Plant Notes
California Buckeye
Aesculus californica One of the first native plants to leaf out each year is California buckeye. Buckeyes don’t even wait for spring, leafing out in mid-winter, when moisture from rains…
Read MorePacific Reedgrass in the Garden
Calamagrostis nutkaensis This article was adapted from an article written by Cheryl Lisin for the journal Grasslands, Vol. 33, No. 1, Winter 2023 Pacific reedgrass is a large, showy perennial…
Read MoreOregon grape, Berberis aquifolium
Oregon grape is a beautiful shrub, especially when in bloom. The sweetly fragrant flowers bloom in late winter and early spring and are pollinated by bees and moths. After pollination,…
Read MoreCoyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis Coyote brush is an evergreen shrub that blooms in late fall and early winter, a time of year when there are few sources of nectar for small butterflies,…
Read MoreBLACK OAK, WHITE OAK
A Succinct Guide to Distinguishing the Two Species California is home to more than 20 species of oaks, 10 of them occurring here in the Northwest corner of the state.…
Read MoreFlowering Currant: Ribes sanguineum
Many of California’s native shrubs are resilient to fire, surviving underground with their strong root systems. Shortly after a fire, these shrubs will sprout new growth from their root crown.…
Read MoreBull Kelp
Nereocystis luetkeana It is amazing that something can grow up to 200 feet in one year! Bull kelp is the fastest-growing seaweed in the world and can grow up to…
Read MoreCalifornia Fescue
Of the more than 300 grasses that are native to the state, California fescue is among the most beautiful. With its gray-green leaves, it is a bright spot in shady…
Read MoreManzanita
One of California’s most beautiful native shrubs, manzanita, blooms in winter. If you happen to be near a blooming manzanita, you are likely to see and hear Anna’s Hummingbirds, who…
Read MoreKnobcone Pine
Pinus attenuata Plant Notes by Cheryl Lisin In the fall of every year, the cones of most species of pine trees release their seeds. The seeds then germinate with the…
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