Questions about Garrya

[Anonymous]

I am wondering which Garrya would be best planted in Monterey County I am in Big SurAND be resistant to deer Also, are Garrya really hard to transplant?</p>

[Anonymous]

Meredith -

The Illustrated Key to the Flowering Plants of Monterey County, by Mary Ann Matthews, lists 4 Garrya species in Monterey County:G. congdoniiG. ellipticaG. flavenscensG. fremontii

Garrya elliptica is found on or near the coast, the others are found inland. My experience is with G. elliptica, which is not hard to transplant, but is definitely not deer-resistant. You would have to put a stout cage around it for several years, until the plants got big enough to withstand deer munching.

I would suspect the other Garrya species may be similarly attractive to deer, but maybe less so, since they grow inland and the leaves might be drier and more leathery - anyone know? In the wild, Garryas often grow to be large plants if on steep slopes - it's harder for the deer to get at them there.

The book says G. congdonii grows on serpentine, so that might be the one to grow if you live in a serpentinite soil area. Someone, I think it was Ron Russon of East Bay Regional Parks, said Bears are very fond of Garrya berries. Something to think about if you live out in an area densely populated by bears.

Hope this helps,

Lori</p>

[Anonymous]

Meredith,Lori hit that one right on the button. Since you live in the Big Sur area close to the natural vegetationit is proper to plant only Garrya species from your area-not from some other part of California. Since local plants are already adapted to your climate, soils, etc., they will do best AND you will not be risking cross pollinating a 'outsider' Garrya with those Garrya native to your site.Your second question is whether they are hard to transplant. From a container to your site? No, they are as easy as the next plant.I call THAT 'planting out'. But if you mean transplanting as a relatively mature plant from the ground somewhere nearby to your yard then the answer is that it is indeed difficult to accomplish and for conservation reasons should not be attempted. The removal of any native plant, whether rare or common, from the wild is not advised. And from a practical point of view since is very unlikely to survive with its large roots cut. It would be a waste of both the plant and your efforts.If you intend on transplanting a very small seedling with lots of soil with the roots then you are more likely to be sucessful. Of course this must be on private land , with pernmission from the owner and a knowledge of which specie you are taking nothing reare or endangered!. Also this while not nessesarily reccomended should only be done when you find 20 or more Garrya plants in that rambling colony-thats the unofficial 5% take rule. Even then I am not sure of the ethical implications since you may possibly find the same plant in a nursery nearby. Taking and rooting a cutting would be a much less intrusive way to gain a local Garrya should it not be found in local nurseries anywhere. Ask Yerba Buena Nursery up near Santa CruzAnyway, I hope that did not sound too critical or assumptive of me. It is good to see your interest in using local natives in your area, rather than exotics or natives from other parts of the state.Best of luck,Dan</p>