This talk discusses CA native plants in the Rose Family (Rosaceae), It was given in Nov. 2013 as part of the series 'Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden'
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CA Wild Rose – Rosa californica
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/wildflower_watch_wk18.htm
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12. 11/2/2013
Wild roses are important
habitat plants
Blooms:
http://www.qty.com/anna3.html
Main season: May-Aug (but blooms
intermittently in warm season)
Flowers: single pinks; color varies
slightly
Important pollen source for bees and
other insects
Fruits (hips)
Summer/fall
Edible; good syrups & jellies
goldfinches, bluebirds, grosbeaks,
robins, mockingbirds, and sparrows-relish the hips
Plants/foliage
http://static.flickr.com/29/37921551_c468a94b4a_m.jpg
Dense, spiny foliage provides good
cover and nesting sites for birds
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40. 11/2/2013
Heteromeles arbutifolia 'Davis Gold'
Similar in all ways to redberried form except has
yellow fruits when ripe
Reportedly also more disease
resistant
http://redwoodbarn.com/images/toyonyellow.jpg
Note that the leaves and flowers are
what you’d expect for Rose family
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49. 11/2/2013
Holly-leaf & Catalina Island Cherries
Prunus ilicifolia
Holly-leaf Cherry (ssp. ilicifolia):
southern North Coast Ranges,
Central- & Southwestern California
(except Channel Islands) to Baja
Catalina Island (ssp. lyoni): Channel
Islands and mainland Baja California
Both: shrubs grow in the moister
areas of dry chaparral shrub lands
and foothill woodlands.
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The biggest difference is in
the leaves
Holly-leaf Cherry:
Has serrated leaf margins
More shrub-like
10-25 ft tall (usually)
10-20 ft wide
Catalina Island Cherry:
Has smooth leaf margins
More tree-like
20-40+ ft (usually)
10-20 ft wide
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Rosaceae/Prunus_ilicifolia.html
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/catalinacherry.html
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Holly-leaf Cherry in nature
Often found in canyons and on
north-facing slopes
alluvial fan sage scrub, chaparral,
coast live oak riparian forest,
coast live oak woodland, coastal
sage scrub, sycamore riparian
woodland, walnut woodland
Most often interspersed with
other shrubs
Usually fairly slow growing
May live up to 100+ years
http://www.coestatepark.com/prunus_ilicifolia_at_coe.htm
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Attractive flowers & berries
Blooms:
Mar-May
Flowers small, white,
clustered
Showy, lightly scented
Excellent for native
pollinators
Fruits (cherries)
Ripe Sept-Oct
Red to dark red
Big pit; sweet flesh
Many birds, animals
love them!
Are edible – with
preparations
http://www.ecnca.org/Plants/Photo_Pages/Prunus_ilicifolia.htm
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You can grow your own from seed…or
buy one at our fall plant sale
Fresh seed – fall
Be patient – seeds may
take 4-9 months to
sprout – or may sprout
right away
http://www.lifeandleaf.com/category/leaf/seed/
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55. 11/2/2013
Native Cherries in the garden…almost
anywhere
Make a nice, small evergreen
tree
Can be pruned to suit many
garden needs:
Shrub
Hedge
Screen
Great choice for scent and
habitat gardens – get a lot for
your money
Fine in large containers &
planters
Fine on slopes/banks
Hardy: good for roadways,
commercial plantings
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/images/new_botimages/large/0511_j.jpg
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Good hedge/screen plants
Many plants in Rosaceae
– esp. those with edible
fruits - can be pruned
and shaped extensively
Hedged
Espaliered
So you can have native
fruit trees even in a
small space
More on these in 2014
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