Tag: Chaparral

Wyethia mollis

Wyethia mollis, or mountain mules ears, is a bold short stature member of the Aster family.  Also known as wolly mules ears, this impressive plant can best be imagined as a 1 foot tall sunflower.  Mountain mules ears grows, as the name suggests, at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada range of Northern California into […]

Quercus vaccinifolia

Quercus vaccinifolia, or Huckleberry oak, is an important oak species of high mountain forests in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges from California north into southern Oregon.  This impressive evergreen, or live oak, grows slowly as a prostrate shrub attaining typical dimensions of 1 foot high by 4 foot wide, and more with age.  The leaves of the huckleberry […]

Sorbus scopulina

Western mountain ash, Sorbus scopulina, is a medium sized erect shrub attaining hights not usually above 12 feet.  Its new growth emerges sticky, with whitish stemmed glands.  The attractive foliage is a deep green color, leaves are alternate with between 9 and 13 narrow, fine-toothed, sharply acuminate leaflets 1 to 3 inches long.  The large inflorescence consists of […]

Festuca californica

California fescue, Festuca californica, is a showy clump forming bunchgrass.  Its dull green to silvery blue foliage persists throughout the year, making it an excellent choice for any native garden.  California fescue grows quickly to a large graceful clump roughly 2 feet in diameter, and because it does not form rhizomes, remains fairly contained.  However, in the […]

Erigeron speciosus

Erigeron speciousus is a showy drought tolerant member of the Aster family.  Known commonly as showy, or aspen, fleabane daisy, this versatile and carefree plant is an excellent choice for any garden.  Native from British Columbia down through Northwest Oregon and throughout the inter-mountain west south to New Mexico and Arizona, showy fleabane grows in open woods, thickets, […]

Yucca whipplei (Hesperoyucca whipplei)

 Yucca whipplei is native to southern California, northwestern Arizona, and Mexico on the Baja California Peninsula. The plant for most of its life is a mound of sharply tipped leaves that stick out in every direction. After about seven years the plant uses all of its energy in the production of flowers and setting seed, […]

Styrax redivivus

 At the end of the year, as many of you might be waiting for that first snow to appear, it might be even more enjoyable treating yourself to the plant form: enter the snowdrop bush.  Styrax redivivus is a nice specimen with delicate features and, if pruned correctly, a pleasant shape.  Adding much to the garden […]