PLSC 381 Module 1/Plant List 1 & 2 Quiz

reasons to use natives in the landscape (know at least 5)

• reflects the local natural beauty

• creates plant community-based gardens that:

  • have similar cultivation requirements (soil/light/nutrients/water)

  • promotes ecology of the area

• provides us with plants that are well adapted to the climate and soil

• increases diversity within garden by including plants from similar plant communities

• can be economic because they can decrease water consumption in the summer

• can decrease soil disturbance and don’t require constant amending

• many are aesthetically beautiful

• long bloom periods

• evergreen foliage with low water requirements

how do native plants support native fauna?

• native pollinators that require specific plants to lay eggs & grow larvae

• provide food to local and migratory organisms

apical meristem

produces tissues that grow into mature stem and leaf tissues (top of stem)

node & internode

leaves attached at the node (1 or more leaves occur at each node)

internodes are the space between each node

axillary bud

a bud that occurs in the axil of each leaf, axillary buds grow into new leafy stems or flowers

morphology of a leaf (blade, petiole, stipule)

blade: expanded portion of the leaf

petiole: leaf stalk

stipule: appendage at the base of the petiole

list venation (left to right)

palmate, parallel, pinnate

leaf lobes

palmate, pinnate

floral symmetry

radial, bilateral

screen

• must be evergreen and not deciduous

• be sensitive of ultimate height of plant

• tall, dense, do not want to se through it

background contrast

• unusual shade of foliage for a contrast against the background

• can be deciduous

• Sequoia sempervirens, Vitis californica

shade trees

• what seasons do you want shade? only in the summer→ deciduous okay

• Acer marcophyllum, Umbellularia californica

fill

• a plant that can spread and fill an area, reducing opportunity for weeds to flourish, providing a pleasant ground cover

• dense, spreads quickly, evergreen

• watch for creeping/fast filling/thicket forming

foundation cover

• stays short, doesn’t block windows

• not too wide

• evergreen

• Ceanothus spp., Berberis aquifolium, Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’

focal point

• requires a special attribute that draws the eye towards it

• pop of flow color

• seasonal foliage color

• sharply contrasting foliage

herbaceous borders

• an assortment of non-woody, soft-stemmed, perennial plants

• can have annuals and shrubs that provide contrast and color

• higher maintenance

• amazing show of color

biodiversity hotspots

regions that harbor a great diversity of species and have been significantly impacted by humans

Mediterranean regions of the world

1. SW & S Australia

2. W Cape & S Africa

3. Mediterranean Basin

4. Central Chile

5. California

commonalities of Mediterranean regions

• latitude between 30-45 degrees

• W or SW edge of continents

• diverse topography

• cold ocean currents nearby

• warm dry summers, cool wet winters

• 10-40 inches of rainfall annually

which Mediterranean region is the largest in area?

Mediterranean basin

which Mediterranean region is the smallest in area?

South Africa

which region has the most plant diversity?

South Africa

which region has the highest percentage of endemic plants?

Australia

convergent evolution

plants from different geographic locations develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures

Aesculus californica

California buckeye

• 20’ to 30’ tall and 15 to 30’ wide

• summer drought deciduous and winter deciduous

• seeds are poisonous and pollen is poisonous to European honeybees

• very showy in spring with cream (also pink) flowers

• terminal flowers at end of branch

• palmately compound, 5-7 leaflets on leaf, opposite arrangement

Arctostaphylos ‘Howard McMinn’

Howard McMinn manzanita

• 6 to 10’ tall & 10-15’ wide

• evergreen

• smaller leaves

• more green than grey, glossy, fruits are smaller

• most dependable and adaptable manzanita (widely available)

Arctostaphylos manzanita ‘Dr. Hurd’

Dr. Hurd manzanita

• 10-16’ tall, 10-15’ wide

• evergreen

• showy bark

• small tree/large scrub

• large, grey leaf, not glossy, broadly elliptical

• pale pink/white flowers

Arctostaphylos ‘John Dourley’

John Dourley manzanita

• 1-3’ tall, 4-6’ wide

• evergreen

• attractive orange-red new growth in spring

• mounding shrub, spreads but doesn’t hug ground

• rounded leaves

• hairy stems

Arctostaphylos ‘Pacific Mist’

Pacific mist manzanita

• 2-3’ tall, 6-10’ wide

• evergreen

• performs best on coast, tolerates dry shade

• long, grey/dull/matte, narrower leaves

• urn-like flower

Artemisia californica

California sagebrush

• 1-4’ tall, 4’ wide

• can be summer drought deciduous, drought tolerant

• leaves in tufted clusters

  • linear, long, narrow, alternate leaves

• chaparral & coastal scrub communities

Carex praegracilis

clustered field sedge

• 1 to 2’ in height, spreading via rhizomes

• evergreen

• narrow leaves

• sedges have edges→ triangular flower stalk

• needs some supplemental water in the summer

Cercis occidentalis

western redbud

• 12-20’ tall & 10-15’ wide

• deciduous

• naturally multi-trunked, but can be pruned

• early spring bloom→ very showy in spring with pink flowers

• rounded-orbicular leaves with palmate venation of bottom

• angular/zig-zag branch between nodes

Iris douglasiana

Douglas iris

• 1-2’ tall, 2-3’ wide

• evergreen

• lavender/blue/white flowers

• parallel leaf veins, red at bottom

• nice adjacent to water→ bioswales, creek bed

• slowly spreading via rhizomes

Juncus patens

common rush/CA grey rush

• 1-2’ tall & wide

• evergreen

• forms dense clumps from short rhizomes

• very versatile rush as it is adapted to dry summers & wet winters

• rushes are round

• good in drainage areas

Quercus agrifolia

coast live oak

• 40-60’ tall and 40-50’ wide

• evergreen

• dark green elliptic leaf w/ little spines on edge

• long & narrow acorns

• don’t like compaction/disturbance around roots

Quercus tomentalla

island oak

• 40-60’ tall, 20'-30’ wide

• evergreen

• very prominent leaf veins, felty underneath, serrated margins

• comes from Channel Islands

Ribes sanguineum

red flowering currant

• 6-8’ tall, 6-10’ wide

• winter deciduous

• stunning flowers in red/pink, flowers hang down

• palmate veined & lobed

• sandpaper-like feeling bark

Salvia leucophylla ‘Point Sal Spreader’

Point Sal purple sage

• under 2 1/2’ in height, spreads 8-10’ wide

• evergreen

• groundcover, stays low

• light grey leaves, opposite, rounded tips

• purple flowers along stem

• drought deciduous, looses some leaves

Woodwardia fimbriata

giant chain fern

• 4-6’ tall and wide

• evergreen (can be semi-deciduous if exposed to summer drought)

• found in riparian washes, likes shade

• biggest fern we’ll see

• linear sori

• little leaflets don’t separate well (all one plant tissue)

Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’

coyote brush ‘Pigeon Point’

• Pigeon Point is a male selection, dioecious, with less messy flower debris

• grows 2’ tall & 8’ wide

• evergreen cultivated shrub

• groundcover, mounding, low spreading

• round leaves

Berberis aquifolium

Oregon grape

• 3-7’ tall, 6’ wide

• spreads by rhizomes

• evergreen

• showy yellow flowers at end

• yellow wood

• spines on leaflets→ good barrier plant

• pinnately compound (7-9 leaflets)

• tend to grow upright

Bouteloua gracilis

blue grama

• warm-season, bunching perennial grass that spreads slowly

• grows between 4-16” tall, 24” in flower

• deciduous

• full sun or little bit of shade

• tolerates foot traffic and moving

Calliandra californica

Baja fairy duster

• native to Baja Mexico

• red flowers

• 3-5’ tall & wide

• evergreen

• bipinnately compound leaves, finely divided leaflets

• seedpod

• hot, dry, semi-arid, sunny locations

Calycanthus occidentalis

CA spice bush

• deciduous shrub that grows in moist places

• 3-13’ tall, 5-8’ wide

• once established, it is fast growing and spreading by rhizomes, eventually forming a thicket

• pretty flowers, big green leaves

• good on edges of bioswale

• leaves smell sweet and have a little sandpaper feel

Encelia californica

CA brittlebush/CA bush sunflower

• bushy, sprawling shrub reaching 2-5’ in height

• solitary flower heads are daisy-like, bright yellow

• very fast growing, easy to grow, spreading with seeds

• summer drought deciduous

• one large mid-vein and two come on the sides

• big perennial

Erigeron glaucus

seaside fleabane/beach aster/seaside daisy

• perennial daisy growing from a stout rhizome

• 2-12”

• flowers with yellow centers & surrounded by ray florets in shades of deep blue/purple/lavender/white

• great plant for coastal gardens and produces abundant flowers in spring

• very round at tip of leaf

• low growing groundcover

Festuca idahoensis

Idaho fescue/blue bunchgrass

• densely-clumping, long-lived perennial grass

• 1-3’ in height

• long, grey, bladed leaf

• root system is thick and penetrates deeply into the soil

• rabbits like eating

Morella californica

California wax myrtle

• evergreen shrub/small tree

• inconspicuous yellow flowers that turn into maroon colored fruit

• 30’ tall, 20’ wide

• found close to the coast and in drier climates, riparian corridors

• alt, lanceolate leaves w/ serrated margins

Polystichum munitum

western sword fern

• evergreen

• 2-3’ tall & wide

• shade to part shade

• tolerant and tough species, capable of enduring cool/dry conditions

• ground cover in deer resistant gardens

• shorter frond, can pull leaflets off individually

• good in bioswale

• round sori

Quercus lobata

valley oak

• winter deciduous

• lobed, alt leaves

• found in valleys where water drains

Rhamnus crocea

spiny redberry

• evergreen shrub

• stiff almost spine-like stems

• 3-8’, grows slowly, wider spread

• showy red fruit

• small, round leaf, very small serrations on leaf margin

• good for chaparral or coastal sage scrub

Salvia apiana

white sage

• evergreen

• 3-6’ tall, 3-6’ wide (usually smaller)

• light purple flowers (lighter than desperado)

Salvia ‘Desperado’

Desperado sage

• cross between Salvia apiana and Salvia leucophylla

• grows 6-8’ tall, 4-6’ wide

• evergreen to summer semi-deciduous shrub

• showy purple to violet flowers

• light grey, elliptic, velvet feeling leaves

• bigger than salvia apiana, smells better

Stachys bullata

CA hedge nettle

• found in wet, swampy, boggy places

• perennial, evergreen, prefers partial shade

• spreads viz rhizomes to become a spreading groundcover

• 16-24” tall

• great for bioswales, pond margins

• showy lavender flowers

• little bristles on stem/leaves but does not sting

Thalictrum fendleri

meadow rue

• found in moist forests or woodland areas

• prefers shade & works well with other ferns

• drought deciduous and winter deciduous

• 3-6’ tall, 1'-2’ wide

• leaves are grey and have rounded serration

• yellow/cream flowers

Verbena ‘De La Mina’

de la Mina verbena

• 2’ high, 4’ wide

• evergreen

• showy lavender to purple flowers

• low perennial groundcover

• very divided/lobed leaves