A beautiful tree sits on the north side of Little Chico Creek, shading the picnic table at site #34 in Lower Bidwell Park. Its thick, smooth lower branches are perfect for climbing, and its form is both rounder and more symmetrical than its relatives at higher elevations. And its occurrence at our low altitude (elevation 197 feet) is rare.
Captain George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy commanded a voyage of exploration and diplomacy from 1791 to 1795 which circumnavigated the globe and made contact with five continents. Madrone's species name honors the Scottish surgeon, botanist and naturalist, Archibald Menzies, who noted this tree during Vancouver's voyage of exploration. Menzies, who spent many years at sea serving with the Royal Navy and on private merchant ships, recognized its similarity to the European arbutus, A. unedo, which today is a popular landscape tree in Chico. Its red fruits are shaped like strawberries, and in fact the Spanish word madroño translates as “strawberry tree.” Other common names include madroa, madroo, madroña, and bearberry.
While all parts of the Pacific madrone are remarkable, its best-known characteristic is that it freely peels its outer bark. Once this skin-like outer layer is shed, the remaining bark is smooth and polished, with a distinctive reddish color. Young bark darkens to a deep red with age; younger stems can range from green to chartreuse, and young trunks are frequently orange. Older portions of the bark become a dark, brownish red. The deep color of the bark contrasts nicely with the tree's large, glossy, dark green foliage. In spring, sprays of small, bell-shaped white flowers adorn the branches, giving way to red berries in the autumn months.
The madrone has evolved an effective method of seed regeneration: each berry contains between three and 30 seeds, and when the berries dry they develop hooked barbs that can latch onto the fur and skin of passing mammals, hitching a ride to colonize new locations.
The Pacific madrone ranges in height from about 33 to 82 feet but can reach up to 100 feet or more in ideal conditions. In those perfect conditions, it can reach a thickness of 5 to 8 feet at the trunk, much like an oak tree. Ideal conditions include a sunny site such as a south or west facing slope with soil that is well drained and lime free.
The largest known specimen of Pacific madrone lived in Joshua Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve on the Big Sur Coast. At least 125 feet tall and more than 25 feet in circumference, and listed on the American Forests National Big Tree list, it sadly was severely burned in the 2016 Soberanes Fire.
Surviving Drought and Fire: At the base of its trunk, the Pacific madrone has a woody, globe-shaped, regenerative organ known as a burl. This structure is a peculiar adaptation to its forest habitat, which historically experienced regular burns at intervals averaging between 10 and 35 years. The Pacific madrone is susceptible to fire, but also relies on fire to regenerate. Its low resistance to fire is due to its thin bark. Conversely, repeated top-kill by fire encourages burl development, enhancing Pacific madrone survival - the burl serves as a source of stored carbohydrates for prolific postfire sprouts. These rise from dormant buds on the burl, and initially grow rapidly after a fire.
A massive, wide-spreading root system increases its ability to withstand summer drought. In fact, the tree prefers dry, well-draining soils and does not tolerate direct watering during the summer months. Once established, Pacific madrone is windfirm, drought enduring, and somewhat tolerant of wet, freezing conditions.
Native American Uses: The Concow tribe calls the tree dis-t?'-tsi or kou-wät′-chu. Native Americans sometimes ate the berries, but were more likely to make them into a type of cider, or chewed them to cleanse their mouths, since the berries' high tannin content makes them astringent. Madrone berries were used in necklaces and other decorations, and as bait for fishing. Tea made from the bark and leaves was used to treat stomach aches, cramps, skin ailments, and sore throats. The wood was used to make implements and it was particularly useful as firewood; its density and hardness ensures it burns long and hot -- even better than oak.
Pacific madrone is a particularly beautiful tree, with its reddish curved trunks supporting a broad, spreading crown of deep green leaves. It is most often seen as a single specimen tree displaying its finery among the more common Douglas fir and tanoak. It is currently declining throughout most of its range, unfortunately due to 100 years of forest fire control and urban development in its native habitat. We are lucky to have our lovely, rare specimen in Lower Bidwell Park.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.
Summers are getting hotter in much of the U.S., including our local environment. One way to counteract this change in climate is by planting trees to provide more shade in the summer months. But adjusting to a shadier garden also means shifting to different plant choices. While it is true that most colorful garden flowers (like roses, zinnias, poppies, and hollyhocks) require full sun, there are still many options for blooms available to the shade gardener. White flowered gardenias and pink or blue flowering hydrangeas are common shade plants in our area. Here are some less obvious selections of shrubs that are easy to care for and can provide interest in the shade garden at different times of the year:
The genus Spiraea includes many species that do well in lightly shaded areas in our climate. There are two main types of Spiraea: those with long, graceful, arching branches lined with clusters of tiny white flowers (these are often referred to as the “bridal wreath type”); and those with a shrubby growth habit which produce clusters of white, pink or red blossoms at their branch ends. Both types are deciduous, and the leaves of many of these species turn bright shades of red, orange, or yellow in the fall.
Spiraea thunbergii is a bridal wreath type that can reach six feet high and wide, with many thin, arching branches. In early spring, the bare branches are lined with clusters of tiny white flowers. These are followed by very narrow, inch-and-a-half-long, blue-green leaves that turn yellow or reddish brown in the fall. Another stunning bridal wreath type is the fast-growing S. x vanhouttei. On this shrub, diamond-shaped blue-green leaves emerge first, followed by flat clusters of white blossoms covering the plant in mid to late spring.
By planting several different species of Spiraea, you can have blooming shrubs in shadier areas of the garden from early spring into summer, with the added bonus of beautiful fall-colored leaves, and often, brightly-colored bare stems in winter.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.
Companion planting combines diverse plants in an informed manner to bring a balanced ecosystem into the garden. This approach to gardening has been used by organic gardeners for decades. The idea is to plant herbs and flowers with vegetables to create sustainable gardens with better crop yields.
The “three sisters,” corn, beans, and squash, are perhaps the best-known example of ideal plant companions. They support one another's growth, maximize the growing area's crop yield, and provide a solid diet for their cultivators.
Another well-known group of companions is that of legumes (like beans), with clover and alfalfa. Bacteria invade the root hairs of legumes and make nodules where these beneficial Rhizobium nitrogen-fixing bacteria live. The nitrogen these bacteria fix becomes available to the legume plant and the soil around its roots. Legumes can be worked into the soil, renewing and replacing nitrogen. This reduces the amount of manure and chemical fertilizers needed for heavy-feeding plants.
Companions can help prevent pest problems by repelling pests or attracting the beneficial insects needed to keep down the population of insect pests. Onions are one plant that repels some pests. Marigolds contain thiophene, which deters root nematodes. Chives planted alongside roses repel aphids. Nasturtiums act as a decoy crop for kale and tomatoes by attracting aphids away from the more desirable edibles (once the nasturtium plant has attracted aphids, it is removed from the garden before the aphid young develop wings). Aromatic herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender, and sage, will repel many pests. Mix these in with pest-susceptible plants. The presence of diverse plant species disrupts the ability of herbivorous insects to discover host plants for feeding or egg-laying. The time wasted on non-host plants reduces the reproductive efficiency of specialist insects.
Lists of specific companion plant combinations can be found on websites and in gardening books. Find the best friends for your garden plants, to create sustainable gardens with better yields. Remember to experiment, observe and record how these companions work in your own garden.
PLANT SALE! Mark your calendar for our plant sale on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 9 am–noon. The sale will be held at the Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch. The plants, which are selected to thrive in our climate, have been propagated by UC Master Gardeners of Butte County. For more information and a partial list of the plants that will available, visit our website.
Next time you go for a walk in Upper Park, look closely at the different plants you see. Notice the enormous diversity of shapes, colors, and forms. There are trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals, all different shapes and sizes of leaves, and tremendous variation in flower color and structure from one species of plant to another. This diversity is the result of evolution over the ages. Plants have adapted to the specific conditions of their native habitat. These conditions include climate, availability of water, soil type, and interactions with other organisms. Adaptations can be structural or physiological.
The beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) is a kind of prickly pear cactus. It lacks long spines but its flat, fleshy pads are covered with small bristles that have barbed tips. The bristles help shade the pads and also protect the cactus from being eaten. The pads themselves are modified stems. They have a waxy cuticle to reduce water loss and store water within. During periods of drought the pads shrivel and then plump back up when rain returns.
All plants have very small holes called stomata on the underside of their leaves. The hole can open for exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen gases or close to maintain the proper balance of water. Most plants open their stomata during the day to take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. They close the stomata at night to retain water. Plants in the cactus family, plus some succulents and certain orchids, open their stomata at night and close them during the day. They have a modified photosynthetic cycle, called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which helps to reduce water loss during gas exchange. Carbon dioxide enters the open stomata at night when less water will be lost to the outside air. The carbon dioxide is then fixed and combined with another chemical to form an organic acid. The acid is then stored until the daytime when sunlight is available to finish the process of transforming it to sugar. CAM is an example of a physiological adaptation.
The forests of the Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) are lush, green, and typically receive a generous amount of rainfall during the winter but little rain during the summer. How do the redwoods survive the dry season? While the North Coast doesn't get much rain in the summer, it does have regular fog. Scientists have long suspected that redwood leaves, especially those near the top of the tree, are able to absorb water from fog without adversely affecting photosynthesis. When stomata are covered by even a thin film of water, the water can block the flow of carbon dioxide into the leaf, limiting photosynthesis.
Think about plant adaptations when choosing plants for your garden. Generally speaking, the better a match between a plant's adaptations and the conditions in your garden, the better the plant will perform. If you choose a plant native to an area that is much different from your garden, you will probably need to make some changes in your garden so it can provide for more of the plant's needs.
Want to learn more about this topic? Attend our workshop on Adaptations of California Native Plants (Wednesday, May 22), part of the Master Gardeners' 2024 Spring Workshop Series. For information about all the workshops, and to register, visit our website. All workshops are free, but registration is required.
PLANT SALE! Mark your calendar for our plant sale on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 9 am–noon. The sale will be held at the Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch. The plants, which are selected to thrive in our climate, have been propagated by UC Master Gardeners of Butte County. For more information and a partial list of the plants that will available, visit our website.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.
A colorful perennial has been brightening spring gardens for many weeks. Azaleas are the easy-to-care-for stars of semi-shaded locations. The most common varieties are evergreen azaleas, which are more accurately described as having “persistent-leaves.” They grow a set of spring leaves which are dropped in the fall, and a set of summer leaves which persist through the winter.
Azaleas are long-lived and can be used as permanent plantings, so consider the following factors before planting them in your yard.
Exposure: Azaleas prefer cool, partially-shaded sites, such as under under pine, oak or maple trees.
Mulch: A two- to three- inch layer of organic mulch (leaves, pine bark, wood chips) will conserve moisture and help discourage weeds. Extend the mulch a couple of inches from the main stem to keep the bark dry.
Watering: Azaleas are shallow-rooted. If possible, use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to slowly water the base of the plants. Overhead irrigation may promote disease.
Fertilizing: If planted properly, supplemental feeding is unnecessary.
Pruning: The best time to prune is in spring, just after the plant has finished blooming.
My existing plant didn't bloom, now what? --You may already have azaleas and are disappointed that they no longer bloom. You may need to give them more sun, perhaps by opening up the branches of the overhead trees, as well as pruning the azaleas to increase next year's buds.
Reasons for stingy flowering or lack of blooms include:
- The azaleas were allowed to dry out or to have wet feet. A two- to- three-inch- deep layer of mulch can help with water retention. Check the irrigation to make sure they are not being over-watered.
- Fertilizing with too much nitrogen may interfere with blooming. Did the plants receive fertilizer while you were feeding the grass?
- If you pruned after the flower buds developed, next year's flowers were inadvertently removed. Prune shortly after this year's flowers fade.
- Less than three hours of sun per day reduces the number of buds. Prune overhead trees, or consider moving the plant and its root ball to a better location.
PLANT SALE! Mark your calendar for our plant sale onSaturday, May 18, 2024 from 9 am–noon. The sale will be held at the Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch. The plants, which are selected to thrive in our climate, have been propagated by UC Master Gardeners of Butte County. For more information and a partial list of the plants that will available, visit our website.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.