By Christine Hoey, Garden Committee Co-Chair
TO READ HOW TO CREATE FLORAL BOUQUETS, VISIT THIS COMPANION ARTICLE: “Cut & Go” Floral and Plant Arrangements Using San Diego Native Vegetation by Caroline Harrod
Plant now for next year’s bouquets! Below are a few California native plant/tree favorites for creating unique flower bouquets by season. “Foundation” natives can be used year-round and will provide structure as well as color and texture to your arrangements.
Winter: Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), Ceanothus, Manzanita (Arctostaphylos), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), Golden Currant (Ribes aureum), Elderberry (Sambucus), Gooseberry (Ribes), Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica), Blue Field Gilla, (Gilia capitata), Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica)
Summer: Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.), Island Snapdragon (Gambelia speciosa), Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa), Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri), summer-blooming sages (Salvia spp.), Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), Beach Aster (Erigeron glaucus), Chuparosa (Justicia californica), Wood Fern (Dryopteris arguta), Red Monardella (Monardella macrantha), and Monkeyflower (Diplacus/Mimulus spp.)
“Foundation” Natives: Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Wood Fern (Dryopteris arguta), Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), Big Basin Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), ‘Canyon Prince’ Wild Rye (Elymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’)
Spring: Spring-blooming sages (Salvia spp.), Penstemon, San Diego Sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata), Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica), lupine species (Lupinus), iris species, Clarkia species, Phacelia species, Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus), Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata), Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla), Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Fall: Fuchsia (Epilobium spp.), California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum; dried rust-colored flower heads), Single-leaved Skunkbrush (Rhus trilobata, now Rhus aromatica var. simplicifolia), Roger’s Red Grape (Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’), Coyote Bush (Baccharis), Coast Goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii), and Monkeyflower (Diplacus/Mimulus spp.)
Invite nature inside and happy flower arranging!
Photos, flower bouquets and artwork by Caroline Harrod