Test PB Collection: FTE

Hydrangea quercifolia Tara on low water in Davis in May 2020. Photo: K Reid Tara is an oak-leaved hydrangea, a deciduous sub-shrub, that forms a relaxed mound. Deeply lobed leaves appeared in early spring followed in May by large, conical, double panicles of white blooms.

Hydrangea paniculata 'LeeP1' White Wedding on medium water at UC Davis in July 2020. Photo: K Reid White Wedding is a deciduous perennial shrub with a somewhat more compact stature than most H. paniculata cultivars.

Since COVID-19 decided to crash our Spring Open House events, here's a brief write up of what's going on in the fields at UC Davis and South Coast REC. We started deficit irrigation treatments at both sites in early April this year.

We reserve our Blue RibbonTM for plants that maintain high standards of aesthetic quality over the growing season on our lowest irrigation treatment (20% of ETo). Based on our evaluations these plants should perform well on low water in Central Valley landscapes.

We reserve our Blue RibbonTM for plants that maintain high standards of aesthetic quality over the growing season on our lowest irrigation treatment (20% of ETo). Based on our evaluations these plants should perform well on low water in South Coastal landscapes.

Plants are listed alphabetically by scientific name. Plants were evaluated in full sun or under 50% shade cloth. All plants were evaluated in Davis, CA (WUCOLS Region 2).

Plants are listed alphabetically by scientific name Plants were evaluated in-ground in full sun or under 50% shade cloth. All plants were evaluated in Irvine, CA (WUCOLS Region 3) at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center. All plants were irrigated with reclaimed water.

'Sunshine Daydream' Abelia. Photo: SK Reid. This Abelia was virtually pest and disease free for its entire stay in our field which can be seen in the consistently high ratings in those categories.

Highlights Ceanothus, April 2019. Photo: SK Reid. Highlights Ceanothus was such a vigorous grower that we had to perform emergency pruning in June of the second year, because plants were commingling and encroaching on their neighbors.

The Staff Picks highlights our favorites.