This document summarizes information about the San Diego Marsh Elder (Poverty Weed), including that it is a perennial groundcover native to San Diego County and Baja California, it has inconspicuous blooms from April to September and is often used as a low-maintenance groundcover in gardens.

1. * San Diego Marsh Elder (Poverty Weed) – Iva hayesiana (EYE-va hay-zee-AY-na)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Native to: San Diego County to Baja; alkali flats, creeks or intermittent streambeds.
Growth characteristics: perennial groundcover mature height: 2-3 ft. mature width: 4-12 ft.
Sprawling perennial, usually with many woody stems. Foliage fresh, light green – may be fuzzy.
Foliage lightly aromatic when crushed (sage-like). Spreads by rooting of stems that touch the
ground. Can be kept low by pruning. Quick-growing.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms April to Sept. Blooms are inconspicuous, on stems above foliage.
Uses in the garden: Most often used as a ground cover, often under trees. Makes a nice low
hedge. Used on banks and hillsides for erosion control; excellent evergreen groundcover that looks
good all year long. Lovely foliage color contrasts with other foliage and bright flowers. Fine in
planters, large containers. Nice cascading over rock walls. Very adaptable to garden conditions.
Becoming rare in the wild.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native groundcovers such as Ivy and Ice Plant.
Attracts: ? foliage probably eaten by insects; provides cover for birds, small animals.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Any texture, including heavy clays; any local pH including alkali soils.
Water Very adaptable; occasional to regular summer water. Tolerates drip irrigation.
Fertilizer None needed; organic mulches fine
Other
Management: Easy to grow. Few insect pests and is deer-proof. Prune in fall to maintain size & shape. Can
be sheared or mowed when plants become overly woody (every 4-5 years).
Propagation: from seed: yes, in pots by cuttings: ?semi-soft wood in summer after blooming
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24, 26, 27 2/16/11
* CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. county © Project SOUND

2. California Verbena – Verbena lasiostachys (ver-BEE-na las-ee-oh-STAY-kis)
Family: Verbenaceae (Vervain Family)
Native to: Much of CA, but particularly the coastal areas of SW CA, Deserts, Great Central Valley &
surrounding mountains; also NW coast, OR and Baja; open, often disturbed areas in Chaparral or
Coastal Scrub, Coastal Prairies, Foothills, Oak Woodlands.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-4 ft. mature width: 1-4 ft.
Sprawling to upright herbaceous perennial with square, hairy stems. Leaves are coarsely toothed,
larger at the base of the plant, and are hairy in one variety. Reminiscent of closely related mints.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms May-Sept. Small blue-purple flowers on upright flowering stem. Flowers
open “up the stem” as the season progresses. Striking in a quiet sort of way. Attract pollinators.
Uses in the garden: Best with other plants in garden beds. Looks particularly nice with white-foliage
plants. Similar in requirements to Seaside Heliotrope. Can be used as seasonal groundcover.
Excellent habitat plant. Pretty growing among yellow or orange-flowered summer bloomers.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native mints and verbenas (although more subdued).
Attracts: Excellent nectar source for bees, butterflies, other insects and hummingbirds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade (particularly in hot gardens)
Soil Not particular with regards to texture, pH; even does well in poorly-draining soils
Water None after flowering; can stand seasonal flooding in winter
Fertilizer None needed
Other
Management: Cut back to base after flowering. Let it remain dormant until the winter rains. Too much water
can cause it to become weedy, but usually not a significant re-seeder.
Propagation: from seed: in fall by root divisions: in fall
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 10, 11, 13, 16, 20, 46 6/15/17
© Project SOUND

3. Western ragweed – Ambrosia psilostachya (am-BRO-see-uh sill-oh-STAY-kee-uh)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Native to: Much of North America, including the S. California; common to sunny and disturbed sites
in many California plant communities.
Growth characteristics: spreading perennial mature height: 2-4 ft. mature width: spreading
Mostly herbaceous perennial with upright stems arising from shallow rhizomes. Leaves are medium green to gray-
green, often coarsely toothed or lobed, with sticky, resinous glands. Plants die back in winter, sprout in spring.
This is primarily a plant of the warm, dry months of summer and fall.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in the dry season – June to November, depending on conditions. Separate
male and female flowers on each plant. Male flowers in spire-like clusters at ends of stems; female
flowers in leaf axils. Neither flower particularly showy – like the Artemisia flowers. Male flowers
produce much pollen – many are allergic to it (‘hay fever’).
Uses in the garden: Mostly used for restoration. Sometimes included in gardens for its habitat value
(important plant in the wilds). Can be used on slopes. Sometimes included in medicinal gardens:
traditionally used for stomach cramps, body sores and as an eye wash.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Ambrosia species.
Attracts: Excellent bird and small animal habitat: provides cover and seeds/insects for food. Attracts many
butterflies, moths and a wide range of other insects. This is a major habitat plant.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade
Soil Most local soils; wide pH range
Water Infrequent to moderate summer water (Zone 1-2 to 2)
Fertilizer None
Other
Management: Plant will spread rapidly if happy – may want to contain. May inhibit germination of seeds.
Propagation: from seed: easy by root cuttings: easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 10, 13, 16 11/1/17
© Project SOUND

4. *California adolphia – Adolphia californica (ad-OL-fee-uh ka-li-FOR-ni-kuh)
Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)
Native to: San Diego County and Baja; dry canyons and washes, fields, arroyos and hillsides near
seeps and streambeds in coastal scrub and chaparral below 1000 ft.
Growth characteristics: part-woody sub-shrub mature height: 3-5 ft. mature width: 4-5 ft.
Mounded sub-shrub that is drought-deciduous (or at least partly so). Plants have stout branches and sparse, oval
leaves. Branches are thorn-tipped.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in winter-spring, Dec.-Apr. Abundant flowers are small, with five cream-
colored sepals and small, cream-colored petals. Pretty when viewed close up, and plants are pretty
in bloom, particularly when massed.
Uses in the garden: Mostly used for restoration and in wildland interface gardens in San Diego Co.
Could be used as a barrier plant or informal hedge. Good habitat plant. Looks nice with other
native shrubs like the Artemisias, Lemonadeberry, Toyon, Manzanitas.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native water-wise shrubs.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Good cover for lizards, other small animals.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun
Soil Well-drained, sandy or rocky soils best;
Water None to occasional summer water; Water Zone 1 to 2
Fertilizer none
Other Thin organic or inorganic mulch OK
Management: Plant away from foot traffic; handle with care (due to thorns).
Propagation: from seed: no pre-treatment needed by cuttings: ??
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 14, 24 10/29/17
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND