Low & Northerly 2012

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND

Low and Northerly:
Groundcover Plants from the
Northern and Central CA Coast

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

Madrona Marsh Preserve
February 4 & 7, 2012
© Project SOUND

What makes a good
groundcover plant?

 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

The California coast has inspired for centuries

http://www.bon-voyage.co.uk/destinations/california_holidays/itineraries © Project SOUND

But the CA coast inspires gardeners for a
different reason…

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/ranlo/2/1279124248/northern-california-coast.jpg/tpod.html
© Project SOUND

Some of our best native groundcovers come from
the N. & Central California coast

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND

Central &
N. Maritime
Chaparral
 “within the zone of
summer fog incursion”
 Features:
 greater exposure to
summer fog,
humidity
 mild temps. and
moderate drought
pressures
 adaptations to
different
disturbance regimes
(less frequent fire).

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

 ZONE 16: Central and Northern
Sunset Zones California Coast thermal belts
 Thermal belts (slopes from which cold
air drains) in a coastal climate
 Ocean dominated about 85 % of the
time and by inland weather about 15%
 A summer afternoon wind
 More summer heat than Zone 17;
warmer winters than inland
 Cooler summers than Zones 22-24

 ZONE 17: Marine effects in
Southern Oregon, Northern and
Central California
 Mild, wet, almost frostless winters;
cool summers w/ frequent fog or wind.
 Muted sunlight much of the year
http://www.digitalseed.com/gardener/climate/plantclimate_map_ca.html
 Summer highs ~ 65-70º F

© Project SOUND

Let’s take a road
trip up Hwy 1
 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

© Project SOUND

Our Central and Northern Coastal areas a
unique in many ways

© Project SOUND

We share some plants with the Central
and Northern Maritime chaparral

 Black sage – Salvia mellifera
 Purple Sage – Salvia leucophylla
 Sticky Monkeyflower – Diplacus
aurantiacus
 Blue-eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium
bellum
 Some grasses - Nassellas
 Many native wildflowers

© Project SOUND

 Arctostaphylos andersonii
Manzanitas of the  A. canescens
 A. crustacea
northern maritime  Arctostaphylos cruzensis
chaparral  A. edmundsii
 A. glutinosa
 A. hookeri hearstiorum
 A. hookeri hookeri
Many of these species are  A. montaraensis
rare or endangered in the  A. montereyensis
wild, but grown regularly in  A. morroensis
the garden
 A. nummularia sensitiva
 A. ohlone pro. sp.
 A. pajaroensis
 A. pumila
 A. purissima
 A. silvicola
A. tomentosa (all ssp & forms)
© Pr SOUND


Not surprisingly, our local flora has the most in
common with that of the Central Coast

 The closer the native
home of a plant to our
own, the more similar are
the:
 Soils
 Temperatures
http://coast-santabarbara.org/
 Rainfall
 Etc
 Plants from nearby
coastal areas are easier
to grow than those from
further up the coast

© Project SOUND

California rainfall – quite a range, even
along our coasts

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread775456/pg2

© Project SOUND

Our first stop: Point Sal
 Located in the northwestern part of
Santa Barbara County, near the city
of Guadalupe
 Between Vandenberg Air Force Base
and the Guadalupe Dunes.
 Sandy/rocky promontory

*

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

http://www.localhikes.com/HikeData.ASP? © Project SOUND
DispType=1&ActiveHike=0&GetHikesStateID=&ID=4266

Home to a unique flora
 Transition zone between N. & S.
CA: unique plant species
assemblages.
 A mosaic of coastal sage scrub
and foothill needle-grass with
wildflowers, Giant Corepopsis
http://kcbx.net/~bdenneen/  Much influenced by ocean
breezes, salt spray – like our
own immediate coast

© Project SOUND
http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2001/09/fieldwork2.html
http://www.ryono.net/pointsal/pointsal.html http://blogbisogno.wordpress.com/2009/08/page/2/

Salvia leucophylla ‘Pt.
Sal Spreader’
 Naturally occurring variants
from Point Sal
 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
grow than the species

© Project SOUND

We continue our
road trip up Hwy 1
 Central coast


*


© Project SOUND

Hearst Castle – San Simeon

http://www.nordicgeospatial.com/about_us
http://www.coastandocean.org/coast_v23_no3_2007/articles/Hiking_Hearst_04.htm © Project SOUND

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.californiacoastline.org/cgi-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/

Rainfall: Central Coast

Our rainfall

Much cooler summers as well
© Project SOUND

The Arroyo de la Cruz region: special

© 2011 Chris Winchell

Mouth of Arroyo de la Cruz, ridge immediately south of creek, east of Hwy 1 (San
Luis Obispo County, California, US)
© Project SOUND

Arroyo de la Cruz – unique conditions =
unique plants
 A variety of communities, chaparral, coastal sage scrub,
riparian and grassland, mark this unique area. Its importance
lies in the number of endemics that are found in this
relatively small area; indeed, it has been called the "Cruzian
pocket of endemism."
 Ten species of plants considered rare or endangered are
found here. Most have a restricted range.
 It is the type locality of at least two species, Arctostaphylos
hookeri ssp. hearstiorum and Ceanothus hearstiorum which are
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.
© Project SOUND

Arroyo de la Cruz has also provided us
some wonderful garden cultivars

 Sisyrinchium bellum
'Arroyo de la Cruz‘
 Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
var. thyrsiflorus
'Arroyo de la Cruz‘

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/billbouton/sets/72157603552645540/
 Ceanothus maritimus
'Valley Violet‘

© Project SOUND

* Arroyo de la Cruz Manzanita –
Arctostaphylos cruzensis


© Project SOUND

* Arroyo de la Cruz Manzanita –
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

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

Low-growing Manzanitas:
perfect for your garden?
 Attractive, ‘neat-looking’ foliage
©J.S. Peterson  Red bark on interesting
trunks/branches
 Low-maintenance under the right
conditions:
 Needs good drainage
 Low water in summer - susceptible
to fungal diseases; deep watering
(Zone 1/2)
Jo-Ann Ordano © California Academy of Sciences  No fertilizer

Flammable: manzanita plants contain  Coastal varieties will thrive along
volatile compounds, which burn like a immediate coast – even right next
torch when ignited – no a good choice to beach
for fire-prone areas
© Project SOUND

Ground cover manzanita
 Size:
 2-3 ft tall
 5-10 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Spreading, low : mat-like to
mounded
 Shreddy red bark
 Dense – good coverage

 Foliage:
 Leaves bright green, shiny;
may be hairy when young
 Densely over-lapping on
branch

 Roots: no basal burl – so can’t
re-sprout
© Project SOUND

Who can resist a
manzanita in bloom?
 Blooms:
 Winter/early spring
 Usually Dec-Feb in S. Bay

 Flowers:
© 2006 Steve Matson  Small, urn-shaped flowers typical
of manzanita
 Pale pink blush
 Large clusters – very showy
 Sweet scent

 Fruits:
 The edible ‘little apples’
 Hairy, ½ inch diameter; ripe in
late summer or fall
© Project SOUND

 Soils:
Central coast plant  Texture: adaptable – sandy soils in
nature
 pH: any local – 6.0-8.0

 Light:
 Full sun only right along coast
 Afternoon shade in most gardens;
remember, average temperatures
cooler (60-65º F. where it’s native)

 Water:
 Winter: good winter rains
 Summer:
 Needs supplemental summer water
– Zone 2 to 2-3
 Needs leaves washed down during
dry summer – remember the
summer fogs

 Other: shouldn’t need much pruning;
sterile technique, after blooming
© Project SOUND
© 2002 David Graber

Good looking
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
 Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
 Ceanothus griseus
 Adenostoma fasciculatum
 Iris douglasii
 Baccharis pilularis
 Salvia mellifera
 Diplacus aurantiacus
© Project SOUND

Why the variability in growth habit?

© 2006 Steve Matson

Tilden Botanical Garden
Regional Parks Botanic
Garden is a botanical garden in
Tilden Park, Berkeley CA USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctostaphylos_cruzensis
© Project SOUND

Some species occur along the entire CA coast

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

© Project SOUND

Western Blue-eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium bellum

Western Blue-eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium bellum

 Not a grass at all – a
member of the Iris
family (smallest
member of the Iris
family)
 Distribution: Much of
CA, OR
 Habitat:
 Open, generally moist,
North/Central coast areas have produced grassy areas
some attractive variants – now available as  Woodlands
cultivars for the garden

Sisyrinchium bellum
'Arroyo de la Cruz'

 Dwarf selection - ~ 6 inches
tall
 Unusually large--1 1/2 inch
wide--purple flowers in spring
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1292

 Flowers a vivid purple flowers
are held a bit above the 6 inch
high foliage clump.
 Useful in a dry border, on a
bank, and in a rock garden.

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

Other sisyrinchium cultivars

 ‘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/

© Project SOUND

Seaside Daisy - Erigeron glaucus

© Project SOUND

Two California Daisys

 E. foliosus (Leafy):
Erigeron foliosus
 Mountain ranges & hills of C.
& western S. CA
 Dry, sunny, rocky, brushy or
wooded or grassy slopes
 coastal sage scrub, chaparral
and southern oak woodland

 E. glaucus (Seaside)
 Central to N. Coast (into OR)
 Coastal bluffs, dunes,
Erigeron glaucus beaches
 Coastal Strand, Coastal Sage
Scrub, Northern Coastal
Scrub

© Project SOUND

Seaside Daisy – Erigeron glaucus

 Compact growth habit: < 1 ft
 Leaves:
 Thicker, fleshier
 Larger: spatula shaped
 More basal
 Roots:
 Rhizomes
 Plant spreads into dense
http://www.calhortsociety.org/seed-exchange/seed-exchange-2002/seed-list-pages/large/Erigeron-glaucus-2.jpg mat-like colony
 Flowers: no differences
Much more “lush appearing” than leafy
fleabane

© Project SOUND

 Borders
Using Erigeron
 Edges & low hedges
glaucus
 Accent plant

 In a rock garden

 Near pools & ponds

 Ground cover

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/pictures/a269.jpg

Great addition to a North coast
themed garden
© Project SOUND

Horticultural cultivars of
Seaside Daisy
 Variable in size and number of
flowers and plant
 Choose the one you like best

http://www.mostlynatives.com/notes/erigeronglaucuscs.jpg

‘Cape Sebastian’ cultivar

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

‘Sea Breeze’ cultivar

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

‘Olga’ cultivar ‘Bountiful’ cultivar
© Project SOUND

Ceanothus of the northern maritime
chaparral
 Ceanothus cuneatus var.
fascicularis
 Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus
 Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus
 Ceanothus gloriosus var. exaltatus
 Ceanothus gloriosus var.
porrectus
 Ceanothus hearstiorum
 Ceanothus maritimus

© Pr SOUND

Ceanothus – California Lilacs
 Some 55 species
 Common names: California Lilac, Mountain lilac,
Wild lilac, Buckbrush, Blueblossum
 Quite variable in habit:
 evergreen and deciduous
 prostrate to erect shrubs and small trees.
 Flowers small, in clusters, showy en masse
 Flower color: white through many shades of blue, deep violet.
 Range: southern Canada to Guatemala
 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).
© Project SOUND

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var.
thyrsiflorus 'Arroyo de la Cruz'

 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

© Project SOUND
http://plantayflor.blogspot.com/2010/09/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus-var-repens.html

* Hearst’s (San Simeon) Ceanothus –
Ceanothus hearstiorum

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_hearstiorum
© Project SOUND

* Hearst’s Ceanothus – Ceanothus hearstiorum
 Central coast endemic – San Luis
Obispo & Monterrey counties – near
Arroyo de la Cruz; very rare in nature
 Coastal, low, grassy hills
 Receives summer fog/rainfall of 20-
30” per year

© Project SOUND

Hearst’s Ceanothus – low grower
 Size:
 generally < 1 ft tall
 3-6 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Evergreen woody (half-woody)
shrub
 Prostrate habit; radiates out from
Picture from Rob Rizzardi
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

© Project SOUND

Heavenly, old-
fashioned flowers
 Blooms: in spring – usually Mar-
Apr in our area

 Flowers:
 Small with prominent anthers
– typical of ceanothus species
Lavender to medium blue

 In dense clusters – very showy
 Sweet scented; old-fashioned
 Can be used to make a mild
soap –as can the foliage

 Fruits: hard knobby fruits –
birds eat the seeds

© Project SOUND

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

 Light:
 Full sun on immediate coast
 Afternoon shade in hotter inland
gardens

 Water:
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Ceanothus-hearstiorum/  In the wild: summer fog and
rainfall of about 20-30 inches.
Every day has a high of 60-65º F.
and a low of 50º F.
 In your garden: Water Zone 2 or 2-
3 (occasional summer water); rinse
off leaves every few weeks in dry
summer periods

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

Low-growing Ceanothus
 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/may.htm

© Project SOUND
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1249

Coastal ground covers conquer slopes

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

Artemisia californica Canyon Gray Canyon , Ceanothus hearstiorum, Ceanothus
Yankee Point, and Salvia sonomensis Mrs. Beard Mrs. Beard.
© Project SOUND

Using ground covers with different
characteristics adds interest

© Project SOUND

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

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

Lower-growing Coyote Bush cultivars
 ‘Pigeon Point' – low groundcover
 1-2 ft tall
 Up to 12 ft wide
 Very bright green foliage; larger leaves
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
 Dense growth; can be shaped
 Leaves smaller, darker gray-green &
more deeply toothed than species

© Project SOUND

On our way to Big Sur, we enjoy the coast near Morro Bay
 Central coast


*


Maritime chaparral at the Los Osos
Elfin Forest Preserve on Morro Bay,
San Luis Obispo
© Project SOUND

California’s famous ‘Elfin Forests’
 Elfin forest is a nickname given to
several similar dwarfed plants
ecosystems, mainly in coastal
Temperate Californian and
montane Tropical regions
 Include communities of
dwarfed/tiny plants.
 Some CA Elfin Forests:
 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
(N/ CA coast)
 El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area
(Morro Bay)
 San Luis Obispo Elfin Forest
(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

California’s famous ‘Elfin Forests’
 Unusual areas: chaparral that
can be waterlogged in the
winter, and arid and nearly
desert-like in the summer
 Plants have adapted accordingly,
and are generally much shorter,
smaller, and compact than
http://blog.slocountyhomes.com/2009/03/elfin-forest-boardwalk-trail.html/
related plants elsewhere.
 Even trees and shrubs, such as
Cypress (Cupressus), Oak
(Quercus), and Madrone
(Arbutus menziesii) rarely grow
more than 20 ft (7 m) tall in
these plant communities.

http://www.kayharden.com/galy16b.html © Project SOUND

Maritime Ceanothus – Ceanothus maritimus


© Project SOUND

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://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ceanothus-maritimus
© Project SOUND

Low-growing Maritime Manzanita
 Size:
 1-3 ft tall
 5-6 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Evergreen woody shrub; moderate to
slow growth rate
 Low, spreading or more mounded
habit
 Reddish gray bark aging to gray
 Stems stiff-looking

 Foliage:
 Leaves small, wedge-shaped, shiny
medium green above; hairy beneath

 Roots: support nitrogen-fixing bacteria

© 2006 Steve Matson © Project SOUND

Who can resist ‘em?
 Blooms:
 In spring – usually Feb to April
in our part of the world

 Flowers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus_maritimus
 Dense clusters of typical 5-
part pattern of ceanothus
 Deep blue to violet to almost
white
 Sweet scented – good for
insect pollinators
 Native Californians used to
make mild soap

 Fruits: dry capsule, usually horned
at top; birds eat seeds

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

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

 Light:
 Full sun on coast, to part shade
inland (morning sun fine)
 Good under tall trees

 Water:
 In wild: 2x our annual rainfall;
summer fogs
 Summer: needs water at least
several times a month in inland
gardens – Zone 2 to 2-3

 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

Maritime Ceanothus
in the garden

 Good choice for fire-prone
areas, with summer water
 Slopes
 Groundcover – neat-looking
 Parking strips
 Pair with other low coastal
groundcovers: Salvia
leucophylla ‘Pt. Sal’, Ceanothus
maritimus, and Lessingia
filaginifolia ‘Silver Carpet’

http://www.vcstar.com/photos/2010/feb/08/86887/ © Project SOUND

Ceanothus maritimus
‘Frosty Dawn’
 Selection of Ceanothus maritimus from
the hills south of Arroyo de la Cruz in San
Luis Obispo County
 2 feet tall by up to 5 feet wide
 Performs best in coastal climates but has
also proved successful in inland gardens.
 Lovely and tough
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/eastbaywilds/sets/72157625418384199/

© Project SOUND
http://greenlifestudios.com/gallery-detail.php? http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Ceanothus_maritimus_'Frosty_dawn'
id=15&cat_id=2&keywords=Frosty_Dawn_California_Lilac

Ceanothus maritimus
‘Point Sierra’
 This selection of the Maritime
ceanothus has smaller leaves than
most. With its stiff branching the
effect is similar to Cotoneaster.
 Denser and lower than the species,
this maritimus selection is tolerant
of interior heat if given modest
shade
 2 to 3 feet tall by up to 5 feet wide
with thick leathery 1/4 to 1/2 inch
long leaves
 Lavender blue flowers appear in
early spring.
 The blue violet flowers emerge
from dusty white buds in late
winter.
© Project SOUND

Ceanothus maritimus
‘Popcorn’
 A tidy groundcover that requires
little maintenance. Heavy bloomer.
Compact, thick leaves. Best on coast.
Good substitute for cotoneaster. 3'
H x 6' W. Moderate to slow.
 White flowers in spring

http://cascadiannurseries.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-look-monrovias-new-introductions.html
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_c/ceamarpop.html © Project SOUND
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Ceanothus_maritimus_'Popcorn'

Ceanothus maritimus
‘Valley Violet’

 UC Davis Arboretum All-
Star selection, 2010.
 3 ft tall; 3-4 ft wide
http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/allstars_detail_57.aspx
 performs well in a variety
of settings. It can take
full sun or part shade,
requires very little water
once established, develops
into an attractive mound
that needs no pruning
 Super-showy violet colored
flowers on long flowering
stalks – really different
© Project SOUND

Onward & upward to
Big Sur
 Central coast

*  San Simeon/Arroyo de la Cruz

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

Point Sur
© Project SOUND

Little Sur Manzanita – Arctostaphylos edmundsii

© 2007 Penny DeWind

© Project SOUND

Little Sur Manzanita – Arctostaphylos
edmundsii

http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/documents/2005-200610653.pdf

 Many of the low-growing manzanitas grow in sandy coastal areas,
suggesting that well-drained soils are important
© Project SOUND

* Hooker’s Manzanita – Arctostaphylos hookeri

Beatrice F. Howitt © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND

* Hooker’s Manzanita – Arctostaphylos hookeri
 Native range
extends from the
coastal San
Francisco Bay
Area to the
Central Coast
http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/factsheet.php?SPECIES_ID=1  Sandy, coastal
pine or oak
woods, coastal
scrub < 1000 ft

© 1991 David Graber
© Project SOUND

Hooker’s Manzanita is a
natural groundcover
 Under trees
 On slopes
 In front yards - evergreen
http://absbonsai.org/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=834
http://128.253.177.181/imgs/dws/r/Ericaceae_Arctostaphylos_hookeri_18909.html

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-hookeri-wayside-manzanita
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=173 © Project SOUND

Hurricane Point
near Big Sur
 The many climates of Big Sur result in
an astonishing biodiversity, including
many rare and endangered species
 Arid, dusty chaparral-covered hills
http://xasauantoday.com/2011/09/16/serra-hill/
exist within easy walking distance of
lush riparian woodland.
 The mountains trap most of the
moisture out of the clouds; fog in
summer, rain and snow in winter.
 This creates a favorable environment
for coniferous forests, including the
southernmost habitat of the coast
redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), which
grows only on lower coastal slopes that
http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~karthik/pics/2005-06-1-BigSur/web/html/dscf0076.html
are routinely fogged in at night.
Big Sur Coastline from Hurricane Point http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Sur
© Project SOUND

* Carmel Creeper – Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis
 Northern & Central CA coast
(var. horizontalis from Monterey
Co.)
 Chaparral, coastal scrub, closed-
cone-pine forests.


http://www.sb.watersavingplants.com/listplants.php?index=9
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/80651083@N00/tags/montereycounty/ © Project SOUND

Carmel Creeper: it creeps
 Size:
 2-3 ft tall
 6-15 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Woody (half-woody) evergreen
groundcover; fast-growing
 May be flat or slightly mounded

 Foliage:
 Shiny, medium/dark green leaves –
almost unreal looking
 Dense foliage – hardly see
branches
 Neat, attractive appearance

 Roots:
 Symbiotic relationship with N-
fixing bacteria © Project SOUND

Flowers: ooh la-la
 Blooms: winter through spring:
any time from Dec. to April

 Flowers:
 Usually a bright medium
blue, but may be lighter
 Dense clusters of tiny
flowers – really showy in a
good year (many years)
 Sweet scent attracts bees
and other insect pollinators

 Seeds:
 In strange dry capsules that
split open; birds eat them

© Project SOUND

Extraordinarily  Soils:
adaptable  Texture: any, from sand to heavy
clay
 pH: any local

 Light:
 Full sun only along coast
 Part-shade (afternoon shade)
best in most situations – good
under trees

 Water:
 Winter: supplement in dry winters
 Summer: Occasional summer
water – Zone 2 for species and
cultivars

 Fertilizer: none needed, but light
fertilizer won’t kill it

© Project SOUND

Garden uses for Carmel Creeper
 As an attractive ground cover:
 Under trees
 On slopes
 Mounded over walls/retaining walls

© Project SOUND

Ceanothus griseus
‘Diamond Heights’
 Variegated leaves
 3 - 4 ft. wide; low
 Scant, light blue flowers in spring
 Best with light shade in hot regions.
http://blog.jannelsonlandscapedesign.com/?cat=78

http://thehumanfootprint.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/california-natives-part-3-groundcovers-
© Project SOUND
http://www.bambooandmore.info/2012_01_09_archive.html manzanitas-ceanothus/

Ceanothus griseus
‘Hurricane Point’

 2-3 ft. tall x 20 ft wide in
many years

 Slower growth but give it
room to spread

 Flowers light blue

 'Yankee Point' has been
called a more restrained
version of this cultivar.

© Project SOUND

‘Kurt Zadnick’
Ceanothus
 2 to 3 feet tall, spreading
or trailing 6 feet or more

 Bright indigo blue flowers
in spring

 More garden tolerant than
Yankee Point

© Project SOUND
http://www.landscaperesource.com/plants/ceanothus-kurt-zadnik.htm

‘Yankee Point’ –
Carmel Heights
 Ever wonder where
‘Yankee Point’ ceanothus
http://www.sawbuck.com/property/California/93923_Carmel/7659172-98-Yankee-Point
originated?

http://www.carmelrealtycompany.com/index.cfm/person-Barbara_Ehrenpreis_11.htm

http://www.sammcleod.com/properties/111YANKEEPOINT.html
© Project SOUND

Ceanothus griseus ‘Yankee Point’
 Old garden standard – 30+ years
 2-3 ft tall and 10 ft wide; fast
 Darker leaves than species
 Great groundcover, slopes, etc.
http://www.fresno.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?
plantnum=24194&return=l5_aS

© Project SOUND

Management of low-
growing Ceanothus
 Proper watering is key:
 Overwatering is often the cause of
death; make sure they are in well-
drained soil.
 Once established, apply deep
infrequent irrigation in the dry season.
http://www.cuyamaca.edu/oh170/Thumbnail_Pages/Ceanothus_griseus.asp
 Do not fertilize; like slightly acidic
‘Yankee Point’ soils so use organic mulch
 Only minimal pruning
 Pinch back tips during the growing
season to shape – unless you have deer
 Prune branches only if they are less
than 1” in diameter, and only after the
spring bloom when flowers have faded.
 Use sterile technique

 Ceanothus tend to be short-lived (5-15
years) often due to disease (too much
water, fertilizer, pruning)
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/cegrhyp3.htm
© Project SOUND

Ceanothus: a hit in European gardens
 “Ceanothus thyrisflorus, blueblossom,
was the first California species to receive
both botanical and horticultural
recognition . . . when it was collected by
botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on the
Russian ship Rurik’s expedition to
California in 1816.
 “The Royal Horticultural Society received
seeds of Ceanothus thyrisflorus from
Richard Brinsley Hinds from the 1837
expedition of HMS Sulphur, making it the
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/ceanothus-california- first California species introduced into
European gardens “
lilac_1.asp

 Even today, it is not uncommon in Britain
to see Ceanothus espaliered against a
south-facing brick wall.

© Project SOUND

Our trip takes us to the
San Francisco Bay
 Central coast


 Big Sur
 Rocky point
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Route_1.svg  Yankee Point/Diamond Heights

 Northern coast
 Point Reyes

 Ft. Bragg

http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/mapped93/index.php?p=dom-NCCC SOUND
© Project

* Glossyleaf Manzanita – Arctostaphylos nummularia

http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctostaphylos-nummularia/
© Project SOUND

* Glossyleaf Manzanita – Arctostaphylos nummularia
 North Coast, Outer North Coast
Ranges, w San Francisco Bay Area
(Mount Tamalpais, Santa Cruz Mtns)
 Rocky sites, woodland, coniferous
forest, < 1500 ft
 AKA ‘Fort Bragg Manzanita’

http://www.thevoiceofalliant.com/FunSun.html
http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/mount-tamalpais.html © Project SOUND

Glossyleaf Manzanita: variable habit
 Size:
 2-6 ft tall; usually 2-3 in nature
 4-6 ft wide

 Growth form:
 Dense evergreen shrub
 Habit varies from low and spreading
(rocky, exposed sites), mounded to
larger upright shrub (forest sites)
 Red bark

 Foliage:
 Leaves rounded, tidy looking
 Dark shiny green above; lighter
beneath

 Roots: no burl – don’t coppice!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_nummularia_1.jpg © Project SOUND

Manzanita flowers

 Blooms:
 In winter; usually Dec-Feb
locally, tho’ may be a few
blooms at other times

 Flowers:
 Small, urn-shaped flowers
typical of the genus
 Pale pink; sweetly scented
 Flower clusters slightly more
open and other species
 Flowers pollinated by large
bees – ‘buzz pollination’

 Fruits:
 Edible ‘apples’ in summer/fall
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctostaphylos-nummularia/ © Project SOUND

Grows under rage of  Soils:
 Texture: well-drained – sandy or
conditions rocky best
 pH: slightly acidic; may want to
amend with peat moss

 Light:
 Best with afternoon shade
 Good choice for under trees
(pines; oaks)

 Water:
 Winter: gets a lot in its native
habitat – supplement if needed
© 2004 Aaron Schusteff

 Summer: gets summer rain and
fog – Zone 2-3 and wash-downs

 Fertilizer: light applications of acid
fertilizer

 Other: best near the coast
© Project SOUND

Garden uses for Glossyleaf Manzanita
 Mounded groundcover under pines
and similar tall trees
 Along coast, with other species
for a north coast themed garden:
Allium unifolium, Diplicus aurantiacus,
Baccharis pilularis, Pinus attenuata,
Fragaria vesca, Satureja douglasii

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND
© 2004 Aaron Schusteff

Arctostaphylos nummularia
‘Small Change’
 Selected for its small leaves which
are bronze when young.
 2-3' H x 3-4' W; mounding or
spreading
 Coast: full sun; Inland: part shade

 Well-draining, acidic soils - good
choice for planting under pines.
 Provide afternoon sun and extra
water in inland gardens.

http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Arctostaphylos_nummularia_'Small_Change'
© Project SOUND

Versatile ‘Emerald Carpet’
hybrid is garden friendly
and low
 Hybrid between Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi and A. nummularia – best
traits of both parents
 groundcover to very low hedge

http://www.pasadena.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=243&return=l8_aK

© Project SOUND

The climate above San Francisco Bay is
quite different from ours

http://angrylambie-landscapes.buzznet.com/user/photos/wildflowers-northern-california-coast/?
id=66160771

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes © Project SOUND

Point Reyes
 ~ 30 miles (50 km) north of San
Francisco on Highway 1
 A prominent cape

 The Point Reyes Peninsula is bounded by
Tomales Bay on the northeast and Bolinas
Lagoon on the southeast.
 The headland is protected as part of
Point Reyes National Seashore.

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

© Project SOUND
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes

Point Reyes: northern
 Maritime chaparral at Point Reyes
maritime chaparral intergrades with mixed evergreen forest
and is bordered by coast redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens) groves and
riparian woodlands
 Common maritime chaparral species at
Point Reyes include Eastwood's
manzanita (Arctostaphylos
glandulosa), glossyleaf manzanita
(Arctostaphylos nummularia), chamise
(Adenostoma fasciculatum), giant
chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla),
http://www.meetup.com/bay-areakayakers/events/12581031/

buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), and
chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana). Also
of importance in this vegetation type are
the rare species Bolinas Manzanita
(Arctostaphylos virgata), Point Reyes
ceanothus (Ceanothus gloriosus var.
exaltatus), and Mason's ceanothus
(Ceanothus masonii).
© Project SOUND
http://www.math.cmu.edu/~pikhurko/Gallery/110320PointReyes/33.html http://roadjournals.viamagazine.com/2012/01/17/point-reyes-national-seashore-
hiking-tamales-point-trail/

* Point Reyes Ceanothus – Ceanothus gloriosus
 North Coast (Marin, Sonoma
Counties), San Francisco Bay,
north Central Coast
 var. porrectus (Mt. Vision
ceanothus) - rare variety endemic
to Marin County in the vicinity of
Point Reyes
 var. gloriosus (glory mat) - smaller
mat-forming variety known mainly
from Marin County

 Seaside bluffs and the slopes of
the coastal mountains
 Coastal Bluff scrub, closed cone
conifer forest, coastal dunes,
coastal scrub below 1700'
© Project SOUND
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8u9p--NTHGj834b-n31gzg

Ceanothus gloriosus: varieties differ in height, habit
 Size:
 2-6 ft tall (depends on var.)
 6-12+ ft wide

 Growth form:
 Var exaltatus: large shrub
 Var. gloriosus: low, almost
http://beling.net/articles/about/Ceanothus_gloriosus mat-like groundcover, but
may be mounded
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 Bark red aging to gray
 Evergreen; fairly fast growth

 Foliage:
 Leaves bright, fresh to
medium green, shiny on top
 May be toothed like holly
© Project SOUND

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