Dragonflies 2017

© Project SOUND
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with California Native Plants in Western L.A. County
Project SOUND – 2017 (our 13th year)

© Project SOUND
Magic Dragons:
common dragonflies and how
to attract them
C.M. Vadheim, K. Dawdy (and T. Drake)
CSUDH (emeritus), CSUDH & City of Torrance
Madrona Marsh Preserve
July 1 & 6, 2017

In May, we created
pollinator habitat
© Project SOUND
We recently visited Rancho
Santa Ana Botanic Garden
and were enchanted by all
the dragonflies

Can we attract more dragonflies to our
gardens? What will we need?
We first need to:
1. Learn more about local
dragonflies and their needs
2. See what resources our
garden already supplies
3. Determine what additional
needs we can provide, given
our garden design (which is
largely complete)
© Project SOUND

What are dragonflies?  Insects in the Order Odonata
 Decended from ancient
Odonates – from back before
the age of dinosaurs
 All have roughly similar body
shape and parts
 Large, compound eyes –
among the best vision of any
animals
 Two sets of slender, mobile
wings – excellent fliers
 Are insectivores
 Have complex life cycles:
 Adults live 2-10 months
 Juveniles: several months to
several years
© Project SOUND
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly
http://www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org/index/identificationGuides
abdomen

Helpful resources: California-specific
 FIELD KEY TO ADULT CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES
(ODONATA) -
http://bigsnest.powweb.com/southwestdragonflies/caphotos
/CA_key.html
© Project SOUND

More helpful resources: photos, maps, etc.
 Peter Bryant’s Arthropods of Orange County -
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Arthropods.htm
 iNaturalist – https://www.inaturalist.org/
 Bugguide - http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
© Project SOUND

Types of Dragonflies: Order Odonata
(Dragonflies and Damselflies)
 Skimmers (Libellulidae)
 Darners (Aeshnidae)
 Narrow-winged (Pond)
Damselflies (Coenagrionidae)
 Broad-winged Damselflies
(Calopterygidae)
 Spreadwings (Lestidae)
© Project SOUND
Sub-order ANISOPTERA (Dragonflies)
Sub-order ZYGOPTERA (Damselflies)
Stick-like abdomen
Stout, robust
abdomen

Let’s learn a bit more about the odonates
common to our area
© Project SOUND

Skimmers (Libellulidae): big, orange-brown
 Where found:
 Largest dragonfly family in the
world: ~ 1000 species
 Most often seen of all
dragonflies
 Species you might see in a local
garden or preserve:
 Cardinal Meadowhawk
 Flame Skimmer
 Variegated Meadowhawk
 Wandering Glider
 Red Saddlebags
© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/index.htm#Narrow

Skimmers (Libellulidae)
 Characteristics:
 Skimmers (gliders) and perchers
 Mostly small to medium size (some
of ours are large)
 Very diverse characteristics
 Many brightly colored (oranges &
browns) or have banded wings
 Behavior:
 Perchers scan for flying insects
from perches on twigs or rocks.
 The gliders and the saddlebags fly
almost continually during the day,
and even eat while on the wing
© Project SOUNDhttp://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/variegated_meadowhawk.html

Skimmers (Libellulidae) - reproduction
 Females oviposit by dipping the tip of
the abdomen in the water while
hovering above the surface
 Most oviposit into still water; a few
species prefer running water.
 Nymphs:
 Live in still waters: ponds, stream edges,
marshes, garden ponds.
 Overwinter as eggs. Grow to 1/3-1 inch
 Stout-bodied larvae with the lower lip
or labium developed into a mask over
the lower part of the face.
 Feed at bottom; hide among debris and
wait for prey
 Adults emerge at night; crawl up
vegetation © Project SOUND
http://www.waterbugkey.vcsu.edu/php/familydetail.php?idnu
m=13&f=Libellulidae&ls=larvae

Flame Skimmer - Libellula saturata
 Western U.S. and Mexico
 The most orange of the orange &
browns; entire body orange
 Relatively thick abdomen
 Perches; relatively easy to photograph
 Often seen: gardens & wilds
© Project SOUNDhttp://www.americaninsects.net/d/libellula-saturata.html
male female
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Flame.htm

Red Saddlebags - Tramea onusta
 Medium size
 Eastern U.S.; scattered
 Southwestern U.S., including S. CA
 Lakes, ponds and other quiet waters
 Flies March to October
 Fast-flyer but will sometimes perch
© Project SOUND
male female
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/TrameaO.htm http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/TrameaO.htm

Recognizing
Saddlebags - easy
 Only two local species with
‘saddlebags’ – Red and Black
 Both have the distinctive dark,
undulating bands on hindwings;
either red-brown or truly black
© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/TrameaO.htm
Black Saddlebags - Tramea lacerata
http://dirttime.ws/Dragonfly/SaddlebagsBlack.htm
Red Saddlebags - Tramea onusta

Variagated Meadowhawk - Sympetrum corruptum
 British Columbia and Ontario, Canada south
through much of the United States to
southern California and Florida.
 Migrates as far south as Honduras, and as
far west as eastern Asia.
© Project SOUND
male female
http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/VariegatedMeadowhawk.html

Recognizing the Variegated Meadowhawk
 Medium size (1 5/8 - 2 inches)
 Slender abdomen
 Male: bright orange stripes, midline
 Dark brownish black legs
 Abdomen bright red, pink, and golden
brown.
 The thorax may be marked with a
pair of yellow dots on each side.
 The leading edges of the wings are
marked with pinkish.
© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Sympetrum.htm

Recognizing the Variegated Meadowhawk
 Females similar, but not as
brightly colored, with gray and
yellow replacing the red of the
male.
 Even females have broader and
more orange colored bands than
Wander Glider (with which it may
be confused).
 Young much paler and mottled
with pale green, pale yellow,
golden brown, and orange.
© Project SOUND

Wandering Glider - Pantala flavescens
 World's most widely distributed
dragonfly (worldwide between
400 N and 400 S latitude)
 Migrates on thermals
 Swarms of many thousands
sometimes seen in fall
© Project SOUND
female
male
http://defworld.freeoda.com/Species%20Details/Pantala%20flavescens.html

Recognizing the Wandering Glider
 Medium size: 1 3/4 to 2 inches
 Fairly wide abdomen
 Thorax and abdomen mostly
brown/tan with some orange
 Elongated wing-spot, both wing sets
 Hindwing almost triangular in shape;
broadest part at the base where it
attaches to the body.
 Common Apr-Nov in our area
 Found near seasonal ponds; can
reproduce in backyard ponds
© Project SOUND

Summary: Skimmers: big, orange-brown
© Project SOUND
Flame Skimmer
Red Saddlebags
Variegated Meadowhawk
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/TrameaO.htm
Wandering Glider

Darners (Aeshnidae) – large & blue/green
 Largest N. American species: 2-5 inch
 Wings always extended horizontally.
 Abdomens are long, thin (for dragonfly)
 Most are blue and or green, with black
and occasionally yellow.
 Their large compound eyes touch in the
midline and nearly cover their heads.
 Behavior
 Can fly forwards or backwards or hover
like a helicopter.
 Often seen flying, around water,
searching for prey
 Males very territorial
© Project SOUND

Darners (Aeshnidae)
 Where found:
 41 N. American species/11 genera
 Primarily in marshes, lake shore
(littoral) environments, and ponds with
high vegetation content
 Less common than Gliders in local
gardens – probably due habitat needs
 Dead and decaying debris, and
submerged logs are favored for nymph
shelter and protection from predation
 Species you might see:
 Common Green Darner
 Blue-eyed Darner
© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Rhionaeschna.htm

Darners (Aeshnidae) : reproduction
 Life cycle takes two to four years; usually only
several months as adults
 Mate in flight
 Female abdomens ‘darn’ like a sewing needle,
cutting into plant stem when laying eggs
 Juveniles long and slender; swim by jet
propulsion
 Nymphs actively pursue prey (fierce predators):
fly, beetle, mosquito, caddisfly and mayfly
larvae – even small fish (anything small enough)
 Adult emergence:
 Influenced by air and water temperature (late
May to early July)
 Larvae emerge from the water at dusk and crawl
up an object positioned vertically to dry off.
© Project SOUND
http://www.cfb.unh.edu/StreamKey/html/organism
s/OOdonata/SO_Anisoptera/FAeshnidae/Aeshnid
ae.html

Blue-eyed Darner - Rhionaeschna multicolor
 Western N. America and in Central America as far
south as Panama, at both low and moderate altitudes
 Near a variety of water bodies, lakes, ponds, slow-
moving streams, canals and marshy areas; also in
gardens, cities
 May be migratory in California, as a large number of
them seem to appear in the fall
© Project SOUND
male female
http://bugguide.net/node/view/13190/data

Common Green Darner - Anax junius
 Very large; 2 3/4 to 3 1/8 inches long
 S. British Columbia east to Nova Scotia, Canada;
throughout the entire U.S. extending s. into Mexico,
Central America.
 Migrate north in spring
 Lower elevation ponds, lakes; usual wild lands
© Project SOUND
CC BY 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17323964
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Anax.htm

Summary: Darners – large & blue/green
 Large dragonflies
 Fierce, long-lived nymphs; good
for keeping mosquitoes at bay
 Less common in gardens,
probably due lack of habitat for
juveniles
© Project SOUND
Blue-eyed Darner
Common Green Darner
CC BY 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17323964
http://www.cfb.unh.edu/StreamKey/html/organism
s/OOdonata/SO_Anisoptera/FAeshnidae/Aeshnid
ae.html

Broad-winged Damselflies
(Calopterygidae) – broad wings, metallic
 150 species worldwide – only 9 in
N. America, only one in S.
California
 1.5-2.5 inches long; metallic colors
 Broad wings and stick-like
abdomen
 Hold wings vertical and together
in rest
 Mostly found around rivers &
streams – and not in California
(locally rare)
© Project SOUND
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calopterygidae
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Hetaerina%20americana.htm
American Rubyspot

Spreadwings (Lestidae) – very rare LA Co.
 large-sized, slender damselflies -
body length 1.25-2 inches
 Wings stalked at base. Clear wings,
typically held diverged above the
body at rest
 Most hold their wings at an angle
away from their bodies.
 The body has greenish, metallic
shine.
 Breeding: slow-moving or still water
in stream backwaters, swamps,
marshes and temporary pools.
 There is one generation per year in
North American species
© Project SOUND

Narrow-winged/Pond Damselflies
(Coenagrionidae) – Stick-like, Blue and Black
 Where found:
 World-wide; ~ 90 species
 Adults are seen around various habitats
including ponds and wetlands.
 Found primarily in still-water habitats. A
few species within the family (Dancers)
are found along banks/riffles of
streams.
 Vegetative debris in permanent ponds,
swamps, marshes, and littoral lakes are
ideal habitats for larvae of lentic species
© Project SOUND

Narrow-winged/pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae)
 Usually have a black pattern
 Ground color may be green, blue,
yellow, orange, or purple
 Narrow, stalked, usually colorless and
clear wings
 Some present a real challenge for
field identification because they
demonstrate color changes with age,
and/or several color forms (females)
 Types common locally
 Bluets – mostly blue
 Dancers – mostly around water
 Forktails – small, dark green & blue
© Project SOUND

Narrow-winged/pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae)
 Reproduction
 The females lay their eggs
among living (floating) or dead
submerged vegetation
 In some species, females even
crawl about underwater
depositing their eggs.
 The nymphs
 Usually found in debris or among
living or dead submerged plant
material
 Search out their prey – small
larvae for the most part
© Project SOUND
http://cfb.unh.edu/StreamKey/html/organisms/OOdonata/SO_
Zygoptera/FCoenagrionidae/Coenagrionidae.html

Vivid Dancer - Argia vivida
 Small/medium size – 1-1 ½ inches
(30-40 mm)
 Males very blue & black (blue face);
females brown & black
 Southwestern (arid) streams,
rivers – usually found near spring-
fed streams
 Seen in Palos Verdes, Madrona
Marsh, occasionally elsewhere
 Distribution mostly limited by
wetland habitat for nymphs
© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Argia.htm

Black-fronted Forktail - Ischnura denticollis
 Small - generally less than one inch
(22 to 26 mm) long.
 Male has pale blue on the side of
the thorax, solid black on top of
the thorax, and a blue-green
abdomen with last two segments
colored bright blue.
 Most females light orange brown,
but some are colored very similarly
to males.
 Found near spring-fed pools and
streams in arid areas.
 Madrona and other local sites,
including gardens
© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Ischnura%20denticollis.htm
male
Female

Pacific Forktail - Ischnura cervula
 Small/medium: 1-1 ½ inches
(24-31 mm)
 Males:
 Face is yellow-green; top of the head
is largely black
 Thorax black with a pale blue stripes
 Abdomen dark blue-green except at
tip (pale blue; forked)
 Females: head/thorax pale with
black; abdominal color like males
 Habitat: ponds (including saline and
alkali); slow-moving streams
 Western N. America (Canada to
Baja). Locally common in wetlands like
Madrona; often also in gardens
 Early spring through fall© Project SOUND
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Ischnura%20cervula.htm
male
Female

If it’s a damselfly (in your garden) it’s
almost certainly a Narrow-winged/Pond
Damselfly
© Project SOUND
http://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/FieldGuideAction.get/id/43084
Western Forktail

Why provide dragonfly habitat?
 They consume 10-15 percent
of their own weight per day in
insects, including some human
pests (mosquitoes, termites,
deerflies, blackflies,
horseflies and midges)
 Urbanization has significantly
decreased their habitat
© Project SOUND
 About 15 percent of North America's dragonfly species are in
danger of extinction
 They are interesting creatures and fun to watch. They increase
our enjoyment of our gardens

Helpful resources on creating dragonfly
habitat
 Xerces Society: Backyard Ponds – Guidelines for Creating
and Managing Habitat for Dragonflies and Damselflies -
http://www.xerces.org/wp-
content/uploads/2014/07/Pond_Habitat_Guidelines_Odonat
es_Final_Websec.pdf
 Biggs Wildlife Ponds - http://www.bigsnestpond.net/
© Project SOUND

Providing food for dragonflies
 Adults – eat most insects, though
they particularly like aquatic ones
 Provide water and water plants
 Provide upland plants that are good
‘insect plants’ (including a number
that we discussed this spring)
 Juveniles – eat most living things in
water: water insects, insect larvae,
even small frogs, tadpoles and fish
 Provide a healthy pond environment
that supports a range of creatures
© Project SOUND
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9nLtWnKgCeI/hqdefault.jpg

Creating habitat: what adult dragonflies &
damselflies need
 Aquatic plants for:
 Perching, roosting, searching for
mates
 Laying eggs (some species)
 Upland vegetation that provides:
 Insects for food
 Places out of wind to perch/sun
 Shade (for hot days)
 Places to hide/sleep/perch that
are relatively safe from
predators
© Project SOUND
Birds, spiders, frogs, lizards &
larger dragonflies are all
important predators of adult
dragonflies

Creating habitat for juvenile dragonflies &
damselflies
 Safe fresh water (standing or
flowing)
 Shallow pond margins with
plants and plant debris
 Hunting
 Emergence
 Aquatic plants
 Some that reach the bottom
 Some that grow up out of the
water
 Should provide food for some
of their prey
© Project SOUND
The characteristics of the plants are
more important than specific
species – the nymphs aren’t eating
the plants, but the creatures on
them

Providing larval habitat: often the key to
insect survival
 More critical than adult habitat:
 Often involves more specialized
requirements
 Often more vulnerable
 May be more difficult to provide
(particularly for long-lived larvae)
 Most likely to be lost due to
shrinking local habitat; wetlands
continue to be drained throughout
the world
 Climate change will likely
exacerbate the existing problems
© Project SOUND
https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-
gardening/stories/7-things-you-never-knew-about-dragonflies

Providing nymph habitat: getting past the
‘creepy/crawly factor’
 They look prehistoric
 They don’t fly around like the adults
(which are fun to watch)
 They don’t have pretty colors – their
colors just blend into the pond bottom
(good camouflage colors – not pretty)
 They aren’t seen much; unfamiliarity
 They live in the muck at the bottom of
the pond
© Project SOUND
 They are kind of interesting – and certainly useful for pest
control – once you get past the ‘yuck factor’

The optimal dragonfly pond: the
importance of site choice
 Protected from wind
 Five or six hours of midday sun; no overhanging trees is best
 Little runoff into (will bring in silt and potential toxins)
© Project SOUND

The optimal dragonfly pond: characteristics
of the pond
 The larger the better
 At least 43 sq. ft. (4 sq. meters)
 Depth should vary from very shallow at
the edges to about 2 or 2 ½ feet at its
deepest level (small ponds) or 4 ft. for
larger ponds.
© Project SOUND
https://penarthramblers.wordpress.com/walk-reports/july-2013/zig-
zagging-through-cosmeston-on-an-evening-walk-with-joy-bronte-and-
bracken-on-16-july-2013/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83035186851453289/

The optimal dragonfly pond: characteristics of
the pond
 Large, flat, light-colored
rock(s) around the edge for
perching
 Logs or branches that extend
into the water (and out)
 Enough bottom debris to
provide cover and hunting
sites
 And – of course – the right
vegetation.
© Project SOUNDhttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/415105290635276442/

The optimal dragonfly pond: protects nymphs
from potential harm
 If you want to support
breeding populations of
dragonflies, don't introduce
fish, frogs, or ducks. These
creatures will prey on the
nymphs and eggs.
 Keep all poisons and fertilizers
out of the water.
 Supply clean water; allow
chlorinated water to stand 24
hours
© Project SOUND
×https://www.pinterest.com/explore/ponds/

The optimal dragonfly pond: can be any
shape you like
© Project SOUND
http://www.dragonflyaquatics.com/tag/aquatic-pond-supplies/

Looking from the sunny seating area…
© Project SOUND
1. Where can we locate our
habitat pond?
2. What’s our vision for what it
will look like?
3. What plants will we use?

Early thought -
formal beds
 Adds symmetry
 Consistent with
Mediterranean theme
 Can accommodate a
water feature
© Project SOUND

We need something larger: back to the
drawing board!
© Project SOUND
https://www.pinterest.com/aayers324/garden-vista/
A rectangular pond,
5’ x 9’ might be
perfect

Perhaps this?
 Better fit for space
 Adds symmetry
 Consistent with
Mediterranean theme
 Better size for a
habitat pond
© Project SOUND

More green plants and blue water will
make everyone happy!
© Project SOUND
http://neilpatel.com/2015/05/14/the-psychology-of-color-how-to-use-colors-to-increase-conversion-rate/

What types of plants are appropriate for a
local habitat pond?
© Project SOUND
http://www.frantzlandscape.com/frantz-landscapes-portfolio#!prettyPhoto

How many plants? What kinds?
 50-70% of surface covered; at
least 30% of surface is open water
(some recommend 50% open water)
 Types of plants:
 5% emergent – grow up out of the
water
 10-25% floating - most foliage at
the waterline
 25-50% submerged – major portion
is below the waterline
 Other factors:
 Native if possible
 Not bad invasive
 Attractive
© Project SOUND
http://www.dragonflyaquatics.com/tag/cardinal-flower/

 Submerged plants (oxygenators): provide oxygen, help improve water quality
and water clarity by filtering excess nutrients from the water. Provide
food/habitat for pond herbivores.
 Rooted emergent : rooted in ground but part of plant emerges/floats on
water surface. Extensive root systems filter excess nutrients directly from
the water. Provide shade to further curb aggressive algae growth. Add
visual interest.
 Marginal or Bog plants: thrive in shallow water near the perimeter of the
pond. Though their roots grow underwater, the majority of the plant grows
out and above the water. Create a natural transition from pond to garden.
© Project SOUND
Free-floating plants: not
rooted in soil - float on
water; provide food for
herbivores and filter
water
Functional classes of pond plants
https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/building-a-small-water-garden/

Pond plants: the dragonfly perspective
 Submerged plants. Provide places for developing larvae to hide, hunt
and feed.
 Free-floating plants. Help provide clean water, food for prey.
 Rooted emergent plants. Egg-laying. Essential for larvae to climb up
when emerge as adults. Provide perches for adults. Food for prey.
 Marginal, bog or shoreline plants. Most marsh vegetation makes
excellent perches for the developing and adult dragonfly. Provide areas
for laying eggs; also attract insect prey (for adults, nymphs).
© Project SOUND
https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/building-a-small-water-garden/

Choose carefully; and dispose of plant
materials judiciously
 Aquatic plants can be some
of the worst invasive pests
 When possible, choose local
natives over non-natives
 Compost unwanted plants/
plant parts – or put in safe
green waste
© Project SOUND
Don’t plant invasive aquatic plants

Native floating water plants
 Common in most local wetlands, including Madrona
 Usually available from pond suppliers
 Just lay them on surface of water – they’ll float
 Azolla is a nitrogen fixer – increases N (sometimes too much)
© Project SOUND
Fairy Weed/Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) Duckweed (Lemna minor)
http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Plants/Flowers/SpFlowers/Lemna.
minor.html

Underwater plants
 Hornwort (Ceraatophyllum
demersum) - widely available
 Waterweed/Goldfish Plant
(Elodea canadensis) - widely
available
 Water Purslane (Didiplis
diandra) U.S. Native (East;
South)
© Project SOUNDElodea canadensis
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Ceratophyllaceae/Ceratophyllum%
20demersum/Ceratophyllum%20demersum.htm
Ceraatophyllum demersum

Rooted pond plants are often grown in
containers
 Contains them – keeps them from
growing too large
 Allows you to grow even with a
pond liner
 Easier to manage plants:
repotting, swapping out, etc.
 Easier to clean the pond
 Allows you to place plants at
differing depths (put the pots on
cement blocks)
© Project SOUND
http://www.angloaquatic.co.uk/Finofil-pots-for-aquatic-plants.html
Several benefits:
Aquatic baskets can be used
for plants with submerged
roots

I’m going to leave the discussion of
planting details to Kelley next month
© Project SOUND
http://www.goodshomedesign.com/diy-containers-garden-pond/

Because we need to choose some
emergent and margin plants…
© Project SOUND
http://www.jesseisraelandsons.com/ourproducts/pondsandsupplies.aspx#.WVb
Q9WcU-Uk
…that will provide good dragonfly habitat and
be appropriate for our area

Rooted emergent plants: CA natives
 Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.)
 Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata)
 Bog Cress (Rorippa palustris)
 Cattail (Typha spp.)
 Horsetail (Equisetum spp.)
 Indian Rhubarb (Darmera peltata)
 Common Mare's Tail (Hippuris
vulgaris)
 Marsh Marigold (Caltha leptosepala)
 Pondweed (Potamogeton natans;
Potamogeton nodosus; Potamogeton
pusillus)
 Water Bulrush/Tule (Schoenoplectus
[Scirpus] spp.)
 Watercress (Nasturtium officinale
[Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum])
 Water Clover (Marsilea species)
 Watershield (Brasenia schreberi) –
Sierra & N. CA native
 Waterpepper (Persicaria
hydropiperoides [Polygonum
hydropiperoides])
© Project SOUND

© Project SOUND
Northern water plantain – Alisma triviale

 N. America from AK to CA, ME
 Wetlands - sea level to 7500 ft.
 Many local places: Torrance (Madrona
Marsh), Dominguez Hills (likely
Dominguez Slough – Gardena
Willows), Long Beach, San Gabriels
© Project SOUND
Northern water plantain – Alisma triviale
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=12464
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000009
©2007 Neal Kramer

© Project SOUND
N. Water plantain: emergent pond plant
 Size:
 1-3 ft tall
 1-2 ft wide, spreading
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial
 Fall/winter dormant; dies back, then
emerges again in spring
 Foliage:
 Thick, fleshy, oblong leaves on long
petioles (to reach above water)
 Large (to 7 inch) leaves, basal
 All parts toxic when fresh; cover skin
and don’t eat raw
 Roots: rhizomatous; can form dense
colonies

© Project SOUND
Flowers: airy appearance
 Blooms: in warm weather;
usually June-July in western
L.A. County
 Flowers:
 Small - ~ ¼ inch
 Simple: 3 white petals, 3
green sepals
 Widely spaced on open
flowering stems above leaves
 Provide nectar & pollen for
small insects: flower flies,
small bees (usually Halictid
bees), and small beetles
 Seeds: distributed by water;
rarely eaten by birds©2012 Barry Breckling

© Project SOUND
Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: any local; organics
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to part-shade for
good flowering.
 Water:
 Winter/spring: shallow standing
water (6 inches or less) or
muddy soil
 Summer: soils can slowly dry
after blooming; can taper off
water or draw down pond
 Fertilizer: containerized plants
need spring dose
 Other: plant in containers to limit
spread
©2007 Neal Kramer

© Project SOUND
Water plantains
 In/around ponds, pools, bog
gardens; provides good insect
habitat
 As an unusual container plant
 As a spring-summer ground
cover in moist areas
©2007 Neal Kramer
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Alismataceae/Alisma%20triviale/index.html

Edible and
medicinal uses
© Project SOUND
 Edible: must be thoroughly
cooked and/or dried
 Root/corm: cooked and eaten
like potato (starchy root)
 Leaves/petioles: cooked in many
changes of water
 Medicinal
 Poultice for skin sores, wounds,
bruises, swelling
 Seed: dried & powdered; used
as astringent to stop bleeding
 Leaves/stem: dried and drunk
as tea for bacterial infections –
anti-bacterial properties

Managing emergent pond plants: containers
 Use large enough container to
allow for spread
 Usually don’t need very deep
container – 6-12 inches,
depending on species
 Use heavy, clay soil
 Cover soil with layer of gravel
© Project SOUND
http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30019518-2
Kelley will discuss the details
next month

© Project SOUND
*Broadleaf arrowhead/ Wapato – Sagittaria latifolia

 Native to sloughs, swamps, marshes and
margins of streams and ponds throughout
eastern N. America and in CA
 Collected 1889-05 by Anstruther Davidson
near Glendale; by Leroy Abrams in N. CA
 Commonly grows submerged in shallow water or
out of water on wet muddy banks.
© Project SOUND
©2005 Louis-M. Landry ©2010 Jean Pawek

© Project SOUND
Wapato: emergent perennial from a corm
 Size:
 1-4 ft tall
 1-4 ft wide (spreads)
 Growth form:
 Clumping; spread via stollons
 Dies back, fall-winter
 Foliage:
 Fleshy leaves on long petioles
 Leaf blades above water
 Large – 7-10 inch blades
 Roots: corm-forming; corms are
edible staple/delicacy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittaria_latifolia

© Project SOUND
Flowers: touch of white
 Blooms: in summer - usually Jul-
Aug in western L.A. Co.
 Flowers:
 White with three delicate
petals; 1-2 inch in diameter
 Separate male & female flowers,
usually on same plant
 Flowers on flowering stalks
above leaves – very pretty
 Attract a variety of insects:
honeybees, bumblebees, Halictid
bees, wasps, Syrphid flies,
Tachinid flies, butterflies,
skippers, and beetles
 Seeds: not eaten by much
female
male

© Project SOUND
 Texture: any
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to part shade; the
wetter the conditions, the more
sun it can take.
 Water:
 Winter: can be submerged in
6-12 inches of water
 Summer: same as winter or can
let slowly dry (like a vernal
marsh would)
 Fertilizer: containerized plants
need 1-2 doses, ½ strength in
growing season.
 Other: will spread; repot or divide
as needed

© Project SOUND
Adaptable pond plant
 Excellent habitat plant for pond/ pond
margins
 Dramatic - alone or with other pond
species
 In an attractive accent pot
 For water filtration ponds
http://www.itsnotworkitsgardening.com/2014/06/pond-update.html
http://mowildflowers.net/Arrowhead-
Sagittaria-latifolia_p_239.html
http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/2010/0
7/27/hestercombe-garden-a-lesson-in-
stone/
http://www.frantzlandscape.com/frantz-landscapes-portfolio#all

Corms are excellent starchy vegetable
 Best in soups/stews, where it keeps its
shape and retains its flavor.
 Can also be used in casseroles and stir
fry. Very similar to Arrowhead vegetable
frequently available in Asian markets.
 Can even make flour: boil, mash, dry,
grind. Can be used in many recipes.
© Project SOUND
http://arcadianabe.blogspot.com/2012/02/arrowhead-belated-
homage-to-chinese-new.html
http://honest-food.net/arrowhead-chips-cooking-wapato/

Water plantain & Arrowleaf:
low emergents
© Project SOUNDhttp://yardsnacks.com/2014/07/11/water-garden/
http://www.frantzlandscape.com/frantz-landscapes-portfolio#all
Now we need some taller
plants for perches

Tules (Bullrushes)
(Schoenoplectus/Scirpus)
 The good
 Excellent habitat plants
 Among the few native underwater
plants
 Edible and useful
 Can be grown for a long time in a
container (and not even a very
large one)
 The bad (for home gardeners)
 Very invasive
 Robust – can be difficult to manage
 Can look too big in small pond – out
of scale
© Project SOUND
Schoenoplectus californicus
Schoenoplectus pungens
https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5400847

© Project SOUND
Southern Cattail – Typha domingensis
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Typhadomingensis.jpg

© Project SOUND
 Warm temperate and tropical
areas, worldwide
 In CA - most areas, with
proper conditions
 Almost anywhere soil remains
wet, saturated, or flooded
most of the growing season,
including : wet meadows,
marshes, fens, pond and lake
margins, floating bog mats,
seacoast estuaries, roadside
ditches, irrigation canals,
oxbow lakes, and backwater
areas of rivers and streams.
Southern Cattail – Typha domingensis
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?9383,9390,9392

© Project SOUND
Characteristics of Southern Cattail
 Size:
 3-6+ ft tall
 spreading – many ft wide
 Growth form:
 Like a very large sedge; upright
 Foliage:
 Long, strap-like leaves
 Leaf width ( ~ ½ inch) between
that of Broad- and Narrowleaf
Cattails
 Roots:
 Rhizomes stout, to 27" in length
and typically ¾"-1½" in diameter
 Can be eaten raw, cooked or
dried and made into flour
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/aquatics/typhaan.html

© Project SOUND
Distinguished from the
closely related Common
Cattail (Typha latifolia) by:
 narrower, deeper
green leaves on a less
robust plant
 fruiting spikes
showing clear
separation between
the male and female
sections - staminate
above the pistillate
 leaves typically
extending beyond the
spike.
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=3281
http://www.opsu.edu/Academics/SciMathNurs/NaturalScience/PlantsInsect
sOfGoodwell/plants/pasturefiles/pasture119.html

© Project SOUND
Flowers are unusual
 Blooms: Late spring/summer - usually
May-July
 Flowers: Typical for Cattails
 Flower structure a dense, fuzzy,
cylindrical spike on the end of stem
 A distinct gap of 1"-3" of naked
stem between the upper, male
portion (staminate) and the lower,
female (pistillate) portion.
 Male flowers lighter brown; female
flowers often green during bloom
turning dark brown during seed
maturation.
 Seeds: fluffy, small – typical Cattail;
wind-distributed

Many uses of cattails and tules
 Roots & young stalk – eaten
as food; used as diuretic
 Young female flowers – eaten
raw or cooked like corn on
the cob
 Pollen – eaten raw or cooked;
often added to flour to
increase nutrition
 Seeds – used to stuff pillows
 Leaves:
 Medicinal: diuretic and
haemostatic (stops bleeding
 For constructing shelters,
hats, mats, etc.
http://practicalsurvivor.com/wildedibleplants

© Project SOUND
Cattails like water…  Soils:
 Texture: any
 pH: any local including quite
acidic (to pH 3.0)
 Light: full sun
 Water:
 Winter: flooded
 Summer: Tolerates continuous
inundation, seasonal draw-downs,
and brackish waters. Can grow in
water to 24" deep. Great for
boggy pond margins
 Fertilizer: light fertilizer
 Other: Less water = less invasive
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/science/Evolutionary_Ecology_Research/Ecology_of_Cumbe
rland_Plain_Woodland/woodland_plants/typha_domingensis

© Project SOUND
Cattails – not for every
garden/gardener
 Interesting container plant – can
control spread and conditions
 In seasonally wet areas – rain
gardens, vernal swales
 Around/in ponds & pools
 Bank stabilization around ponds,
streams, rivers.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1248/702390298_0a32a0a4cd.jpg
http://homepage3.nifty.com/plantsandjapan/img698.gif

© Project SOUND
Managing cattails/rushes/etc. in the garden
setting
 Many not suitable for
growing in small areas
– choose appropriate
species
 Fast-spreading species
need to be managed
yearly or will take
over:
 Cut back stems in
dormant season
 Remove ½ to 2/3 of
mass
 Replant
 Best contained in
large, strong,
bottomless container.
http://www.jardin-mundani.org/typhaceae/typha.jpg
http://www.westcarlston.com/aquatics_Plants_Lists.htm

Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolium) – non-native
© Project SOUND

Choosing the upland plants: diversity and
structure are important factors
 Should be attractive to prey
species (the ‘pollinator magnet
plants’ are good candidates)
 Provide open, upright stems for
perching and hunting (in those that
hunt from a perch)
 Provide cover and shade – most
plants do
 And, of course, they should be
attractive (since we’ll be looking at
them)
© Project SOUND
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/sage/growin
g-clary-sage.htm

Even without the pond, our garden provided
habitat for dragonflies and damselflies
© Project SOUND
Much of the garden is
planted for habitat: and
where there are insects,
there is food for adults

Two planters:
5 x 7 ft.
 Consistent with
Mediterranean theme
 Can use upland plants
that provide habitat
 Regular water – Zone 3
© Project SOUND

© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane – Pluchea odorata
http://www.kenbowles.net/SDWildflowers/FamilyIndexes/AsteraceaeDisciform/AsteraceaeDisciformKey.htm

© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane – Pluchea odorata
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Pluchea+odorata
 A plant of warmer
climates:
 Southern U.S.
 Caribbean & northern S.
America
 In CA, in foothills & along
coast, in moist/wet places
 Salt/brackish marshes
 Freshwater marshes/seeps
 Riparian areas (including
ephemeral streams)

© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane –
typical for genus
© 2003 BonTerra Consulting
 Size:
 2-4 ft. tall
 2-3 ft. wide
 Growth form: sub-shrub
 Woody base; ends of stems are
herbaceous
 Upright growth habit
 Annual in colder climates;
perennial in ours
 Dies back in winter
 Foliage:
 Pretty color; like
 Arrow-shaped leaves
 Roots: fibrous; good soil-binding
http://www.kenbowles.net/SDWildflowers/FamilyIndexes/AsteraceaeDisciform/Aste
raceaeDisciformKey.htm

© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane does well in gardens…
 Soils:
 Texture: any local – does very well in
fine-textured soils (clays)
 pH: any local, including alkali, salty
 Light:
 Best in full sun with some water
 Fine with partial shade; not too
particular
 Water:
 Winter: likes it’s water; plant in moist
areas of garden, rainswale, etc.
 Summer: quite flexible; looks better
with some to regular summer water
(Zone 2/3 probably optimal; takes 3)
 Fertilizer: fine with none; organic mulches
work well (leaf mulch)
© 2003 BonTerra Consulting

© Project SOUND
Pretty little flowers
 Blooms: summer-fall; usually
in June to Oct. in western L.A.
County
 Flowers:
 Similar to Mule Fat – but
prettier; no separate
male/female plants
 Color: pink to lavender
 Many small flowers in dense
flat bunches – very showy
 Attracts wide range of
insects – pollinators & others
 Great fall butterfly plant!
 Vegetative reproduction:
 Slowly spreading; more with
regular water
http://www.kenbowles.net/SDWildflowers/FamilyIndexes/AsteraceaeDisciform/AsteraceaeDisciformKey.htm

© Project SOUND
Versatile in the garden
 Excellent choice for moist
places in garden:
 Stream or pond banks/edges
 Rain gardens/swales
 Areas with sprinkler drift
 Fine with other natives
needing similar water
requirements – remember,
dies back in winter
 Showy choice for habitat/
butterfly garden; great with
yellow fall-flowering plants
 Does great in pots; give it an
occasional dose of fertilizer
or top-dress each spring
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=13929
http://www.sibleynaturecenter.org/daytrips/naturetrail0709/index.html

What we’d like to achieve: masses of
insect-attracting summer blooms
© Project SOUND
With the look of a
Mediterranean
garden
https://www.pinterest.com/aayers32
4/garden-vista/

© Project SOUND
* Nettle-leaf Giant Hyssop – Agastache urticifolia
 Foothills & lower mountain slopes of the
west – British Columbia to CA – and east
to CO (Rocky Mtns)
 Locally in San Bernardino & Santa
Barbara Mtns.
 Common. Generally woodlands, but many
habitats, including open slopes
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6r6fAoZCPVw/R8gH16PwAnI/AAAAAAAAAKk/AkQPvdqlLzE/HPIM2277.JPG
Another common name is
‘Horsemint’, although several
species are known by this
name

© Project SOUND
Giant Hyssop: a herbaceous perennial
 Size:
 2-5 ft tall; shorter in full sun
 2-5 ft wide, slightly spreading
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial; mounded
with square stems
 Dies back to ground in winter in
most climates – you may need to
cut back (like other Mints)
 Foliage:
 Large, toothed leaves – like a
large Mint
 Scented – can be used for teas
 Medium green – nice color
 Roots: fibrous; woody in mature
plants
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

© Project SOUND
Pretty, old-fashioned
flowers aplenty
 Blooms:
 In summer, usually June-July
in western L.A. Co.
 Flowers:
 On stalks above the foliage –
open up along the stem over
several weeks
 Many tiny flowers – like
miniature snapdragons
 Color usually lavender-pink;
may be white to a darker
violet
 Delicately scented – sweet
 Attract loads of pollinators
© 2004, Ben Legler

© Project SOUND
Giant Hyssop is
easy to grow
 Soils:
 Texture: just about any well-
drained soil
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun to part-shade
 Will attract more pollinators in
sunny spot
 Water:
 Winter: needs water; winter
flooding is fine
 Summer: likes a bit of summer
water Zone 2-3 or even 3 –
good under a birdbath
 Fertilizer: not picky – fine with
organic mulch
 Other: spread slowly via rhizomes

© Project SOUND
Giant Hyssop adds a pastel
element to the summer garden
 In mixed perennial beds – even
mixed with non-natives
 In areas with overspray from lawns,
near fountains
 In the vegetable garden or home
orchard – fine with morning sun
 Nice addition to a woodland garden
– plant in sunny patches
 Great bee plant – produces a light,
minty-flavored honey
 One of the best additions to the
butterfly garden
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qxNbk1BRhPMJ:forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/salvia/msg021927179459.html+Agastache+urticifolia+propag
ation&cd=29&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

© Project SOUND
The Genus Verbena
 Primarily in New World
 ≈ 350 species, hybrids
 Insect-pollinated; many self-
fertile
 Tough, attractive plants; many
favored for gardens, particularly
for butterfly gardens
 Medicinal uses: Western U.S.
species have been used as a
sedative during the early stage of
viral infection.
http://a.gerard4.free.fr/images3/Verbena.jpg

© Project SOUND
*Blue vervain – Verbena hastata
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47903
©2013 Aaron Arthur © 2016, Roger T. George
 N. America, from Canada to CA
 Northern and North-central CA: Warner Mountains,
Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, Central Coast,
SF Bay, Modoc Plateau
 Usually in wet places: marshes, wetlands

© Project SOUND
Blue vervain: wild and dramatic!
 Size:
 3-6 ft tall (flower stalks)
 1-3 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Upright, herbaceous perennial
or biennial
 Fast growth
 Dies back to ground in fall
 Foliage:
 Large, lance-shaped green
leaves; looks like marsh plant
 Larval food for common
Buckeye butterfly
 Leaves edible & medicinal

© Project SOUND
Flowers are fantastic
 Blooms: summer – June to Aug/Sep.
 Flowers:
 Small lilac flowers, typical of
Verbena
 Flower spikes packed with flowers,
opening from bottom to top – long
bloom season
 Spikes arranges in tall, candelabra-
like inflorescence – striking
 Attracts a wide variety of native
bees, honey bees, beneficial wasps,
pollinating flies, small butterflies,
skippers and moths
 Seeds: eaten by sparrows, juncos,
etc.; generally available as seed - easy
©2016 Keir Morse

© Project SOUND
 Texture: best in well-drained,
but takes most
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to part-shade best;
sometimes grows in quite shady
conditions.
 Water:
 Winter: wet soils
 Summer: prefers wet, but fine
with regular water
 Fertilizer: fine with poor soils;
would no doubt take some
fertilizer
 Other: light mulch or none; plants
can re-seed – deadhead to prevent
if desired
©2010 Louis-M. Landry

© Project SOUND
Striking spires
 Backs of beds; cottage
gardens
 Natural meadows
 Swales, rain gardens, bog
gardens, pond edges
 Habitat gardens, primarily
for insectshttp://www.prairienursery.com/store/native-plants/blue-vervain-verbena-
hastata#.WOZAKmcU-Ul
https://www.prairiehaven.com/?page_id=4926

Human uses of Blue vervain
 Edible
 Leaves steeped for tea
 Leaves eaten fresh in salad
 Seeds: parched and eaten whole or
ground into flour
 Medicinal
 Poultice of leaves for wounds, ulcers
 Tincture of leaves and/or flowers as
a nerve tonic (don’t overdo)
 Tea of dried flowers/leaves or roots
for many GI complaints (diarrhea,
worms, stomach ache); also fevers.
© Project SOUND
https://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-
forbs/verbena-hastata-blue-vervain.html

Verbena hastata ‘Blue Spires’
 Slightly shorter
 Same fantastic flowers
 Seeds available from many sources
© Project SOUND
http://www.lautrejardin.ch/fr/catalogue/verbena-hastata-blue-spire-0

© Project SOUND
Sticky Cinquefoil – Drymocallis glandulosa
(formerly Potentilla glandulosa)
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=23900

© Project SOUND
Sticky Cinquefoil – Drymocallis glandulosa
 A plant of the West
 Much of CA except S. deserts &
Great Central Valley
 Dryish to moist, open places
from seashore to timberline –
many plant communities
 Many ssp. proposed and/or
accepted – quite variable and
will no doubt change
 Resembles California Horkelia
enough to confuse and
frustrate, especially when the
plants are not flowering.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/6/poteglan.htm

© Project SOUND
Sticky Cinquefoil – like a large strawberry plant
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall
 1-2 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Erect to tufted
 Dies back to woody root in
fall/winter
 Foliage:
 Medium green – very hairy &
sticky
 Pinnately compound leaves
with 5-9 leaflets
 Tea or tonic made from leaves
© 2007 Michelle Cloud-Hughes

© Project SOUND
Flowers are usually yellow
 Blooms:
 Long bloom season – late
spring through summer
 Judicious summer water
keeps it blooming May-Aug
 Flowers:
 Strawberry-like (or
Horkelia-like)
 Usually a bright yellow
 Bloom pattern like
strawberries
 Good bee & butterfly nectar
 Vegetative reproduction:
divisions in spring - easy
© 2006 David McClurg
© 2007 Michelle Cloud-Hughes

© Project SOUND
Easy to grow from
seed
 Collect dry pods – break open to
release seeds
 1 month cold-moist treatment
increases germination
 Surface-sow – need light
Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
http://www.nps.gov/plants/sos/bendcollections/images/Potentilla%20glandulosa_JPG.jpg
http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Potentilla_glandulosa.htm

© Project SOUND
Cinquefoils are easy..  Soils:
 Texture: just about any
except very heavy clays
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun with regular water
 Part-shade probably works
best
 Water:
 Winter: good winter rains
 Summer: very adaptable –
Zone 1-2 to 2-3; Zone 2 or
more for long bloom season.
 Fertilizer: not picky – would be
fine with ½ strength fertilizer
© 2007 California Native Plant Society
© 2007 Matt Below

© Project SOUND
Garden uses for Sticky
Cinquefoil
 As an attractive pot plant –
grow like a strawberry
 Good in mixed groundcovers
(with Yarrow, Strawberries)
 Along paths and walkways
 In a woodland garden
 For streamside, pond edge or
bordering a lawn
 In the herb or medicinal
garden
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Rosaceae/Drymocallis%20glandulosa.htm

Sticky cinquefoil & other herbaceous perennials :
important part of groundcover layer
© Project SOUND
But we’ll need to add
some evergreen, grass-
like plants for year-round
beauty

We’ve talked about many native sedges
(Carex) and rushes (Juncus)
 Most are easy to grow
 Most like a little water – but
there are some that like more,
other like less
 Good plants for around ponds
and pools
 Most don’t like to actually grow
in the water – they are pond-
edge plants
 Many can easily be kept green,
year-round, with a little water
© Project SOUND

In summary: covered a lot of ground today
 Learned about dragonflies
and their life cycle
 Learned to distinguish
dragonflies and damselflies
 Learned about the common
odonates seen in local
wildlands and gardens
 As usual, we’ve learned that
habitat for juvenile forms is
often a limiting factor for the
success of insect species
© Project SOUND

Creating habitat: what dragonflies &
damselflies need to succeed
 Freshwater (standing or
flowing)
 Aquatic plants for perching,
roosting and laying eggs
 Shallow pond margins
 Upland vegetation that
attracts insects
 Places out of wind to perch
and sun
© Project SOUND

We’ve added habitat
to the backyard
© Project SOUND
And we’ll be back there in
November, when we
consider the needs of
reptiles and amphibians

Be sure to get outside and see the
butterflies, dragonflies & damselflies
© Project SOUND
Tracy’s leading a butterfly walk, 1:30 Sunday, July 9th
– Gardena Willows

Dragonflies 2017

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