This lecture was given in May, 2009 as part of the California native plant gardening series ‘Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden’

1. Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with South Bay Native Plants
Project SOUND - 2009
© Project SOUND

2. A Hummingbird
Garden in Clay Soils
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
May 2 & 5, 2009
© Project SOUND

3. American bird artist, John James Audubon, called
hummingbirds "glittering garments of the rainbow."
© Project SOUND

4. California is a migratory route or year round residence for
at least six members of the hummingbird family, more than
any other state in the U.S.
© Project SOUND

5. Anna’s Hummingbird
 Feeds on a variety of flowers as well
as insects and spiders - eats more
arthropods than most hummingbirds.
 Particularly likes Salvia species,
Known for its red head. (Sage), particularly Hummingbird
These feathers are only Sage (Salvia spathacea).
visible at a certain angle.
This allows the male Anna's  Likes to get a drink on hot days.
Hummingbird to hide when
he needs to and show off  They especially like bird baths that
when it suits him. drip so they can hover and sip water
as it runs over the edge.
http://www.laspilitas.com/California_birds  They will also perch on the edge and
/Hummingbirds/Anna's_Hummingbird/An
drink as other birds do but they only
sit still for a minute
na's_Hummingbird.htm
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/167/_/An
nas_Hummingbird.aspx
© Project SOUND

6. Allen’s Hummingbird
 Common in brushy woods, gardens & meadows
of coastal California
 Male highly aggressive and territorial. Hot-
tempered despite its diminutive stature, a
male Allen's Hummingbird will chase other
males from its territory, as well as any other
hummingbird species
 Eats mainly nectar (occasionally eating
spiders and insects it finds in flowers). The
spiders and insects provide a source of
protein.
 Need nectar sources with high amounts of
sugar to support their incredibly high
metabolisms.
 Must visit approximately one thousand
flowers per day and needs to consume
more than twice its own weight in nectar
each day.
 Has very general nesting requirements - will
nest in trees, shrubs, or herbs. Nests are
very small and tightly woven cups.
http://hummingbirds.arizona.edu/Web%20pictures/Allen's%20male_salal_Melton.png
© Project SOUND
http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/allens_hummingbird_map.htm

7. The hummingbird habitat: not just pretty
red flowers…
 A hummingbird-friendly
garden requires five key
elements to provide good
hummingbird habitat
 Nectar-producing flowers
 Insects
http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/pics/alhumas.jpg  Water
 Perching places
 Nest sites
© Project SOUND

8. Like humans, hummingbirds require water for
refreshment, bathing and drinking as part of their
habitat.
 In nature, hummingbirds like to take a bath
on a cupped leaf or a shallow pool, or take a
“rainbath”.
 In the garden, the best water for
hummingbirds is moving water.
 Misters emit a fine mist of water when
attached to a garden hose. Placing a mister
so that the mist falls against the foliage of a
tree or plant will create a situation where
hummingbirds have multiple opportunities to
use the feature
 Another good source of hummingbird water is
a dripper – simply a hose with a tight valve
that allows a very slow, rhythmic drip into a
reservoir of water. These are often attached
to bird baths. Hummingbirds may drink from
either the drip or the reservoir and will
occasionally bathe in the reservoir
© Project SOUND

9. Flowers that depend on the hummingbird for
pollination do all they can to please and attract
Hummingbirds.
 Their blossoms project into the open
where the birds won’t get caught in the
foliage.
 Their trumpet shapes accommodate
their long bills, and discourage other
insects.
 Since Hummingbirds have no ability to
smell, the flowers do not need to be
scented.
 Flowers often red or orange to attract
hummingbirds visually - their inquisitive
male Rufous Hummingbird on Oregon Grape©Donald Jedlovec nature quickly leads them to investigate
any possible new source of food
 They tend to have very high sugar
Humming-bird pollinated plants content to their nectar – higher than for
and their pollinators evolved bee- or butterfly-pollinated plants
together – “co-evolution”
© Project SOUND

10. © Project SOUND

11. What is a clay soil?
 Soil: a combination of sand,
silt, clay, minerals and
organic matter that also
contains some air and water.
 Clay soils are sometimes
referred to as heavy soils
http://www.soilsensor.com/soiltypes.aspx
and sandy soils are called
light.
 To be classified as clay soil,
it should be made up of
about 50% clay particles,
the finest particles found in
soil.
© Project SOUND
http://www.your-healthy-gardens.com/soil.html

12. Most gardeners know if they have clay soil
 If your soil sticks to
shoes and garden
tools like glue, forms
big clods that aren't
easy to separate, and
crusts over and
cracks in dry
weather, you have
clay.
© Project SOUND

13. Tests for clay soil: Feel Tests
 Rub a sample of soil between your
fingers.
 Sandy soil is rough and gritty and
breaks up easily.
 Clay soil is sticky and feels like
plastic.
 Silt is in between - much smaller
particles than sand and it feels
slippery when wet.
 Squeeze a sample of moist soil
 A heavy clay soil will form a solid
lump that is difficult to crumble
when it's squeezed together. You
http://home.howstuffworks.com/soil-texture-and-structure.htm
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/la/la_001.cfm
can form a ‘rope’ or ‘ribbon’
First, take a handful of  It's hard to get sandy soil to form a
lump and it crumbles easily.
moist soil and feel it.
© Project SOUND

14. Tests for clay soil: sedimentation test
 Fill a quart jar 2/3 full with
water
 Add dry soil (break up clods)
until water is within 1” of top
of jar.
 Put the lid on the jar and
shake it energetically until
everything is swirling around.
Then set it aside and let it
settle, and mark layers until
the water clears.
 The layers indicate just how
much sand, silt and clay make
up your soil.
© Project SOUND

15. The sedimentation  Sand Layer: settles in 1-2 minutes
process  Allow suspended soil to settle for about a
minute.
 Mark the side of the jar at the top of
the layer that has settled out.
 Silt Layer: settles in 1 hour
 Set jar aside, being careful not to mix
the sand layer; wait ~ an hour.
 Mark the top of the Silt Layer on the
side of the jar.
 Clay layer: settles in ~24 hours
 Set jar aside, being careful not to shake
or mix the layers that have settled out.
 After 24 hours, or when the water is
clear (more or less), mark the jar at the
The percentage of top of the clay layer.
each layer tells you
what kind of soil you  Most of the organic matter will be
have.
floating on the top of the water
© Project SOUND

16.  Very common in certain areas of S.
Clay soils CA, particularly around urban areas
where fill soils have been used to
establish grade in subdivisions and
developments.
 Clay soils are typically comprised of
approximately 0 - 45% sand, 0 -
45% silt and 50 - 100% clay by
volume.
 Clay soils are not typically free
draining, and water tends to take a
long time to infiltrate.
 When wet, such soils tend to allow
virtually all water to run-off.
 Clay soils tend to be heavy and
difficult to work when dry.
50% clay particles
© Project SOUND

17.  Are also common in
Loam Soils Southern California,
particularly in the valleys
and flat areas (flood plains)
surrounding rivers and
streams.
 Loam soils are typically
comprised of approximately
25 - 50% sand, 30 - 50%
silt and 10 - 30% clay by
volume.
 Loam soils are somewhat
heavier than sandy soils
 Tend to be fairly free
draining, again, due to
typically low organic
1:1:1 soils content.
© Project SOUND

18. Gardening in clay soils is different
 The old CA garden philosophy: amend the heck out of it
 The new CA Garden philosophy: what plants will do well in my
clay soil? How do I manage my asset (clay soil)?
© Project SOUND

19. The benefits of clay soils are real…
 They retain soil moisture
well – you won’t have to
water as often
 They usually retain
nutrients better than
sandy soils
 Many trees & shrubs
(particularly CA natives)
grow well in clay soils
 Trees often develop
better root system – less
likely to topple over
© Project SOUND

20. The keys to succeeding with clay soils (in
my experience) are:
 Leaving the soil alone as
much as possible
 Timing:
 When to plant
 When to water
 Plant Choice:
 Plants adapted to clay soils
 Exact choice depends on
drainage qualities of your
soil
 Mulch/ground-covers
© Project SOUND

21. Benefits of CA native plants in clay soils
 No need to ‘turn the soil’ each
year – associated with problems
of compaction
 If you plant soils native to your
area, they are adapted to your
local soil – whatever the soil may
be
 No need for expensive (and
backbreaking) adding of
amendments & fertilizers
 Most native plants (esp. trees and
shrubs) have strong roots;
penetrate most clays just fine
© Project SOUND

22. Amending clay soils: yes or no?
 The best way to amend is with
composted organic material
 Good/necessary choice for:
 Vegetable gardens
 Non-native plants
 Problems (for native plants)
 May change soil pH
 Increases nutrient levels – may
be too high for many natives
 Not needed – many natives are
fine with many clay soils
© Project SOUND

23. A better choice: add a little topography
© Project SOUND

24. Contouring for water management and
conservation
 Small elevation changes (1-3
ft.) in a landscape can work
wonders:
 Provide a greater range of Water
Zones: high areas will be drier –
low areas wetter
 Allow local native plants to be
grown in clay soils – provide
better drainage
 Allow good use of seasonal
rainfall – channel rainwater into
depressions (water gardens) or
swales
© Project SOUND

25. Shady, slightly wetter areas
© Project SOUND

26. *Hillside Gooseberry – Ribes californicum var. hesperium
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ribescalifornicum.jpg
© Project SOUND

27. *Hillside Gooseberry – Ribes californicum var. hesperium
 Hills of the Transverse Ranges –
Ventura to Orange Co.
 Locally: Santa Monica Mtns
 San Gabriels
 Mostly in canyons, shaded areas that
get a little extra moisture
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4450,4451,4458,4460
http://back40feet.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-pictures-from-3-mile-hike-on.html
© Project SOUND

28. Moderate sized shrub
that can be trained
 Size:
 3-6+ ft tall
 4-6+ ft wide
 Growth form:
 Woody shrub
 Drought-deciduous; also often
http://picasaweb.google.com/Julia.Green.67/SmithRiverFloraFauna#5071202037998081666 winter deciduous
 Arched/mounded form
 Foliage:
 Leaves typical for
currants/gooseberries
 Bright to dark green; shiny
 Bark: red-brown
 Dense enough to provide cover
for birds
 Note prickles – be sure you
locate in the right place!
 Roots: bind soils well
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/3406541076/ © Project SOUND

29. Flowers are fantastic
 Blooms:
 Early spring - usually Jan-
Mar. in our area
 All Ribes provide good early
flowers: pretty color &
nectar source
 Flowers:
 Almost fuschia-like
 Pink/purple & white
 Small, but in clusters – &
lots of them
 Great hummingbird magnet
– they guard them!
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_r/ribcal.html © Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/hummingbird.html

30. The real treats (for humans & others) are the berries
 Humans, birds &
others will vie for
them!
 Consider the
possibilities:
 Jellies
 Juices
 Sorbets
 Wine
 Etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ken-ichi/2336897514/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/repetti/175661922/
© Project SOUND

31. Hillside Gooseberry does well in many clay
soils…  Soils:
 Texture: just about any; sandy
to well-drained clays
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Does best with afternoon shade
or dappled shade
 Water:
 Young plants: regular water
 Winter: takes some flooding
 Summer:
 likes moist soil (Zone 2-3 or 3);
will lose leaves otherwise
 No overhead water in warm
periods – fungal disease
http://www.calflora.net/favoritephotos/images/hillsidegooseberry7.jpg
 Fertilizer: organic mulch; keep away
from trunk © Project SOUND

32. Garden uses for native Gooseberries and Currants
 As an attractive pot plant – large
pot or planter
 As a background shrub,
particularly in a habitat garden
 For a hedge or screen
 In a woodland garden
 Under trees – be sure they have
the same water requirements
 As an accent plant – can be
pruned for a formal look
 Espaliered along a wall or fence
 In an edible garden
http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomtruth/3254808068/
© Project SOUND

33. Other Ribes for clay soils
Golden Currant – R. aureum Chaparral Currant - R. malvaceum
White-flowered Currant – R. indecorum Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry - R. speciosum
© Project SOUND

34. The keys to succeeding with clay soils (in
my experience) are:
 Leaving the soil alone as
much as possible
 Timing:
 When to plant
 When to water
 Plant Choice:
 Plants adapted to clay soils
 Exact choice depends on
drainage qualities of your
soil
 Mulch/ground-covers
© Project SOUND

35. How good is the drainage in your clay
soil? – conduct a ‘perc test’
 Soil texture/Drainage
Soil type Approximate time
to drain
Hard-pan or days
sodic soils
Clay 3-12 hours
Loam 20-60 minutes
 dig hole 1 ft x 1 ft
Sandy Loam 10-30 minutes
 fill with water and let drain
Sand can't fill the
 fill hole again, measure hole, drains
time for water to drain too fast
© Project SOUND

36. Loam soil that doesn’t drain?
‘Claypans’ & ‘Plowpans’
 What are they?
 Impermeable layers within
the soil – usually high in clays
 Cause water to drain very
slowly – ‘vernal pools’
 What causes them?
 Natural causes: due to
natural sedimentation in
areas once covered by water
 Compaction/plowing: leaves an
area that is permenantly
http://generalhorticulture.tamu.edu/lectsupl/Soil/soil.html
compacted
© Project SOUND

37. Provide adequate drainage before
planting in soils with claypan.
 Create a sump by augering
one or more holes, each 1
to 4 inches in diameter,
through impermeable soil
or hardpan. Auger down at
least 3 feet or deeper if
necessary to penetrate to
more permeable soil. Fill
the holes with pea gravel
or sandy loam soil before
planting.
 Dig planting hole down
through the claypan or
compacted layer
 Or just plant natives that
can take the extra
moisture
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/sitepreparation.html
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-plant-trees-shrubs-and-vines.htm/printable © Project SOUND

38. Bugle (Rigid) Hedgenettle (Wood Mint) –
Stachys rigida (ajugoides)
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND

39. Bugle (Rigid) Hedgenettle (Wood Mint) –
Stachys rigida (ajugoides)
 West coast from WA to
Baja – local var. (rigida)
more coastal
 Grows in moist places:
 Damp bottomlands
 Along creeks and streams
– riparian areas
 Near marshes
var. rigida  Other moist low ground,
including roadside ditches
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Stachys+ajugoides+var.+rigida
© Project SOUND

40. The Mint family (Lamiaceae)
 Includes many herbs used in cooking &
perfumery; Rosemary, French Lavender,
Thyme, Majoram, Sage, and the garden mints
 Are usually aromatic, but not necessarily
minty
 Loved by hummingbirds!
 The stems are square with opposite leaves,
with each pair of leaves at right angles to the
ones above and below it.
 The flowers are in whorls
 The corolla of the individual flower is usually
2-lipped, with 2 lobes forming the upper lip
and 3 lobes the lower lip.
Many members of Lamiaceae
 The hedgenettle genus Stachys is a mint –
make attractive garden only superficially resembles “nettles” - so
additions, particularly the “Wood Mint” is really a better name
showy sages and mints.
© Project SOUND

41. Rigid Woodmint is a good example of a shady
wetland perennial plant
 Modest size: 1-3 ft high and wide
 Does well in part shade; full shade in
hot areas – would do well under
trees
 Requires moist soil most/all of the
year to succeed – regular water in
the garden
 Blooms in summer – nectar source
for bees, butterflies and
hummingbirds; also seed-eaters
 Spreads by rhizomes (underground
stems) – good groundcover in damp
areas of the garden – cut back
yearly to keep in check
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/rigidhedgenettle.html
© Project SOUND

42. Specimens from further north are more
colorful
 Colors range from magenta
to pale pink
 Unclear what proper
taxonomy is – much
current debate
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/Faculty/Carr/ofp/sta_rig.htm
George W. Hartwell
© Project SOUND

43. Rigid Woodmint can be a useful addition
to the shade garden
 Small irrigated perennial
borders – size is modest, so
good scale for small area
 Bog or seep gardens with
Rushes, Spikerush, Mimulus
guttatus, Ranunculus
californicus, Verbena
lasiostachys
 Groundcover for damp, shady
areas
 Near ponds
 Great in well-watered
planters, pots
© Project SOUND

44. Other local Woodmints also make great
groundcovers in clay soils
Just trim back,
even drastically,
in Fall to keep
plants in check
Stachys albens Stachys bullata © Project SOUND

45. And don’t forget Hummingbird Sage….
Salvia spathecea © Project SOUND

46. Planting in clay soils: follow a few simple
rules & you’ll succeed
 Never work clay soils when they are soggy
wet or bone dry; ditto for walking on wet
clays
 Plant after the first fall rains (best) or wet
the ground thoroughly
 Let ground dry out (1-2 weeks depending on
drainage)
 Dig a hole that’s not too big (or deep)
 1 ft wider than tree/shrub (6” on each side)
 Same depth as plant – rough up soil in bottom
of hole
 Consider digging hole with a spading fork
rather than a shovel – or rough up the sides
of the hole
© Project SOUND

47. Planting in clay soils: follow a few simple
rules & you’ll succeed
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/la/la_001.cfm
 Don’t amend (or put gravel in) planting hole – encourages root rot
 Backfill with soil from the hole; break up any clods/clumps
 Firm down the soil around the roots
 If you create a moat around the plant, remove it in wet weather
© Project SOUND

48. Native plants with wide water tolerances
often do well in clay soil gardens
© Project SOUND

49. * Rose (Chaparral) Snapdragon – Sairocarpus
multiflorus (Antirrhinum multiflorum)
© 2002 Lynn Watson
© Project SOUND

50. * Rose Snapdragon – Sairocarpus multiflorus
(Antirrhinum multiflorum)
 Foothills below 4000 ft.
elevation
 Generally on dry slopes,
disturbed areas or burns
 Usually in chaparral
 Soil may be rocky
 Other names: Multiflowered
Snapdragon; Sticky Snapdragon;
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7177,7178,7187 Withered Snapdragon
© Project SOUND

51. Rose Snapdragon
is a fire-follower
 Common reasons why a
plant is a fire-follower:
 Seeds need either heat
and/or smoke exposure
to germinate
 Plants need full sun
 Plant need decreased
competition for
water/nutrients
 Soil nutrient levels are
increased; plants that
need a little extra
nutrients may be fire-
followers
© 2006 Aaron Schusteff
© Project SOUND

52. Rose Snapdragon:
a sub-shrub
 Size:
 2-4 ft tall
 2-4 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Perennial/sub-shrub
 Bushy or mounded form
 Foliage:
 Lance-shaped, blue-green
leaves; larger below
 Semi-drought deciduous;
retained with a little summer
water
http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/flowers/index.php?action=show_item&id=175&search=
Ó by Dave Hildebrand © Project SOUND

53. Flowers: delightful!
 Blooms:
 Spring into summer; usually
Apr-June in our area
 Blooms over several weeks
 Flowers:
 Snapdragon-type
 Color: ranges form hot
pink/magenta to pale pink,
even lavender
 Flowers arrange snapdragon-
like along upright stems –
very showy
 Fragrant; loved by
hummingbirds
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=60
 Seeds: small; surface sow – let
dry out a bit between watering
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/rosesnapdragon.html
© Project SOUND

54.  Soils:
Plant Requirements  Texture: tolerates wide range
from sandy to clay
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun to part shade
 Full sun fine in most gardens,
but flower color may be better
with a little shade
 Water:
 Winter: needs good water
 Summer: wide range of
tolerance – Zone 1-2 to 2-3;
good for transitional zones
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
 Management: cut back to 12” in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Antirrhinummultiflorum.jpg
fall/winter
© Project SOUND

55. Pink Snapdragon –
made for the garden
 In mixed perennial beds; good
water tolerance
 In native grasslands; or mixed
with wildflowers
 Good choice on sunny hills and
slopes
 Wonderful habitat plant;
hummingbirds and others
 As an attractive pot plant
 Good showy choice to use as
‘cover’ while slower-growing
© 2006 Aaron Schusteff http://www.flickr.com/photos/deinandra/316812126/
shrubs are maturing
© Project SOUND

56. Habitat : not just for nature preserves any more
 Our yards are
a critical
source of
habitat for
birds, insects,
other wildlife
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Drummond_2009/index.html
© Project SOUND

57. * Vine Hill Manzanita – Arctostaphylos densiflora
© 2006 Steve Matson
© Project SOUND

58. * Vine Hill Manzanita – Arctostaphylos densiflora
 Endemic to Outer
North Coast Ranges
(Vine Hill, near
Forestville, Sonoma
Co.)
 A common garden
Manzanita – many
cultivars of varying
sizes
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Arctostaphylos+densiflora
© Project SOUND

59. © 2001 David Graber
 Grows on unique shale outcrops
© Project SOUND

60. Vine Hill Manzanita is a winner..
 Size:
 4-8 ft tall (cultivars somewhat
outside this range)
 4-6+ ft wide
 Growth form:
 Woody shrub; actual form
depends on local conditions
 Cultivars range from tree-form
to low groundcover
 Moderate growth rate
 Bark an attractive red-brown
 Foliage:
 Evergreen
 Leaves leathery, elliptic,
upright, medium green
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/images/Photos/arcdenhm_trunk.JPG
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/171/419662011_8048513537.jpg?v=0
© Project SOUND

61. Flowers: small but showy
 Blooms:
 Late winter/early spring;
usually Feb.-Apr in W. L.A.
Co.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/3356240703/
 Flowers:
 Small urn-shaped flowers
typical of Manzanitas
 Shell-pink or white
 Many flowers in dense,
showy clusters – a real
show-stopper
 Hummingbirds love them
© Project SOUND
© 2006 Steve Matson

62. The berries are edible
 Loved by fruit-eating birds
like Cedar Waxwings,
Mockingbirds, etc.
http://www.wildscaping.com/plants/plantprofiles/Arcto_HowardMcMinn.htm
 Can be used to make a drink
or juice reminiscent of
apple cider (manzanita is,
after all, ‘little apple’)
 Also makes a nice jelly or
syrup
© Project SOUND

63. An adaptable Manzanita  Soils:
 Texture: quite adaptable –
more so than other Manzanitas
– takes clay soils
 pH: any local; slightly acidic is
best
 Light:
 Full sun to part-shade
 Water:
 Winter: tolerates seasonal
flooding
 Summer: likes to be fairly dry
– Zone 1-2 to 2 once
established
 Fertilizer: likes poor soils; fine
with organic mulch
© Project SOUND

64. Vine Hill manzanita
 Train as an attractive tree
 Use as a large accent shrub
 Shear as a formal hedge – or leave it
more informal
 Some cultivars even make nice
evergreen groundcovers
http://www.nativeson.com/images/plants/arctostaphylossunset.jpg
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/arcdenhm.htm
‘Howard McMinn’ cultivar © Project SOUND

65. ‘Sentinel’ cultivar
 8-10 ft tall & ft wide; upright
habit
 Very ‘garden-tolerant’
 One of the easiest Manzanitas
to grow
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-densiflora-sentinel-manzanita
© Project SOUND

66. ‘Howard McMinn’
cultivar
 5-8+ ft tall & wide
 Readily available
 Very tolerant or garden
conditions; long-lived (50+ years)
 Often trained as a small tree
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/images/Photos/arcdenhm_lsp_shrub.JPG
 ‘White Lanterns’ is more dense
http://www.nativeson.com/images/plants/arctohoward.jpg
http://www.wildscaping.com/plants/plantprofiles/Arcto_HowardMcMinn.htm © Project SOUND

67. ‘Harmony’ cultivar
 Low-growing – 2-3 ft tall & 6+ ft
wide
 Used for hedges & groundcovers
 Easy to grow – does fine in
heavy clay soils
http://www.theodorepayne.org/gallery/pages/A/arctostaphylos_Harmony.htm
© Project SOUND

68. Watering clay soils: it’s all about timing…
 Soils should neither be too wet
(root rot) nor too dry (prevents
water from penetrating)
 Winter rains can present a
challenge; contouring
 You have control of summer
water; check your soil until you
get to know just how often to
water
 Deep water – but shorter run
times (20 min in clay on slopes)
 The question of drip irrigation
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/07-035.htm
© Project SOUND

69. Mulches & cover crops are essential
 Cover crops
help dry out
soils – at
depths
 Mulches
keep the
surface
from drying
http://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/chap14.htm
out too fast
Consider using native grasses & wildflowers as ‘cover crops’
© Project SOUND

70. Showy Penstemon – Penstemon spectabilis
© Project SOUND

71. Showy Penstemon – Penstemon spectabilis
 Penstemons
 270 species worldwide (largest of the
Figwort genera), 150 species in
western U.S.
 Ancient genus – and long in the
Americas
 Have evolved to succeed in a wide
range of conditions – very wet to very
dry
 Have a variety of types of pollinators
 Penstemon spectabilis
 Likely in dry areas of PV peninsula,
definitely in Santa Monica Mountains
and foothills near Los Angeles
© Project SOUND

72. Bee pollinated Hummingbird pollinated Reading floral
clues
 Bee pollinated flowers:
 Shorter “bell”
 More wide-open
(particularly those
pollinated by large
bees)
 Color: more often blue
 Hummingbird pollinated
flowers:
 Longer, more tube-like
flower; less bell-shaped
 Color: more often red
https://www.csun.edu/biology/grad/faculty/wilsonpdfs/Wilsonetal2004.pdf
© Project SOUND

73. © Project SOUND

74. http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/6212_3041/0635/0094.jpeg
 banks of dry washes and creek beds
 coastal bluffs
 gravelly and sandy slopes, hillsides
 recently disturbed places below 6000' in coastal sage scrub, chaparral and oak
woodlands
© Project SOUND

75. Showy Penstemon
 Size: 2-5 ft tall; 2-4 ft wide
 Fast-growing each year from
woody base; dies back in fall
 Usually upright – but may sprawl
 Coarsely serrate, smooth grayish
green leaves that turn partially
purple in cold weather, drought –
dramatic looking
 Usually long-lived (for a
herbaceous perennial) – at least
12 years
© Project SOUND

76. Flowers definitely live up to their name
 Blooms Apr-June – over a month
or more
 Flowering spikes rise above the
foliage
 Flowers lavender/purple tinged
with pink
 Flowers attract bees, masarid
wasps (pollinators), butterflies
and hummingbirds
 Seeds eaten by seed-eating
birds
© Project SOUND

77. Gardening with Showy Penstemon
 Soils: any well-drained soil
from sandy/rocky to clay; any
local pH
 Sun: full sun to part-shade
 Water: very drought tolerant;
don’t over-water in summer.
Summer water extends
growth season but decreases
lifespan
 Pruning: Cut back to rosettes
after seed has matured in
summer
 Reseeds: commonly on bare
ground
Easy to grow in the right location
© Project SOUND

78. Penstemons in your
garden
 Location is everything: plant with
other plants that like summer/fall
dormancy
 Ceanothus, Grindelia, Nassella,
Yucca
 Encelia, Eriogonum, Mimulus,
Salvia
 Excellent specimen plants – great
flowers & foliage
 In the back of a perennial garden
or bed – it is tall
 In large planters, rock gardens
 In the butterfly or hummingbird
garden
 Make nice cut flowers, too
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2522746720_2c1c7ffab1.jpg © Project SOUND

79. Other Penstemons for hummingbirds
P. eatonii
http://www.geol.ucsb.edu/faculty/sylvester/118_fotos2005/Flowers/Flowers-
Images/11.jpg
P. heterophyllus
© Project SOUND
P. newberryi

80. Summary: succeeding with clay soils
 Minimize work in and walking on
muddy clay soils to prevent
compaction; provide walkways
 Minimize the amount of ‘working’
clay soils; leave them intact as
much as possible
 Plant with the first fall/winter
rains if possible
 Only plant when ground is well-
watered but dried out enough to
not be muddy
 Don’t make planting holes too
large/deep – and don’t amend the
soil in the holes
© Project SOUND

81. Summary: succeeding with clay soils
 Use a mulch and/or cover
crop (native grasses;
wildflowers); leave
 Supplemental water only
as needed; check soils at
depth of 4”
 Monitor your watering
closely; timing is critical
© Project SOUND

82. Hummingbirds &
parking strips?
 Good choices for
clay soils include:
 Grasses
 Sedges
 Some perennials
 Many annual
wildflowers – see
list for key ones
http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/slides/Dahlquist_2009/index.html © Project SOUND

83. Western Wallflower – Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages2/gilaflora/erysimum_capitatum.html
© Project SOUND

84. Western Wallflower – Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
 Grows in the west – Texas
to British Columbia
 Found in much of CA
 is a common member of
many plant communities,
generally away from the
coast, below 8000'
 Also called Sand dune
Wallflower – but don’t let
that discourage you!
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Erysimum+capitatum+var.+capitatum
© Project SOUND

85. Grows in a variety
of conditions
 Dry open areas in
pine forests
© 2004 George W. Hartwell  Rocky or gravelly
areas
 Grasslands with clay
soils
 All are relatively dry
in summer – allow
plant to have summer
dormancy period
© Project SOUND

86. Western Wallflower looks somewhat like our local
Dune Wallflower
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall
 1-2 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Short-lived (2-3 year) perennial
in our area
 Upright growth habit
 Dies back to ground in dry
season
 Foliage:
 Leaves sparse, almost linear
 Blue-green
 Roots: soil-binding
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=22411
© Project SOUND

87. Flowers are fantastic
 Blooms: spring – Mar-May
in western L.A. County
 Flowers:
 Bright golden yellow;
quite showy
 Typical shape for
Brassicaceae (Mustard);
parts of 4
 Open ‘up the stem’
 Attracts bees,
hummingbirds & other
pollinators
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/westernwallflower.html
© Project SOUND
http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/wallfl3.htm

88. Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: any, including clays
 pH: any local; dislikes acidic
soils
 Light:
 Part-shade (afternoon shade)
best in most gardens
 Water:
 Winter: needs good
winter/spring rains
 Summer: dry (Zone 1 or 1-2);
needs summer dormancy
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
 Other: let plant re-seed before
cutting back in fall
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/westernwallflower.html
© Project SOUND

89. Western Wallflower
is good habitat
 Excellent addition to a
habitat garden –
hummingbirds, bees and
butterflies favor it
 Pair it with blue-flowered
annual wildflowers for an
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages2/gilaflora/erysimum_capitatum.html
attractive contrast
 Grow in dry spots along
walls
 As an attractive pot plant
© Project SOUND
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erysimum_capitatum_5708.JPG

90. Western Wallflower
is good habitat
 Excellent addition to a
habitat garden –
hummingbirds, bees and
butterflies favor it
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages2/gilaflora/erysimum_capitatum.html  Pair it with blue-flowered
annual wildflowers for an
attractive contrast
 Grow in dry spots along
walls, parking strips, etc.
 As an attractive pot plant
© Project SOUND
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erysimum_capitatum_5708.JPG

91. Other annuals & biennials that are
particularly attractive to hummingbirds
Circium occidentale Collinsia heterophylla Oenothera elata
Clarkia unguiculata Lupinus species Annual Salvias
© Project SOUND
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_whatsnew/whatsnewmay07.html

92. Gardening for hummingbird habitat
 Place plants in several locations. This
will allow more hummingbirds and
minimize territorial fighting
 Fill as much of your yard as possible with
flowering plants, vines, shrubs, and
trees. If you do not have a garden, even a
window box or hanging basket can attract
hummingbirds!
 Plant clusters of the same species
together.
 Plant flowers with different blooming
times to provide nectar throughout
the seasons.
 Minimize or avoid using herbicides or
pesticides on or near those plants
where butterflies and hummingbirds
are feeding.
© Project SOUND

93. Gardening for Hummingbird habitat
 Consider using many different kinds of
plants: annuals, perennials, trees and vines all can
contribute – check out the extensive list!
 Encourage your neighbors to make their
yards hummingbird friendly too. An entire
corridor of habitat is much more valuable than
scattered patches.
 Think vertically when planning your
hummingbird garden. Use trellises, trees, garden
sheds, or other structures to support climbing
vines; add window boxes, wooden tubs, or ceramic
pots to create a terraced effect and provide
growing places for a variety of plants.
http://www.nps.gov/noca/nie/articles/migratory_birds.htm  Prune your plants to prevent excessive woody
growth and instead favor production of
flowers.
 Learn about local hummingbird habits and
which species are likely to occur near your
home. Study the migration dates, nesting season,
and seasonal presence. This knowledge will help you
select plants that will bloom during the time that
hummingbirds are likely to visit your yard.
© Project SOUND

94. More tips: Gardening for Hummingbird habitat
 Create both sun and shade area in
your hummingbird garden. Your
hummingbird flowers will need sun to grow
and your hummingbirds will need the shade
to perch in between feedings.
 Be sure to position your hummingbird
garden where you can see it and get
the most enjoyment out of it.
 Hummers spend nearly 80 percent of
their time resting, so you also will
want to provide plenty of places to
perch. They'll sit on twigs, leaf
stems, fences, etc..
Trees and shrubs don’t necessarily  Mature trees and shrubs with a thick
need to be huge to provide good canopy are important nesting and
hummingbird habitat escape features. Shrubs, bushes and
perennials not only provide food but can
also provide perching and nesting sites
and, in some cases, escape features the
bird will use.
© Project SOUND

95. Once hummingbirds discover your property, the same individuals
are likely to return each year at about the same time – or simply
stay year-round; they are remarkable creatures of habit. The
number of hummingbirds that frequent your yard is closely linked
to the abundance of food, water, nesting sites, and perches
© Project SOUND