring
3'/3'
2'/2'
1'/1'
3'/3'
?/1-2'
spreads
?/8'
spreads
1'/1'
41
?/4'
3-6'spread
?/1-2'
spreads
Spring
Spring
3'/12'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
small
WATER
NEEDS
sand,rocks
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
rocky
(pH 5-8)
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
small
small
full sun
full sun
moderate shade
small
small
drain well
small
small
clay
small
(pH 6-8)
drain well
sandy,rocky small
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
no
Pinyon-Juniper=pinyon Juniper Woodland
pollen:
cosmetics
food:pads &
fruit
food:pads &
fruit
food:pads &
fruit
food:flowers
& stalks
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
insects
insects
all
insects
insects
moth
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland
Woodland
(<6500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Forest,Island
(<6000')
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
('=feet)
SUCCULENTS AND CACTI (Continued)
Our Lord's Candle (S)
CSS,Chaparral,
Hesperoyucca whipplei
Creosote Bush
(Yucca whipplei ssp.whipplei )
(<4000')
(*=spiny leaves)
Parry's Nolina (S)
CSS,Chaparral
Nolina parryi (*=spiny leaves)
(3500-5500')
Beaver-tail Cactus (S)
Chaparral,
Opuntia basilaris
Creosote Bush,
(*=spines)
Pinyon-Juniper
(400-7000')
Coast Prickly-pear (S)
CSS,Chaparral
Opuntia littoralis (*=spines)
(30-1300')
Prickly-pear (S)
CSS,Chaparral
Opuntia oricola (*=spines)
(10-1300')
Pacific Stonecrop (P)
Chaparral,Forest
Sedum spathulifolium
(200-7000')
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
25 Fiesta Flower
Pholistoma auritum
var. auritum
26 Cream Cups
Platystemon californicus
24 Fernleaf Phacelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia
21 Wind Poppy
Papaver heterophylla
(Stylomecon heterophylla )
19 Baby Blue-eyes
Nemophila menziesii
ssp. menziesii
17
16
15
13
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
ANNUALS (Continued)
Coast Goldfield
Lasthenia californica
ssp. californica
(Lasthenia chrysostoma )
Tidy Tips
Layia platyglossa
(Layia platyglossa
ssp. campestris)
Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus
var. microcarpus
(L. densiflorus var. palustris )
Succulent Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
FLOWER
TIMES
WinterSpring
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<4000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,Island
(<4500')
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3000')
1'/1'
Spring
42
clay,sandy
sandy,
gravel
(pH 6-8)?
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
loamy clay
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8.5)
small
drain well
small
small
small
drain well
small
small
small
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Pinyon-Juniper=pinyon Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
no
no
insects
insects
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
insects
insects
insects
insects
insects
insects
insects
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
3'/3'
3'spread
3'/3'
2'spread
2'/2'
1'/1'
3'/3'
3'spread
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8.5)
clay,loam
(pH 5-8)
1'/1'
2'spread
1'/1'
2'spread
sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
1'/1'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
Spring
Spring
Spring
WinterSpring
Spring
Chaparral,
Grassland
(<2500')
CSS,Island,
WinterGrassland,
Spring
Creosote Bush
(<3000')
CSS,Grassland, Spring
Island
(<6000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
('=feet)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
CSS,Chaparral
(<3000')
Riparian,Island
(<4000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
('=feet)
Spring
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
30'
spreads
20'
climbs
Width
43
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
ample
small
WATER
NEEDS
cool sun
cool sun
SUN
or
SHADE
yes
no
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
food
FRUITS:
NATIVE
EDIBLE? AMERICAN
Yes or No
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Almost anything with a hole in the bottom will work as a container for plants except concrete or cement, which leach lime into
the soil in the container. The lime may make the soil too alkaline for the container plants. Bricks, railroad ties, porcelain
containers, even old toilets, tires, wood barrels or wood boxes will do. Do not use plastic containers unless they are well
insulated from high outside temperatures. The plastic does not "breathe" and will cook the plant roots in hot weather,
especially if the plants are overwatered.
Native plants can be raised from seed in small containers and sold as fund-raisers for future gardening activities. Poppies,
sunflowers, tidy tips and clarkias lend themselves to this kind of activity. The students learn about different shapes of seeds,
different germinating times of seeds, different growth rates and different leaf and flower shapes, as well as the care needed
to produce something healthy enough to sell.
If your school has no room for a garden, containers of herbs, shrubs and trees can be arranged into a habitat near a wall or
fence even on asphalt. Spread several inches of an insulating layer of bark, mulch or soil on top of the asphalt in your chosen
location. Put a shade cloth over the area or hang shade cloth on the fence so the plants will not overheat in their containers.
Place the containers on the insulating latyer. Small pots can be placed on raised blocks inside larger pots to give them more
protection from high outside temperatures.
TIPS:
Remember that container plants need more water than plants in the ground. Even chaparral or coastal sage scrub plants will
need frequent watering to survive. Many native plants, such as white sage, are not included in the above tables because they
grow too fast with too many roots, and outgrow their containers in a few months.
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
VINES
1 Morning Glory
Calystegia macrostegia
7 Wild Grape
Vitis girdiana
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR CONTAINERS
44
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PLANT COMMUNITY
GARDENS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY TEXT
47
TABLES:
CHAPARRAL
51
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
55
GRASSLAND
63
RIPARIAN
69
WOODLAND
75
45
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
46
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PLANT COMMUNITY GARDEN
SAMPLE SELECTIONS
The following selections are meant as a guide to show how to choose plants
that are compatible--that are found growing together in the wild. Plant community
here is not meant to imply that these plants are interrelated, only that they require
similar conditions of sunlight, soil and water. They are interdependent in that some
require the shade of taller plants during part of the day, some seedlings need shade
until they grow into mature plants. The architecture of the plant community--what
is in the herb, shrub and tree layer--becomes important in the design of the garden.
The following sample selections cover five plant communities: chaparral,
coastal sage scrub, grassland, riparian and woodland. Some of the sample
selections list only a few choices, some list many; none of the sample selection
charts are meant to be used in their entirety. In choosing which plants are suitable
for your garden site, you should note the sizes of the various plants and plan
accordingly. Often too many plants are crowded into the garden site and then die
because there is no room for their root systems to properly establish. Each plant
community has its own characteristic architecture, which you should simulate in
designing a plant community garden.
Chaparral typically has many tall shrubs, many perennials, some annuals,
several vines and a few grasses. North-facing or moister chaparral may have one or
two species of trees (California walnut and/or coast live oak). The "Sample
Selections" given in the chart are representative of a north-facing or east-facing
chaparral. South-facing or west-facing chaparral may contain chamise, manzanita,
more sage species and no trees. A garden can successfully combine any of these
elements as long as proper consideration is made of amount of sun, type of soil and
whether or not irrigation or hand watering is to be used.
Coastal sage scrub rarely has any trees (toyon and wax myrtle seldom reach
tree size in coastal sage scrub habitat). Coastal sage scrub does have a few tall
shrubs, many lower shrubs, perennials, annuals and some grasses. Coastal sage
scrub and native bunch grasses historically may have taken turns being dominant
on some sites largely due to the presence or absence of wildfires and/or grazing.
Shrubs gradually will fill in grasslands in the long-term absence of disturbances
such as grazing or wildfires. Coastal sage scrub usually occurs on drier, hotter sites
with poorer soil conditions than chaparral will tolerate. Coastal sage scrub is a
47
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
tough plant community of the coastal slopes. There are other types of sage scrub
communities that thrive inland in similar conditions. Sagebrush (Artemisia) is
common to most of them, as are various sages (Salvias) and buckwheats
(Eriogonums).
The drought tolerance of chaparral and coastal sage scrub plants has made
them increasingly popular garden elements. Once they are established they should
not require summer water. If there are normal winter rains, they will require no
irrigation at all.
Grassland is an interesting plant community, not least because many of the
grasses have uses in basketry or ornamental work. The San Fernando Valley used
to be a huge unbroken field of wildflowers in the spring. Then, as the native
perennial grasses grew tall and matured, the valley floor became a grassland from
late spring through the fall. In planning a grassland garden, you should plan for
many spring wildflowers being gradually overtopped by the beautiful native
grasses. The grasses can be harvested. If needlegrass is used, it should be mowed
or cut before it produces seed since the seeds are very sharp, like small needles.
Great care should be exercised in gathering any needlegrass seed.
Riparian plant communities obviously require more water than the other
plant communities (riparian means streamside). Some of the plants are adapted to
intermittant streams (streams which flow in the winter and are dry in the summer)
and can survive on small amounts of summer water, especially if they are watered
deeply to encourage their roots to grow down, away from the hot dry surface of the
soil. Typically these trees and shrubs have large root systems and may not be
planted near walls, foundations or water mains. The riparian community has many
trees and some shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and a few ferns, vines and grasses,
resulting in a complex and rich plant architecture.
Woodland plant communities contain a few or many trees. A woodland can
have a tree canopy from ten percent to seventy-five percent. Below that is the
savanna, above that is the forest. So you can design an open woodland with only a
few trees or create a shady glen with an almost closed canopy. However, the
placement of the trees is critical to their survival. Trees must have room for a
strong root structure and a proper, unrestricted canopy. this requires a large garden
space away from walls, building foundations or any other structures that might be
damaged by the tree's growth. A one-gallon to five-gallon tree looks very small,
48
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
but it will grow quickly in the right conditions. Please note the size and growth
rates in the sample selection charts and plan carefully. While the trees are
maturing, an understory of shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, ferns and grasses
will provide plenty of variety for study and appreciation.
Students, teachers and parents should work together on garden design. The
students should do follow-up studies on the growth and success of the plantings.
The purpose in creating a garden simulating a natural plant community is that the
plants generally fare better and the students are provided with many research
opportunities--working with seeds, seedlings, growth rates, leaf patterns, flower
structure, pollination patterns, seed production, bird and insect studies, and how
they relate to the architecture of the plant community--that they would not have in
a park where the plants are protected. If there are any natural areas near the school,
the garden will attract birds, butterflies and other insects from that area, providing
even more study opportunities.
When planting native plants (not seeds) use only 1-gallon, or no larger than
5-gallon plants. The best method is to dig a hole and fill it with water several
times. All of the sample selections were chosen because they are able to survive in
soil conditions ranging from poorly-draining clay to fast-draining sand. However,
if you have clay or silty clay soil and it is very heavy, you may have to add some
soil amendment and dig the hole bigger and deeper so that the water will drain
away from the plant. The plant should be placed in the hole with all the dirt from
the container. The container dirt may contain mycorrhizae that the plant roots need
to survive. The purpose of deep watering the hole is to encourage the roots to grow
downward, away from the surface where they might dry out in hot weather. The
plant should be watered in its container before planting. After planting the dirt
should be tamped down around the plant making sure no air pockets are left around
the roots. Water the dirt to make sure it has settled into the hole and that the plant
is securely anchored in an upright position. Depending on the garden's soil
conditions, fertilizer usually is not be necessary and may even harm the roots of
some plants. Do not water the plant again until the surface inch of soil has dried
out. Since clay can form a crust, break up the soil gently around the base of the
plant if you see the water running off and not soaking into the soil. A two- to fourinch layer of mulch around the base of young plants will retain moisture and
suppress weeds.
49
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
50
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PLANT
COMMUNITY:
CHAPARRAL
SELECTIONS
51
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
52
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
Island=Catalina Island
95 Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
48 Our Lord's Candle(* =leaves)
Hesperoyucca whipplei
(Yucca whipplei )
61 Bush Monkey Flower
Mimulus aurantiacus
var. pubescens
(Mimulus longiflorus )
79 Sugar Bush
Rhus ovata
SHRUBS
22 Greenbark Ceanothus
Ceanothus spinosus
(*=spiny twigs)
24 Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
18 Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
21 Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
8 Toyon (* =spiny leaves)
Heteromeles arbutifolia
9 California Walnut
Juglans californica
SpringSummer
?/5'
6'spread
53
?/20'
10'spread
?/2'
2'spread
SpringSummer
Spring
3'/12'
Spring
2'/20'
10'spread
Spring
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
small
small
small
small
small
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
all
all
butterflies
moth
all
all
butterflies
all
all
birds
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
sandy,loam small
(pH 4-8)
drain well
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
?/20'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 6-8)
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
3'/80'
50'spread
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,loam
(pH 6-8)
?/25'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 4-8)
1'/15'(30')
15'spread
1'/25'
20'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Spring
Spring
Summer
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<2000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<4000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<4500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(150-3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000)
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<5000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
food,
medicine
beverage,
medicine
food:flowers
& stalks
roots:tools
arrows,pipe
food: acorns
very good
food
food, dye
food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Riparian=Streamside
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
yes:with
processing
see recipe
no
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
yes
yes
yes
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
Island=Catalina Island
16 Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
PERENNIAL GRASSES
14 Chaparral Melica
Melica imperfecta
27 Chia
Salvia columbariae
ANNUALS
7 Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
25 Fiesta Flower
Pholistoma auritum
Spring
54
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
sandy,
gravel
(pH 5-8)
clay,rocky
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay
(pH 5-7.5)
moderate
drain well
small
small
drain well
small
moderate
small
clay,loam
small
(pH 5.5-7.5)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
shade
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
all
all
insects
insects
all
insects
insects
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
4'/4'
clumps
3'/3'
clumps
2'/2'
3'/3'
3'spread
7'/7'
7'spread
WinterFall
Spring
3'/3'
3'spread
WinterSpring
1'/1'
1'spread
3'/3'
WinterSummer
WinterSpring
4'/4'
4'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
CSS,Chaparral,
Summer
Woodland,
Island
(<5000')
Chaparral,Forest, Summer
Grassland,
Woodland,
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Island,
Woodland
(<4500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(2000')
65 California Everlasting
CSS,Chaparral,
Pseudognaphalium californicum Woodland
(Gnaphalium californicum)
(<5000')
79 Purple Nightshade
Chaparral,
Solanum xanti
Woodland
(Solanum xanti var.intermedium ) (<5000')
88 Canyon Sunflower
CSS,Chaparral,
Venegasia carpesioides
Woodland
(<2700')
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS
54 Bush Lupine
Lupinus longifolius
PLANT COMMUNITY: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
basketry
food:seeds
medicine
food: leaves
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Riparian=Streamside
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
PLANT
COMMUNITY:
COASTAL SAGE
SCRUB
SELECTIONS:
55
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
56
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
47 Goldenbush
Hazardia squarrosa
(Haplopappus squarrosus)
48 Our Lord's Candle
Hesperoyucca whipplei
(Yucca whipplei )
(Yucca whipplei ssp.whipplei )
59 Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
12 Coyote Bush
Baccharis pilularis
15 Brickel Bush
Brickellia californica
30 Bush Sunflower
Encelia californica
38 California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
7 California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
SHRUBS
1 Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
8 Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
11 Wax Myrtle
Morella californica
(Myrica californica )
fast/12'
12'spread
SpringSummer
57
3'/12'
?/3'
3'spread
fast/8'
8'spread
?/3'
2'spread
fast/4'
4'spread
?/5'
6'spread
fast/5'
4'spread
?/10'
Spring
SummerFall
WinterSpring
SummerFall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Spring
clay
(pH 6-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
small
drain well
small
water
1st year
small
small
drain well
small
small
small
cool sun
full sun
all
moth
all
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
food:flowers
& stalks
flower:food
medicine
medicine
wood,arrows,
medicine
medicine
food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Joshua Tree=Joshua Tree Woodland
butterflies,
bees
full sun
full sun
butterflies
birds
all
all
birds
all
ATTRACTS
FRUITS:
BIRDS or
EDIBLE?
INSECTS
YES or NO
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
WATER
NEEDS
clay
small
(pH 5.5-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
?/35'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 4-7.5)
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
1'/15'(30')
15'spread
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Summer
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<4000')
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<8000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<4500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4500')
CSS, Forest
(<500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
PERENNIALS
2 White Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
3 Deerweed
Acmispon graber
(Lotus scoparius )
26 Shooting Star
Dodecatheon clevelandii
103
94
84
78
76
66
65
64
62
61
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (continued)
Bush Monkey Flower
Mimulus aurantiacus
var. pubescens
(Mimulus longiflorus )
Parry's Nolina
Nolina parryi
Coast Prickly Pear
Opuntia littoralis
Prickly Pear
Opuntia oricola
Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
(Isomeris arborea )
Spiny Redberry
Rhamnus crocea
Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry
Ribes speciosum
Purple Sage
Salvia leucophylla
Woolly Blue Curls
Trichostemma lanatum
1'/1'
WinterSpring
58
3'/3'
spreads
3'/3'
3'+spread
?/4'
4-6'spread
?/20'
10'spread
?/8'
6'spread
?/5'
4'spread
4'/4'
4'spread
?/4'
3-6'spread
?/1-2'
spreads
?/8'
spreads
?/6'
5'spread
?/2'
2'spread
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
WinterSpring
WinterSpring
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
Spring
All year
Spring
Spring
Spring
SpringSummer
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
clay
(pH 6-8)
all
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5.5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-7.5)
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 7-9)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
full sun
full sun
small
small
full sun
insects
insects
no
no
no
no
no?
yes
yes:with
processing
see recipe
yes:with
processing
yes
yes
no
no
building
material
medicine
medicine
beverage,
medicine
food
medicine,food
food:pads &
fruit
food:pads &
fruit
food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Joshua Tree=Joshua Tree Woodland
butterflies
all
all
full sun
cool sun
all
all
butterflies
butterflies
butterflies
ATTRACTS
FRUITS:
BIRDS or
EDIBLE?
INSECTS
YES or NO
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
small
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
drain well
small
small
small
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Strand
(<5000)
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral
(3500-5500')
CSS,Chaparral
(30-1300')
CSS,Chaparral
(10-1300')
CSS,
Creosote Bush
(0-4000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2600')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2000')
CSS
(150-2500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<4500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<5000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
64 Bicolor Everlasting
Pseudognaphalium bicolor
(Gnaphalium bicolor )
65 California Everlasting
Pseudgnaphalium californicum
(Gnaphalium californicum )
62 Royal Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
42 Goldenbush
Hazardia squarrosus
(Haplopappus squarrosus
ssp. grindelioides )
54 Bush Lupine
Lupinus longifolius
33 California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum ssp. canum
(Zauschneria californica,
Zauschneria cana )
35 Conejo Buckwheat
Eriogonum crocatum
36 Wand Buckwheat
Eriogonum elongatum
38 Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum convertiflorum
40 California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (continued)
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
3'/3'
3'/3'
WinterSummer
3'/3'
3'spread
4'/4'
4'spread
WinterSpring
Spring
Spring
3'/3'
3'spread
2'/2'
1'spread
2'/2'
SpringSummer
WinterFall
Fall
?/1'
3'spread
?/6'
?/3'
4'spread
59
2'
2' at base
SpringSummer
Fall
Fall
SpringSummer
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
full sun
small
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
small
small
small
drain well
small
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
small
small
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
SUN
or
SHADE
small
small
drain well
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
clay,sandy small
(pH 5.5-7.5)
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
insects
insects
medicine
medicine
food,
medicine
food,
medicine
food,
medicine
pollen:
cosmetic
food: leaves,
stems
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Joshua Tree=Joshua Tree Woodland
no
no
hummingbird no
insects
all
insects
insects
butterflies
butterflies
butterflies
hummingbird no
hummingbird no
ATTRACTS
FRUITS:
BIRDS or
EDIBLE?
INSECTS
YES or NO
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(2000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Island
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS
(150-500')
CSS,Chaparral
(150-6000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<10,000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6500')
CSS, Chaparral
(400-4500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(100-4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Island
(<2000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
19 Baby Blue Eyes
Nemophila menziesii
ssp. menziesii
15 Tidy Tips
Layia platyglossa
(Layia platyglossa
ssp. campestris )
17 Succulent Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
7 Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
8 Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla
ANNUALS
5 Farewell-to-spring
Clarkia bottae
(Clarkia deflexa )
6 Elegant Clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata
76 Checker Mallow
Sidalcea malvaeflora
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (continued)
66 Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
WinterSpring
WinterSpring
1'/1'
3'/3'
3'spread
1'/1'
2'spread
1'/1'
Spring
Spring
1'/1'
1'spread
3'/3'
Spring
WinterSpring
3'/3'
3'/3'
2'/2'
spreads
Spring
Spring
Spring
60
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
loamy clay
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8.5)
clay,loam
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)?
sandy clay
(pH 6-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
small
small
moderate
moderate
small
small
small
moderate
WATER
NEEDS
cool sun
full sun
full sun
shade
shade
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
SUN
or
SHADE
insects
insects
insects
all
insects
insects
insects
food: leaves
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Joshua Tree=Joshua Tree Woodland
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
hummingbird no
insects
ATTRACTS
FRUITS:
BIRDS or
EDIBLE?
INSECTS
YES or NO
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000)
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS, Island,
Grassland
(<6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Grassland
(<1500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
5 California Brome
Bromus carinatus
PERENNIAL GRASSES
3 Beard Grass/Bluestem
Andropogon glomeratus
var. scabriglumis
(Andropogon glomeratus )
4 Caned Bluestem
Bothriochloa barbinodis
FERNS
6 California Polypody
Polypodium californicum
BULBS
6 Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
(Dichelostemma pulchella )
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
ANNUALS (continued)
22 Wild Canterbury Bells
Phacelia minor
23 Parry's Phacelia
Phacelia parryi
(*=plant hairs may irritate skin)
27 Chia
Salvia columbariae
Spring
Spring
Spring
4'/4'
4'/4'
clumps
All year
SpringSummer
1'/1'
FallWinter
1'
61
clay,sandy
clay,gravel
clay,silty
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)?
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)?
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
small
moderate
moderate
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
full sun
full sun
shade
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
all
all
all
insects
insects
insects
food: corms
food:seeds
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Joshua Tree=Joshua Tree Woodland
no
no
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
ATTRACTS
FRUITS:
BIRDS or
EDIBLE?
INSECTS
YES or NO
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian,
Creosote Bush
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Joshua Tree,
Island
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,Forest
(<8000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian
(<4000')
2'/2'
2'/2'
2'/2'
2'spread
1'/1'
1'spread
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7500')
CSS, Chaparral
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<7000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
VINES
1 Morning Glory
Calystegia macrostegia
4 Wild Sweet Pea
Lathyrus vestitus var.vestitus
(Lathyrus laetiflorus
var. laetiflorus )
6 Wild Cucumber (*=seedpods)
Marah macrocarpus
WinterSpring
Spring
Spring
20'+
climbs
62
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
3'/3'
clumps
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
3'/3'
clumps
30'
spreads
10'
erect,
climbs
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
3'/3'
clumps
GROWTH
1y/Max Ht.
Width
small
small
small
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
all
all
all
all
all
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Joshua Tree=Joshua Tree Woodland
no
no
no
no:needlelike seeds
no:needlelike seeds
no:needlelike seeds
ATTRACTS
FRUITS:
BIRDS or
EDIBLE?
INSECTS
YES or NO
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
FLOWER
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
( '=feet)
TIMES
PERENNIAL GRASSES(continued)
19 Nodding Needlegrass
CSS,Chaparral, Spring
Stipa cernua
Grassland,
(Nassella cernua )
Woodland
(*=needle-like seeds)
(<4500')
22 Foothill Needlegrass
CSS,Chaparral, Spring
Stipa lepida
Grassland,
(Nassella lepida )
Island
(*=needle-like seeds)
(<5500')
23 Purple Needlegrass
CSS,Chaparral, Spring
Stipa pulchra
Grassland,
(Nassella pulchra )
Woodland,Island
(*=needle-like seeds)
(<5000')
PLANT COMMUNITY: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
PLANT
COMMUNITY:
GRASSLAND
SELECTIONS
63
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
64
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Grassland
(<5000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
3 Owl's Clover
Castilleja densiflora
(Orthocarpus densiflorus
var. densiflorus )
ANNUALS
2 Red Maids
Calandrinia ciliata
5'/5'
3'spread
3'/3'
2'/2'
SummerFall
Spring
WinterSpring
Spring
1'/1'
1'/1'
1'spread
2'/2'
Spring
WinterSpring
2'/2'
65
?/10'
10'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
WinterFall
SummerFall
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
small
small
clay,sandy
small
sandy,loam small
drain well
sandy clay
(pH 6-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
sandy,rocky small
(pH 6-8)
drain well
sandy,rocky small
(pH 5-7)
drain well
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
sandy
(pH 6-9)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
shade
full sun
full sun
insects
insects
insects
insects
insects
birds
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6500')
53 Woodland Star
Chaparral,
Lithophragma affine
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3500')
74 Sandwash Groundsel
CSS,Chaparral,
Senecio flaccidus var.douglasii Grassland,
(Senecio douglasii
Woodland
var. douglasii )
(<6000')
76 Checker Mallow
CSS,Grassland
Sidalcea malviflora
(<1500')
78 Blue-eyed Grass
Chaparral,Island,
Sisyrinchium bellum
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3000')
PERENNIALS
40 California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME)
SHRUBS
10 Quail Bush
Atriplex lentiformis
PLANT COMMUNITY: GRASSLAND SELECTIONS
pollen:
cosmetic
food, soap,
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
26 Cream Cups
Platystemon californicus
16 Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus
var. microcarpus
(Lupinus densiflorus
var.palustris )
21 Wind Poppy
Papaver heterophylla
(Stylomecon heterophylla )
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(Helianthus annuus
ssp. lenticularis)
13 Coast Goldfields
Lasthenia californica
(Lasthenia chrysostoma )
9 Collarless Poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME)
ANNUALS(continued)
4 Purple Owl's Clover
Castilleja exserta ssp. latifolia
(Orthocarpus purpurascens
var. purpurascens )
6 Elegant Clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata
Spring
Spring
Spring
WinterSpring
WinterFall
1'/1'
2'/2'
1'/1'
2'spread
1'/1'
10'/10'
1'/1'
3'/3'
1'/1'
66
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8.5)
sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
moderate
small
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
no
insects
food:seeds
medicine,
cosmetic
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
insects
insects
insects
all
insects
insects
insects
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<4000')
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS, Island,
Creosote Bush,
Grassland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Grassland
(<2500')
Spring
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3500')
All except Desert
(<5000')
Spring
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
CSS, Chaparral,
Grassland
(<3000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: GRASSLAND SELECTIONS
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
Island=Catalina Island
23 Purple Needlegrass
Stipa pulchra
(Nassella pulchra )
22 Foothill Needlegrass
Stipa lepida
(Nassella lepida )
19 Nodding Needlegrass
Stipa cernua
(Nassella cernua )
PERENNIAL GRASSES
12 Meadow Barley
Hordeum brachyantherum
ssp. californicum
(Hordeum californicum )
16 Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Summer
Chaparral,Forest,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<4500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Island
(<5500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland,
Island
(<5000')
3'/3'
clumps
3'/3'
clumps
3'/3'
clumps
4'/4'
clumps
2'/2'
2'/2'
67
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
sandy,
gravel
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
drain well
small
small
moderate
drain well
moderate
drain well
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
all
all
all
all
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Spring
Spring
Spring
SpringSummer
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
Riparian,Scrub
Grassland
(<1700')
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
HABITAT
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(ALTITUDE)
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME)
( '=feet)
BULBS
6 Blue Dicks
Scrub,Chaparral,
Dichelostemma capitatum
Grassland,
(Dichelostemma pulchella )
Woodland
(<7500')
PLANT COMMUNITY: GRASSLAND SELECTIONS
basketry
food: corms
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Riparian=Streamside
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
no:needlelike seeds
no:needlelike seeds
no:needlelike seeds
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
68
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PLANT
COMMUNITY:
RIPARIAN
SELECTIONS
69
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
70
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
85 California Rose(*=spiny stems)
Rosa californica
SHRUBS
13 Mule Fat
Baccharis salicifolia
(B. glutinosa, B. viminea )
14 Nevin's Barberry
Berberis nevinii
(Mahonia nevinii )
57 California Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
29 Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
30 Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerla
(Sambucus mexicana )
21
17
2
1
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
White Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Black Cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa
(P. balsamifera ssp.trichocarpa )
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
vine-like
to 20'
SpringSummer
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
clay
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay
(pH 4-8)
clay, sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-7)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
71
2'/8'
clay,sandy
20'+spread (pH 5-8)
fast/12'
12'spread
Spring
SpringSummer
fast/10'
8'spread
4'/30'
20'+spread
?/20'
15'+spread
3'/80'
50'spread
10'/50'
20'spread
10'/50'
40'spread
30'/100'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
WinterSpring
Spring,
Summer
Spring
Spring
WinterSpring
Spring
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
moderate
cool sun
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
water
1st year
moderate
ample
deep water cool sun
drain well
moderate
moderate
to ample
ample
WATER
NEEDS
yes
yes,bitter
taste
no
no
yes
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
food: buds
medicine
baskets
medicine,
poles
medicine,
baskets,poles
food,medicine,
dye,flutes
dyes, to
smoke meat
food: bark,
building
materials
food: acorns
very good
baskets
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
birds, bees
birds
birds
butterflies,
birds
all
all
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian
(<2500')
Chaparral
Riparian
(<2000')
Chaparral
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
Riparian
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<5000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<4500')
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(300-8000')
Riparian
(<9000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(H. annuus ssp.lenticularis )
ANNUALS
8 Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla
PERENNIALS
7 Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
(A. formosa var.truncata)
8 Spikenard
Aralia californica
9 Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana
17 Sedge
Carex barbarae
45 Common Rush
Juncus patens
46 Rush
Juncus xiphioides
55 Scarlet Monkey Flower
Mimulus cardinalis
63 Sticky Cinquefoil
Potentilla glandulosa
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS(continued)
89 California Blackberry
Rubus ursinus
(*=spiny stems)
WinterFall
Spring
SpringFall
SpringFall
SpringSummer
10'/10'
1'/1'
72
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
moderate
moderate
full sun
shade
cool sun
moderate
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
cool sun
moderate
clay,sandy
(pH 4-9)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
shade
ample
shade
full sun
shady
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
food:seeds
medicine
basketry?
basketry?
medicine,
arrow shafts
baskets
ritual
medicine
food,
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
all
all
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
clay,sandy
ample
moderate
silt,clay
clay,sandy
moderate
ample
ample
moderate
WATER
NEEDS
sandy clay
clay,sandy
clay,gravel
(pH 4-7.5)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3000')
All except
Desert
(<5000')
5'/5'
3' spread
4'/4'
spreads
3'/3'
spreads
3'/3'
spreads
2'/2'
2'spread
2'/2'
SummerFall
Summer
3'/9'
Summer
Riparian
(<6000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Riparian
(<3000')
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Riparian
(<8000')
Riparian
(<7000')
2'/5'
mounds
spreads
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Summer
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
Riparian
(<8000')
Chaparral &
Woodland
Riparian
(<5000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
7 Wild Grape
Vitis girdiana
VINES
2 Virgin's Bower, Pipestems
Clematis lasiantha
12 Meadow Barley
Hordeum brachyantherum
ssp. californicum
(Hordeum californicum )
PERENNIAL GRASSES
1 Bentgrass
Agrostis exarata
7 Bracken Fern
Pteridium aquilinum
var. pubescens
6 California Polypody
Polypodium californicum
FERNS
1 Calif. Maiden-hair Fern
Adiantum jordani
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
BULBS
6 Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
(Dichelostemma pulchella )
FLOWER
TIMES
Spring
Spring
20'
climbs
20'
climbs
2'/2'
3'/3'
5'
1'
1 1/2'
2'/2'
73
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
moderate
small
drain well
moderate
drain well
moderate
moderate
moderate
moderate
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
shade
shade
full sun
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
food
medicine,
twine
food:shoots
basketry
food: corms
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
all
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Forest,Riparian
(<6000')
Riparian,Island
(<4000')
Riparian,Forest, Summer
Woodland
(<7000')
Riparian, Scrub, SpringGrassland
Summer
(<1700')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
CSS, Chaparral,
Riparian
(<4000')
Riparian
(<10,000')
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
74
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PLANT
COMMUNITY:
WOODLAND
SELECTIONS
75
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
76
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
72 Scrub Oak (*=spiny leaves)
Quercus berberidifolia
(Quercus dumosa )
43 California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
(Rhamnus californica )
57 California Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
SHRUBS
22 Greenbark Ceanothus
Ceanothus spinosus
(*=spiny twigs)
24 Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
25 Valley Oak
Quercus lobata
18 Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
21 Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
8 Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
9 California Walnut
Juglans californica
1'/15'
8'spread
77
vine-like
to 20'
SpringSummer
Spring
fast/15'
10'spread
Spring
2'/20'
10'spread
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
?/20'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 6-8)
2-4'/70'
clay,loam
widespread (pH 6-8)
Spring
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
3'/80'
50'spread
Spring
clay,loam
(pH 6-8)
?/25'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 4-8)
1'/25'
20'spread
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Spring
1'/15'(30')
15'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Summer
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
small
cool sun
deep water
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
small
small
deep water full sun
drain well
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
all
birds, bees
butterflies
all
butterflies
all
all
all
birds
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3500')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(150-3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<5000')
Savanna,
Woodland
(<5500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: WOODLAND SELECTIONS
food: acorns
wood,
medicine
baskets
medicine
roots:tools
arrows,pipe
food: acorns
poor taste
food: acorns
very good
food
food, dye
food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
yes:with
processing
yes,bitter
taste
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
yes:with
processing
yes
yes
yes
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
60 Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
59 California Peony
Paeonia californica
48 Climbing Penstemon
Keckiella cordifolia
40 California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
PERENNIALS
10 Indian Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
82 Hillside Gooseberry(*=thorns)
Ribes californicum
var. hesperium
83 Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS(continued)
75 Interior Live Oak(*=spiny leaves)
Quercus wislizenii
var. frutescens
79 Sugar Bush
Rhus ovata
SpringSummer
WinterSpring
4'/4'
1'spread
2'/2'
78
moderate
drain well
small
small
drain well
small
small
moderate
small
small to
moderate
WATER
NEEDS
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
small
drain well
clay,gravel small
(pH 5.5-7.5) drain well
10'/10'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 6-8)
SpringSummer
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
2'/2'
2'
2' at base
clay
(pH 6-8)
sandy clay
(pH 5.5-7)
sandy clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
sandy clay
(pH5.5-7)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
WinterFall
SpringSummer
3'/3'
2'/8'
5'spread
Winter
Summer
?/5'
?/20'
10'spread
Spring
Winter
?/13'
13'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
no
yes
yes
see recipe
yes:with
processing
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
no
medicine
pollen:
cosmetic
food: leaves,
stems
twine,gum
food
food
beverage,
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
hummingbird no
insects
no
butterflies,
no
hummingbird
insects
hummingbird no
monarch
butterflies
all
all
all
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(100-4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(1000-6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: WOODLAND SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
ANNUALS
2 Red Maids
Calandrinia ciliata
88
84
79
77
71
67
66
65
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
WinterSpring
WinterFall
Spring
WinterSpring
SpringSummer
Spring
SpringFall
Spring
WinterSummer
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
1'/1'
1'spread
7'/7'
7'spread
4'/4'
3'/3'
3'spread
2'/2'
4'/4'
1'/1'
3'spread
2'/2'
spreads
3'/3'
3'/3'
3'spread
79
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
small
moderate
moderate
drain well
moderate
small
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
small
moderate
sandy,loam small
drain well
clay
(pH 5-7.5)
clay,loam
(pH 6-7)?
clay,loam
small
(pH 5.5-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7)
clay
(pH 4-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
full sun
light
shade
shade
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
shade
cool sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
no
insects
all
all
insects
insects
insects
dye,medicine
medicine
medicine
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
hummingbird no
insects
insects
hummingbird no
insects
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7000')
California Everlasting
CSS,Chaparral,
Pseudognaphalium californicum Woodland
(Gnaphalium californicum )
(<5000')
Hummingbird Sage
CSS,Chaparral,
Salvia spathacea
Woodland
(<2500')
Yerba Buena
Chaparral,
Satureja douglasii
Woodland
(<3000')
California Figwort
CSS,Chaparral,
Scrophularia californica
Woodland
(<6000')
Indian Pink
CSS,Chaparral,
Silene laciniata ssp.major
Woodland
(<5000')
Purple Nightshade
Chaparral,
Solanum xanti
Woodland
(Solanum xanti var.intermedium ) (<5000')
Meadow Rue
Woodland
Thalictrum fendleri
(<4000')
var. polycarpum
(Thalictrum polycarpum )
Canyon Sunflower
CSS,Chaparral,
Venegasia carpesioides
Woodland
(<2700')
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS(continued)
62 Royal Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
PLANT COMMUNITY: WOODLAND SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
18 Mustang Mint
Monardella brewerii
ssp. lanceolata
(Monardella lanceolata )
19 Baby Blue Eyes
Nemophila menziesii
ssp. menziesii
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(H. annuus ssp. lenticularis )
17 Succulent Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
9 Collarless Poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa
7 Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
8 Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
ANNUALS (continued)
3 Owl's Clover
Castilleja densiflora
(Orthocarpus densiflorus
var. densiflorus )
6 Elegant Clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata
WinterSpring
1'/1'
2'/2'
3'/3'
3'spread
WinterSpring
Summer
10'/10'
WinterFall
1'/1'
1'/1'
Spring
Spring
1'/1'
1'spread
3'/3'
Spring
WinterSpring
1'/1'
80
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
loamy clay
clay,loam
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
small
drain well
small
moderate
small
moderate
moderate
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
shade
shade
cool sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
insects
insects
insects
all
insects
all
insects
insects
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Grassland.
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3500')
All except
Desert
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<2500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<8000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: WOODLAND SELECTIONS
food:seeds
medicine,
cosmetic
food: leaves
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
9 Blue Wildrye
Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus
5 California Brome
Bromus carinatus
PERENNIAL GRASSES
1 Bentgrass
Agrostis exarata
FERNS
1 California Maiden-hair Fern
Adiantum jordani
6 Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
(Dichelostemma pulchella )
BULBS
1 Golden Stars
Bloomeria crocea
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
ANNUALS(continued)
26 Cream Cups
Platystemon californicus
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
Summer
SpringSummer
Summer
4'/4'
4'/4'
3'/3'
1 1/2'
2'/2'
2'/2'
1'/1'
81
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
moderate
drain well
small
moderate
moderate
small
drain well
small
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
full sun
cool sun
shade
full sun
cool sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
all
all
all
insects
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Riparian, Forest,
Woodland
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,Forest
(<8000')
Chaparral,
Woodland,Forest
(<7500')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7500)
Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<3000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
PLANT COMMUNITY: WOODLAND SELECTIONS
basketry
food: corms
food: corms
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Riparian=Streamside
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
82
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
NATIVE AMERICAN
GARDENS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
77
TABLES:
CHAPARRAL
79
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
86
RIPARIAN
91
83
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
RADICLE
HYPOCOTYL
EPICOTYL
STIGMA
TOP TO BOTTOM SECTION
HARD SHELL
COTYLEDON
COTYLEDON
ACORN CUP
ACORN
AND
STAGES OF ACORN GERMINATION
RADICLE
EPICOTYL
ACORN
& HYPOCOTYL
(TOP HALF)
(BOTTOM HALF
OF STEM)
ACORN
(WITHOUT CUP)
TAP ROOT
(CAME FROM RADICLE)
84
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDEN
SAMPLE SELECTIONS
Native American gardens are colorful, beautiful and excellent sources of
curriculum material for everything from history to art to creative writing to cuisine
to scientific observation and experimentation. Native plants have provided us with
food, medicine, cosmetics, dyes, material for rituals, basketry, tools and
construction. Early settlers and present-day people still use many of the same plant
species.
The focus of the native American garden may be food, basketry sources,
herbs, dyes, tools etc., or a combination of resources. Different tribes of native
Americans may use native plants in different ways from other tribes. In general, if
there is any variation in the way a native plant species is used, only the southern
California usage is listed.
The native plant data base in this book lists those plants with fruit or seeds
known to be edible. If the native plant data base says it is not edible, don't eat
it! If the native plant data base says the fruit or seed is edible only "with
processing" you will have to research how to make that part of the plant edible
before eating it. A plant part listed as "medicine" or as "tea" is not edible raw.
If you are not sure which part of a plant is edible do not experiment. Get
an expert opinion. Resource books often contradict each other. Some plant
species, such as Rhus or sumac, may cause allergic reactions in students. Unripe
fruit, overripe fruit, moldy seeds or nuts can cause illness. Teachers need to be very
careful about experiments in processing and eating native plants or in attempting to
prepare medicines using native plants. There are courses in gathering and using
native plants at some local colleges and some excellent references that explain both
the hazards and benefits of herbal medicines.
The native American garden selections have been separated into three plant
communities (chaparral, coastal sage scrub and riparian) to aid in designing with
compatible plants. Read the pages on the architecture of chaparral, coastal sage
scrub and riparian communities under "Plant Community Garden, Sample
Selections" if you are interested in structuring your native American garden more
authentically, as it would be in nature.
85
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
You will have to ensure that the plants you choose receive the correct
amounts of sun, shade and water. One of the main design considerations is giving
the plants room to grow. Many of these plants grow very quickly and will crowd
out the other plants if too many plants are placed in too small a space. Check the
growth rate and mature size when planning your garden. Species like white sage
or deer grass form large clumps quickly and have extensive root systems. Note
that trees must not be planted near foundations or walls or water mains. Most of
the trees have large canopies (a coast live oak needs a fifty-foot diameter clear
space to grow in, for instance). Tall shrubs (small trees) might be preferable for
most school situations.
WARNING!
Because schools may be located near industrial sites or may have used
hazardous chemicals in previous landscaping or may have dumped chemicals
during previous building or remodeling projects, you must test the soil if you
intend to eat any plants from your garden. If the soil proves to be contaminated,
it must be removed or cleaned and retested.
REFERENCES:
1. Bean, Lowell John & Katherine Siva Saubel. 1972. Temalpakh, Cahuilla Indian
knowledge and usage of plants. Malki Museum Press, Morongo Indian
Reservation.
2. Clarke, Charlotte Bringle. 1977. Edible and useful plants of California.
University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
3. Garcia, Cecilia & James D. Adams, Jr. 2005. Healing with Medicinal Plants of
the West. Abedus Press, P.O. Box 8018, La Cresenta, California 91214
4. Moore, Michael. 1993. Medicinal plants of the Pacific West. Red Crane Books,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
5. Murphey, Edith Van Allen. 1987. Indian uses of native plants. Mendocino
Historical Society.
86
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
NATIVE
AMERICAN
GARDENS:
CHAPARRAL
SELECTIONS
87
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
88
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
36 Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium
24 Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
5 Eastwood Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glandulosa
7 California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
SHRUBS
1 Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
30 Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerlea
(Sambucus mexicana )
21 Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
18 Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
8 Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
9 California Walnut
Juglans californica
Spring
Spring
Fall
Spring
Spring
Spring,
Summer
Spring
Spring
Spring
Summer
FLOWER
TIMES
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,loam
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
?/5'
spreads
89
2'/20'
10'spread
?/8'
10'spread
fast/5'
4'spread
?/10'
gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5.5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
?/20'
clay
15'+spread (pH 5-7)
3'/80'
50'spread
?/25'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 4-8)
1'/15'(30')
15'spread
1'/25'
20'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
small
drain well
small
small
drain well
small
small
moderate
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
no
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes:with
processing
yes
yes
yes
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
medicine
roots:tools
arrows,pipe
food, tools,
medicine
medicine
wood,arrows,
medicine
food,medicine
dye,flutes
acorns:food
very good
food
food, dye
food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
birds
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral
(1000-6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Pinyon-Juniper
(100-6000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<4500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(150-3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<4500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDENS: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
84 Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry
Ribes speciosum
82 Hillside Gooseberry
Ribes californicum
var. hesperium
83 Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
80 Squaw Bush
Rhus trilobata
48 Our Lord's Candle
Hesperoyucca whipplei
(Yucca whipplei ssp.whipplei )
58 Wild Honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata
64 Coast Prickly Pear
Opuntia littoralis
65 Prickly Pear
Opuntia oricola
72 Scrub Oak
Quercus berberidifolia
(Quercus dumosa )
76 Spiny Redberry
Rhamnus crocea
78 Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
79 Sugar Bush
Rhus ovata
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (continued)
38 California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
?/4'
4-6'spread
?/20'
10'spread
?/20'
10'spread
Spring
?/8'
6'spread
2'/8'
5'spread
Winter
WinterSpring
?/5'
Winter
Spring
WinterSpring
Spring
Spring
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
90
clay,sandy
(pH 4-7.5)
sandy clay
(pH 5.5-7)
sandy clay
(pH 6-8)
?/5'
clay,sandy
5'+spread (pH 6-8)
vine-like
to 8'
?/1-2'
spreads
?/8'
spreads
1'/15'
8'spread
Summer
Spring
3'/12'
?/5'
6'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Spring
SummerFall
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
full sun
full sun
full sun
small
drain well
small
moderate
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
small
small
all
full sun
yes
yes
yes
yes
see recipe
yes:with
processing
see recipe
yes:with
processing
yes
yes
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
food
food
food
food,medicine
baskets
beverage,
medicine
beverage,
medicine
medicine,food
food:pads &
fruit
food:pads &
fruit
acorns:food
wood,medicine
baskets?
food:flowers
& stalks
flower:food
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
all
butterflies
all
butterflies
cool sun
all
birds, bees
moth
all
butterflies,
bees
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
small
drain well
small
small
cool sun
deep water
small
deep water cool sun
drain well
small
full sun
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7500')
CSS, Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<4000')
Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral
(30-1300')
CSS,Chaparral
(10-1300')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<2600')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(1500-6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDENS: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
36 Wand Buckwheat
Eriogonum elongatum
38 Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum convertiflorum
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
20 California Croton
Croton californicus
11 Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
PERENNIALS
2 White Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
3 Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
(Lotus scoparius )
10 Indian Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
95 Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
103 Woolly Blue Curls
Trichostemma lanatum
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (continued)
92 White Sage
Salvia apiana
?/6'
2'/2'
1'spread
SpringSummer
91
2'
2' at base
3'/3'
Fall
SpringSummer
SpringFall
3'/3'
3'/3'
Summer
Summer
3'/3'
spreads
3'/3'
3'+spread
?/5'
6'spread
4'/4'
4'spread
?/5'
5'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
Spring,
Summer
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
sandy
clay,loam
(pH 6-8)
clay
(pH 6-8)
all
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5.5-8)
clay, rocky
sandy, loam
(pH 6.5-8.5)
sandy,loam
(pH 4-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-7.5)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
small
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
small
no
no
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
yes:with
processing
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
yes:with
processing
no
food,
medicine
food,
medicine
leaves,stems:
food
medicine
medicine,
twine
twine,gum
building
material
medicine
food,
medicine
medicine
food,twine
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
butterflies
butterflies
hummingbird no
monarch
butterfly
monarch
butterfly
insects
butterflies
all
cool sun
full sun
all
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
full sun
full sun
small
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS, Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Strand
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7000')
Chaparral,Island,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Strand
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(100-4000')
CSS,Chaparral
(150-6000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<10,000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Pine Forest
(<5000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<2000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<4500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDENS: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
BULBS
1 Golden Stars
Bloomeria crocea
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(H. annuus ssp. lenticularis )
27 Chia
Salvia columbariae
ANNUALS
7 Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
9 Collarless Poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa
71 California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
67 Yerba Buena
Satureja douglasii
66 Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (continued)
40 California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
2'/2'
Spring
92
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
clay
(pH 4-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
small
drain well
moderate
small
moderate
moderate
moderate
drain well
moderate
small
WATER
NEEDS
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
shade
cool sun
shade
cool sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
no
yes:with
processing
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
corm:food
food:seeds
medicine
food:seeds
medicine,
cosmetic
leaves:food
dye,medicine?
medicine
medicine
pollen:
cosmetic
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
insects
all
insects
insects
no
hummingbird no
insects
insects
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
2'/2'
10'/10'
1'/1'
Spring
WinterFall
1'/1'
1'spread
4'/4'
1'/1'
3'spread
2'/2'
spreads
2'/2'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
WinterSpring
Spring
SpringFall
Spring
WinterFall
FLOWER
TIMES
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<3500')
All except
Desert
(<5000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDENS: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
VINES
2 Virgin's Bower, Pipestems
Clematis lasiantha
16 Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
PERENNIAL GRASSES
8 Giant Wild Rye
Elymus condensatus
(Leymus condensatus )
FERNS
1 Calif. Maiden-hair Fern
Adiantum jordani
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
BULBS (continued)
6 Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
(Dichelostemma pulchella )
FLOWER
TIMES
Spring
Summer
Summer
20'
climbs
4'/4'
clumps
10'/10'
clumps
1 1/2'
2'/2'
93
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
sandy,
gravel
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
drain well
moderate
drain well
small
moderate
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
shade
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
medicine,
twine
basketry
famine food,
roof thatch,
arrow shafts
basketry
corms:food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Forest Riparian
(<6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Island,
Woodland
(<7000')
Chaparral,
Forest,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDENS: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
94
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
NATIVE
AMERICAN
GARDENS:
COASTAL SAGE
SCRUB
SELECTIONS
95
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
96
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
48 Our Lord's Candle
Hesperoyucca whipplei
(Yucca whipplei ssp.whipplei )
(*=spiny leaves)
64 Coast Prickly Pear (*=spines)
Opuntia littoralis
65 Prickly Pear (*=spines)
Opuntia oricola
66 Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
(Isomeris arborea )
76 Spiny Redberry(*=twigs)
Rhamnus crocea
78 Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
84 Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry
Ribes speciosum (*=spiny)
10 Quail Bush
Atriplex lentiformis
38 California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
7 California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
SHRUBS
1 Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
8 Toyon (*=spiny leaves)
Heteromeles arbutifolia
WinterSpring
WinterSpring
Spring
All year
Spring
Spring
Spring
SummerFall
SummerFall
Fall
Spring
Summer
FLOWER
TIMES
97
?/4'
4-6'spread
?/20'
10'spread
?/8'
6'spread
?/1-2'
spreads
?/8'
spreads
?/6'
5'spread
3'/12'
?/10'
10'spread
?/5'
6'spread
fast/5'
4'spread
?/10'
1'/15'(30')
15'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 7-9)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
sandy
(pH 6-9)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
small
small
full sun
small
full sun
full sun
small
small
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
small
small
drain well
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
yes
yes:with
processing
see recipe
yes:with
processing
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
yes
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
beverage,
medicine
food
medicine,food
food:pads &
fruit
food:pads &
fruit
food
food:flowers
& stalks
food, soap,
medicine
flower:food
medicine
medicine
wood,arrows,
medicine
food
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
butterflies
butterflies
moth
all
butterflies,
bees
birds
all
all
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral
(30-1300')
CSS,Chaparral
(10-1300')
CSS,
Creosote Bush
(0-4000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2600')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS, Grassland
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7500')
CSS, Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<4500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
66 Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
35 Conejo Buckwheat
Eriogonum crocatum
36 Wand Buckwheat
Eriogonum elongatum
38 Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum convertiflorum
40 California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
PERENNIALS
2 White Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
3 Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
(Lotus scoparius )
20 California Croton
Croton californicus
95 Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
103 Woolly Blue Curls
Trichostemma lanatum
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS(continued)
92 White Sage
Salvia apiana
2'/2'
spreads
2'/2'
1'spread
2'/2'
SpringSummer
WinterFall
Spring
?/1'
3'spread
?/6'
SpringSummer
Fall
98
2'
2' at base
3'/3'
SpringFall
SpringSummer
3'/3'
spreads
3'/3'
3'+spread
?/5'
6' spread
4'/4'
4'spread
?/5'
5'spread
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
FLOWER
TIMES
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
sandy
all
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5.5-8)
clay,sandy,
rocky
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-7.5)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
cool sun
full sun
small
moderate
full sun
full sun
small
small
full sun
cool sun
full sun
small
small
drain well
small
drain well
full sun
small
no
no
no
yes:with
processing
no
yes:with
processing
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
yes:with
processing
no
no
no
medicine
food,
medicine
food,
medicine
food,
medicine
pollen:
cosmetic
leaves,stems:
food
medicine
building
material
medicine
food,
medicine
medicine
food, twine,
medicine
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
hummingbird no
insects
insects
butterflies
butterflies
butterflies
hummingbird no
insects
butterflies
all
cool sun
full sun
all
all
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
small
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
WATER
NEEDS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Strand
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Strand
(<3000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(100-4000')
CSS
(150-500')
CSS,Chaparral
(150-6000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<10,000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Grassland,
Woodland
(<6500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Pine Forest
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<4500')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
PERENNIAL GRASSES
8 Giant Wild Rye
Elymus condensatus
(Leymus condensatus )
6 Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
(Dichelostemma pulchella )
BULBS
1 Golden Stars
Bloomeria crocea
ANNUALS
7 Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
ssp. perfoliata
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(H.annuus ssp. lenticularis )
27 Chia
Salvia columbariae
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (continued)
71 California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
Summer
10'/10'
clumps
99
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
clay,sandy
clay
(pH 4-7)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
small
small
drain well
small
small
drain well
moderate
moderate
moderate
WATER
NEEDS
full sun
full sun
cool sun
full sun
full sun
shade
cool sun
SUN
or
SHADE
yes:with
processing
no
no
yes:with
processing
yes:with
processing
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
famine food,
roof thatch,
arrow shafts
food: corms
food: corms
food:seeds
medicine
food:seeds
leaves:food
dye,medicine?
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
insects
all
insects
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Island
(<7000')
2'/2'
2'/2'
2'/2'
10'/10'
WinterFall
Spring
1'/1'
1'spread
4'/4'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
WinterSpring
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
Scrub,Grassland, Spring
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Scrub,Chaparral, Spring
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7500')
CSS, Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
All except Desert
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
100
Southern California Native Plants for Schools and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
NATIVE
AMERICAN
GARDENS:
RIPARIAN
SELECTIONS
101
Southern California Native Plants for Schools and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
102
Southern California Native Plants for Schools and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
PERENNIALS
9 Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana
17 Sedge
Carex barbarae
85 California Rose(*=spiny stems)
Rosa californica
89 California Blackberry
Rubus ursinus
(*=spiny stems)
SHRUBS
13 Mule Fat
Baccharis salicifolia
(B. glutinosa, B. viminea )
57 California Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
30
29
17
2
1
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
White Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Black Cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa
(P.balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa )
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerla
(Sambucus mexicana )
SummerFall
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
clay
(pH 5-7)
clay
(pH 4-8)
clay, sandy
(pH 4-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-7)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
103
5'/5'
3' spread
4'/4'
spreads
full sun
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
full sun
cool sun
moderate
silt,clay
full sun
shady
cool sun
moderate
moderate
cool sun
moderate
no
no
yes
yes
yes,bitter
taste
no
yes
no
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
medicine,
arrow shafts
baskets
buds:food
medicine
food,
medicine
baskets?
medicine,
poles
dyes, to
smoke meat
bark:food
building
materials
medicine,
poles, baskets
food,medicine
dye,flutes
baskets
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
birds, bees
birds
butterflies,
birds
all
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
deep water cool sun
drain well
water
1st year
moderate
ample
moderate
moderate
to ample
ample
WATER
NEEDS
sandy clay
2'/8'
clay,sandy
20'+spread (pH 5-8)
mounds
clay,sandy
spreads
vine-like
to 20'
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
Spring
fast/10'
8'spread
4'/30'
20'+spread
?/20'
15'+spread
10'/50'
20'spread
10'/50'
40'spread
30'/100'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
WinterSpring
Spring,
Summer
Spring
WinterSpring
Spring
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Riparian
(<7000')
Riparian
(<3000')
CSS, Chaparral,
Riparian
(<2500')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
Riparian
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<4500')
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(300-8000')
Riparian
(<9000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDEN: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
7 Wild Grape
Vitis girdiana
VINES
2 Virgin's Bower, Pipestems
Clematis lasiantha
7 Bracken Fern
Pteridium aquilinum
var. pubescens
FERNS
1 California Maiden-hair Fern
Adiantum jordani
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (continued)
45 Common Rush
Juncus patens
46 Rush
Juncus xiphioides
63 Sticky Cinquefoil
Potentilla glandulosa
Spring
Spring
SpringFall
SpringSummer
Summer
FLOWER
TIMES
20'
climbs
20'
climbs
5'
1 1/2'
104
3'/3'
spreads
3'/3'
spreads
2'/2'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
clay,sandy
moderate
small
drain well
moderate
moderate
moderate
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
ample
ample
WATER
NEEDS
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
cool sun
cool sun
cool sun
shade
cool sun
shade
shade
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
food
medicine,
twine
food:shoots
basketry
medicine
basketry?
basketry?
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
all
all
SUN
ATTRACTS
or
BIRDS or
SHADE INSECTS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Forest Riparian
(<6000')
Riparian, Island
(<4000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<3500')
Riparian
(<10,000')
Riparian
(<5000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Riparian
(<7000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
NATIVE AMERICAN GARDEN: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
BUTTERFLY
GARDENS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY TEXT
107
TABLES:
CHAPARRAL
111
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
119
RIPARIAN
125
105
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
COMMON TYPES OF INSECTS FOUND ON PLANTS
Not drawn to scale. Body length (or butterfly wingspan) given in millimeters.
Slugs, snails (mollusks) and spiders (arachnids) are not insects.
Forewing
Hindwing
Antenna
BUTTERFLY
HEAD
Labium
Proboscis
BUTTERFLY TOP AND SIDE VIEW
West Coast Lady
Vanessa carye anabella (50 mm wingspan)
Head
Abdomen
Thorax
Red Milkweed Beetle
Sonoran Bumble Bee
Tetraopes basalis
(10-13 mm)
Bombus sonorus (13-25 mm)
Red-shouldered Leaf Beetle
Saxinus saucia (4-6 mm)
Gray Bird Grasshopper
Yellow Jacket Wasp
(Schistocerca nitens (40-70 mm)
Vespula pennsylvanica (11-20 mm)
Rose Aphid
Argentine Ant
Macrosiphan rosae (3 mm)
Ladybird Beetle
Adalia bipunctata (4-5 mm)
Iridomymex humilis (3 mm)
Long-tailed Mealybug
Pseudococcus longispinus (2-4 mm)
Information from California Insects by Jerry A. Powell & Charles L. Hogue, 1979, U.C. Press, &
Insects of the Los Angeles Basin by Charles L. Hogue, 1993, Natural History Museum of Los
Angeles County.
106
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
BUTTERFLY GARDEN:
SAMPLE SELECTIONS
The butterfly garden is designed to attract and to nurture butterflies for
study, research and aesthetic appreciation. To have a successful butterfly garden,
which may take some time to develop if the intent is to attract local butterflies, the
garden must have:
1. Food plants for the larval forms (caterpillars) of butterflies and safe havens for
the pupas.
2. Nectar sources for the adult forms (butterflies) for both the spring and summer
seasons, since butterflies may produce more than one generation per year or may
pupate at different times of the year.
3. Shelter, shade and other requirements of butterfly species, such as mud or water
sources.
Creating a butterfly garden still requires that soil, sun exposure and amount
of water available be compatible for the plants selected. The following data base
for Butterfly Garden: Sample Selections contains not only the essential information
for selecting plants with similar habitat needs, but also aids in developing an
attractive garden architecture by providing the size of the plants and their growth
rates.
To aid in selecting compatible plants Butterfly Garden: Sample Selections
has been divided into three sections (Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Riparian)
based on the plant communities in which these plants are usually found and the
range of soils the plants prefer. Plants that will grow in both clay and sandy soil
are very tolerant of soil composition and may be easier to grow in typical school
landscaping conditions, such as compacted silt or heavy clay, so those plants were
included in the sections. Other plants may be found in the main native plant data
base for other plant communities and soil conditions. Please note that "plant
community" is not a scientific definition, but refers to plants commonly found
living together in a natural environment and requiring similar conditions of sun
exposure, soil composition and water availability. Information on edibility and
native American uses has been eliminated from the butterfly garden sections in
order to expand the information an butterflies.
107
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Most schools will not have room for the trees in the data base since most of
the trees listed have extensive root systems and develop large canopies, but
existing trees may be utilized as part of the garden structure. The garden should
have some shrubs, perennials and perennial grasses to provide an ongoing structure
from year to year for establishing resident butterfly populations. The same
annuals should be planted each year if they prove to be nectar sources for the
resident butterflies.
Keeping a notebook of observations of caterpillars, pupas and butterflies
present in the garden will prove useful in modifying or adding to the garden each
year to provide the correct balance of food and nectar sources. NOTE: The
western tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail and California sister butterflies like to
sip mud as well as nectar. The mourning cloak butterfly prefers rotting fruit
instead of nectar. The cabbage butterfly is non-native (it is from Europe) and is
considered a pest on cole crops and some flowers. The common hairstreak larvae
and sara orangetip larvae are cannibalistic. These facts and what you observe as
the garden develops will help you, the teachers and students, decide how to modify
the garden to encourage some species and discourage others.
The column labeled "BUTTERFLY" lists which butterflies are known to be
attracted to which plants; which are food plants (F) for larvae and which plants are
nectar sources (N) for adult butterflies. This list is especially important when
planning what plants are needed to sustain a butterfly population. If there are
garden plots with different plants and different goals nearby consider these two
points:
1. Your butterfly larvae may feed on plants in the other garden plots, thereby
making your garden unpopular with those responsible for the other garden plots,
especially if the garden plots contain vegetables or flowers for other school
projects.
2. Butterfly larvae, other insect competitors (bees, wasps, flies, etc.) and birds that
are feeding on plants in those other garden plots may move into your butterfly
garden and displace or eat the butterfly larvae and adults you are nurturing. Again
you will have to adjust your plantings and the location of your butterfly garden to
encourage and shelter the species of butterfly you are interested in, while
discouraging invading and competing species.
108
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
By establishing a butterfly garden with native plants in a large urban area the
school is creating not only a delightful research tool, but also the school is
providing a haven for some of our rapidly diminishing local butterfly species.
Most butterflies do not migrate long distances (the monarch butterfly is an
outstanding exception). Some, like certain blue species, are highly localized, have
short-lived adults, and feed on only one or two native plant species, so their
populations are heavily impacted by the loss of essential food and/or nectar plants
or by an increase in insect competitors due to changes in surrounding habitat.
Providing the proper native plant habitat for these butterflies in developed areas
where the butterflies were previously common could help save some species from
extinction.
(Information on butterflies is from Butterflies of Greater Los Angeles
by Rudi Mattoni, Lepidoptera Research Foundation, Inc.,
website: www.lepidopteraresearchfoundation.org, and from Las Pilitas Nursery,
Bert and Celeste Wilson, website: www.laspilitas.com.)
GULF FRITILLARY
Agraulus vanillae
WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio rutulus
FIERY SKIPPER
Hylephila phyleus
CABBAGE BUTTERFLY
Pieris rapae
ACMON BLUE
Plebejus acmon
RELATIVE SIZES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUTTERFLIES
109
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
110
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
BUTTERFLY
GARDENS:
CHAPARRAL
SELECTIONS
111
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
112
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
30 Bush Sunflower
Encelia californica
36 Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium
24 Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
21 Hairy-leaf Ceanothus
Ceanothus oliganthus
22 Greenbark Ceanothus
Ceanothus spinosus
(*=spiny twigs)
SHRUBS
4 False Indigo
Amorpha californica
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
TREES
18 Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
21 Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
(*=spiny leaves)
WinterSpring
Spring
Spring
WinterSpring
Spring
sandy
loam
(pH 6-8)
fast/4'
4'spread
?/5'
spreads
113
2'/20'
10'spread
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
?/20'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 6-8)
?/10'
Spring- ?/10'
Summer 10'spread
3'/80'
50'spread
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 4-8)
?/25'
clay,sandy
10'+spread (pH 4-8)
Width
1y/Max Ht.
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Spring
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
cool sun Pale swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon (F)
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
small
small
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
deep water shade
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Dusky metalmark
Calephelis nemesis (F)
Western tiger swallowtail
Papilio rutulus rutulus (N)
Artful duskywing
Erynnis pacuvius callidus (F)
California tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica (F)
Pale swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon (F)
California hairstreak
Satyrium californicum (F)
Southern buckthorn hairstreak
Satyrium saepium chalcis (F)
Echo blue
Celastrina argiolus echo (F)
Grey hairstreak
Satyrium tetra (F)
California dogface
Zerene eurydice (F)
deep water cool sun California sister
Adelpha bredowii californica (F)
drain well
California hairstreak
Satyrium californicum (F)
Mournful duskywing
Erynnis tristis tristis (F)
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<6000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<2000')
Chaparral,
Pinyon-Juniper
(100-6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7500')
Chaparral
(<4500')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland
(<5000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
FLOWER
TIMES
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
CSS, Chaparral
(<3000')
76 Spiny Redberry
Rhamnus crocea
Island=Catalina Island
fast/15'
10'spread
Spring
Spring
114
?/4'
4-6'spread
1'/15'
8'spread
Spring- fast/12'
Summer 12'spread
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay
(pH 6-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)
sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
These larvae feed on buckwheat:
Common hairstreak
full sun Strymon melinus pudica (F)
Southern buckthorn hairstreak
Satyrium saepium chalcis (N)
Behr's metalmark
Apodemia mormo virgulti (F)
Acmon blue
Plebejus acmon acmon (F)
Lupine blue
Plebejus lupini monticola (F)
Edward's blue
Hemiargus ceraunus gyas (F)
Bernardino blue
Euphilotes bernardino bernardino (F)
California dogface
Zerene eurydice (N)
cool sun Pale swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon (F)
full sun
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
cool sun Western checkered skipper
Pyrgus communis albescens (F)
Large white skipper
Heliopetes ericetorum (F)
West coast lady
Vanessa carye anabella (F)
small
cool sun Lacustra duskywing
Erynnis brizo lacustra (F)
deep water
Nut brown hairstreak
Satyrium auretorum (F)
Santa Monica Mt. hairstreak
Satyrium auretorum fumosum (F)
small
cool sun Pale swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon (F)
drain well
small
small
small
small
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<5000')
72 Scrub Oak
Quercus berberidifolia
(Quercus dumosa )
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<3500')
CSS, Chaparral
(<2500')
43 California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
(Rhamnus californica )
59 Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
CSS,Strand
Summer- ?/4'
(<1600')
Fall
4'spread
CSS,Chaparral, Summer- ?/5'
Woodland
Fall
6'spread
(<7500')
( Buckwheats are common nectar plants for many butterflies)
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (continued)
37 Ashy-leaf Buckwheat
Eriogonum cinereum
38 California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Width
1y/Max Ht.
Spring- ?/5'
Summer 6'spread
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
WinterSpring
?/2.5'
Summer 3'/3'
Summer 3'/3'
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
115
small
drain well
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
Same as Tower mustard
Monarch
Danaus plexippus (F)
Alfalfa
Colias eurytheme (F)
California green hairstreak
Callophrys affinis perplexa (F)
Funereal duskywing
Erynnis zarucco funeralis (F)
Marina blue
Leptotes marina (F)
Acmon blue
Plebejus acmon acmon (F)
Southern blue
Glaucopsyche lygdamus australis (F)
Monarch
Danaus plexippus (F)
Adult butterflies (N)
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Wright's leanira checkerspot
Melitaea (Chlosyne) leanira wrightii (F)
cool sun Sonora blue
Dudleya lanceolata (F)
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
small
small
small
small
small
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
rocky
rocks,
gravel
clay,loam
(pH 6-8)
clay
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5.5-8)
sandy,loam
(pH 4-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Island=Catalina Island
CSS, Chaparral, Spring
2.5'/2.5'
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral, Spring- 2'
Woodland
Summer 2' at base
(100-4000')
Chaparral,
Woodland
(<7000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland,
Island
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral
(2500-6000')
CSS, Chaparral, Spring- 3'/3'
Strand
Summer 3'+spread
(<5000')
CSS, Chaparral
(<2000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
15 Elegant Rock Rose
Boechera californica
(Arabis sparsiflora
var. californica )
19 Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
11 Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
10 Indian Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
PERENNIALS
3 Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
(Lotus scoparius )
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (continued)
95 Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
ANNUALS
11 Globe Gilia
Gilia capitata ssp.abrotanifolia
89 Johnny Jump Up
Viola pedunculata
80 Hedge Nettle
Stachys bullata
85 Tower Mustard
Turritis glabra
(Arabis glabra )
(usually biennial, not perennial)
66 Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
PERENNIALS (continued)
33 California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum ssp. canum
(Zauschneria californica,
Zauschneria cana )
43 Dwarf Sunflower
Helianthus gracilentus
54 Bush Lupine
Lupinus longifolius
Fall
FLOWER
TIMES
2'/2'
spreads
Spring
WinterSpring
3'/3'
1'/1'
1'spread
Spring- 3'/3'
Fall
spreads
Spring- ?/4'
Summer
Spring
4'/4'
4'spread
4'/4'
?/3'
4'spread
116
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
sand,rocks
(pH 6-8)
loam
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
all
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
gravel,loam
(pH 5.5-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Adult butterflies (N)
small
small
full sun
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Adult butterflies (N)
cool sun Sara orangetip
Anthocaris sara sara (F)
Grinnell's marble
Anthocaris lanceolata australis (F)
Cabbage butterfly
Pieris rapae (F)
Common white
Pieris protodice (F)
California white
Pieris sisymbrii sisymbrii (F)
cool sun Variegated fritillary
Euptoieta claudia (F)
Comstock's fritillary
Argynnis (Speyeria)callippe comstocki (F)
small
Adult butterflies (N)
shade
cool sun Common hairstreak
Strymon melinus pudica (F)
Painted lady
Vanessa cardui (F)
cool sun Adult butterflies (N)
full sun
cool sun Adult butterflies (N)
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
moderate
moderate
small
drain well
small
small
drain well
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Forest,Island
(<6000')
Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<5000')
Grassland,
Woodland
(<7000')
Chaparral,Forest Spring(<6000')
Fall
CSS, Chaparral, Spring
Woodland
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Island
(<2000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
Chaparral,Forest
Woodland,
(650-10,000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Riparian,
Creosote Bush
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Forest
(<8000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Island
(<5000')
Chaparral,Forest
Woodland,
Grassland
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<4500')
All except
Desert
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<7000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
Spring
3'/3'
clumps
Summer 4'/4'
clumps
Summer 3'/3'
clumps
Spring- 4'/4'
Summer
117
small
small
moderate
small
drain well
small
drain well
small
moderate
WATER
NEEDS
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
Adult butterflies (N)
Adult butterflies (N)
Adult butterflies (N)
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
cool sun These larvae feed on grasses:
California ringlet
Coenonympha tullia california (F)
full sun Sylvan satyr
Cercyonis sithnele silvestris (F)
Hewitson's skipper
Copaeodes aurantica (F)
full sun Fiery skipper
Hylephila phyleus (F)
Leussler's skipper
Hesperia comma leussleri (F)
cool sun Columbia skipper
Hesperia columbia (F)
Sandhill skipper
Polites sabuleti sabuleti (F)
cool sun Field skipper
Atalopetes campestris (F)
Woodland skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides sylvanoides (F)
full sun Eufala skipper
Lerodea eufala (F)
full sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash, Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
small
sandy,gravel moderate
(pH 5-8)
drain well
clay,rocky
clay,sandy
clay,silty
FallWinter
1'/1'
sandy,loam
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Spring- 3'/3'
Summer
2'/2'
3'/3'
3'spread
WinterSpring
Spring
10'/10'
Width
1y/Max Ht.
WinterFall
FLOWER
TIMES
GROWTH
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub, Island=Catalina Island
19 Nodding Needlegrass
Stipa cernua
(Nassella cernua )
16 Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
14 Chaparral Melica
Melica imperfecta
PERENNIAL GRASSES
2 San Diego Bent Grass
Agrostis pallens
(Agrostis diegoensis )
3 Beard Grass/Bluestem
Andropogon glomeratus
var. scabriglumis
(Andropogon glomeratus )
5 California Brome
Bromus carinatus
27 Chia
Salvia columbariae
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
ANNUALS (continued)
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(H.annuus ssp. lenticularis )
17 Succulent Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: CHAPARRAL SELECTIONS
118
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
BUTTERFLY
GARDENS:
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
SELECTIONS
119
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
120
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
Island=Catalina Island
121
?/4'
clay,sandy
4-6'spread (pH 5-7)
Spring
clay,sandy
(pH 7-9)
clay
(pH 6-7)
?/6'
5'spread
fast/12'
12'spread
All year
SpringSummer
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-7.5)
fast/4'
4'spread
?/4'
4'spread
?/5'
6'spread
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
small
cool sun Pale swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon (F)
drain well
small
small
small
Dusky metalmark
Calephelis nemesis (F)
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (F)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Dusky metalmark
Calephelis nemesis (F)
These larvae feed on buckwheat:
Common hairstreak
full sun Strymon melinus pudica (F)
Southern buckthorn hairstreak
Satyrium saepium chalcis (N)
Behr's metalmark
Apodemia mormo virgulti (F)
Acmon blue
Plebejus acmon acmon (F)
Lupine blue
Plebejus lupini monticola (F)
Edward's blue
Hemiargus ceraunus gyas (F)
Bernardino blue
Euphilotes bernardino bernardino (F)
California dogface
Zerene eurydice (N)
cool sun Western checkered skipper
Pyrgus communis albescens (F)
Large white skipper
Heliopetes ericetorum (F)
West coast lady
Vanessa carye anabella (F)
full sun Becker's white
Pieris chloridice beckeri (F)
small
full sun
drain well
small
full sun
water
1st year
WATER
NEEDS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,
Creosote Bush
(0-4000')
CSS,Chaparral
(<3000')
66 Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
(Isomeris arborea )
76 Spiny Redberry
Rhamnus crocea
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
CSS, Chaparral
(<2500')
59 Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
fast/10'
8'spread
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
CSS,Chaparral, WinterRiparian
Spring
(<2500')
30
CSS,Chaparral Winter(<2000')
Spring
37
CSS,Strand
Summer(<1600')
Fall
38
CSS,Chaparral, SummerWoodland
Fall
(<7500')
( Buckwheats are common nectar plants for many butterflies)
13
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS
Mule Fat
Baccharis salicifolia
(B. glutinosa, B.viminea )
Bush Sunflower
Encelia californica
Ashy-leaf Buckwheat
Eriogonum cinereum
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
33 California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum ssp.canum
(Zauschneria californica,Z.cana)
12 Locoweed
Astragalus trichopodus
15 Elegant Rock Rose
Boechera californica
(Arabis sparsiflora var.californica )
19 Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
28 Lance-leaved Dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
PERENNIALS
3 Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
(Lotus scoparius )
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
SHRUBS (continued)
94 Purple Sage
Salvia leucophylla
95 Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
SUN
or
SHADE
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
rocky
full sun
Alfalfa
Colias eurytheme (F)
California green hairstreak
Callophrys affinis perplexa (F)
Funereal duskywing
Erynnis zarucco funeralis (F)
Marina blue
Leptotes marina (F)
Acmon blue
Plebejus acmon acmon (F)
Southern blue
Glaucopsysche lygdamus australis (F)
Western tailed blue
Everes amyntula (F)
Same as Tower mustard
Adult butterflies (N)
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
small
cool sun Adult butterflies (N)
drain well
Wright's leanira checkerspot
Melitaea (Chlosyne)leanira wrightii (F)
small
cool sun Sonora blue
Philotes sonorensi (F)
drain well
small
full sun
full sun
full sun
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (F)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Adult butterflies (N)
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
122
?/3'
4'spread
2'
2' at base
SpringSummer
Fall
2.5'/2.5'
Spring
rocks,
gravel
?/2.5'
small
sandy,rocky small
small
2'/2'
CSS,Chaparral
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(100-4000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Island
(<2000')
WATER
NEEDS
clay,sandy small
full sun
(pH 6-8)
sandy,loam small
full sun
(pH 4-8)
drain well
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
3'/3'
clay,sandy
3'+spread (pH 5.5-8)
?/5'
4'spread
?/5'
6'spread
WinterSpring
WinterSpring
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
Width
TIMES
CSS, Grassland
(<4000')
CSS,Chaparral
(2500-6000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Strand
(<5000')
CSS
(150-2500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<2000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
PERENNIAL GRASSES
3 Beard Grass/Bluestem
Andropogon glomeratus
var.scabriglumis
(Andropogon glomeratus )
5 California Brome
Bromus carinatus
27 Chia
Salvia columbariae
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(Helianthus annuus
17 Succulent Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
ANNUALS
11 Globe Gilia
Gilia capitata ssp.abrotanifolia
81 Hedge Nettle
Stachys bullata
66 Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
1'/1'
4'/4'
FallWinter
SpringSummer
2'/2'
123
3'/3'
3'spread
WinterSpring
Spring
10'/10'
3'/3'
3'/3'
spreads
2'/2'
spreads
4'/4'
4'spread
WinterFall
Spring
SpringFall
Spring
Spring
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
Width
TIMES
clay,sandy
clay,silty
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8)
clay,gravel
(pH 6-8.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
sand,rocks
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 5-7)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
SUN
or
SHADE
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (F)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Adult butterflies (N)
full sun
small
full sun
moderate full sun
small
full sun
drain well
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
These larvae feed on grasses:
California ringlet
Coenonympha tullia california (F)
Sylvan satyr
Cercyonis sithnele silvestris (F)
Hewitson's skipper
Copaeodes aurantica (F)
continued on next page
Adult butterflies (N)
Adult butterflies (N)
moderate full sun
small
Adult butterflies (N)
Adult butterflies (N)
full sun
small
moderate shade
small
cool sun Common hairstreak
Strymon melinus pudica (F)
Painted lady
Vanessa cardui (F)
moderate cool sun Adult butterflies (N)
WATER
NEEDS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush,
Riparian
(<2000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Forest
(<8000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Forest,Island
(<6000')
All except
Desert
(<5000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland,
Grassland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral,
Creosote Bush
(<7000')
CSS,Chaparral,
Woodland
(<2500')
CSS,Chaparral
(<5000')
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
( '=feet)
PERENNIALS (continued)
54 Bush Lupine
CSS,Chaparral,
Lupinus longifolius
Woodland
(<2000')
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
19
14
12
5
Island=Catalina Island
EGG
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
Spring
Summer
SpringSummer
SpringSummer
124
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Fiery skipper
Hylephila phyleus (F)
Leussler's skipper
Hesperia comma leuddleri (F)
moderate dfull sun Columbia skipper
Hesperia columbia
Sandhill skipper
Polites sabuleti sabuleti (F)
small
cool sun Field skipper
Atalopetes campestris (F)
Woodland skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides sylvanoides (F)
small
full sun
small
WATER
NEEDS
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
DIFFERENT STAGES IN THE LIFE OF A BUTTERFLY
ADULT BUTTERFLY
CHALCEDON CHECKERSPOT
Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
clay,rocky
clay,sandy
clay,sandy
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
CHRYSALIS
3'/3'
clumps
3'/3'
clumps
2'/2'
4'/4'
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
LARVA (CATERPILLAR)
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
( '=feet)
PERENNIAL GRASSES (continued)
California Brome
CSS,Chaparral,
Bromus carinatus
Woodland,
Forest
(<8000')
Meadow Barley
Riparian,
Hordeum brachyantherum
Grassland,
ssp. californicum
Scrub
(Hordeum californicum )
(<1600)
Chaparral Melica
CSS,Chaparral,
Melica imperfecta
Woodland,
Island
(<5000')
Nodding Needlegrass
CSS,Chaparral,
Stipa cernua
Woodland,
(Nassella cernua )
Grassland
(<4500')
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: COASTAL SAGE SCRUB SELECTIONS
BUTTERFLY
GARDENS:
RIPARIAN
SELECTIONS
125
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
126
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
PERENNIALS
7 Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
90 Sandbar Willow
Salix hindsiana
SHRUBS
13 Mule Fat
Baccharis salicifolia
(B. glutinosa, B. viminea )
25 Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis ssp.arcuata
29
17
16
15
2
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME)
TREES
White Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Western Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Western Cottonwood
Populus fremontii ssp.fremontii
Black Cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa
(P. balsamifera ssp.trichocarpa )
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
Spring
Spring
WinterSpring
WinterSpring
Spring
Summer
clay,sandy
(pH 6-9)
3'/20'
15'spread
2'/5'
127
clay,gravel
(pH 4-7.5)
3'/20'
sandy
10+spread (pH 6-7.5)
clay,sandy
(pH 6-8)
fast/10'
8'spread
full sun
cool sun
ample
ample
cool sun
cool sun
deep water full sun
drain well
water
1st year
ample
cool sun
full sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
Adult butterflies (N)
Same as other willows
(see TREES)
Adult butterflies (N)
Dusky metalmark
Calephelis nemesis (F)
Western tiger swallowtail
Papilio rutulus rutulus (F)
Lorquin's admiral
Liminitis lorquini lorquini (F)
Mourning cloak
Nymphalis antiopa antiopa (F)
Southern sylvan hairstreak
Satyrium sylvinum desertorum (F)
Drope hairstreak
Satyrium sylvinum drope (F)
Western tiger swallowtail
Papilio rutulus rutulus (F)
Western tiger swallowtail
Papilio rutulus rutulus (F)
Western tiger swallowtail
Papilio rutulus rutulus (F)
Western tiger swallowtail
Papilio rutulus rutulus (F)
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
Riparian
(<8000')
WATER
NEEDS
clay, sandy ample
(pH 4-8)
silty,sandy ample
(pH 5-8)
silty,sandy ample
(pH 6-8)
clay,sandy moderate
(pH 4-7)
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
4'/30'
clay,sandy
20'+spread (pH 5-7.5)
30'/100'
30'/80'
10'/50'
40'spread
3'/75'
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
Chaparral,
WinterCSS,Riparian
Spring
(<2500')
Desert
SpringRiparian(<5000') Summer
(<5000')
Riparian
Spring
(<3000')
Riparian
(<7000')
Riparian
(300-8000')
Riparian
(<6500')
Riparian
(<6500')
Riparian
(<9000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
Island=Catalina Island
CSS=Coastal Sage Scrub
clay,sandy
2'/2'
moderate
drain well
moderate
128
full sun
full sun
full sun
cool sun
ample
moderate
cool sun
full sun
full sun
SUN
or
SHADE
moderate
moderate
(small
WATER
NEEDS
Woodland skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides sylvanoides (F)
Sandhill skipper
Polites sabuleti sabuleti (F)
clay,silty
clay,sandy
(pH 5-8)?
clay,sandy
(pH 4-9)
silt
(pH 5-7)
silt,clay
clay,loam
1'/1'
10'/10'
2'/2'
2'spread
3'/3'
3'spread
4'/4'
spreads
3'/3'
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Pinyon-Juniper=Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Creosote Bush=Desert Wash
These larvae feed on grasses:
California ringlet
Coeonympha tullia california (F)
Sylvan satyr
Cercyonis sithnele silvestris (F)
Hewitson's skipper
Copaeodes aurantica (F)
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus(F)
Leussler's skipper
Hesperia comma leussleri (F)
Columbia skipper
Hesperia columbia (F)
Adult butterflies (N)
Umbar skipper
Paratrytone melane (F)
Harbison's skipper
Euphyes vestris harbisoni (F)
Chalcedon checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona chaldedona (F)
Chalcedon checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona chaldedona (F)
Monarch
Danaus plexippus(F)
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
PERENNIAL GRASSES
3 Beard Grass/Bluestem
CSS,Chaparral, FallAndropogon glomeratus
Creosote Bush, Winter
Riparian
var. scabriglumis
(<2000')
(Andropogon glomeratus )
12 Meadow Barley
Riparian,
SpringHordeum brachyantherum ssp. cGrassland,
Summer
ssp. californicum
Scrub
(Hordeum californicum )
(<1600)
These larvae feed on grasses: Field skipper
Atalopetes campestris (F)
Eufala skipper
Lerodea eufala (F)
All except
WinterDesert (<5000') Fall
(<5000')
ANNUALS
12 Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
(Helianthus annuus
ssp. lenticularis )
SpringFall
SpringFall
Summer
GROWTH
FLOWER 1y/Max Ht.
TIMES
Width
Riparian
(<8000')
Riparian
(<8000')
Chaparral,
Riparian,
Woodland,
Island
(<7000')
Riparian
(<3000')
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
55 Scarlet Monkey Flower
Mimulus cardinalis
56 Yellow Monkey Flower
Mimulus guttatus
17 Sedge
Carex barbarae
COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME)
PERENNIALS (continued)
11 Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: RIPARIAN SELECTIONS
EXTRA
TABLE FORMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLES:
BUTTERFLY FORMS
131
NATIVE PLANT FORMS
133
129
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
130
Southern California Native Plants for School and Urban Gardens by Betsey Landis
# COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
IN
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
DB (OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
FLOWER
TIMES
131
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR BUTTERFLY GARDENS
# COMMON NAME (*=thorns)
IN
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
DB (OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
FLOWER
TIMES
132
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
Larval Food (F) or Adult Nectar (N)
BUTTERFLY: COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR BUTTERFLY GARDENS
#
IN
DB
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
FLOWER
TIMES
133
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR SCHOOL AND URBAN LANDSCAPING
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES
#
IN
DB
COMMON NAME(*=thorns)
NEW SCIENTIFIC NAME
(OLD SCIENTIFIC NAME )
HABITAT
(ALTITUDE)
( '=feet)
FLOWER
TIMES
134
Width
1y/Max Ht.
GROWTH
SOIL
TYPE
(pH)
WATER
NEEDS
SUN
or
SHADE
ATTRACTS
BIRDS or
INSECTS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR SCHOOL AND URBAN LANDSCAPING
YES or NO
FRUITS:
EDIBLE?
NATIVE
AMERICAN
USES