Going native in town

“Teachers are never fully appreciated by parents until it rains all day Saturday.”

— Anonymous

As a reminder, rain is a drop of water falling from the sky. Its early appearance was a good thing for Laguna, unless one was in the early stages of building a house or mucking around in a watercourse. For the many native plants that cover our hillsides, rain is the crucial element, also affecting the quality of our lives in the village and beyond.

Native plants are a better choice for many gardens. They are well suited to the climate, soils and other growing conditions of Laguna. Because they evolved in our mainly dry clime, they generally require less water and care than other plants. If a home is on a hillside or near open space, natives help a garden blend with the natural surroundings.

More than 7,000 native species have been identified in California; many may be found at Laguna Gardens and Tree of Life Nursery. Selected natives and their horticultural varieties have proven successful in slope plantings, local parks and our home gardens.

Natives require coarse, well-drained soil and restricted summer water. Mulching around the plant base protects the roots and infrequent deep watering helps to develop a strong root system. Watering should be limited largely to the winter and spring months, to complement natural rainfall and growing cycles.

Overhead watering from sprinklers during the summer should be avoided as it can cause unseasonable growth and increases the susceptibility of the plant to disease, root rot and fungus. Although the best time to plant is from October to March, we are blessed in Laguna, with temperatures mild enough to allow planting year round.

A few of the most attractive native choices include the Arctostaphylos species and cultivars, commonly called manzanita. They range from ground covers to large shrubs and small trees. Many feature sculptural trunks, showy pink to white flowers and medium green leaves.

Another native is Ceanothus, known as the California lilac. With an arching habit, they may be found as dense ground covers to tall shrubs. They all feature large clusters of bright blue flowers, hence the name, lilac.

Baccharis pilularis, or dwarf coyote bush, is one of the most rugged full-proof ground covers. It is both fire resistant and deer resistant. Fast growing, it is dense and bright green.

The staccato beat of the rain on the metal roof lulled me toward sleep, but I mused about California native plants until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. The last thing I remember was Buster snuggling close, while the raindrops fell above our heads.

STEVE KAWARATANI is happily married to award-winning writer Catharine Cooper. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to plantman2@mac.com.