Miner’s Lettuce – Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata & mexicana

(klay-TOH-nee-uh per-foh-lee-AY-tuh mex-i-KAY-na.)

Family: Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)

Native to: Western U.S. to Baja, often in coastal areas, but also in deserts; common in seasonally

moist, often shady or disturbed sites.

Growth characteristics: herbaceous annual mature height: to 1 ft. mature width: 1 ft.

Numerous fleshy stems from base. Leaves surround the stem (interesting shape) and foliage is an

attractive green to red-green color. Young leaves and stems can be eaten raw or cooked – a

gourmet winter salad green. Leaves can be picked through winter/spring; will produce new leaves

until days get too long.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms Feb-June. Flowers small, white, in clusters above leaves. Many small

black seeds in papery capsules that explode open to spread seeds.

Uses in the garden: Most often used as a ground cover in moist, shady areas of garden. Would

also do well in winter salad garden with lettuce, spinach, etc. Fine in containers if kept moist.

suitable for bogs and water gardens, pond edges.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native annual groundcovers; lettuce & other greens.

Attracts: Seed-eating birds (such as doves) enjoy the seeds.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to full shade; best in partial sun and does well under trees.

Soil Any pH, texture; does particularly well in sandy soils

Water Winter/spring water; can extend summer growth with water. OK at edges of

watered lawns.

Fertilizer Low needs; no added fertilizer

Other

Management: Very easy to grow. Will reseed on bare ground – sometimes too much so.

Gophers like roots.

Propagation: from seed: easy. Best if sown in prepared soil in fall. Will germinate in short days

of fall/winter.

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 5, 10, 13 11/26/10

© Project SOUND

Fringed Red Maids – Calandrinia ciliata (cal-an-DREE-ee-uh sill-ee-AY-tuh)

Family: Portaculaceae (Rush Family)

Native to: Much of California w. of the Sierras; open grassy places and cultivated fields, open

forests and near desert edge on sandy, rocky or loamy soils.

Growth characteristics: herbaceous annual wildflower mature height:1-2 ft. mature width:1-2 ft.

Low, spreading annual with narrow, fleshy leaves and stems. Height depends on soil, water and

other conditions. Foliage color is light green to blue-green.

Blooms/fruits: Spring bloomer (Mar-May). Flowers are small (< ½ in.), rose-red with darker

veins, along the stems. Showy when massed. Flowers only open when the sun is shining.

Uses in the garden: Often used in mixed beds with other native annuals and perennials. Makes a

nice addition to the vegetable garden. Wonderful in pots, mixed with annuals, native bulbs/corms.

Young foliage makes a zesty addition to spring salads. Use in moderation or cook as boiled greens

to remove some of the oxalic acid. Seeds can be parched and eaten as pinole.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native salad greens and pink wildflowers.

Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: birds, small mammals & insects all eat the seeds.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun.

Soil Light to medium well-drained soils; sandy soils probably optimal.

Water Needs good winter/spring moisture – rains often sufficient. No watering after

flowering is complete.

Fertilizer None.

Other

Management: Easy to grow. Sprinkle seeds on prepared ground/in pots in late fall/winter. Rack

in (barely cover). Will reseed on bare ground.

Propagation: from seed: see above

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 5, 10 11/25/10

© Project SOUND

Cobwebby Thistle – Cirsium occidentale vars. californicum & occidentale

(SEER-see-um ox-ih-den-TAY-lee cal-ih-FOR-ni-kum)

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Native to: Much of coastal California (var. californicum also in Sierras); on coast, in grasslands,

coastal dunes, oak woodland, coastal scrublands. Var. californicum also in pine-oak woodlands,

riparian woodlands, chaparral. Both vars. also in disturbed places.

Growth characteristics: biennial/perennial mature height: 2-3 ft. mature width: 2-3 ft. Robust, upright, evergreen thistle with gray-green spiny leaves. Forms a rosette of gray woolly and

spiny leaves the first year and blooms the second year. May survive 3-4 seasons in S. CA.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring/summer, usually sometime between Mar-July. Flowers are

clustered in showy ‘thistle heads’. Var. californicum has lighter flowers (white, lavender or pink)

while var. occidentale (most commonly available) has bright magenta or purple flowers. Flowering

heads have hairs which give them a cobwebby appearance (hence the common name).

Uses in the garden: Most often used as accent plant and for its habitat value. Very showy and

unusual as an accent plant – interesting foliage. Stems/stalks can be peeled & eaten raw.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native thistles; other purple-flowered annuals.

Attracts: Excellent all-round habitat plant. Many insects (bees, butterflies, others) utilize the

nectar and pollen. Larval (caterpillar) food for Lady butterflies. Hummingbirds nectar at the

flowers; other birds use plants for cover, dried flowers for nesting materials and seeds for food.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to light shade

Soil Any well-drained soil; var. occidentale is native to sandy soils

Water Drought tolerant. Can take no summer water (dies back) to occasional water.

Fertilizer None; thrives in nutrient-poor soils

Other

Management: Easy to grow. Will self-seed on bare ground in some gardens. Not invasive.

Propagation: from seed: soak seeds overnight before planting. Plant winter/early spring. Seeds

collected from higher elevations and northern sources may benefit from 2-week cold treatment.

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 13, 19, 21 11/25/10 © Project SOUND

Coastal Prickly Pear – Opuntia littoralis (oh-PUN-shee-uh lit-tor-AY (or AL)-liss)

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Native to: Coastal areas from Santa Barbara to N. Baja, including Channel Islands; low elevation

coastal sage scrub and chaparral.

Growth characteristics: clumping perennial cactus mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 3-6+ ft. A sprawling, native cactus with flattened, leaf-like, succulent stems. In addition to the larger

spines, the species has small hair-like barbed bristles (glochids) which can cause skin problems.

Young pads can be eaten raw or cooked. Tends to be short-lived (10-20 years).

Blooms/fruits: Blooms usually in May-June. Flowers are large, pale yellow, with rose or magenta

bases. Showy. Purple fruits can be eaten raw, cooked (including for jelly) or dried. Seeds can also

be roasted and eaten.

Uses in the garden: Most often used in natural gardens, or on hills and along walls and fences.

Great barrier plant – can use as natural fence. Probably OK in large containers. Dramatic accent!

Sensible substitute for: Non-native large cacti.

Attracts: Excellent butterfly and hummingbird nectar plant. Provides cover for birds (including the

Coastal Cactus Wren) and small animals. Birds and animals eat fruits and seeds.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to part-shade

Soil Sandy or gravelly best; requires well-drained soil ; any local pH

Water Low requirements; don’t over-water in winter or summer/fall

Fertilizer None required

Other Gravel mulch or none

Management: Easy to grow under right conditions (see above). Thrives on neglect. Spreads.

Propagation: from seed: start in pots; low germination rate/slow germinator by cuttings:

easy in pots in sandy soil. Take pads anytime during growing season. Let pads dry out for several

days before planting.

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 8, 10-14, 20, 24, 26, 28 2/28/11 © Project SOUND

Hillside/Pacific Pea – Lathyrus vestitus (LA-thi-rus VES-ti-tus)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Native to: Coastal CA from OR to Baja; common and widespread in dry to shaded places below

5000' in chaparral, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland.

Growth characteristics: trailing perennial vine mature length: 2-9 ft. Climbing or sprawling

drought-deciduous vine from a woody stem/root. Branches are fast-growing, branched, ‘sweet-pea’

like. Leaves are compound with 8-12 pair, slightly fuzzy leaflets. Tendrils for climbing.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms Apr-June. Flowers lavender, purple or light pink, like sweet-pea. Flowers

grow in showy clusters. Fruits are fuzzy green pea-pods, drying to brown, with many seeds.

Uses in the garden: Most useful in natural garden or on slopes. Does well under oaks and in other

part-shade dry areas. Particularly good habitat plant – should be utilized more. Don’t plant near

native populations, as there is much local variability and may also hybridize with other related

species. Note: plants in the pea family can be toxic when eaten, particularly the seeds.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Sweet Pea and other flowering pea vines.

Attracts: Excellent habitat plant. Provides cover and seeds for seed-eating birds.

Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators utilize the nectar. Larval food plant for Marine

Blue butterfly.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Part-sun or north slope

Soil Any local texture, pH; not particular

Water Semi-dry; summer water only occasionally or not at all once established (like oaks)

Fertilizer None needed; like all in the Pea family, plant increases soil fertility (N)

Other

Management: Do not prune – just remove dead branches. Protect new (winter) growth from

snails/slugs. Plant may grow vigorously with summer water; best to withhold water and monitor

growth.

Propagation: from seed: yes; starting in pots probably best by cuttings: ?

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 8, 13 2/9/07 © Project SOUND

Fringed Willow-herb – Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum (ep-ih-LOW-be-um sil-ee-AY-tum)

Family: Onagraceae (Willow-herb Family)

Native to: Much of Northwestern N. America (species) and most of California; fairly common in

most plant communities in moist areas below 10,000'.

Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-4 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft. Erect, many-branched perennial from a basal rosette of leaves. Usually dies back in fall/winter in

our area. Stem and leaves medium green, sometimes tinged with red. Leaves lance-shaped with a

few coarse teeth on margin and prominent, sunken veins.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms late spring to fall, depending on soil moisture. Flowers are very small,

white-pink, with notched petals. Flowers usually solitary but may be in loose clusters. Inferior

ovary (beneath the petals) typical of the Family. Many small, tufted, wind-borne seeds from a linear

seedpod that opens and curls outward as it dries.

Uses in the garden: Most often isn’t planted – a regular natural component of most local gardens.

Best used in rain gardens or margins of vegetable garden. Young shoots/leaves can be eaten as a

cooked pot-herb. Older leaves sometimes dries and used as tea.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native moist-area plants; edibles greens.

Attracts: Good bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to part-shade.

Soil Any local texture and pH.

Water Needs good winter/spring water (Zone 2 or 2-3); taper off after blooming.

Fertilizer None needed – but won’t harm it.

Other

Management: Plant re-seeds like crazy in moist areas of garden. Easy to pull in spring.

Propagation: from seed: fresh seed – easy in winter/spring

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 10, 14, 21, 24 1/29/13

© Project SOUND

California Sea-lavender – Limonium californicum (lie-MOW-nee-um ka-li-FOR-ni-kum)

Family: Plumbaginaceae (Leadwort Family)

Native to: SW U.S. (AZ, NV) including coastal CA to Baja; Coastal strand, salt marshes, sand hills,

beaches, bays, alkaline flats under 200 ft elevation.

Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft. Medium green, somewhat fleshy leaves, mostly in basal rosette. Looks like non-native Sea-

lavenders. But smaller and more dainty. Attractive, evergreen foliage with some moisture.

Relatively slow-growing.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms from summer through fall, even into Dec. Flowers are small, white/purple,

bell-shaped in spray-like clusters. Showy, but not as abundant as non-native species.

Uses in the garden: Best for coastal gardens that have the right conditions. Makes a nice small

specimen plant near fronts of beds, along walkways or on low berms. Good as ground cover - fire

retardent properties. Excellent for stabilizing sandy slopes. Leaves are edible (cooked greens).

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Limoniums (Asian, Canarian & Algerian sea-lavender; Statice)

Attracts: Good butterfly nectar source.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to light shade

Soil Sandy to sandy loam - probably on other well-drained soils; any local pH

Water Moderate to regular water (Zone 2-3 to 3). Tolerates brackish water, some

seasonal flooding.

Fertilizer None.

Other Good salt tolerance

Management: Fairly easy to grow in sandy soils. Susceptible to fungal disease if air circulation is

poor. Cut back or divide to rejuvenate.

Propagation: from seed: germinates in 30 days by cuttings: soft-wood & division probable

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 10, 14, 16 4/29/08

© Project SOUND

Canaigre Dock – Rumex hymenosepalus ( RU-mex hi-men-oh-SEE-pal-us)

Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Native to: Southwestern U.S. including S. CA; usually in summer-dry sandy places in coastal

sage scrub, valley grassland, chaparral, joshua tree woodland, creosote bush scrub below 5000 ft.

Growth characteristics: spreadinging perennial mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 3-6 ft. Drought-deciduous (dies back to root) herbaceous perennial. Large (to 1 ft long) fleshy leaves in a

basal rosette are blue-green to light green with some purple-pink. Similar to Curley Dock, but leaf

edges are not wavy. A bold-appearing plant.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring or early summer depending on climate. Flowers are small, yellow-

pink densely packed on a stout flowering stem. The flowers are rapidly replaced by showy pink

bracts/seed pods. This is by far the prettiest of the Docks – very dramatic, showy.

Uses in the garden: Mostly planted for its useful traits – but could be used more generally. Early

spring leaves can be used sparingly as cooked greens. Their oxalic acid adds tang to any dish.

Often used a substitute for rhubarb in Southwestern U.S. Colored roots provide yellow, orange and

red-brown dyes & medicines. Excellent bird habitat plant. Fine for winter-wet areas of the garden.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Docks, Canna.

Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Larval food for Copper

butterflies in other areas of the Southwest.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to part-shade.

Soil Most local soils – often somewhat heavy soils in wild; any local pH.

Water Likes good winter/spring rains (even flooding); summer dry (Zone 1-2 to 2) with

one watering in late summer (like summer monsoonal rain-storm).

Fertilizer OK with light fertilizer; better with leaf mulch.

Other

Management: Cut back dry flowering stalks in fall.

Propagation: from seed: direct seed - spring by divisions: dig up tuberous roots in fall.

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 6, 13, 16, 38 1/29/13

© Project SOUND

California Saltbush – Atriplex californica (AT-ri-plex kal-ih-FOR-ni-kuh )

Family: Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)

Native to: Native to CA from Marin County south to Baja; in sandy soils on sea bluffs and sandy

coast in coastal strand, coastal salt marsh and coastal sage communities under 500 ft elevation.

Growth characteristics: perennial sub-shrub mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft. Sub-shrub that usually is almost prostrate in nature, but may be more upright in the garden.

Leaves are gray-green, small, oval and often crowded on the branches. Leaves have typically

sparkly/scaly look typical of Saltbushes. Stem short & thick from a thick taproot.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms anytime from spring into fall, depending on soil moisture. Flowers tiny,

yellow-green in clusters typical of Atriplex. More interesting than showy. Plants sometimes have

both male and female flowers or sometimes just one sex (dioecious). Many small, dark seeds.

Uses in the garden: Most often used as foliage or habitat plant, particularly on the coast. Foliage

color provides nice contrast. Excellent cover plant for birds & small animals. Young leaves cooked,

adding natural salt to soups, stews and cooked greens. Seeds parched for pinole, baked goods.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native coastal sub-shrubs and shrubs.

Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Larval food source for western

Pygmy Blue butterfly. Attracts a wide range of other insects.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun.

Soil Sandy soil; alkali soils OK.

Water Low summer water needs – Zone 1-2 to 2 best in garden (occasional summer

water). Wash off leaves monthly in summer with hose.

Fertilizer None.

Other Fine in salty soils or with seaside conditions.

Management: Prune back young plants to several inches above the woody part of stem for fuller

plant. Remove dead branches in winter as needed. Low maintenance.

Propagation: from seed: fresh seed, 24 hour soak, rinse - spring by cuttings: probably – summer

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 6, 13, 16, 38 1/29/13

© Project SOUND