Low Groundcovers - Notes

1/6/2013

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Low and Northerly:
Groundcover Plants from the
Northern and Central CA Coast

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants Madrona Marsh Preserve
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year) February 4 & 7, 2012
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

What makes a good
groundcover plant? The California coast has inspired for centuries

 Low growth habit
 Evergreen – nice color
 Dense foliage – few gaps
 Fast growth to mature size
– then slow
 Long-lived
 Flowers, fruits and other
features that make it good
habitat
 And, for today’s subject,
should be woody (or at
least half-woody)

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/northern-coast © Project SOUND http://www.bon-voyage.co.uk/destinations/california_holidays/itineraries © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

But the CA coast inspires gardeners for a Some of our best native groundcovers come from
different reason… the N. & Central California coast

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/ranlo/2/1279124248/northern-california-coast.jpg/tpod.html
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College

Central &  ZONE 16: Central and Northern
Sunset Zones California Coast thermal belts
N. Maritime
 Thermal belts (slopes from which cold
Chaparral air drains) in a coastal climate
 Ocean dominated about 85 % of the
 “within the zone of time and by inland weather about 15%
summer fog incursion”  A summer afternoon wind
 More summer heat than Zone 17;
 Features: warmer winters than inland
 greater exposure to  Cooler summers than Zones 22-24
summer fog,
humidity  ZONE 17: Marine effects in
 mild temps. and Southern Oregon, Northern and
moderate drought Central California
pressures
 Mild, wet, almost frostless winters;
 adaptations to cool summers w/ frequent fog or wind.
different
 Muted sunlight much of the year
disturbance regimes
(less frequent fire). http://www.digitalseed.com/gardener/climate/plantclimate_map_ca.html
 Summer highs ~ 65-70º F

http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/reference/subissue_detail.php?SUBISSUE_ID=1

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1/6/2013

Let’s take a road Our Central and Northern Coastal areas a
trip up Hwy 1 unique in many ways
 Central coast
 Point Sal/Guadalupe

 San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz

 Big Sur
 Rocky point
 Yankee Point/Diamond Heights

 Northern coast
 Point Reyes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg
 Ft. Bragg


 Arctostaphylos andersonii
We share some plants with the Central Manzanitas of the  A. canescens
 A. crustacea
and Northern Maritime chaparral northern maritime
 Arctostaphylos cruzensis
chaparral  A. edmundsii
 Black sage – Salvia mellifera  A. glutinosa
 Purple Sage – Salvia leucophylla  A. hookeri hearstiorum
 Sticky Monkeyflower – Diplacus  A. hookeri hookeri
aurantiacus Many of these species are  A. montaraensis
 Blue-eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium rare or endangered in the  A. montereyensis
bellum wild, but grown regularly in  A. morroensis
 Some grasses - Nassellas the garden
 A. nummularia sensitiva
 Many native wildflowers  A. ohlone pro. sp.
 A. pajaroensis
 A. pumila
 A. purissima
 A. silvicola
© Project SOUND
 A. tomentosa (all ssp &Prforms)
© SOUND

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1/6/2013

Not surprisingly, our local flora has the most in California rainfall – quite a range, even
common with that of the Central Coast along our coasts

 The closer the native
home of a plant to our
own, the more similar are
the:
 Soils
 Temperatures http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread775456/pg2

http://coast-santabarbara.org/
 Rainfall
 Etc
 Plants from nearby
coastal areas are easier
to grow than those from
further up the coast


Our first stop: Point Sal Home to a unique flora
 Located in the northwestern part of  Transition zone between N. & S.
Santa Barbara County, near the city CA: unique plant species
of Guadalupe assemblages.
 Between Vandenberg Air Force Base  A mosaic of coastal sage scrub
and the Guadalupe Dunes. and foothill needle-grass with
 Sandy/rocky promontory wildflowers, Giant Corepopsis
 Much influenced by ocean
* http://kcbx.net/~bdenneen/

breezes, salt spray – like our
own immediate coast

http://www.cityprofile.com/california/photos/36781-guadalupe-point-sal-state-beach1.html

http://www.localhikes.com/HikeData.ASP?DispType=1&ActiveHike=0&GetHikesStateID=&ID=42 © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
66 http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2001/09/fieldwork2.html
http://www.ryono.net/pointsal/pointsal.html http://blogbisogno.wordpress.com/2009/08/page/2/

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1/6/2013

Salvia leucophylla ‘Pt. We continue our
Sal Spreader’ road trip up Hwy 1
 Central coast
 Naturally occurring variants
from Point Sal  Point Sal/Guadalupe

 San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
 Look like Purple Sage except
usually shorter (2-3 ft)
http://www.sm.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=24489&return=l2_aO

 Very variable in size,
depending on water, other *
conditions
 Purple Sage cultivars &
hybrids may be easier to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg

grow than the species


Hearst Castle – San Simeon Hearst/San Simeon Coast/ Arroyo de la Cruz
 Old ocean beaches and bluffs
 The soil varies from a near adobe through
red clay on hard pan to a gray sand-rock
composite.
 It receives summer fog and rainfall of about
20-30 inches/yr
 It is one of the most moderate climates in
the world. Every day has a high of 60-65
degrees F. and a low of 50 degrees F.

http://www.nordicgeospatial.com/about_us http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-
http://www.coastandocean.org/coast_v23_no3_2007/articles/Hiking_Hearst_04.htm © Project SOUND bin/location.cgi?flags=0&year=current&latdeg=35.591167&longdeg=121.131667
© Project SOUND
http://justinsomnia.org/2006/09/driving-down-the-big-sur-coast/

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1/6/2013

Rainfall: Central Coast The Arroyo de la Cruz region: special

Our rainfall

© 2011 Chris Winchell

Mouth of Arroyo de la Cruz, ridge immediately south of creek, east of Hwy 1 (San
Much cooler summers as well Luis Obispo County, California, US)

Arroyo de la Cruz has also provided us
Arroyo de la Cruz – unique conditions =
some wonderful garden cultivars
unique plants
 A variety of communities, chaparral, coastal sage scrub,  Sisyrinchium bellum
riparian and grassland, mark this unique area. Its importance 'Arroyo de la Cruz‘
lies in the number of endemics that are found in this
relatively small area; indeed, it has been called the "Cruzian  Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
pocket of endemism."
var. thyrsiflorus
 Ten species of plants considered rare or endangered are
'Arroyo de la Cruz‘
found here. Most have a restricted range.
 It is the type locality of at least two species, Arctostaphylos  Ceanothus maritimus
hookeri ssp. hearstiorum and Ceanothus hearstiorum which are
'Valley Violet‘
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/billbouton/sets/72157603552645540/

found nowhere else.
 Other rare species include Allium hickmanii, Arctostaphylos
cruzensis, Bloomeria humilis, Calochortus clavatus ssp.
recurvfolius, Campanula obispoensis (?), Ceanothus maritimus,
Sanicula hoffmannii and Sanicula maritima.

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1/6/2013

* Arroyo de la Cruz Manzanita – * Arroyo de la Cruz Manzanita –
Arctostaphylos cruzensis Arctostaphylos cruzensis
 Endemic to coastal areas from northwest San
Luis Obispo Co. to Southern Monterey Co.
 Grows on old ocean beaches and bluffs
 Occurs in a variety of habitats, including
maritime chaparral, coastal scrub, conifer forest,
and valley-foothill grassland.
 Receives summer fog/rainfall of 20-30” per year
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3466


© Project SOUND © 2011 Chris Winchell © Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-cruzensis

Low-growing Manzanitas: Ground cover manzanita
perfect for your garden?  Size:
 2-3 ft tall
 Attractive, ‘neat-looking’ foliage  5-10 ft wide
©J.S. Peterson
 Red bark on interesting  Growth form:
trunks/branches
 Spreading, low : mat-like to
 Low-maintenance under the right http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-cruzensis
mounded
conditions:  Shreddy red bark
 Needs good drainage  Dense – good coverage
 Low water in summer - susceptible
to fungal diseases; deep watering  Foliage:
(Zone 1/2)  Leaves bright green, shiny;
Jo-Ann Ordano © California Academy of Sciences  No fertilizer may be hairy when young
 Densely over-lapping on
Flammable: manzanita plants contain  Coastal varieties will thrive along branch
volatile compounds, which burn like a immediate coast – even right next
torch when ignited – no a good choice to beach  Roots: no basal burl – so can’t
for fire-prone areas re-sprout

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1/6/2013

Who can resist a  Soils:
Central coast plant
 Texture: adaptable – sandy soils in
manzanita in bloom? nature
 pH: any local – 6.0-8.0
 Blooms:  Light:
 Winter/early spring  Full sun only right along coast
 Usually Dec-Feb in S. Bay  Afternoon shade in most gardens;
remember, average temperatures
 Flowers: cooler (60-65º F. where it’s native)
© 2006 Steve Matson  Small, urn-shaped flowers typical
of manzanita  Water:
 Pale pink blush  Winter: good winter rains
 Large clusters – very showy  Summer:
 Sweet scent  Needs supplemental summer water
– Zone 2 to 2-3
 Fruits:  Needs leaves washed down during
 The edible ‘little apples’ dry summer – remember the
summer fogs
 Hairy, ½ inch diameter; ripe in
late summer or fall  Other: shouldn’t need much pruning;
© Project SOUND
sterile technique, after blooming
© Project SOUND
© 2002 David Graber

Good looking Why the variability in growth habit?
evergreen shrub
 Used as an evergreen woody
ground cover – substitute for ivy
 Good for slopes
 Pair with its native associates
for an evergreen medley:
 Ceanothus hearstiorum © 2011 Chris Winchell
© 2006 Steve Matson

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-cruzensis
 Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Tilden Botanical Garden
 Ceanothus griseus Regional Parks Botanic
 Adenostoma fasciculatum Garden is a botanical garden in
Tilden Park, Berkeley CA USA
 Iris douglasii
 Baccharis pilularis
 Salvia mellifera
 Diplacus aurantiacus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctostaphylos_cruzensis

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1/6/2013

Some species occur along the entire CA coast Western Blue-eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium bellum

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mechanoid_dolly/5682527020/

© Project SOUND

Sisyrinchium bellum
Western Blue-eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium bellum 'Arroyo de la Cruz'

 Not a grass at all – a  Dwarf selection - ~ 6 inches
member of the Iris tall
family (smallest  Unusually large--1 1/2 inch
member of the Iris wide--purple flowers in spring
family) http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1292

 Flowers a vivid purple flowers
 Distribution: Much of are held a bit above the 6 inch
CA, OR high foliage clump.

 Habitat:  Useful in a dry border, on a
bank, and in a rock garden.
 Open, generally moist,
North/Central coast areas have produced grassy areas
some attractive variants – now available as  Woodlands
cultivars for the garden

© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/5712113309/

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1/6/2013

Other sisyrinchium cultivars Seaside Daisy - Erigeron glaucus

 ‘Rocky Point’
 Dwarf habit, with
broader leaves and
violet blossoms
Rocky Point, Big Sur
http://nativeson.typepad.com/plants/2010/05/sisyrinchi
um-bellum-rocky-point.html

 ‘Ft. Bragg’
 Dwarf habit, with
broader leaves
 Soft lavender in
color, with violet
centers
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv20278.php

Cliffs near Ft. Bragg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreedyphoto/page6/


Two California Daisys Seaside Daisy – Erigeron glaucus

 E. foliosus (Leafy):  Compact growth habit: < 1 ft
Erigeron foliosus
 Mountain ranges & hills of C.  Leaves:
& western S. CA
 Dry, sunny, rocky, brushy or  Thicker, fleshier
wooded or grassy slopes  Larger: spatula shaped
 coastal sage scrub, chaparral
and southern oak woodland  More basal
 Roots:
 E. glaucus (Seaside)
 Rhizomes
 Central to N. Coast (into OR)
 Plant spreads into dense
 Coastal bluffs, dunes, mat-like colony
Erigeron glaucus beaches http://www.calhortsociety.org/seed-exchange/seed-exchange-2002/seed-list-pages/large/Erigeron-glaucus-2.jpg

 Coastal Strand, Coastal Sage  Flowers: no differences
Scrub, Northern Coastal
Scrub Much more “lush appearing” than leafy
fleabane


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1/6/2013

 Borders Horticultural cultivars of
Using Erigeron Seaside Daisy
 Edges & low hedges
glaucus
 Accent plant  Variable in size and number of
flowers and plant
 In a rock garden
 Choose the one you like best
 Near pools & ponds
http://www.mostlynatives.com/notes/erigeronglaucuscs.jpg
 Ground cover
‘Cape Sebastian’ cultivar

http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/eriglasb.htm

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/pictures/a269.jpg
‘Sea Breeze’ cultivar

Great addition to a North coast http://www.callutheran.edu/Academic_Programs/Departments/
Biology/Wildflowers/gf/plants/category/gar-1670.htm
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2213
themed garden
‘Olga’ cultivar ‘Bountiful’ cultivar

Ceanothus – California Lilacs
Ceanothus of the northern maritime
chaparral  Some 55 species
 Common names: California Lilac, Mountain lilac,
 Ceanothus cuneatus var. Wild lilac, Buckbrush, Blueblossum
fascicularis  Quite variable in habit:
 Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus  evergreen and deciduous
 Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus  prostrate to erect shrubs and small trees.
 Ceanothus gloriosus var. exaltatus  Flowers small, in clusters, showy en masse
 Ceanothus gloriosus var.
 Flower color: white through many shades of blue, deep violet.
porrectus
 Ceanothus hearstiorum  Range: southern Canada to Guatemala
 Ceanothus maritimus  Mainly in California (over 40 species)
 Some also in the eastern US and Rocky Mountains.

 Have the ability to fix large amounts of nitrogen via root-inhabiting
microbes (actinomycetes).
© Pr SOUND © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. * Hearst’s (San Simeon) Ceanothus –
thyrsiflorus 'Arroyo de la Cruz' Ceanothus hearstiorum

 Bright shiny leaves
 Medium-blue flowers
 Large mounding shrub or
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ceanothus-
thyrsiflorus-big-sur-california-lilac groundcover, great for
erosion control or a low,
broad hedge.
 Best with a little summer
water and afternoon
shade in our climate

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_hearstiorum
http://plantayflor.blogspot.com/2010/09/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus-var-repens.html

* Hearst’s Ceanothus – Ceanothus hearstiorum Hearst’s Ceanothus – low grower
 Central coast endemic – San Luis  Size:
Obispo & Monterrey counties – near  generally < 1 ft tall
Arroyo de la Cruz; very rare in nature  3-6 ft wide
 Coastal, low, grassy hills  Growth form:
 Receives summer fog/rainfall of 20-  Evergreen woody (half-woody)
30” per year shrub
 Prostrate habit; radiates out
Picture from Rob Rizzardi
from central stem like a star
 Slow-growing but long-lived

 Foliage:
 Leaves bright to medium green
 Small, narrow and glandular;
unique
 Has a nice scent when wet


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1/6/2013

Hearst’s Ceanothus  Soils:
Heavenly, old-
likes clay  Texture: clays best, loams/rocky
fine – not for sandy soils
fashioned flowers
 pH: any local

 Blooms: in spring – usually Mar-  Light:
Apr in our area  Full sun on immediate coast
 Afternoon shade in hotter inland
 Flowers:
gardens
 Small with prominent anthers
– typical of ceanothus species  Water:
 Lavender to medium blue  In the wild: summer fog and
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-hearstiorum/

 In dense clusters – very showy rainfall of about 20-30 inches.
 Sweet scented; old-fashioned Every day has a high of 60-65º F.
 Can be used to make a mild and a low of 50º F.
soap –as can the foliage  In your garden: Water Zone 2 or 2-
3 (occasional summer water); rinse
 Fruits: hard knobby fruits – off leaves every few weeks in dry
birds eat the seeds summer periods

 Other: organic mulch; prune after
blooming or to remove diseased
Picture from Rob Rizzardi

Low-growing Ceanothus Coastal ground covers conquer slopes
 Ground covers – slopes
 In large planters
 To hide retaining walls

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3107

http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-hearstiorum/

http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/slope.html

Artemisia californica Canyon Gray Canyon , Ceanothus hearstiorum, Ceanothus
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/may.htm Yankee Point, and Salvia sonomensis Mrs. Beard Mrs. Beard.
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1249

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1/6/2013

Using ground covers with different
characteristics adds interest

http://www.intermountainnursery.com/demonstration_garden_list.htm

Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’ with Dwarf Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis) cultivar

Lower-growing Coyote Bush cultivars On our way to Big Sur, we enjoy the coast near Morro Bay
 ‘Pigeon Point' – low groundcover  Central coast
 1-2 ft tall  Point Sal/Guadalupe
 Up to 12 ft wide
 Very bright green foliage; larger leaves  San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz
than species
 Most common dwarf form for coastal
areas

 ‘Twin Peaks 2’ – low groundcover or *
hedge
 Usually 1 – 3 ft tall; will mound to 5 ft
if not regularly sheared
 6 ft wide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg

 Dense growth; can be shaped
 Leaves smaller, darker gray-green & Maritime chaparral at the Los Osos
more deeply toothed than species Elfin Forest Preserve on Morro Bay,
San Luis Obispo

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1/6/2013

California’s famous ‘Elfin Forests’ California’s famous ‘Elfin Forests’
 Elfin forest is a nickname given to  Unusual areas: chaparral that
several similar dwarfed plants can be waterlogged in the
ecosystems, mainly in coastal winter, and arid and nearly
Temperate Californian and desert-like in the summer
montane Tropical regions
 Plants have adapted accordingly,
 Include communities of and are generally much shorter,
dwarfed/tiny plants. smaller, and compact than
http://blog.slocountyhomes.com/2009/03/elfin-forest-boardwalk-trail.html/
related plants elsewhere.
 Some CA Elfin Forests:
 Even trees and shrubs, such as
 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Cypress (Cupressus), Oak
Park (N/ CA coast) (Quercus), and Madrone
 El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area (Arbutus menziesii) rarely grow
(Morro Bay) more than 20 ft (7 m) tall in
 San Luis Obispo Elfin Forest these plant communities.
(Higher up on Cuesta Ridge in SLO
county).
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32661-d2169512-Reviews-
Elfin_Forest_Preserve-Los_Osos_San_Luis_Obispo_County_California.html © Project SOUND http://www.kayharden.com/galy16b.html © Project SOUND

Maritime Ceanothus – Ceanothus maritimus
Maritime Ceanothus – Ceanothus maritimus
 Endemic to San Luis Obispo County California,
where it is known from only a few occurrences in
the vicinity of Hearst Ranch.
 Grows on old ocean beaches and bluffs < 500 ft;
soil varies from a near adobe through red clay
on hard pan to a gray sand-rock composite
 High precipitation (20-30”); summer fog;
temperate climate
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6586,6589,6625

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ceanothus-maritimus

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1/6/2013

Low-growing Maritime Manzanita Who can resist ‘em?
 Size:
 Blooms:
 1-3 ft tall
 In spring – usually Feb to April
 5-6 ft wide in our part of the world
 Growth form:  Flowers:
 Evergreen woody shrub; moderate  Dense clusters of typical 5-
to slow growth rate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_maritimus
part pattern of ceanothus
 Low, spreading or more mounded  Deep blue to violet to almost
habit white
 Reddish gray bark aging to gray  Sweet scented – good for
 Stems stiff-looking insect pollinators
 Native Californians used to
 Foliage:
make mild soap
 Leaves small, wedge-shaped, shiny
medium green above; hairy beneath  Fruits: dry capsule, usually horned
at top; birds eat seeds
 Roots: support nitrogen-fixing bacteria

© 2006 Steve Matson © Project SOUND http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ceanothus+maritimus © Project SOUND

A plant for the coast –  Soils: Maritime Ceanothus
and beyond  Texture: adaptable – best in
clays, fine in sandy soils in the garden
 pH: any local

 Light:  Good choice for fire-prone
 Full sun on coast, to part shade areas, with summer water
inland (morning sun fine)  Slopes
 Good under tall trees  Groundcover – neat-looking
 Water:  Parking strips
 In wild: 2x our annual rainfall;  Pair with other low coastal
summer fogs groundcovers: Salvia
 Summer: needs water at least leucophylla ‘Pt. Sal’, Ceanothus
several times a month in inland maritimus, and Lessingia
gardens – Zone 2 to 2-3 filaginifolia ‘Silver Carpet’
 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

 Other: dislikes being moved and
pruning – leave it alone if possible
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-maritimus/
© Project SOUND http://www.vcstar.com/photos/2010/feb/08/86887/ © Project SOUND

16

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