Aristolochia californica
Dutchman's pipe vine
Dutchman’s pipe vine is an interesting vine native to river, stream side and woodland habitats. Soft heart-shaped leaves and unusual purplish pipe-shaped flowers bloom in early spring. This deciduous twining plant will need some support if you wish it to grow upwards. Adaptable, but best with a little shade and moderate water. Slow to establish, we offer this adage to encourage patience: “The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps”. Once established it will put on ample growth, easily covering a trellis or chain link fence. THE larval food source for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly. Deer resistant.
Asarum caudatum ‘Alba’
white-flowered wild ginger
An interesting form of the native, shade loving wild ginger. Calling the flowers white is a stretch, they are more of a wasabi-green rather than the usual maroon color of the species. The intriguing long tailed flowers are hidden beneath the glossy heart shaped leaves and would need to be planted on a wall, slope or container to make them easier to view. Wild ginger prefers shade and moisture where it will form a low spreading groundcover.
Dichelostemma ida-maia
firecracker flower
Blooming firecracker flowers are a sight to behold. Native to grassy slopes and woodland edges from Mendocino County to Southern Oregon, this distinctive native bulb is truly unique. Long, strap-shaped leaves give rise to tall, naked stems, 20 – 25 inches in height. Generous clusters of pendulous, one inch floral tubes of striking crimson with reflexed green tips reveal protruding little fringes of white. Bloom in late spring to early summer. Prefers lightly shaded areas that will go dry in summer after flowering. Does well in containers, as long as it is allowed to go dry once dormant. Flowers are custom built for hummingbirds and butterflies.
Epipactis gigantea
stream orchid
Here’s a native orchid that’s easy in cultivation. In time it will form a colony producing many flower stems. Each stem holds several interesting orchid blossoms of subtle orange, coral and green tones 12 – 18 inches tall. Dies back to the ground in winter. Best with decent drainage and regular to moderate moisture (NOT soggy soils) and dappled shade part of the day. Wonderful addition to the woodland garden, around pond or near streams. Good in containers too.
Lomatium californicum
California lomatium
Native to lightly shaded banks or brushy slopes, this interesting native forms clumps of beautiful, ferny, blue-green leaves. The foliage has a pungent celery flavor and grows 1 ft. or so tall. The yellow-green flowers form broad umbels that reach up to 4 ft. high. Good for brightly lit woodlands that go summer dry. Plant with Heucheras, California fescue and Iris. A larval food source for the Anise Swallowtail butterfly.
Plantago maritima
seaside plantain
From coastal bluffs up and down the California coast comes this charming little plantain. Starting in late spring and continuing through summer, small, greenish-yellow flowers flank the top of slender stems up to 6 inches tall. The dense rosettes of narrow, succulent leaves provide a striking accent in a rock garden or nestled in crevices between pavers or stones. A good container specimen. Recognized for its edible and medicinal uses. Plant in full sun to light shade. Tolerates low to regular moisture. May spread vigorously by seed.
Scrophularia californica ‘green-flowered form’
green-flowered beeplant or figwort
An interesting color form of the normally maroon flowered figwort. Seed was collected from a site in northern Santa Cruz county that has wonderful yellow-green flowers. The open-mouthed flowers are small but profuse. Native to open places of the coastal scrub and woodland where it can form large colonies in moist areas. Grows 3 to 6 ft. tall and wide in cool full sun to light shade. Larval food source for the common checkerspot butterfly.
Tellima grandiflora
fringe cups
Fringe cups is a sweet native perennial for the shade garden. Many small, urn-shaped flowers with tiny fringed petals open green and age to pink, line the slender flower stalks. These rise above the soft mounds of foliage 18 inches to 2 ft. Seeds about in a nice way. Tolerates dry shade. Deer resistant.
Vitis californica
California wild grape
California wild grape is a vigorous deciduous vine, native to watercourses in California and Oregon. Lush foliage on woody vines create leafy draperies in riparian areas. Useful in the garden for trellises, arbors, fences or to spill down a bank. Round green leaves take on nice yellow tones in the autumn. Flowers are very attractive to bees.Fruits are small and seedy but tasty. Excellent habitat value providing food and cover for wildlife.