Plants for in, or around, a shady pond in California.

Carpenteria californica, Bush Anemone has survived here for 20 years. It will survive in full sun(it does in Bakersfield), but needs the tree canopy to keep from freezing. In the open the bark peels on bad years and the plant dies to the ground, sometimes coming back.

Fragaria californica(vesca), California Strawberry, has made the edges of a couple of the watered areas its home. One of the plants is now 50 ft. by 20 ft. wide.

Geranium californicum, California Geranium, that was planted 15 years ago seems to be happy here in full shade with regular water.

Rhododendron occidentale, Western Azalea, planted this spring, grows along our 'creek' in the shade of a Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), mixed in with Spiraea douglasii, Western Spiraea.

Rubus parviflorus, Thimble Berry, 10 years old, grows underneath a Spitzenberg apple tree between two greenhouses in full shade and resembles a 6 foot high bush. In another area, a second specimen, of about the same vintage, is growing at the edge of an old Quercus agrifolia, receives only morning sun, with Fragaria californica (vesca), and Clematis ligusticifolia, Virgin's Bower, as companions. In both places it receives regular water.

Stachys chamissonis

Physocarpus capitatus, Ninebark, was planted ten years ago, surviving the dry summer conditions, but has been growing more happily now that it is near a bird bath.

Sambucus caerulea(mexicana), Mountain Elderberry, likes regular water and shade at our site. At higher elevations it lives in full sun.