What's Different about Gardening in California's Central Valley and Eastern Foothills?
by Michelle Le Strange, UC Master Gardener Advisor

California's Central Valley and eastern foothills have a Mediterranean-type climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Growing conditions inland are more extreme than along the coast, so many plants that grow well in other parts of the state do not thrive here.

People who move here and try to reproduce gardens they have known from other places may find they are fighting a losing battle. Lush green lawns and showy, tender plants with large leaves require lots of water, soil amendments, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and frequent attention to do well here.

Gardeners who choose plants that are adapted to our environment can have a beautiful garden with less work. Adopting regionally appropriate gardening techniques can save you time, energy, and resources, and reduce air and water contamination from garden chemicals and power equipment.

TIPS FOR APPROPRIATE GARDENING
To create and maintain a beautiful and almost carefree garden requires paying attention to local growing conditions, choosing plants that will succeed, reducing use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and designing a garden with regional style. Follow these steps and you will be able to enjoy your garden and feel good about its water conserving attributes.

MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN STYLE
Traditional gardens in Mediterranean-climate areas use time honored techniques to reduce water use and create a cool retreat.

HARDSCAPE, such as patios, seating walls, terraces, and paved paths encourages outdoor living and reduces the irrigated garden area.

SHADE STRUCTURES such as arbors, pergolas, and gazebos, provide comfort in summer heat and reduce heat absorption by hard surfaces.

CONTAINER GARDENS create an oasis of lush plants while controlling water use.

WATER FEATURES, such as fountains and pools, can lower ambient temperature, increase the sense of comfort, and provide a relaxing sound, while using less water than a heavily irrigated garden.

FAVORITE PLANTS FOR OUR GARDENS
The UC Davis Arboretum recommends these all-star plants as their favorites.

Golden yarrow – Achillea ‘Coronation Gold'- an herbaceous perennial to 2 ft. tall and wide. Feathery gray foliage and clear yellow flowers in spring.

Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster')- a perennial grass. Dramatic vertical golden flower spikes to 4 ft. tall emerge narrow and then expand to a fluffy buff color mass.

Taiwan fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)- a medium-sized tree reaching 25-30 feet tall. Attractive pure white, fragrant spring flowers with 4 in. narrow, fragrant, fringe-like petals.

Argentine zephyr lily –(Zephyranthes candida). Bulbous perennial with crocus-like white flowers in late summer. Foliage makes large clump of rush-like, glossy, evergreen leaves.

Italian cypress – (Cupressus sempervirens cultivars). Narrow columnar evergreen conifer typical in Mediterranean climate gardens. Very drought tolerant. Dwarf and golden forms available.

Winter daphne – (Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata' and ‘Alba') - evergreen shrub with glossy, thick leaves. Fabulous fragrance February to March. Prefers partial shade all day or morning sun with afternoon shade. Short lived in some places, but worth replacing for the fragrance.

Mexican wall daisy – (Erigeron karvinskianus) - evergreen perennial to 2 ft. tall by 3 ft. wide with feathery foliage and small pink and white flowers in spring and summer. Will seed in irrigated landscapes and may naturalize.

Dwarfed wingbark euonymus – (Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus') -deciduous shrub, 5 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide. Provides spectacular rose-red fall color. Flowers are inconspicuous but produce a scattered crop of bright orange-red fruit. Very heat-tolerant and somewhat drought-tolerant.

Spanish lavender – (Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast')- evergreen perennial, 2 ft. tall by 3 ft. wide with narrow silver leaves. Dramatic large, fragrant, dark purple flower spikes in spring. Prefers full sun and deep infrequent irrigation. This is our showiest cultivar.

Maiden grass – (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus')- large perennial grass to 6 ft. tall in bloom. Delicate, golden, fan-shaped flower plumes dry and expand to fluffy masses which stay attractive into winter.

Heavenly bamboo – (Nandina domestica) -evergreen shrub with intricately divided leaves that create a lacy pattern. Maroon new growth. Inconspicuous bloom in summer followed by highly ornamental red berries in winter.

Russian sage – (Perovskia sp.) - herbaceous perennial to 3 ft. tall with gray, finely-cut leaves on square stems. Long summer bloom of tiny lavender-blue flowers on long stalks creates a haze of purple.

Rosemary – (Rosmarinus officinalis) - evergreen shrubs and ground covers with lavender to purple-bloom in early spring. Glossy, dark green, aromatic, narrow leaves.

Bush germander – (Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum') - evergreen shrub with beautiful silver foliage, to 4 ft. tall. Showy clear-blue flowers in winter.

November 28, 2002