Editors' Picks for 2019
This Month's Pick + Editor's Pick Archive Index
Each month our editor, Barbara Hill, highlights an outstanding plant, interesting insect, or helpful tool.
January
Hen and chicks (Echeveria “Imbricata”)
With it's fleshy leaves and low growth pattern this attractive succulent is ideal for fire-wise landscaping. Blue-green rosettes spread freely, forming dense clumps from two to four feet wide. Pink flowers lined in yellow bloom on 8-inch stems in spring. Drought-tolerant; frost hardy to 20 degrees. Prefers light, well-drained soils, and partial shade in our area.
February
Winter blooming bergenia, (Bergenia crassifolia)
Also known as pigsqueak is a low-growing, firewise perennial that adds a dramatic touch to the shade garden. Rosettes of large, green leaves grow in three-foot wide clumps, reaching twelve to eighteen inches in height. Erect stems hold dense clusters of pink flowers above the foliage in midwinter and early spring. Blooms attract beneficial insects. Provide part to full shade, and low to medium water.
March
Ed Carman’s rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Mozart’)
This plant is from famed nurseryman Ed Carman, named after the street of his former nursery, is a standout for its abundance of unusually dark blue flowers and its lustrous, dark green leaves. Semi-prostrate, its cascading form reaches two feet high and four feet wide in maturity. A prolific bloomer nearly year-round, this edible variety is equally at home in the water-wise or culinary garden. An excellent nectar source for pollinators but avoided by deer, it can handle less than perfect soils, but good drainage is preferred. Water infrequently once established. Full sun to light shade. Photo by TD Lucas.
April
Lilac vine (Hardenbergia violacea)
A vigorous, evergreen vine from Australia offers handsome foliage and cascading clusters of purple, pea-like flowers that vivify the garden in late winter and early spring. Other cultivars offer a range of bloom colors, from violet to pink to pure white. With support, twining stems grow at a moderate rate to a height of 10 feet. Cut back and thin when blooms are spent to prevent tangling. Prefers light, well-drained soil. Low to moderate water; sun to part shade. Photo by Kenpei.
May
Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)
An excellent accent plant which adds year-round interest to the landscape. Offering a profusion of fragrant, lacy white flower clusters in late spring, it later lights up the autumn garden when its broad, glossy leaves turn yellow. Ridged or peeling grey-brown bark provides winter interest. A member of the olive family, birds flock to the small fruits produced by female trees in early fall. Usually grown as a multi-stemmed shrub, it can be trained to a single trunk, and easily maintained below its mature height of twenty-five feet. Slow growing. Resists most pests and diseases. Full sun, low to medium water. Give good drainage.
June
Dwarf germander (Teucrium chamaedrys ‘Nanum’)
Dwarf germander is a sturdy little plant with abundant, dark pink blooms that support pollinators and beneficial insects from spring through fall. Left to its own devices, it will reach 1’H x 2’W, but is easily sheared for a more formal look, and is a regular in notable knot gardens such as the one at famed Filoli. Easy-care and evergreen, it tolerates dry conditions and poor soils, if drainage is good. Full sun to part shade; low to very low water. Photo by H. Zell.
July
Wayne Roderick seaside daisy (Erigeron “W.R.”)
An excellent native hybrid, is one of many fine selections introduced by, and named for, the famed Bay Area plantsman. A wide variety of pollinators will flock to this lush-looking, floriferous perennial. Tough and adaptable, moderate to occasional water and periodic deadheading will keep it covered in blooms from spring through fall. 1’ H x 3’ W; part shade in our hot inland climate. Photo by John Rusk.
August
Golden pearl polyantha rose (Rosa “Perle d’Or”)
An exquisite antique rose with a French accent! Hybridized in France in the late 19th century, polyanthas were wildly popular in their heyday. Later overshadowed by their offspring, the floribunda, this small class of rose has since become something of a rosarian’s secret. Award-winning “Perle d’Or” is a particularly fine specimen, with small, apricot-orange buds that open into golden pink double blooms, sweetly perfuming the garden from spring through fall. In spite of its impressive pedigree, this beauty requires no pampering: drought- , heat-, and disease-resistant, it performs well in a variety of soil types, from sand to alkaline clay. Nearly thornless, its upright canes grow to 6’ tall x 3’ wide. An excellent choice for container gardens. Full sun; low to medium water. Photo by A. Barra.
September
Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)
Named for the influential nurseryman, author, and innovator who discovered it. This award-winner is valued for its handsome foliage and dancing, butterfly-like spring blooms, which mature into attractive, tawny spikes that persist through fall. Eye-catching as single accent plants in narrow spaces or grouped together for dramatic effect, “Karl Foerster”’s mounds of slender, dark green leaves grow two feet high and wide, with upright flowering stalks reaching a lofty six feet tall. Flowers are stunning used fresh or dry in autumn arrangements. Cut to the ground in winter to refresh its foliage. Full sun to part shade; low to medium water. Photo by Bildoj.
October
Western Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis)
Bring a bit of Bidwell Park to your garden with this handsome California native. Three-season interest is provided by unusual, lotus-shaped maroon flowers in the spring and summer, and lively yellow leaves in the fall. Its lush foliage is generally avoided by deer, and when bruised, emits a pleasant, wine-like scent. Tolerates a variety of soils. Fast growing to 4'–12' high and wide. Full to part shade, regular water. Photo by Alan Rockefeller.
November
Cascade Creek California goldenrod (Solidago californica ‘Cascade Creek’)
A garden-worthy California native that delights more than the eye: nectar- and pollen-seeking butterflies and beneficials will flock to its arching, brilliant yellow blooms from spring through fall. Allergy suffers need not fear adding it to their garden: wind-pollinated ragweed, which blooms concurrent with innocent, insect-pollinated goldenrod, is the culprit. This tough perennial will thrives in any soil, accept part shade as happily as full sun, and needs only occasional water. Cascade Creek is 3–4´ high x 3´ wide. Cut to the ground in late fall. Photo by N. Houlihan.
December
Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
A garden-worthy California native that delights more than the eye: nectar- and pollen-seeking butterflies and beneficials will flock to its arching, brilliant yellow blooms from spring through fall. Allergy suffers need not fear adding it to their garden: wind-pollinated ragweed, which blooms concurrent with innocent, insect-pollinated goldenrod, is the culprit. This tough perennial will thrives in any soil, accept part shade as happily as full sun, and needs only occasional water. Cascade Creek is 3–4´ high x 3´ wide. Cut to the ground in late fall.
Guest editor Laura Lukes. Photo by H. Zel