Central Coast Wilds Native Plant and Restoration Nursery

 

May 30th 2020

I work in the propagation area of the nursery, where I upsize seedlings into bigger pots. Since it is a production nursery, I replant anywhere from 100 to 300 plants a day. Nearly every day I am introduced to a new California native plant, and such an intimate meeting it is to touch the fragile roots and tuck it into its new home.


Plants that I have propagated:

  1. Festuca rubra ‘Molate’ “Red Fescue” (Poaceae)
    1. Drought tolerant, stablizes hillsides because of its deep root system, and it is a cool season lawn alternative. Good for butterfly garden. Summer deciduous.
      1. https://www.calscape.org/Festuca-rubra-(Red-Fescue)?srchcr=sc5edc7acaccef3
      2. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=3586
    2. Planted this in many areas in the backyard to stabilize the slope
  2. Frangula californica – “coffee berry” (Rhamnaceae)
    1. Named because it’s berries look like coffee beans. Native to California and Southern Oregon. Dense evergreen shrub growing 6-15 feet tall. Berries are valued by birds, and attracts butterflies and bees. Specifically the Pale Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) and Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus).  Tolerates full sun or part shade. It is OK with light summer water up to 2x per month. Makes a great fire resistant hedge.
      1. https://www.calscape.org/Frangula-californica-(Coffeeberry)?srchcr=sc5edc785a0cce6
    2. I planted this is in the backyard. Is this one of the plants susceptible to SOD? 
  3. Bromus carinatus – “Mountain Brome” (Poaceae)
    1. Native bunchgrass  to Western North America from Alaska to Mexico. It is found in every county of California. It is a perennial grass growing in clumps 0.5-1.5 meters tall. The grass is wind pollinated, but it is sometimes cleistogamous, so that the flowers pollinate themselves, especially under stressful conditions. Highly palatable forage for livestock, and stablizes erosion. Host to the Umber Skipper Butterfly.
      1. https://www.calscape.org/Bromus-carinatus-(California-Brome-Grass)?srchcr=sc5edc79f8766bc
  4. Symphyotrichum chilense – “California Aster” (Asteraceae) 
    1. It is native to Western N.A. from British Columbia to California. Perennial herb growing to heights of 40cm to 1 m. The flowers attract many beneficial insects, including the Northern Checkerspots, Field Cresent, and Pearl Crescent Butterflies.
      1. https://www.calscape.org/Symphyotrichum-chilense-(California-Aster)?srchcr=sc5ed669f8a627d
      2. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=10402
  5. Rosa Californica – “California Rose” (Rosaceae)
    1. Grows through the coast and up to elevations of 6000 feet. It is deciduous thicket forming shrub with prickly curving stems. Natural Setting is moist places like streambanks and seeps. Supports bees, butterflies, and birds. Specifically the Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) and Acleris keferi.
      1. https://www.calscape.org/Rosa-californica-(California-Wildrose)?srchcr=sc5edc7bf657eee
  6. Heteromeles arbutifolia – ” Toyon”, “Christmas Berry” (Rosaceae)
    1. Native to Western CA and Sierra foothills. Usually grow to 8 feet, but in Los Padres NF it can grow up to 30ft tall! The flowers are visited by butterflies and other insects, while the berries are consumed by birds. Coyotes and bears also eat and disperse the seed. They can tolerate a wide variety of soils and shade/sun conditions. They are fire retardent if given enough water.
      1. https://www.calscape.org/Heteromeles-arbutifolia-(Toyon)?srchcr=sc5ed66a6ba873f
    2. I also planted one of these in the backyard. Are these carriers for SOD? 
  7. Carex barbarae – “Santa Barabara sedge”,”Valley Sedge” (Cyperaceae) 
    1. Equally likely to occur in wetlands and non wetlands. Perennial monocot.
      1. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1520
      2. https://www.calscape.org/Carex-barbarae-(Valley-Sedge)?srchcr=sc5edc7b944b470
  8. Eleocharis macrostachya – “common spike rush, wiregrass” (Cyperaceae)
    1. Perennial monocot commonly found in wetland/riparian habitats. Handles brackish water (fresh and salt), produces rhizomes
      1. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=2911

 


Native Plants in the Nursery
  • Philadelphus lewisii – Mock Orange – white smelly flowers, grows as a tall bush
  • Penstemon heterophyllus– purple penstemon grows as a low bush
  • Rubus Ursinus – “CA Blackberry” (Rosaceae)
    1. I learned that California Blackberry has leaves of three with small thorns, while nonnative Himalayan blackberry has leaves of 5 and much more pronounced thorns
      1. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=7206
  • Lathyrus vernusSpring Vetch” 
  • Romneya “Matilija Poppies”

 


Wonderous world of weeds – nearly every day I will spend time weeding at work, and the diversity I encounter is astounding. Since weeds are only plants that are unwanted, they are still quite impressive
  • Picris echioides L. “bristly oxtongue” : biennial, leaves 2-6 inches long, rough and hairy on upper and lower surfaces, yellow flower heads
  • Veronica persica Lbirdseye, persian speedwel” : winter annual, stems 4-16 inches long, roundish leaves with small blue flowers and white centers, covered with hairs
  • Taraxacum officinaledandelion) : perennial, grows from large thick taproot
  • Digitaria spp. “crabgrass” : summer annual, spread and roots at nodes, two main species – one hairy and one smooth, both green to yellow green
  • Malva parvifloraLittle mallow” : winter annual or biannual, leaves are large and rounded with red spots at base of blade
  • Poa annua L “annual bluegrass” : winter annual, bunchgrass, tufted light green
  • Euphorbia maculataspotted spurge” : summer annual, milky sap in leaves with red spots in upper center of leaf
  • Pennisetum clandestinum “kikuyugrass” : perennial, thick rhizomes and stolons, similar to bermuda grass only courser
  • Medicago polymorpha “Bur clover” :

 


Sudden Oak Death / Phytophthora
  • What is Phytophthora
  • How does it spread
  • What is the nursery doing to combat the spread?
    • CCW has part of the nursery segregated for Best Management Practices
  • What are the common symptoms?
  • What are the carriers for SOD?
  • How do Oaks carry and spread SOD ?