* White Alder – Alnus rhombifolia (AL-nus rom-bee-FOH-lee-uh)

Family: Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Native to: Western United States from Baja to British Columbia. In California, much of the state

except the Mojave Desert, including the Santa Monica & San Gabriel Mtns; along stream banks, canyon bottomlands and gulches to about 7000 ft., often in small stands along permanent streams.

Growth characteristics: woody tree mature height: 40-70+ ft. mature width: 30-40 ft. Lovely winter-deciduous tree with striking white-gray bark. Fast growing – to 30 ft. in less than a

decade. Leaves alternate, rounded with serrated edges, prominent veins – shiny above. Leaves

on long petioles (stalks) so they quiver in the wind. May have one or several trunks. Sweet

fragrance. Roots are invasive (water-seeking) and may damage sidewalks/concrete.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in winter/early spring in our area. Separate male and female flowers on

each tree. Male flowers on drooping branches (catkins); female flowers develop into small, woody

cones < 1 inch long. Wind pollinated. Seeds are small – spread by wind and water.

Uses in the garden: Usually planted as a lawn tree in large lawns or as a street tree. Provides good

shade – few other plants can grow beneath it when mature. Excellent choice for stream banks and

moist, shady canyons.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native deciduous trees.

Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover, nest sites and seeds for food.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to part-shade.

Soil Any local.

Water Needs regular summer water – Water Zone 2-3 or 3.

Fertilizer Not needed – probably not harmful.

Other Use an organic mulch (or let leaf mulch accumulate).

Management: Watch for Alder Borers, which can kill trees. Relatively short-lived (to 80 years).

Can prune up to a more open shape.

Propagation: from seed: fresh seed in fall; 180 day cold-treat stored seed by cuttings: yes

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 14 4/30/13 © Project SOUND

*Tanbark Oak – Notholithocarpus densiflorus (no-tho-lith-oh-KAR-pus den-si-FLOR-us )

Family: Fagaceae (Beech/Oak Family)

Native to: Primarily grows in Coastal Ranges of CA and OR from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties northward; on wooded slopes in humid Redwood, Mixed Evergreen, Yellow Pine Forest and

Red Fir Forests up to about 4500 ft. elevation. Formerly called Lithocarpus densiflorus.

Growth characteristics: woody tree mature height: 50-75 ft. mature width: 25-40 ft. Elegant evergreen woody tree; broad in open areas or more shrubby in shade. Leaves are toothed

with a hard, leathery texture. Young leaves covered in orange hairs which persist only on underside.

Bark is thick, gray and fissured – tannins extracted from bark were used to tan leather. Forms a

burl at base. Relatively slow-growing (to 8 ft in 5 yr.). Plants are very susceptible to sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum) disease.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring/summer. Male catkins are long and drooping (like oak) while

female flowers (which produce fruit) are nearly inconspicuous. Trees can be covered in male

catkins in a good year – quite dramatic! The seeds, which resemble acorns with a very hard shell,

take 2 years to develop and ripen in fall. Seeds contain high levels of tannins – but are edible if

processed to remove them. The seeds were an important food crop for Native Californians.

Uses in the garden: Most suited for woodland garden with redwoods and pines. Lovely trees –

would do well in a watered lawn in our area.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native hardwood trees.

Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: provides cover, nest sites and seeds for food.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Part-shade; good to east of taller trees

Soil Well-drained, deep soils best; pH: 5:00-7:00 best.

Water Needs summer irrigation – Water Zone 2-3 (water every 1-2 weeks).

Fertilizer Would be fine.

Other Use an organic mulch (like redwood bark) or plant grasses beneath.

Management: Prune out dead branches as needed.

Propagation: from seed: fresh seed; stratify 2 month; plant pointed end up by cuttings: ??

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 13, 14, 16 4/30/13 © Project SOUND

* Canyon Gooseberry – Ribes menziesii (RYE-bees men-ZEE-see-eye )

Family: Grossulaceae (Gooseberry Family)

Native to: Central & North Coast of CA to OR as well as western Sierra foothills; several different

varieties grow from moist or marshy areas to drier hillsides, coastal canyons and foothills in

Redwood Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Chaparral between 0 and 3500 feet.

Growth characteristics: woody shrub mature height: 4-8+ ft. mature width: 5-7 ft. Open, many-branched shrub with arching branches. Branches very prickly (typical of gooseberries).

Leaves medium green, rounded, aromatic and velvety with glandular hairs. Very attractive growth

habit; slightly more open/graceful than our local Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry (Ribes speciosum). Will drop leaves in hot summer/fall conditions.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms late winter/early spring (Feb. to April depending on weather). Flowers also similar to Ribes speciosum: sepals are fuchsia or purple, petals are white and extend forward to form

a loose tube from which the stamens emerge. Flowers dangle from branches and resemble tiny

fuschia flowers; truly spectacular in bloom. Spiny dark fruits ripen in summer; edible.

Uses in the garden: Mostly used as an ornamental shrub because of its flowers. Also popular in bird

and butterfly habitat gardens – attract hummingbirds and fruit-eaters. Spines make this a good

choice for a barrier or hedge. Fine under oaks. Beautiful and unique plant – just plant it back far

enough that you don’t brush against it. Native Californians cooked and dried berries for food.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native gooseberries.

Attracts: Excellent bird & butterfly habitat: provides cover, nectar and fruits for food. Also

provides cover for small creatures like lizards.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Part-shade (morning sun fine) or dappled sun.

Soil Well-drained soils best; any local pH.

Water Best with occasional summer water – Water Zone 1-2 or 2. Don’t water on hot days

or get water on leaves/trunk.

Fertilizer Not needed; low doses likely fine.

Other Likes an organic mulch.

Management: Prune out old, dead branches when dormant in fall. Be careful not to over-water in

summer; consider locating this plant near an area that gets fairly regular water.

Propagation: from seed: dried seed needs 2-3 month cold treatment by cuttings: yes

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 6, 8, 13 4/29/13

© Project SOUND

* Fendler’s Meadowrue – Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum (Thal-IK-trum FEND-ler-eye poly-CAR-pum )

Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Native to: Western N. America from Baja, NV/UT to OR. In forested areas including the Santa

Monica/San Gabriel Mtns; moist, open/shaded places in forests, along streams usually < 5000 ft.

Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 2-4 ft. mature width: 2-3 ft. Drought-deciduous herbaceous perennial that dies back to the root in dry summer conditions.

Foliage primarily in basal rosette. Leaves bright green, much divided with rounded leaflets. Plant

looks fern- or columbine-like. Pretty and unusual. Plants do have a strange odor – smell before

you purchase. Note: stems and roots may be poisonous if eaten.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in mid- to late spring – usually Aril-June in local gardens. Plants are

dioecious (separate male & female plants); male flowers are the showy ones, so most plants sold by

nurseries are male. Male flowers in clusters on drooping stalks – very unusual and showy (in a quiet

way). Flower color: green or white with pink-purple (see photo).

Uses in the garden: Most often used as a perennial for shady areas of the garden. Lovely addition

to the woodland garden, with native ferns, grasses, Heuchera. Fine under oaks and other large

trees. Should do fine in a large container or in a shady flower bed. Plant where you can enjoy the

unusual flowers (near seating; along a shady walkway). More showy when massed. Native

Californians used an infusion externally for pain.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native perennials.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Part-shade to quite shady in our area.

Soil Any texture – sandy to clay; any local pH.

Water Needs moist soil until after flowering; then does fine at Water Zone 2 or 1-2 (very

occasional summer water)

Fertilizer Loves a leaf litter mulch; would accept low doses of fertilizer.

Other Leaf or other organic mulch.

Management: Prune out dead foliage in late summer after seeds have spread.

Propagation: from seed: fresh seed – no pre-treatment by divisions: in spring

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 5, 8, 10-14, 19, 20, 25 4/29/13 © Project SOUND

Catalina Nightshade – Solanum wallacei (so-LAN-um wah-LASS-ee-eye)

Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

Native to: Channel Islands of S. CA and Baja; uncommon on slopes and canyons in chaparral <

1500 ft. elevation.

Growth characteristics: perennial sub-shrub mature height: 2-4 ft. mature width: 3-8 ft. Sprawling/spreading perennial, similar to Solanum xanti, but larger. Leaves rounded, to 4 or more

inches long with soft hairs. Leaves sticky due glandular secretions. Note: All parts of plant are toxic if eaten.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – usually between March and May. Flowers are typical in shape for the Nightshades, but very large and showy. The blue-purple flowers with yellow centers bloom in

clusters at the tip of the stems. Fruits begin green, ripening to dark purple. Birds eat the berries.

Uses in the garden: Most often used in dry perennial beds or gardens with a ‘Catalina Island’ theme.

Easy to grow and water-wise. Good choice for slopes, canyon bottoms. Best with some shade, so

consider for use under oaks, other water-wise shade trees. Pair with yellow-flowered sunflowers or

Diplacus species. Rare in the wild.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Nightshades.

Attracts: Good bird habitat: provides cover and fruits for food.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun only on immediate coast; Part-shade or dappled sun elsewhere.

Soil Well-drained soils; any local pH.

Water Drought tolerant once established ; Water Zone 1-2 or even 2

Fertilizer None needed

Other

Management: Pinch during growing season to promote bushy growth. Easy.

Propagation: from seed: ?? fresh seed in spring by cuttings: ??

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 13, 14 4/30/13 © Project SOUND

* Desert Olive – Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens (for-es-tee-AIR-uh pew-BES-ens)

Family: Oleaceae (Olive Family)

Native to: Southwestern N. America from TX & CO west to CA and south to Mexico. In CA, in foothills of Sierras, Desert Mountains, Tehachapi; dry slopes and washes in creosote bush scrub,

chaparral, coastal sage scrub and foothill woodland.

Growth characteristics: large shrub/tree mature height: 12-18 ft. mature width: 10-15 ft. Winter-deciduous woody shrub to small tree. Stems have irregular growth habit, sometimes almost

vine-like, with spiny branchlets. Young bark dark – older bark white, somewhat like aspen. Leaves

bright green in spring, provide yellow fall color. Spreads and may be thicket-forming.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in early spring, often before the leaves. Plants are dioecious – separate

male & female plants – must have both for fruiting. Flowers are small, yellow. Fruits are small

(~ ¼ inch) blue-black olives. Fruit is very showy.

Uses in the garden: Very adaptable in the garden. Makes a great hedge or screen, alone of mixed with other desert shrubs. Can be pruned to form a small, drought-tolerant tree. Fine for areas that

receive little maintenance – or can be managed as a more traditional garden shrub. Nice accent

plant with fall color, showy berries, white bark. Tolerates harsh winds – strong wood.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native large shrubs; privets, Siberian Pea-shrub, European olive.

Attracts: Excellent habitat plant. Provides early nectar for pollinators and larval food for

Hairstreak butterflies and Sphinx Moths. Birds eat the fruits. Provides dense cover.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to part shade; adaptable.

Soil Any local soil; not particular

Water Water well first year; then does best at Zone 1-2 or 2 (occasional summer water).

Fertilizer none

Other

Management: Easy to grow. Best if regularly pruned or hedged to keep a more formal shape. Will

spread with regular water – plant only male trees near riparian areas.

Propagation: from seed: clean seeds; plant spring. May cold treat 1 mo. by cuttings/layering: yes

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 13, 20 2/2/11 © Project SOUND

* Bigelow Beargrass – Nolina bigelovii (no-LIE-nuh big-el-OH-vee-eye )

Family: Ruscaceae (Ruscus Family) – formerly in Lilliaceae (Lily family)

Native to: Southeastern S. CA deserts to AZ, NV and Baja ; desert mountains, Mojave and Sonoran

Desert, slopes and canyons especially along the Colorado River in Creosote Bush Scrub from ~

1000-5000 ft elevation.

Growth characteristics: clumping perennial mature height: 6-10 ft. mature width: 3-5 ft. Herbaceous to half-woody perennial that resembles a yucca or very large bunch grass. Leaves are

long (to several feet) and strap-like, in a basal rosette of up to 150 leaves around the thick stem.

Leaves do not have barbs or sharp tips – an advantage over the Yuccas & Agaves. A large, dramatic

plant that remains grass-like for many years before flowering.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring/early summer – usually May or June. Mature plants produce

a stout flowering stalk rising 3-5 ft above the leaves. Clusters of pure- to creamy-white flowers are

sweetly scented. Clusters superficially look like Yucca – but more open and with smaller flowers.

Uses in the garden: Usually used in desert-themed gardens – appropriate for both Mojave and

Sonoran Desert collections. Extremely showy and dramatic – would look nice with modern

architecture. Very drought tolerant, so could be used in any water-wise garden. Could probably

feature it in a large container – slow-growing. Native Californians baked and ate young flowering

stalks; leaves can be used for basketry (green or bleached).

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Agaves, large grasses (like Pampas Grass).

Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat plant: provides nectar & pollen.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun.

Soil Any well-drained – sandy is excellent; pH 6.0-8.0.

Water Drought tolerant once established (Water Zone 1-2). Give one watering in August,

then none until the fall/winter rains.

Fertilizer None.

Other Inorganic mulch, if any.

Management: Best if ignored and left to grow as it wishes. Remove spent flowering stalks.

Propagation: from seed: store cool; no pre-treatment for fresh in winter by offsets: in winter

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 13 4/30/13 © Project SOUND

* Banana Yucca – Yucca baccata (YUK-uh bah-KAY(or CAH)-tuh)

Family: Agavaceae (Agave Family)

Native to: Widespread in Southwestern U.S. from California’s eastern desert mountains to CO, TX and Mexico. Occurs in Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin Deserts; uncommon on on dry slopes and

in dry Joshua tree woodlands up to ~ 7000 ft (lower in CA).

Growth characteristics: clumping perennial mature height: 3-6+ ft. mature width: 3-10+ ft. Part-woody sub-shrub that looks like a typical Yucca. Long (1-2 ½ ft), strap-like leaves in a basal

rosette. Leaves have sharp spines on their tips and curling fibers along their sides. Plant is rather

stiff in appearance. Size and other characteristics depend greatly on available water. Produces

offshoots (pups) on spreading rhizomes – slowly spreading.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – as early as April and as late as June. Flowers are on a stout

stalk that rises slightly above the leaves. Large (1-3 inches), white-purple Yucca flowers cluster along the flowering stalk for several weeks. Very dramatic! Pollinated by the nocturnal pronuba

moth. Fruit is fleshy, resembling a small banana (hence the common name) and edible (usually

roasted or baked). Important food plant for people and small creatures, birds.

Uses in the garden: Most often used in rock gardens or desert-themed gardens. Nice accent plant

in Mediterranean or Central American style gardens. Would also complement modern architecture.

Can be grown in large containers. Make good barrier plants, rustic hedges. Sometimes grown as

a food plant, source of fibers for basketry or source of soap (saponins from roots).

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Agaves.

Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: provides cover for lizards, habitat for a wide range of insects and

fruits/seeds which are eaten by many animals and birds.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to light shade.

Soil Well-drained (rocky/sandy are best); any local pH.

Water Very drought tolerant but looks better with monthly summer water – Zone 1-2.

Fertilizer None needed.

Other Little to no mulch; inorganic mulch fine.

Management: Carefully (wear protection) remove spent flower stalks. Easy. Don’t overwater.

Propagation: from seed: best with 2 month cold treatment by offsets: ?winter

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 6, 8, 16, 24, 44 4/29/13

© Project SOUND