Why the All-Stars Increasing urban growth

Why the All-Stars ? ¡ Increasing urban growth plus decreasing water supplies ¡ Save time and money l Less water, care, chemicals ¡ Support l wildlife-the 4 Bs Bees, butterflies, birds, beneficial insects ¡ Our unique “Mediterranean” climate

What makes an All-Star? Every All-Star plant must: § Be attractive for most of the year § Be tested in the UCD Arboretum All-Stars were also selected for: § Drought tolerance § Attracting beneficial wildlife (4 Bs) § Low maintenance § Year-round interest

Irrigation Trials: levels of water 4

Trial Gardens in 11 Sunset hardiness zones

Perennials vs. Annuals: • 1 year/ 1 season – then replant Perennials: • Multiple years • Flowers 1 season All-Stars are perennials

Garden Building Blocks TREES – anchors SHRUBS – structure LOW FLOWERS - accessories

Perennials-shade Serpentine Columbine Aquilegia eximia

Perennials-shade Rosy Coral Bells Heuchera rosada (and others)

Perennials-shade Alum root Heuchera maxima

Perennials-shade Lenten rose Helleborus x hybridus • low evergreen • Blooms in winter to 1 ft.

Perennialsshade Pigsqueak Bergenia crassifolia • Low evergreen • Blooms in winter

Perennialsshade Giant chain fern Woodwardia fimbriata

Perennials-semi-shade Cape balsam- Bulbine frutescens

Perennial/groundcover semi-shade Hummingbird Sage Salvia spathacea

Groundcover-semi-shade Dwarf plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides • Long bloomsummer to fall • Fall color

SUN Perennials Iris PCH Hybrid ‘Canyon Snow’ • Spring bloomer • Evergreen foliage

SUN Perennials Penstemon ‘Margarita BOP’ • Non-stop bloomer • Evergreen foliage

SUN Perennials ‘Max Frei’ Soapwort Saponaria x lempergii • Low, mounding evergreen • Blooms in spring to fall

SUN Perennials California fucshia Epilobium sp. • Low mound to 18” • Attracts hummingbirds!!!

SUN Perennials Santa Barbara daisy Erigeron karvinskianus Snow-in-summer Cerastium tomentosum • Low mounds • Spread slowly

Ornamental Grasses California fescue Full sun to part shade Pine muhly Smaller of 2 Muhlenbergias

Ornamental grasses Giant feather grass

Shrubs-shade Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ HIGHLY FRAGRANT! • Small (2 -3’) • Evergreen • Blooms in winter

Shrubs- Shade/semishade Oregon grape Berberis aquifolia ‘Compacta’ • Fruit for native birds • Good for under oaks • Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects • Blooms winter/spring © By Ken Gililland

Shrubs-semi shade Golden currant Ribes aureum SPICY FRAGRANCE! • Medium-large • Good for under oaks • Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects • Blooms in winter-spring • Small (2’) Evergreen • Blooms in winter

Shrubs-semi shade Western spice bush Calycanthus occidentalis • Large • Spring flowers attract pollinators • Yellow fall leaf color

SUN Shrubs- small 2 lavenders ‘Otto Quast’ Spanish lavender ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’

SUN Shrubs- small Autumn sage Salvia greggii and Salvia x jamensis

SUN Shrubs: small-med ‘Valley Violet’ California lilac Ceanothus maritimus

SUN Shrubs: small-med ‘Gruss an Achen’ floribunda rose and ‘Otto Quast’ Spanish lavender

SUN Shrubs: small-med Rosa ‘Korbin’ or Iceberg rose

SUN Shrubs Vine hill manzanita Arctostaphylos ‘Howard Mc. Minn’ • Tolerates clay soils • Attractive to hummingbirds and ben. insects

SUN Shrubs ‘Marie Simon’ wild lilac Ceanothus x pallidus • Semi-deciduous • Attractive red stems

SUN Shrubs Lynn’s everblooming Texas sage Leucophyllum langamaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’

SUN Shrubs: medium bladderpod Isomeris arborea • Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees • Blooms year round

SUN Plants for winter bloom Winter honeysuckle Winter jasmine Think low-water use Forsythia!

SUN Plants for winter bloom ‘Christmas Cheer’ Torch Lily

Vines for hot, dry gardens Chilean jasmine Mandevilla laxa Violet trumpet vine Clytostoma callistegioides

Large shrub/ small tree Crape myrtle –Lagerstroemia hybrids

Large shrub/small tree Snowy River wattle Acacia boormanii

Small tree Western redbud Cercis occidentalis

Large shrub/ small tree Island mountain mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides ‘blanchae’

All-Star Trees-small Toyon, Christmas berry Heteromeles arbutifolia

Trees-medium Chilean lily-of-the-valley tree Crinodendron patague

Trees-medium Formosan flame tree Koelreuteria elegans subs. formosana

Trees-large Valley Oak Quercus lobata

Trees-large Coast Redwood

Other Trees City of Folsom webpage: http: //www. folsom. ca. us/default. asp ØCommunity Development ØCity Arborist

What about turf grass? -UC Verde buffalograss • Dense, fast spreading – fewer weeds • Slow growing – less mowing (tops out at 4 -6”) – every 2 -3 weeks • VERY low pollen • USES ¼ THE WATER OF OTHER TURF (once a week water keeps it green)

Plant for now – but be prepared for change: Shade, size, preferences

1. Available water- group plants with same needs 2. LIGHT- where is the shade/sun? 3. What do YOU like: books/magazines/web

1. Put plants together 2. READ LABELS FOR EVENTUAL SIZE AND LIGHT NEEDS 3. DON’T BUY IF root-bound, diseased, broken crown

1. Buy enough for slight overlap: i. 6” or less for large ii. 3” or less for small 2. Buy larger for back, smaller for front 3. Buy the smallest size pot available

http: //arboretum. ucdavis. edu/documents/All. Stars. Care. Instructions. pdf 1. Pull existing mulch back 2. Dig hole 2 -3 x W – same height as pot i. Break soil chunks up thoroughly ii. If too deep, backfill 3. Score sides of hole

1. Check plant roots and loosen ball 2. Place plant on firmed soil in center – spread roots 3. Plant ½ in. above ground level 4. Backfill with soil, tamping gently 5. Build a berm with excess soil

2” is okay – 3” is better • Conserves moisture • Cools soil • Suppresses weeds • Slowly adds OM to soil No need to buy if you have a truck Free from SMUD yard, tree services

• Trees- keep 6” from trunk • Shrubs- keep 3” from trunk • Perennials- closer REPLACE WITH TOP DRESSING EVERY 2 YEARS No need to buy if you have a truck Free from SMUD yard, tree services

1. Regular water the first year i. Every 2 -3 days in the heat ii. Once a week as it cools and rains iii. CHECK BY FEEL 2. For larger shrubs and trees -2 years 3. After establishment: i. Knock down berm ii. 1 x /week or 2 x/month watering iii. NO WINTER WATER

1. Prune off spent flowers 2. Prune to shape 3. Cut back most grasses in late winter

1. Trees - NO 2. Whole beds before planting - YES 3. Individual plants – probably not

1. Add at least 4 -6” or more of composted OM and till in to twice the depth 2. Basic soil sulfur will help lower soil p. H SLOWLY 3. Use natural bone meal or blood meal for Nitrogen

SUN Combo: Cool colors

Shade/Semi-shade Combo: Cool colors

SUN Combo: Red, white and blue:

SUN Combo: Hot colors

SUN Combo: Primary colors

A searchable plant guide http: //arboretum. ucdavis. edu/arboretum_all_stars. aspx

Acknowledgments: • Ellen Zagory, UC Davis Arboretum • Native Sons, High Ranch, Mc. Call’s Nurseries • California Center for Urban Horticulture • Capitol Nursery • UC Davis Arboretum