This lecture was given in April, 2011 as part of the California native plant gardening series ‘Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden’

1. Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND – 2011 (our 7th year)
© Project SOUND

2. The Cuttings Garden
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
April 2 & 5, 2011
© Project SOUND

3. Do you like cut-flowers?
© Project SOUND

4. Cut-flowers make our lives more
colorful and interesting
http://www.paintingmania.com/young-girl-hat-
http://decor4you.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html decorated-wildflowers-9_6401.html
© Project SOUND

5. How do you want to use your cut-
flowers  Light use
 Occasional arrangements
featuring plants that are
currently blooming
 To supplement non-native
flowers
 Won’t require as much planning
 Heavy use
 Regular (weekly) arrangements
 Special occasions that require
lots of flowers
 ‘flower-laden’ bouquets
 Will require you to think about
supply requirements
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atweed/4406640979/
© Project SOUND

6. Should you have a cuttings garden?
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/waterwise/images/03_Allium-unifolium2.jpg
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2010/05/
© Project SOUND

7. Advantages to creating a cuttings
garden
 Where flowers are used in large volume
in the home, their removal from borders
and other landscaped areas may detract
from the intended effect.
 By providing a special cut-flower garden,
the gardener can plan for these needs
without diminishing landscape plantings.
 The well-planned cutting garden also
offers another very practical advantage:
annuals and perennials may be
conveniently and efficiently grown in rows
or raised beds/containers where they are
easily gathered and maintained.
© Project SOUND

8. Cuttings gardens need not be unattractive…
 …but it’s sensible to locate them in
an area where they are not a focal
point when not at their peak.
 Old-time gardeners often included
cut-flowers in the vegetable
garden where they could tend and
harvest them easily.
 Finer estates would sometimes
have a separate area devoted to
producing the favorite cut-flowers
of the family.
http://www.sunset.com/travel/outdoor-
adventure/bring-bainbridge-home-00400000016341/ © Project SOUND
http://www.french-gardens.com/gardens/chateau-de-bosmelet.php

9. What makes a good cut-flower?
 Interesting flowers
 Nice shape
 Large size
 Pretty or unusual colors
 Other characteristics
 Scented flower or foliage
 Interesting foliage
 Good ‘holding power’
 Look good for at least 3-4
days if not longer
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/eschscholzia_californica.shtml
http://druidnetwork.org/ethical/articles/cutflowers
http://thegarden-remodel.blogspot.com/2009/08/wildflower-bouquet.html © Project SOUND

10. The ‘traditional’ home grown cut-
flowers span the seasons
 Winter and early spring
 Daffodils: October to April
 Cymbidium orchids: January to June
 Late spring and summer
 Tulips: May to June
Agapanthus: June to August
Lilies: June to August
Delphiniums: June to July
Roses: June to September
Sweet peas: June to August
Dahlias: July to September
 Autumn
 Chrysanthemums: Oct. to December
© Project SOUND

11. An early spring bouquet
Inspiration from the past…
http://www.righthealth.com/topic/ceanothus_americanus/Images
© Project SOUND
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1959198/lilac_bouq
uets_the_scientific_method.html

12. Woolyleaf Ceanothus – Ceanothus tomentosus
© 2010 Barry Breckling
© Project SOUND

13. Woolyleaf Ceanothus – Ceanothus tomentosus
 Foothills and lower (< 3500 ft)
elevations of Sierra Nevada,
South Coast, San Bernardino
Mountains, Peninsular Ranges
 South into Baja
 Scattered on dry, shrubby
slopes in chaparral
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6586,6589,6649
 Introduced into cultivation in
California by Theodore Payne.
 ‘"A medium sized shrub 4 to 8
feet high, with rather slender
branches and reddish brown
bark. “
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/codiferous/417993994/

14. Woolyleaf Ceanothus is a large shrub
 Size:
 6-12 ft tall
 6-10 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Dense, woody shrub
 Slender branches with
reddish bark
 Moderate growth rate
 Foliage:
© 2009 Thomas Stoughton
 Leaves medium to gray-
green; shiny above, hairy
beneath
 Evergreen
© Project SOUND

15. Flowers: Ceanothus
 Blooms:
 Early spring - usually in
Feb-Mar or Apr in western
L.A. Co.
 Flowers:
 Color ranges from very light
© 2009 Thomas Stoughton blue to bright blue – see it in
bloom before purchasing
 Typical small Ceanothus
flowers in dense clusters –
make a wonderful bouquet
 Sweet scent
 Attracts bees
 Seeds: in sticky capsule that
opens, releasing seeds
© 2001 Michelle Cloud-Hughes http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/plants/cean-tom.html © Project SOUND

16. Woolyleaf Ceanothus:  Soils:
Chaparral species  Texture: well-drained, rocky
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun
 Water:
 Winter: needs good winter
rains; supplement if needed
© 2008 Chris Winchell  Summer: best with occasional
water (Zone 1-2; maybe 2 in
very well-drained soils)
 Fertilizer: use an organic mulch to
supply additional nutrients
 Other: prune after blooming
period if needed/desired; can be
trained to tree or hedge-sheared
http://www.worldbotanical.com/ceanothus.htm © Project SOUND

17. Many ways to use
 As a large evergreen accent
shrub
 Trained as a small tree
 Espaliered along a wall
 In a hedge or hedgerow
 Etc.
© 2010 Barry Breckling
© 2001 George W. Hartwell
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Ceanothus_tomentosus_var._olivaceus
© Project SOUND
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nSqhmSsqrKnvy1WCu96HnQ

18. Ceanothus is striking with other spring
bloomers
http://mostlymedicinals.blogspot.com/
http://www.westernhort.org/plant_notes200804%20.html
http://flowerbrained.com/2009/12
/05/man-flowers/ © Project SOUND

19. The same color tricks we learned in
garden design also apply to
floral arrangements
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dballentine/3655531259/
http://iometro.blogspot.com/2010/11/color-spotlight.html
© Project SOUND
http://decor4you.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

20. Purples theme
– late spring
 Eriogonum
fasciculatum (or any
white-flowered
buckwheat)
 Eriogonum grande
rubescens
 Salvia clevelandii (or
any Salvia)
http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/tag/cut-flowers/
© Project SOUND

21. Common perennials have long been
popular as cut flowers
 Achillea millefolia
 Aster species
 Allium species
 Aquilegia
 Ascepias species
 Coreopsis species
 Dryopteris & other ferns
 Helianthus species
 Iris species
 Lilium species
 Penstemon species
 Spring bulbs
© Project SOUND

22. Bluedicks – Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum
http://biology.csusb.edu/PlantGuideFolder/DichelostemmaCap/DichelostemmaCapPlant800.jpg

23. * Wild Hyacinth – Dichelostemma multiflorum
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND

24. * Wild Hyacinth – Dichelostemma multiflorum
 NW California, n Sierra Nevada,
uncommon in San Francisco Bay Area
 Open woodlands, foothill grasslands,
scrublands
 Formerly Brodiaea multiflora ; AKA
Wildtooth Snakelily
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1
&taxon_id=242101566
http://www.csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/curator/bidwell_park_04-02-05/Maidu_Trail_4-2-05.htm
© Project SOUND
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8349,8535,8541

25. Wild Hyacinth is a typical Dichelostema
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall
 < 1 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Perennial from a corm
 Dies back to corn kin dry
summers; re-sprouts with the
fall/winter rains
 Foliage:
 Strap-like leaves
 Leaves start to die back before
spring flowering
 Corm: can bed baked & eaten like
new potatoes
Mark W. Skinner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Image:Dichelostemma_multiflorum2.jpg

26. Dichelostema are easy & reliable from corms
 Plant bigger corms 3-4 inches
deep and smaller corms 1-2 inches
deep
 Plant in
 well-drained soil; garden or pot
 in full sun (plants can tolerate
afternoon sun)
© 2002 Christina Raving  in the autumn – just before the
rains
 Space the corms 1-6 inches apart.
 If gophers are a problem, dig a
hole and line it with chicken wire
mesh or make a cage for corms.
 Water the plants (wet, not soggy)
and then wait for the winter rains.
© Project SOUND
http://www.serg.sdsu.edu/SERG/restorationproj/woodlandgrassland/pen
can/penasquitos_final.htm

27. Flowers: showier than
Blue Dicks
 Blooms: in spring - usually Mar-
April (but may be as early as Feb &
late as May)
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/dichelostemma
 Flowers:
 Typical small, trumpet-shaped
flowers of Dichelostema
 Flowers in ball-like clusters at
ends of long stalks
 Color: lavender or purple; may
be more pink
 Loved by Skipper butterflies
 Light sweet scent
Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND

28. Dichelostema are very easy to grow from seed
 Use seed collected from local sources
 Best planted in fall – stratify (cold
exposure) if other
 Scatter seeds and rake them lightly
into well-drained soil ; full or partial
sunlight.
http://hazmac.biz/080421/080421DichelostemmaMultiflorum.html  Water the seeds after planting and
water again when the surface is dry to
the touch. Water the seeds gently so
you don’t exhume the seed.
 Protect the seeds from animals and
cold, dry winds, and from weed
competition

29. Dichelostema (and other bulbs) can be started in pots
 Plant as usual; cover lightly
 Water seedlings through the spring.
 At the beginning of hot weather, when
leaves start to yellow, cease watering
 During summer:
 Move pots to a darker area, such as a
carport, garage or dry shady spot outdoors
 Keep a screen on pots to keep out foraging
animals.
 When the weather cools down again, move
the pots back outside and go through a
full rain or watering cycle once again.
 Will take several years (usually 3) to
reach flowering size

30.  Soils:
Summer dry - required  Texture: any well-drained
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun & warm; thrives on hot,
sunny conditions, can plant near
rocks, rock mulch
 Water:
 Winter/spring: needs adequate
water through blooming period;
taper off watering as blooms wane
 After blooming: Zone 1; must have
summer dry for corm health &
good seed set
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
 Other: thin corms every 3 years (or
when become crowded) in fall
© 2008 Steve Matson © Project SOUND

31. Dichelostema brighten
the spring garden
 As an attractive pot plant
 Tucked around summer-dry shrubs
 In prairie/grassland planting
 Be sure to include in spring bouquets
© 2004 Carol W. Witham
CA native bulbs are perfect
for those difficult to water
areas of the garden
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairewoods/3552292585/ © Project SOUND

32. CA native bulb  Feb-Mar
 Blue Dicks/Wild Hyacinth
calendar  Local Oniona (Allium)
 Sisyrinchium begins
 Early Calochortus
 Mar-April
 Sisyrinchium
 N. Coastal Onions
 Meadow Onion
 Coastal Onion
 Goldenstars
 Calochortus
 May-June
 Calochortus
 Lilies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atweed/4406640979/
© Project SOUND

33. Some onions make good cut flowers
Unfortunately, our local Allium haematochiton is not one of them
© Project SOUND

34. The Wild Onions – genus Allium
 Over fifty species of Alliums growing in CA.
 Most are easy to grow & multiply rapidly in the
garden.
 Species that are native to the mountains or
moist meadows, such as Allium unifolium, prefer
full sun and regular watering all season.
 The majority of wild onions are from dry, rocky
habitats and need good drainage with summer
drought.
 Most Alliums are well-suited to rock gardens,
where they can be planted in colonies among
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22744855@N08/fa
vorites/page12/ short-growing Brodiaeas.
 Their lovely pompom blooms can also be
displayed to advantage when planted in groups
towards the front of the mixed, dry perennial
border.
© Project SOUND

35. Two types of Alliums
 Allium species can be lumped into two types, those
that have true bulbs, and those that grow from
rhizomes with less-developed vestigial bulbs
attached to them.
 The bulbous alliums tend to grow and flower early,
then go completely dormant afterwards.
 The "rhizomatous" alliums tend to be season-long
growers and flower much later in summer.
© Project SOUND

36. Meadow Onion – Allium unifolium
http://www.calfloranursery.com/images/pics/a_b/allium_unifolium.jpg © Project SOUND

37. Meadow Onion – Allium unifolium
 Native to NW and western
central CA (down to Santa
Barbara co.) – lower
elevations
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=8237&flora_id=1  Grassy stream banks in pine
or mixed evergreen forest
in the coastal ranges
 Sometimes on cliffs near
the ocean
 Usually in moist clay or
serpentine soils
© Project SOUND
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8349,8354,8422

38. Meadow Onion: looks like an ornamental
onion  Size:
 1-2 ft tall; may need to stake
 < 2 ft wide
 Growth form: herbaceous
perennial from a bulb
 Foliage:
 Medium to gray-green
 Leaves strap-like; remain green
through flowering (tips may
yellow)
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/category/plants/california-natives-plants/bulbs/
 Bulbs: not what you usually think
of as an onion; small & rounded – at
ends of short rhizomes
 Plant bulbs 2” deep in fall
© Project SOUND

39. Flowers: ooh-la-la!!
 Blooms:
 Spring-summer; usually May-
June but varies with weather
(heat; rains)
 Blooms for ~ 3 weeks
 Flowers:
 Super-showy; pink or lavender,
pastel
 Typical for onions; small star-
shaped flowers in open cluster
 Makes a lovely cut flower –
sweet fragrance
 Seeds:
 Small, black seeds in papery
capsule
 Easy to collect & grow
© 2007 Neal Kramer
© Project SOUND
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=6093442

40. Easy even in  Soils:
conventional gardens  Texture: well-drained
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to light shade; ½ day sun
works just fine
 Water:
 Winter: needs good winter rains;
supplement if needed
 Summer: takes some summer water
© 2007 Mike Ireland (Zone 2 or 2-3; let dry out in late
summer/fall); other bulb species for
summer water include Allium validum
(Pacific/ Swamp Onion) and Triteleia
peduncularis (Marsh Triteleia)
 Fertilizer: fine with some fertilizer &
organic amendments
 Other: may need to thin occasionally
© Project SOUND
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2010/05/

41. For garden or bouquet
 As an showy container plant
 With non-native bulbs or natives
that require a little water
 In rain garden, swale or veg.
garden
 Sunny edges in a woodland garden
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2009/04/allium-unifolium/
 Will naturalize – lovely massed
© Project SOUND

42. Tricks for maintaining CA native bulbs
 Maintenance tip: In early summer, remove the dried stalks
for neatness. Be sure to collect the seeds for propagation or
for trading with fellow gardeners.
© Project SOUND

43. Harvesting & preparing your cut-flowers
 Harvest during the coolest time of day
when they are crisp and turgid—early
morning or late evening.
 Remove lower foliage that would remain
underwater in the storage container.
 Cut stems with a sharp instrument,
making the cuts underwater if possible.
This prevents air bubbles from 'clogging'
http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/allur
the stems.
e-of-lavender.aspx
 Place the materials in clean containers of
lukewarm water with preservative added
(room temperature up to 100 degrees F.).
© Project SOUND

44. Keys to Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh
 Give them water.
 Give them food.
 Protect them from
decay or infection.
 Keep them cool and out
of direct sunlight.
http://www.fancypantsweddings.com/diy-wedding-flower-diaster-judy-hates-
it/wilted-flowers/ © Project SOUND

45. Cut-flower preservatives
 Contain nutrients, preservatives
& disinfectants
 Can be purchased (probably
better) or made at home
(cheaper & probably OK)
 Mix the floral preservative using
warm water (100-110°F or 38-
40°C) because it will move into
the stems more effectively than
cold water. Chlorine in tap water
http://www.hk94.com/B002SVJP5U.shtml
is fine, since it acts as a natural
disinfectant.
© Project SOUND

46. Making your own floral preservative –
experiment to see what works with
different species
 Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #1
 2 cups lemon-lime carbonated beverage (e.g., Sprite™ or 7-Up™)
 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
 2 cups warm water
 Cut Flower Preservative Recipe #2
 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or white vinegar
 1 to 2 tablespoon sugar (use 2 with vinegar)
 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach
 1 quart warm water
© Project SOUND

47. Managing your cut-flowers: cleanliness
 Always keep cut material in water while
designing. This will prevent wilt due to
the loss of water through transpiration.
 Always design in clean containers that
have been filled with preservative
water.
 After each use, clean storage
containers, vases, liners, and needle
point holders with a soapy Clorox
http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/how-to-
design-hot-color-flower-garden-
00400000041320/page2.html
solution, to kill all bacteria.
 Use a floral preservative to provide
nutrients and to prevent bacterial
growth.
© Project SOUND

48. Designing flower arrangement is a
course in itself
http://treefalldesign.typepad.com/tree_fall/2006/04/flower_arrangin.html
http://onecharmingparty.com/2009/12/02/what-im-reading-jane-packers-guide-to-
flower-arranging/
Good on-line resources, books and courses © Project SOUND

49. A few simple tips from the pros
 A standard, mixed floral arrangement will
have four main components:
 Focal flowers : usually tall, large or
unique flowers to grab your attention.
Generally use only a few of these – one to
five, depending on the size of your
http://www.hnfflorist.com/howtomakelargeflowerarrangements.html container.
 Intermediate flowers: one-third shorter
than the focal flowers or have smaller
flowers that fit the chosen color scheme.
Use approximately two times the number
of these flowers in the arrangement.
http://www.mauidriedflowers.com/silk_bamboo.html © Project SOUND

50. A few simple tips from the pros
 Four main components:
 Filler flowers: used to edge the
container or fill in any gaps in the
arrangement. These flowers
solidify the color scheme and hide
unattractive stems. Use as many as
necessary to complete the desired
shape and balance.
 Filler plant materials: attractive
foliage pieces, grasses or even
feather and bark pieces are used to
fill in any gaps and provide balance
to the arrangement.
http://wildsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html
http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/05/11/interpreting-history-through-plants/
What does this arrangement lack? © Project SOUND

51. White Fairy-lantern – Calochortus albus
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAAL2
© Project SOUND

52. *Diogenes' lantern (Yellow globelily) –
Calochortus amabilis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Calochortus_amabilis_2.jpg © Project SOUND

53. *Diogenes' lantern (Yellow globelily) –
Calochortus amabilis
 Native to mountains north of the San
Francisco Bay Area - < 3000 ft. elevation
 Isolated pocket of survivors on Vulcan
Peak in San Diego County.
 Common, grassy hillsides and in open oak
woodlands
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora
_id=1&taxon_id=242101453
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8349,8461,8463 http://calochortus.blogspot.com/ © Project SOUND

54. Diogenes' lantern: typical globelily
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall – usually ~ 1 ft
 < 1 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial from a bulb
 Dies back to bulb after flowering
 Leaves grow back with winter rains
 Foliage:
 A few strap-like leaves
 Leaves persist through flowering
 Bulbs:
 Elongated to teardrop shape
 Can be baked or boiled and eaten
© 2002 George Jackson
© Project SOUND

55. Flowers are super
 Blooms: in spring: April-
June in our area
 Flowers:
 Bright, clear yellow with
Jo-Ann Ordano © California Academy of Sciences
orange-red markings
 Shaped like a globelily;
globe with wings (looks
like a lantern, hence the
common name) - ~ 1 inch
 In loose clusters – very
unique, showy
 Seeds: in 4-chambered
pod; more oval than most
calochtus
© Project SOUND
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/CalochortusSpeciesOne

56. Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: well-drained (most
local)
 pH: any local except > 8.0
 Light:
 Part-shade best; morning sun
or dappled shade ideal
 Water:
 Winter: needs adequate for
growth
 Summer: needs summer dry
after flowering – taper to
Zone 1
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils.
Organic mulches are fine.
http://www.summitpost.org/diogenes-lantern-calochortus-amabilis/516123
© Project SOUND

57. Let Diogenes’ Lantern spread a little light..
 In native prairie with summer-dry
grasses, annual wildflowers
 Under oaks and other summer-
dry trees
 Lovely massed or naturalized
 As an attractive pot plant; may
need support
 Useful accent or filler flower
Frithjof Holmboe © California Academy of Sciences © 2009 Barry Rice
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xerantheum/3533104440/

58. Let’s create a spring/ early summer
bouquet to celebrate our CA heritage
 Suncups
 Penstemons
 Clarkias
 Globe Gilia
 Monardellas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dballentine/3656336782/
© Project SOUND

59. *Willow Mint – Monardella linoides ssp. viminea
© 2005 Jasmine J. Watts
© Project SOUND

60. Mountain Monardella – Monardella odoratissima
J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND

61. Mountain Monardella – Monardella odoratissima
 Foothills and mountains
of northern and central
CA, incl. Klamath, N.
Coast, Sierra, White
and Inyo Mountains
 ? San Gabriels
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Monardella+odoratissima
 Wet or dry, rocky,
forest openings from
3500-11,000 ft. in
Sagebrush scrub,
montane forests
© Project SOUND

62. The name (odoratissima) say it all
 Size:
 1-2 (sometimes 3) ft tall
 2-3 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial from
stout woody taproot
 Many upright stems
 Foliage:
 Color: green to gray-green
(hairy)
 Simple leaves
 Strong minty scent – great
© 2009 Terry Dye
tea (medicinal or ‘sipping
tea’)
Al Schneider @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database © Project SOUND

63. A showy Monardella
 Blooms:
 Summer in the wilds
 Likely June-July in our area
 Flowers:
 Pale pink to light magenta –
good colors for garden
 Flowers small – typical for
Monardellas
 Flowers in ball-like clusters
at ends of flowering stems
 Really showy
 Attracts butterflies,
hummingbirds, many others
 Seeds: small, typical for Mint
family
© Project SOUND
© 2009 Terry Dye © 2011 Wynn Anderson

64.  Soils:
Likes a little shade  Texture: well-drained; sandy
or rocky are fine
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Part-shade (morning sun)
works well
 Dappled shade under trees is
ideal
 Water:
 Winter: good soakings
© 2010 Julie Kierstead Nelson  Summer: happy with
occasional summer water
Happiest at higher elevations, (Zone 2, even 2-3 in well-
but worth a try drained soils)
 Fertilizer: fine with organic
amendments, mulches
© Project SOUND

65. Mountain Monardella:
lovely filler flower
 Under trees, as a groundcover
 Along partly shady walkways
 Shady edges of the vegetable
garden
 As an accent in large
© 2010 Steven Thorsted containers
 In a rock or butterfly garden
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Monardella_odoratissim
a_ssp._pallida&redirect=no
Ssp. pallida
© Project SOUND

66. A spring/summer native bouquet
celebrating our CA heritage
 Camissonia - Suncups
 Penstemons
 Clarkias
 Monardellas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dballentine/3656336782/
Now, how about some bright
colors to jazz up our
arrangement?
© Project SOUND

67. Annual spring
bounty: Clarkias
Godetia/Farewell to Spring
Clarkia amoena
© Project SOUND

68. Clarkias – your choice for a showy
bouquet
http://www.buyflowersonline.com/Buy+Pink-
Persuasion-Bouquet.html
http://www.rampantscotland.com/colour/supplement070818.htm © Project SOUND

69. Who says cutting’s
garden have to be
boring?
 Use bright colored
annuals in swaths to
provide cut-flowers
– and at a cheap
price, too!
 Plant with
perennials and
grasses to provide
year-round interest
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/wildflower_watch_wk13.htm
http://plantsandgardening.com/v-gardening/seeds/09.html
© Project SOUND

70. Some choices for tall accent flowers
 Clarkias
 Sidalceas – ‘Dwarf Hollyhocks’
 Penstemons
 Lilies
http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/sidalcea.html
© Project SOUND
http://www.gifttree.com/p3/7306/Pink_Paradise_Bouquet-1.html

71. The Checkerblooms –
the genus Sidalcea
 ~ 25 Western U. S. mallow species
 Most species 2-4 ft tall
 Perennials
 Showy spikes of 2-inch-wide
blooms in shades from pale pink to
bright rosy purple.
 Great cottage-garden plant that
has the look Hollyhocks, but not
the dominating height or
aggressive self-seeding.
 Most Checkerblooms grown in
today’s gardens are hybrids
http://www.swsbm.com/homepage/NameIndexAC.htmll
© Project SOUND

72. Dwarf Checkerbloom – Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora
© 2007 Neal Kramer http://baynatives.com/plants/Sidalcea-malvaeflora/
© Project SOUND

73. *Oregon Checkerbloom – Sidalcea oregana
© Project SOUND

74. *Oregon Checkerbloom – Sidalcea oregana
 Northern & Central
Ranges, Great Basin
Province, to WA, WY, UT
 Meadows, marshes, stream
sides & other wet places
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5042,5095,5122  Also in ponderosa pine
forests and sagebrush
 Low to high elevations – to
10,000 ft
© 1991, Clayton J. Antieau
© Project SOUND

75. Oregon Checkerbloom: often called
‘miniature hollyhock’ in the trade
 Size:
 2-4 ft tall
 ~ 2 ft wide
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial wildflower
 Upright stems from stout woody
taproot
 Foliage:
 Primarily at base
 Leaves usually medium green,
deeply-lobed – may be hairy
 Roots: stout taproot; no rhizomes
© Project SOUND
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

76. Flowers are fantastic!
 Blooms: mid- to late Spring;
usually April-June in Western L.A.
Co.
 Flowers:
 Typical Checkermallow flowers
– mallow-like but almost
translucent
 Size: ~ 1 inch
 Colors: dark to light pink;
sometimes more lilac/
magenta
 Clustered along blooming stalk
like a hollyhock – super showy
 Seeds: small; can buy & grow from
seed
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND

77.  Soils:
Garden-friendly  Texture: likes well-drained
 pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun to part-shade; dappled
sun
 Does not like high temperatures,
winds
 Water:
 Winter: plenty
 Summer: probably best with
regular water (Zone 2-3 or 3) but
can take Zone 2 (will die back)
 Fertilizer: fine with organic
amendments, mulches
 Other: prune back to basal foliage in
late fall
© 2005 Christopher L. Christie
© Project SOUND

78. Loved by gardeners
for many years
 In natural meadow gardens
w/native grasses, annuals, etc.
 In cottage gardens; lovely with
other flowering an annuals &
perennials, giving some height
 In pink/purple-themed gardens
w/ Heuchera, Woodmints, etc.
 In woodland gardens, with
pines, ferns, etc.
 As a lovely accent flower in
floral arrangements
© 2007 Dianne Fristrom
© Project SOUND

79. Sidalcea oregana: parent of many garden
hybrids, cultivars
‘Party Girl’
http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/sidalcea.html
Some of these are called ‘Sidalcea
malvaflora’ in the horticulture trade
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene1065.html
– almost all are actually S. oregana
© Project SOUND

80. ‘Elsie Heugh’ hybrid
 Old hybrid cultivar – around
at least 30 years
 Lovely pastel pinks
 Hybrids – especially the
bright-colored ones -may
revert over time (become
more pale)
http://www.garden-
superstore.co.uk/product/2/WB84395/Sidalcea-Elsie-Heugh-
6-Bareroot-Plants.html Project SOUND
©
http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Sidalcea/gallery.html

81. ‘Brilliant’ hybrid
 Aka: S. hybrida ‘Brilliant’
 Bright reds & pinks
http://www.vanbloem.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_ID=1152
© Project SOUND
http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Sidalcea/gallery.html

82. ‘Party Girl’ hybrid
http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/sidalcea.html
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/image.asp?image=I850-1028092wg.jpg
http://www.premiumplantplugs.com/Sidalcea-Party-Girl-p772.html
© Project SOUND

83. ‘Rosanna’ hybrid
http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/sidalcea.html
http://www.greenscenelandscape.com/PlantsQRS.htm © Project SOUND

84. Deadheading keeps Sidalceas (and other
flower plants) blooming
 Deadheading: cutting off
spent blooms before they
go to seed
 Effect: plants keep
producing more blooms,
increasing the bloom season
 Why? – plants will keep
trying to produce seeds –
you’re tricking the plant
 Consequences: may decrease
life of plant
© Project SOUND

85. Simple arrangements - with careful choice
of shapes, colors - can be very effective
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/easter-and-spring-centerpieces
© Project SOUND

86. http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/sogetsuikebana2.html
http://wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=1382
© Project SOUND

87. Ikebana – a Japanese tradition well suited
to CA native flowers
 Ikebana, or “the way of flowers,”
dates back more than 500 years
and first blossomed among male
artisans and aristocrats.
 Aimed at creating harmony
between man and nature as well as
heightening the appreciation of
the rhythms of the universe
 Arrangements are conducted in
silence using only organic elements
http://ikebana.culturalnews.net/niseiweek2007.html
put together in a minimalist style.
© Project SOUND

88. A vase full of lilies…how sublime!
© Project SOUND

89. Leopard (Tiger) Lily – Lilium pardalinum
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/NorthAmericanLiliumTwo
© Project SOUND

90. Leopard (Tiger) Lily – Lilium pardalinum
 California Floristic
Province – though some
ssp. are limited to N.
CA & S. OR
ssp. pardalinium  Ssp. pardalinium on Mt.
Pinos & Laguna Mtns of
http://ucjepstest.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8349,8592,8602,8603
San Diego Co.
 Habitat tends to be
stream banks, forming
large colonies in bogs,
woodlands, and sunny
edges
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?obj
ect_id=8396&flora_id=1 © Project SOUND

91. Leopard Lily is tall & stately….
 Size:
 3-6 ft tall
 1-2 ft wide; spreading clumps
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial from a
bulb
 Very tall & upright
 Foliage:
 Medium green
 Whorls of large leaves
spaced along the stem; very
woodsy looking
 Roots: short rhizomes; bulbs
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/NorthAmericanLiliumTwo
develop along rhizomes
© Project SOUND
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

92. Flowers are glorious
 Blooms: in late spring/summer;
usually June & July
 Flowers:
 Drooping ‘Turk’s cap’ type
lily flowers; up to 15 per
stalk
 Nice size: 2-4 in. across
 Lovely colors: mostly reds,
oranges or yellows with
maroon spots
 As pretty as any Asian lily
 humming birds, butterflies
love it
 Seeds: flat seeds in tough,
oblong pod (typical for lilies)
© Project SOUND
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/NorthAmericanLiliumTwo

93. A wetland lily  Soils:
 Texture: well-drained
 pH: any local incl. slightly acidic
 Light:
 Best in filtered sun, light shade
or afternoon shade
 Water:
 Winter: plenty of water
 Summer: likes soil moist – best
Zone 2-3 but could use Zone 2
 Fertilizer: fine with organic
amendments and mulches – ‘forest
floor’ soils
 Other: easy to grow; divide
occasionally in fall.
© Project SOUND
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College

94. Wetland lilies for a
woodsy garden
 In dappled shade with ferns,
Mimulus
 For bog gardens, rain gardens
 As an attractive pot plant
 Shady moist areas around patios
and sitting areas, arbors, etc.
© 2009 Barry Rice
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_l/lilpar.html
© Project SOUND

95. ‘Giant Red’
 Parentage unclear; may be a
hybrid
 Large – 5-7 ft tall
 Red flowers
 Available from bulb companies
© Project SOUND

96.  Plant mature bulbs 4–5
Lilies from inches deep in cool loose
bulbs loamy soil.
 The scales also sprout
and grow easily, so when
transplanting if any
scales break off, plant
them 1” deep and you'll
have lots of baby lilies
 Grow well in pots & like
to be crowded. When
planting in containers
cover the bulbs with only
http://www.infiniteitsolutions.net/
2 inches of soil.
© Project SOUND

97. But perhaps something a little more
delicate…
http://www.shastawildflowers.com/pages/ShastaLilyTop2241.htm
© Project SOUND

98. *Washington Lily – Lilium washingtonianum
© 2008 Vernon Smith
© Project SOUND

99. *Washington Lily – Lilium washingtonianum
 Northern ranges – Sierras &
Cascade Range into OR
 Grows in dry woods, often
through shrubs, at mid- to
high elevations (1,300 to
7,200 feet)
ssp purpurascens
 Named for Martha
Washington – not the state
ssp. washingtonia
http://www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/lil_was.html
© Project SOUND

100. Fantastic Flowers
 Blooms: late spring to summer
 Flowers:
 White (fading to pink), often
with maroon spots
 Very fragrant
 1-25 flowers per stalk
http://lilyseed.com/washingtonianum_9200.html  Good for wedding bouquet!
© Project SOUND
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2010/07/lilium_washingtonianum.php

101. Dryland Lilies: more  Soils:
 Texture: well-drained
like local bulbs  pH: any local
 Light:
 Full sun to very light shade
 Water:
 Winter: plenty; even flooding
 Summer: quite drought-
tolerant once established;
Zone 2 or 2-3 during
flowering then taper off
 Fertilizer: OK with organic
mulches and soil amendments –
fine in garden beds
 Other: leave them in place in the
garden – don’t like being moved
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College © Project SOUND

102. Hopefully we’ve convinced you that CA
natives make interesting cut-flowers
© Project SOUND

103. Get out and see flowering natives
Come to the Garden Party next Saturday
© Project SOUND

104. Now is a good time for flower shows
© Project SOUND
http://www.goingnativegardentour.org/pressroom/wildflowerShowVisitors.jpg

105. Now is a good time for flower shows
 Rancho
Santa Ana
Botanic
Garden
sometimes
has flower
shows
http://wildsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/04/wildflowers-near-gorman.html
© Project SOUND

106. Would you like to have a flower show?
© Project SOUND