By Susan Krzywicki, landscape designer of “Native Gardens…Green Living” and Native Garden Committee member
As we pull into mid-summer, the garden focus is diffused over a wide array of plant activity. Bees are buzzing, some plants quiet down, and you can start to look forward to what the fall plantings will be. Time to look around and note seasonal differences, places that need refreshing, and holes that develop. Besides the reliable bloom of our Cleveland sages (Salvia clevelandii), here are some other garden choices local to our area. (Visit the links provided for each of the plant species to see photos and photos and more information.)
Early Summer Observations
Full Sun
The California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) are beginning to look great and may even be starting to bloom.
I have seen some nicely blooming matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), in several gardens along my travels in San Diego.
Look for modest blooms starting on soap plants (Chlorogalum pomeridianum). The lowest ones on the stalk should be opening each afternoon.
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), a Mojave favorite is really exploding with blooms now.
Great Valley gumweed (Grindelia camporum) could be covered with pollinators about now.
Bladder pod (Peritoma arborea) seems to bloom all year unless it has an excess of seed pods.
Blue flax (Linum lewisii) is a little-known local with bright blue flowers that open during daylight, and close at night. It is more of a mountain plant, if you’d like to give it a try.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Sawtooth Goldenbush (Hazardia squarrosa) blooms nicely.
Goldenrod (Solidago californica) isn’t blooming yet in my garden but I expect to see stalks of golden color in August.
Goldenbushes (Ericameria palmeri and Isocoma menziesii) are looking really good!
The Monardellas include coyote mint (Monardella villosa; below) and hummingbird or red mint (Monardella macrantha) are blooming too. Coyote mint is slightly out of San Diego County, and hummingbird or red mint is prevalent in east county.
Monkeyflower species (Mimulus) have already been blooming since early May.
The Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) has lavender-blue flowers now, in part sun locations.
The Channel Islands tree poppy (Dendromecon hartfordii) seems to always be in bloom.
Shade
Coral bells (Heuchera maxima) put out tall stalks of delicate bloom - in filtered shade. While from the Channel Islands, it is the rare shade plant that delivers color in dry summer.
Plants That Love a Good Heatwave
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) all prove reliable during late summer heat, even if they are not in bloom.
The Anza-Borrego Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla) is also going to stand up to heat!
Indian Mallow (Abutilon palmeri) gives an impressive display of unique gold cup-shaped blooms.
The buckwheats shine at this time of year. Eriogonum fasciculatum, and E. umbellatum (below) should all be doing well. E. arborescens and E. giganteum, although from mostly off-shore, are often found in our gardens and bloom nicely right now.
Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua): strong reddish-apricot blooms, and nice grey-green leaves.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Members of the genus Rhamnus: buckthorns, coffee berries, and redberries; as well as sugar sumac (Rhus ovata; below) can take the heat and stay leafy green.
Elegant tarplant (Madia elegans), are flowering profusely with little or no supplemental water.
Coast Brittlebush (Encelia californica) is in bloom and may not need any supplemental water, depending on your conditions. Don’t remove the dead flower heads: goldfinches and others love munching on the seeds.