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California Native Gardens by Plant Community
Meadow or Grasslands
Meadow or grassland gardens are at home on gradual to flat areas with deep soils. Most foothill meadows are summer dormant and feature a variety of turf-forming and bunchgrasses that form the framework for the garden. Perennial and annual wildflowers are often incorporated.
Grassland Meadow Replaces a Traditional Lawn
Principles of succession were used in this garden located in the east foothills above San Jose. The house is part of a new development where a great deal of grading and cut and fill was used to create home sites on the existing steep slopes. Conditions there are extreme, and include high winds and poor soil conditions. If the site were evolving naturally into a mature woodland garden, Chaparral species would have germinated first because of the southern exposure of the site.
The goal was to reclaim this garden site as an Oak Woodland with an under-story of Grassland Meadow. The design incorporates natural features such as rocky outcroppings and escarpments that existed prior to development and were still evident in adjacent undeveloped areas. Chaparral species were then planted between the rocks. In nature, this successional process from Chaparral/Grassland to Oak Woodland would have taken several generations.
Trying to reclaim these areas by using successional planting is a challenge, but the effort pays off and the soils benefit, which in the end, produces a healthy shade giving oak tree in a very short time. It also helps homeowners understand what an ecologically disturbed site is and how nature reclaims it. The landscape designer tries to make the process as physically pleasing to the eye as possible, while the real, important work goes on in the soils.
Grassland Meadow Linked with an Oak Woodland Open Space
This backyard is linked to an open space preserve by a gate at the top of the lot. The naturally occurring plant community of the preserve is Oak Woodland. Most of the natural bunch grasses that would have grown in the area have been out-competed by annual European grasses. Therefore, the goal of this design was to re-establish a California Grassland Meadow consisting of native bunch grasses. Selections used are Purple Needle Grass, California Melic, and California Fescue. A mix of California native annual and perennial wildflowers, as well as other members of the Oak Woodland community using Coast Live Oak, Redbud, and Coffeeberry, accompanies the grasses.
To complement the Mediterranean stucco home, the design incorporates a curved stairway and upper patio of Arizona flagstone. In the center of the upper patio is a chiseled granite stone fountain. At its base are dark grey La Paz pebbles. Surrounding the patio is a late summer, sunny border comprised of Buckwheats, Hummingbird Fuchsias, and Asters. Along the stairs, five different species of Penstemon are planted in masses of threes and fives. These give a spectacular display of color from spring to summer. Reds, blues, purples and pale lavenders bloom at different times and are set off by the warm colors of Yarrow and several species of Buckwheats. In a few short years, the Coast Live Oaks will provide shade to the upper patio. Currently, a garden umbrella serves as protection from California's sun.
Meadow or Grassland Plant Specimens
Idaho Fescue
Festuca idahoensis 'Siskiyou Blue'
Small, tufted perennial bunchgrass with finely textured blue-green leaves. Narrow panicles of feathery flowers in late spring or early summer. Takes a summer-fall rest without additional water. Needs full sun to high shade.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Winter-dormant, herbaceous, fast-growing perennial with spreading roots. Has fragrant, fernlike leaves, and flat-topped clusters of white or pink flowers in spring and summer. Can be used as a ground cover, lawn substitute, or among other perennials in a border and adapts to several plant communities.
Owl's Clover
Castilleja exserta
Annual wildflower with moplike spikes of rose-purple, two-lipped flowers. Blooms early to midspring. Roots hook up to adjacent neighbors; sow seed accordingly. Likes full sun.