Containers pails & pots 2008

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Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with South Bay Native Plants Project SOUND - 2008

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Containers, Cans & Pots
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
June 7th & 10th, 2008

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Why include container plantings in your garden?
To provide interest and variety to the garden
To provide unique conditions required by a plant (moisture; soil type; light; etc)
To contain an overly ‘exuberant’ plant
Allows you to focus money & efforts on a few special (specimen) plants
Limit effects of animals
http://coldcalculation.blogspot.com/2007/02/presidents-day-2007.html

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http://www.laspilitas.com/sites/centralcoastsand.html
The ‘New California Garden’
The ‘New California Garden’ design
Is based on a thoughtful analysis of the assets of a particular site
Selects plants on the basis of their suitability for that site & it’s inhabitants

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Container gardens allow us to create the conditions needed by selected plants

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Growing plants in containers allows you to control the medium, fertility & soil moisture
Water retention:
Improve drainage
Improve retention
Medium fertility:
Decrease fertility
Increase fertility with regular fertilization
Supply specific nutrients
Alter pH
Watering schedule:
http://groups.ucanr.org/slosson/documents/2005-200610656.pdf

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What type of plant do you want to grow?
Desert plants?
Plants that require ‘summer dry’ (Zone 1)?
Damp forest floor plants?
Riparian plants (pond’s edge)?
Pond/lake plants?
The type of pot you choose, the medium you need and the watering regimen will all depend on the type of plants you wish to grow

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Your challenge is to make the conditions as close to the natural growing conditions as possible
http://www.penick.net/digging/index.php?s=wildflower+center

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Is container gardening with Ca natives really for you?
Requires more time, care than natives planted in the ground
Choice & location of containers
Medium preparation
Watering; much more close monitoring & more often during dry season
Fertilizing; re-mulching
Repotting
Requires good knowledge of needs of plants
Requires some planning
http://d30033286.purehost.com/z365photos/garden11-1.jpg

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Many nice container choices: a few suggestions
Containers should be at least 1 ft deep and at least 1 ft in diameter for most CA native plants & larger for woody shrubs – smaller sizes hard to water properly
Most native plants in containers need good drainage, so choose a pot with a hole.
"The thicker the container, the better. Thick walls help insulate the roots from temperature extremes." - Bart O'Brien.
Light colored pots also help to control temperature extremes
http://www.shedstyle.com/2007/11/

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Many nice container choices: a few suggestions, cont.
For many native plants choose pots made of clay or concrete--these porous materials allow free passage of air and moisture. While this promotes healthy roots, it also allows soil to dry out quickly, so containers require frequent irrigation.
As an alternative to thick, heavy containers, you can double up lighter pots. Place one inside a slightly larger one; fill the area between the pots with damp peat moss or bark mulch.

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Choose pots based on drainage requirements of plants
Unglazed terracotta or cement
Composites (fiberglass/plastic)
Wood (half-barrel)
Glazed terracotta
Plastic/metal

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Containers should provide ample room for roots; the larger the container, the greater the root development.
Coast Live Oak – Quercus agrifolia

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Remember: growing natives in pots is not the same as growing them in the ground
even plants that would ordinarily thrive in full sun may benefit from afternoon shade, especially when placed on a patio or paved surfaces because they can heat up very quickly
http://www.h2ouse.net/gardensoft/garden_detail.aspx?garden=962

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Proper planting of native plants in containers
Prepare for drainage
Check drainage holes
To prevent soil leakage use paper towel, coffee filter, mesh screen, or pot shard.
?? Gravel/stone layer
Fill pot with prepared media – root crown 1-2 inches below top of pot
Gently fill in with potting medium - leave a 1-2 inch space between the top of the soil and the top of the container – chopsticks can be useful
Gently firm soil around roots
Water in well
Add ½-2 inch or so of appropriate mulch

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Use an appropriate mulch…
A one- to two-inch layer of mulch will cool the soil and help it retain moisture.
Mulch reduces weed growth and organic mulch improves the fertility of the soil as it decomposes.
Mulch also prevents crusting of the soil surface, allowing water to penetrate to the root zone.
Finally, the uneven surface of mulch limits reflectivity. Sand and clay soils can be highly reflective and bounce heat and light up onto plants. The fragmented surface of mulch reduces reflectivity and cools the adjacent area.
Choose organic (shredded or chipped bark, compost, and cocoa hulls) or inorganic (rocks, gravel) mulch depending on the type of plants you are using

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General maintenance of CA native container plants
Fertilize plants infrequently. You can top-dress containers with controlled-release fertilizer every three to twelve months.
To maintain a neat, compact appearance, many flowering perennials and shrubs should be cut back and shaped when their flowers fade.
Most benefit from a light pruning of about a third of the length of flowering stems; this prompts the best bloom later.
Some plants, including California fuchsia, require a hard heading back to look their best.

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Container gardens are great for plants that require well-drained soils
http://www.wildgingerfarm.com/images/Carolsrockgarden001_3.JPG

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Chocolate Lily – Fritillaria biflora var. biflora

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Chocolate Lily – Fritillaria biflora var. biflora
North Coast Ranges (Mendocino, Napa cos.), Central Western California, Southwestern California
Uncommon.
Grassy slopes, mesas, serpentine barrens;
Openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral
Almost always within several miles of coast.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102247

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Its dark and lovely appearance has earned it the nickname of 'Cleopatra of the Fritillaries.'
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/NorthAmericanFritillarias

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Characteristics of Chocolate Lily
Size:
 < 2 ft tall
 1 ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial from a true bulb
Dies back entirely in dry summer/fall
Foliage:
Simple, strap-like lily leaves
Flowers:
Brown-colored
Early spring: usually Feb-Apr
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/NorthAmericanFritillarias

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Chocolate Lily is typical of CA native bulbs in its requirements…
Soils:
Texture: any including clays if well- drained
pH: 6.0-8.0
Light:
Full sun to part shade
Fine for tree edges, among grasses
Water:
Needs good moisture through flowering
Absolute need for summer/fall dry period
Fertilizer: ½ strength monthly during growth period
© 2007 Lynn Watson

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Garden uses for Chocolate Lily
Difficult in many garden situations: Zone 1 in summer/fall
Excellent choice for dry rock garden
Does well with succulents, under oaks
Wonderful choice for containers; store in cool, dry place for summer/fall
Repot most native bulbs/corms every 2-3 years; Chocolate Lily every year in fall
http://www.gardeningstore.co.uk/shop/fritillaria_martha_roderick__323201529Z.aspx
‘Martha Roderick’ cultivar
http://www.sloweather.com/blog/060318choclilies.jpg

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Growing plants in pots allows you to switch pots during the season
http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/gardens/annual_garden_tour.html

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Planting medium for ‘dry, well-drained’ pots
A good ‘cactus-mix’ is a good start:
Commercial cactus mix
Make your own 1 (cacti)
1 part potting mix (not soil)
1 part washed sand
1 part course gravel
Make your own 2 (other dry natives)
1 part potting mix
1 part coarse sand (builder’s; ‘leveling’ or granite chicken grit) (washed)
http://www.lasmmcnps.org/plantingtips.html

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If you plan to use several plants in the same container
Be sure they have the same cultural requirements
Try to have at least 1 plant evergreen
Try for 4-season interest
When mixing several types, consider plant height. Place low or cascading plants like Monardella at the container's edge, slightly taller ones just inside, and tallest plants in the center.

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Red Monardella – Monardella macrantha
© 2001 CDFA

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Red Monardella – Monardella macrantha
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Monardella+macrantha
South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges;
ssp hallii - San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges.
Other names: Red Mountainbalm; Hummingbird Monardella
native to chaparral, woodland and forest habitats
Has a reputation for being difficult to grow

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The genus Monardella
20 species native to western North America.
Commonly known as wildmints, coyote mints or monardellas.
Highly aromatic foliage; some species used for herbal teas.
Two-lipped, tubular flowers in terminal clusters; usually red, pink, or purple.
Caterpillar (moth and Butterfly) foodplants
Special needs: excellent drainage; cannot take excess winter dampness
http://www.laspilitas.com/butterfl_files/pale_swallowtail_butterfly_ on_a_monardella.jpg

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Two S.CA subspecies
ssp. hallii
© 2004 Bob Allen
ssp. macrantha
© 2002 Charles E. Jones

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Characteristics of Red Monardella
Size:
 to 1 ft tall
 1-2+ ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial
Low-growing/sprawling
Foliage:
Shiny, dark green leaves
Aromatic; nice for teas
Roots:
Forms colonies via rhizomes

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Flowers a magnet for hummingbirds
Blooms: summer (June-Aug)
Flowers:
Large (2”) tubular flowers in clusters
Color: red to red-orange
Very attractive to hummingbirds and larger butterflies; ‘pulls them from the sky’
Seeds:
Many small seeds in dry capsules
© 1998 California Academy of Sciences

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Plant Requirements
Soils:
Texture: must be well- drained
pH: 5.0-7.0
Light:
Best in part-shade; sunnier only with good mulch
Water:
Winter:
Needs good soil moisture but not too soggy
Summer:
Likes regular water, but let dry out a bit; about once/wk in a large pot
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

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Red Monardella makes a great container plant
Excellent as a pot plant; will drape over the edges of pot attractively
Be sure to place high enough for protection from cats
Also nice addition to a rock garden; place for fragrance
‘Marion Sampson’
Natural cultivar
forms tight mats of small, dark leaves, with brilliant red flowers. Well suited for rock garden and container use
http://twogardens.blogspot.com/2007/05/some-of-my-favorite-things.html
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/monmacms.htm
Cultivar : ‘Marion Sampson’

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Red Monardella – not so easy to find…
May be difficult to establish – don’t over- water and provide excellent drainage (cactus mix)
Would do well with other plants of like needs: Penstemon heterophyllus ; Dudleya lanceolata
Well worth the effort; stunning hummingbird plant
http://coldcalculation.blogspot.com/2007/10/yerba-buena-nursery.html

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Watering native plants in containers
Containers can dry out very quickly, especially on a concrete patio and/or in full sunlight.
Hand check the soil.
Check containers at least once a day (at least until you get to know the characteristics) and twice on hot, dry, or windy days
If the soil is dry to a depth of one or two inches, then you should water.
Try to water late in the day, if possible, to reduce the stress on the plants.
 Consider watering the plants twice.
Soak the mix well, wait a few minutes while you move on to other plants, then water them again.
During the first watering, the water is absorbed very quickly, but it often leaves dry spots or gaps within the potting mix. The second watering fills in those gaps.

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Container-gardening also allows us to grow water-loving plants – in a limited fashion
http://arieff.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/cows-grazing-in-the-rumpus-room/

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You can create a mini-pond in your garden…complete with pond plants
Any water-tight container will do: a watertight half wine barrel; large ceramic pots or bowls ; galvanized tubs or horse troughs, etc.
Use ceramic or terra cotta pots set upon bricks or cinderblocks, adjusting them to the level of the top edge of the pond container.
Depending upon the size of your container, you can select about three to five plants for your little "pond".
Be sure you deal with mosquito larva – mosquito fish or chemical means "mosquito dunk"
Relocating a water garden is a challenge. It's best to begin in the right location: in the sun and away from trees and plants dropping debris.

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But perhaps you’d like something a little less pond-like
http://icps.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=outdoor&action=display&thread=1174

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The ‘Bog Garden’ has a long gardening tradition

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Troughs and other containers are excellent choices for mini-bog gardens
Your container should complement your garden design

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Medium for a bog garden is different than that for other CA native plants
Some typical media mixes:
1/2 potting soil or peat to 1/2 sand
2/3 peat to 1/3 sand.
Customize your mix based on requirements of your species
Premix your medium: add only a little water at a time; mix frequently so sand doesn’t migrate to the bottom
? Use layer of gravel as bottom layer
? Gravel mulch

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Smaller bog gardens can be easily created with containers.
Use a container at least eight inches deep and twelve inches wide.
Use the same soil mix as described above.
Place a saucer underneath the pot and keep filled with water to allow the soil medium to stay moist.
Remember, smaller containers are difficult to maintain as they dry easily.
http://www.mygardenguide.com/tutorials/pic.html?id=1-173-7.jpg

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http://icps.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=outdoor&action=display&thread=1174
Careful of watering is important! Your bog is a different ecosystem than other large pots. Soils should be damp but no standing water

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Giant Scouring Rush – Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/bio406d/images/pics/equ/equisetum_hyemale.htm

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Giant Scouring Rush – Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine
Temperate regions of Europe & Asia.
In the Americas, Alaska and Canada south to Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and Guatemala.
In Ca: California Floristic Province, Warner Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains
Once thought to be many species; now thought to be one, widely distributed species
Horsetails belong to ancient lineage; dominant millions of years before dinosaurs!!
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_cpn.pl?EQHYA

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Characteristics of Giant Scouring Rush
Size:
 2-4 ft tall
 spreading ; can form dense colonies
Growth form:
Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Upright, hollow stems
Rough, longitudinal ridges
Foliage:
Tiny, tooth-like blackish leaves
Roots:
Rhizomes - reproduction
Tubers – food storage

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No flowers, but interesting strobilus
Blooms: usually in S. Bay
Strobilis:
the sporangia are visible underneath each segment of the strobilus (these segments are called sporophylls)
Spores:
cones release spores from late spring to mid- summer
Spores are microscopic

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Equisetums are well suited to moist container gardening
Soils:
Texture: any from sandy or gravelly muds to clays
pH: any – prefers 6.5 to 7.5
Light: full sun to shady
Water:
can tolerate prolonged wet conditions, but should not be totally submerged nor allowed to dry out
Best in cool moist soils or pots submerged up to 4”
Fertilizer
http://www.vanbloem.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/PLANTS.plantDetail/plant_id/363/index.htm

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Serious invasive potential..so consider containing it
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/ipm1007horsetail.htm
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=554

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Garden uses for Equisetum species
As an attractive pot plant; bog or mini-pool types
For pond margins, pool- side
In small contained areas – along a sidewalk
In fountain bases
For restoration; particularly contaminated sites
http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/equisetum_hyemale.htm

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Great addition to formal gardens
Often included in Japanese gardens
Sets off very modern architecture
Good for commercial settings
http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article.php?id=4078

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Your own source of scouring/polishing tools
http://www.laprele.net/catalogue/vivaces/photos/equisetum_japonicum.JPG

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Consider pots as elements of your garden design
Color
Shape
Texture
Design
Even placement
Potted plants can serve as important garden focal points
http://www.gardens-bydesign.com/GBD/container%20garden.JPG

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Basket Rush – Juncus textilis
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

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Basket Rush – Juncus textilis
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Juncus%20textilis
Fairly local endemic: coastal central to S. CA to N. Mexico
Mountain ranges including San Gabriels, San Bernardinos, coastal ranges
On moist or dry soils – seasonally wet

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Characteristics of Basket Rush
Size:
 4-6 ft tall
 spreading to 10+ ft wide
Growth form:
Stout, upright stems
Round and somewhat ‘woodier’ than other Juncus species
Foliage:
Light green; may be nearly evergreen
No leaves
Roots:
Stout, creeping rhizomes

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Flowers are fairly typical for rushes
Blooms: usually May-June in our area
Flowers:
Flower heads on sides of stems (typical for Juncus)
Many flowers
Small; more interesting than showy although this is one of the more showy rushes
Seeds:
Many small seeds
Important food source for water birds, song birds, small mammals
Vegetative reproduction: via rhizomes
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages2/gilaflora/scientific.html

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Basket Rush (all rushes) is well suited to container gardening…
Soils:
Texture: any – sandy to clay
pH: acid (5.0) to slightly basic (8.0)
Light: full sun to part shade; fine under Sycamores & even under Oaks
Water:
Young plants: keep soils moist but not flooded until roots are established
Winter: needs good moisture; tolerates flooding
Summer: can tolerate gradual drought; better with some water
Fertilizer: fine; organic fertilizers like leaf mold best
http://www.ecoterralandscape.com/html/coolplant.htm

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Why plant Basket Rush?
An attractive planter plant, particularly with modern architecture;
Great in pots, bog gardens
Often used to stabilize stream banks
Helps to cleanse water; natural filter for heavy metals
As habitat plant: birds, amphibians, fish, other animals
As source for basketry materials
http://www.csusm.edu/indianrock/fieldtrips/fieldtripping/fieldtrip.pdf

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Managing Basket Rush
Contain it; or with-hold summer water to control growth
Harvest stems regularly:
Cut to above the rhizomes
Don’t harvest when ground is muddy
Cut or burn old patches to stimulate new growth

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Juncus textilis in basketmaking
Favored for straight stems, red-brown color (lower part of stems; best color from plants under trees)
Sometimes dyed black or yellow
Stems split in 3 parts lengthwise
Splines used as sewing material – Common Rush (J. balticus) used for coils
Juncus baskets are tightly woven – often used for food containers, baskets

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Yerba Mansa – Anemopsis californica
http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/dudleyl2.htm
Southwestern U.S. into Mexico
In S. CA: South Coast Ranges, South Coast, Channel Islands, Peninsular Ranges, White and Inyo Mountains, Mojave Desert
Wet or moist areas, alkali sinks and coastal salt marsh to yellow pine forest, seeps, springs to 5000'
Saururaceae (lizard-tail Family)

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Characteristics of Yerba Mansa
Size:
 1-2 ft tall: often < 1 ft
 2-4 ft wide, spreading
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial; quick- growing & long-lived
Winter-deciduous
Leaves basal
Foliage:
Leaves green, fading to red/purple in fall
Leaves aromatic when crushed (Eucalyptus/ginger scent
Roots:
Strong, rhizomatous roots
Need min. 6” soil depth
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

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Yerba Mansa flowers are quite unusual
Blooms:
Spring-summer bloomer
usually Mar-May in lower elevations of S. CA
Flowers:
White ‘petals’ are actually large bracts
Flowers small (stamens & pistils only), surrounded by white bracts, clustered on upright stalks
100’s of flowers per stalk
Dry red-brown seedpods remain for several months
Seeds: in dry capsules
© 2007 Dr. Raphael Mazor

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Yerba Mansa can be grown from seed
Use fresh seed
Requires warm temperatures
Soak seeds up to 1 wk before planting
Keep soil/seeds moist to promote germination
http://www.hazmac.biz/041129/041129AnemopsisCalifornica.html

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The famed Yerba Mansa root
Vegetative reproduction:
via rhizomes and stollons runners)
spreads fairly readily to form mat-like colonies
Easy to propagate from rooted cuttings, divisions
Roots are long and cordlike, white and brittle when young, becoming corky and covered in brown bark as they age
Roots very aromatic
Roots have long history of medicinal use:
Open sores & skin infections
Gout
Colds & coughs
Many other uses
M. Kat Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/generalbotany/typesofshoots/stolon/b1085tx.html http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/666872.0/CategoryID/1000.0/SubCatID/2535.0/file.htm

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Yerba Mansa is a versatile medicine
Roots have antiseptic, antibiotic, and antiviral properties
Can be used in many forms:
Taken orally as a tea, tincture, infusion or dried in capsule form.
It can be used externally for soaking inflamed or infected areas.
It can be ground and used as a dusting powder
Native peoples & settlers took plant with them as a ‘all-round’ medicinal plant
Yerba Mansa also provided food:
Root - raw or cooked. An aromatic flavor.
The pulverized seeds can be made into bread or cooked as a mush
http://www.mineralarts.com/cactus/yerbamansa.html

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Plant Requirements
Soils:
Texture: fine to medium
pH: wide range: 5.0-9.0;
Fine in quite alkali & salty soils
Light: full sun to light shade
Water:
Requires wet soil and can grow in water
suitable for bogs and water gardens
Tolerates occasional drought; water established patches when leaves droop
Fertilizer: likes humus-rich soils; add leaf mulch
Cut back or mow yearly during winter dormant period;

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Garden uses for Yerba Mansa
As an attractive pot plant, particularly for mini ‘bog gardens’
In containers placed in the ground
Around ponds
In water gardens
As a turf substitute or ground cover
Under birdbath or other moist areas of garden
http://www.mswn.com/Plant%20Info%20Sheets/Anemopsis%20californica.pdf

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Good garden design applies to mini-bag gardens as well…
Some evergreen elements
Some vertical elements; some drapers/creepers
Some color; flowers or foliage
Textural interest
http://home.utah.edu/~jsg16/page2.htm

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Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2770,2819,0,2820
Western N. America from Ontario Canada to N. Mexico
In S. CA
San Gabriel & San Bernardino Mountains;
Peninsular Ranges;
Desert Mountains (Panamint Mtns)
Wet or seasonally wet areas:
Steam bottoms & shores
Ditches, Ravines, Depressions, swamps
Woodland edges; meadows
Its common name alludes to the bright red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals
Like all Lobelias, foliage is toxic when eaten

© Project SOUND
Cardinal Flower: a garden perennial
Size:
 2-6 (usually 2-4) ft tall
 2-3 ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial; winter dormant
Upright growth
Short-lived but re-seeds well
Foliage:
Leaves: most basal, alternate
Light to deep green; often with bronze tinge

© Project SOUND
Flowers are out of this world
Blooms: summer (May to Oct; usually May-July in S. CA
Flowers:
Striking, ‘lobelia-type’ flowers
Bright to carmine red; like nothing else
In dense spikes that look like spires of flame
Really showy; nothing like it
An amazing hummingbird flower
Seeds: many small seeds in dry capsules

© Project SOUND
Nathaniel Hawthorne penned a fitting tribute to the cardinal flower...
"The world is made brighter and sunnier by flowers of such a hue ... it arrays itself in this scarlet glory. It is a flower of thought and feeling, too; it seems to have its roots deep down in the hearts of those who gaze at it."
The cardinal flower was widely used in Europe by 1629; many European cultivars
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=D940

© Project SOUND
Cardinal Flower likes special treatment … at least in our area
Soils:
Texture: any, even clays
pH: any (4.0-8.0)
Light: best in light shade or filtered sunlight
Water:
Needs moist soil; regular water
Can even grow in water
Fertilizer
Likes a rich, humus soil
Enrich soil/medium with leaf mulch
Other: intolerant of wind
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=D940

© Project SOUND
Given moist conditions, Cardinal Flowers are easy to manage
Be sure that winter mulches don’t cover the plant; danger of winter rot
Divide clumps every three years
Let plants reseed on bare ground; plants may be short- lived but tend to produce adequate seedlings
For more abundant blooms, cut back first flowering stalk, then lightly fertilize

© Project SOUND
Cardinal Flower is a great Zone 3 plant…
Great candidate as a container plant; bog garden plant
Moist meadow, rain garden, anywhere that gets a little extra water
Flowers make nice cut flowers
Fine at back of conventional (regularly watered) beds

© Project SOUND
Musk Monkeyflower – Mimulus moschatus
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7177,7386,7426
Plant of western N. America, from British Columbia to N. Mexico
In CA:
California Floristic Province
Wet places to 7500'
Streambanks, moist meadows and seeps
Closed-cone Pine Forest, Freshwater Marsh, Mountain Meadow, Redwood Forest, Riparian (rivers & creeks) and Yellow Pine Forest.
Now also naturalized in Eastern U.S, Europe

© Project SOUND
Musk Monkeyflower: a small plant of damp places
Size:
 usually < 1 ft tall
 1-2+ ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial
Low-growing; creeping
Foliage:
Very hairy, sticky, even slimy
Musky-sweet smell
Leaves simple; coarsely- toothed
Roots: well-developed rhizomes; stems may also root where they touch ground
© Jamie Fenneman

© Project SOUND
Flowers are small but sweet……..
Blooms: summer
usually May-Aug. in S. CA
Flowers:
solitary on long stem
Small (usually ½” or so)
Bright yellow; occasionally with red stripes or dots
5 lobes almost equal sized
Seeds:
Numerous & tiny (like dust)
In dry, papery capsule
© Virginia Skilton

© Project SOUND
Plant Requirements
Soils:
Texture: any; even heavy clays, sandy soils
pH: any local
Light:
Light to partial shade best
Full sun only if soils are kept moist
Water:
Prefers moist soils, damp or boggy spots
Can even grow in shallow water
Fertilizer: likes humus-rich soils
© 2004, Ben Legler

© Project SOUND
Musk Monkeyflower: another Zone 3 flowering plant
Wonderful as a pot plant; keep pot in a saucer of water to keep soils moist
Good for pond & pool edges; near fountains
Any moist, shady spot in the garden
Even consider for vegetable garden; young foliage is edible
© 2004, Ben Legler

Containers pails & pots 2008

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