California Native plants in containers.

First, buy the biggest container you can carry. The bigger the container the more flexible you can be with watering and care.
We usually use cactus mix for the filler. If you have a native area nearby a couple of handfuls of 'real' dirt would help make the mix more normal.
Before you plant, water the mix a couple of times. If it's muddy feeling add some perlite, if it seems too light, add some 'native dirt'. The mix should feel like dirt you want to grow stuff in. A moist, not wet,  gallon pot of the stuff should weigh between 3-4 lbs.

Hot (normal day 95F or more in summer) full sun, inner Los Angeles, San Joaquin Valley, reflected sun elsewhere,  watered 3 times a week (for this large 30" pot)

Sage Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'Margarita BOP is a Pentemon to try in a container
Chilopsis linearis Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'
Quercus lobata Zauschneria 'Uvas Canyon'
Muhlenbergia rigens Zauschneria latifolia johnstonii
Penstemon spectabilis Penstemon 'Margarita BOP Eriogonum grande rubescens Sisyrinchium bellum
Corethrogyne filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet'

Cool (normal day 90F or less in summer)  sun in a coastal area. (San Luis Obispo, West Los Angeles, East Bay Area, San Diego)

Sage Penstemon 'Margarita BOP' Silver carpet works well as a groundcover in a container.
Fallugia paradoxa Zauschneria cana Achillea lanulosa
Pinus jeffreyi Symphyotrichum ascendens Aster occidentalis
Quercus durata Corethrogyne filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet'
Penstemon spectabilis Penstemon 'Margarita BOP' Eriogonum grande rubescens Sisyrinchium bellum Corethrogyne filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet'
Cercis occidentalis Erigeron  'Wayne Roderick' Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'

Cool full sun (normal summer day in 70's), morning sun and high filtered shade. Immediate coast areas

Lepechinia fragrans Erigeron  'Wayne Roderick' The native columbines are well liked by hummingbirds.
Umbellularia californica
Rhamnus purshiana San Bruno
Agastache urticifolia Aquilegia Rudbeckia occidentalis Sisyrinchium californicum Asclepias fascicularis
Carpenteria california Satureja chandlerii Ceanothus maritimus
Stachys chamissonis Horkelia cuneata Erigeron  'Wayne Roderick' Iris douglasiana Zauschneria  septentrionalis
Iris douglasiana Juncus spp. Carex spp.
Libocedrus decurrens

Shade( for most of California's desert areas and hot areas, water more)An Island Alum root in a 15 gallon sized pot.


Ribes sanguineum glutinosum Pycnanthemum californicum
Carpenteria californica Satureja douglasii
Rubus parvifolius Fragaria californica
Keckiella cordifolia Lonicera hispidula Aristolochia californica
Salvia spathacea Heuchera maxima, and Satureja douglasii
Rhamnus purshiana Fragaria californica Satureja douglasii
Amorpha californica Satureja douglasii

Juncus Carex Fragaria californica Symphyotrichum ascendens Aster occidentalis

Last edited on 2012-01-08 18:09:28.

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