companion planting for oaks

I have an native oak in my yard in northern California. What are some good choices for planting under it. Maybe you can suggest some books on the subject</p>

Shelley -

Here is my list of natives to plant under oaks, from back when I lived in the Bay Area:

In shade, closer to trunk:

Adiantum jordanii Maidenhair fernAquilegia formosa Western columbineCardamine californica Milk maidsDicentra formosa Western bleeding heartDryopteris arguta Coastal wood fernFragaria vesca var. calif. Woodland strawberryHeuchera micrantha Alum rootLonicera hispidula Western honeysuckleMadia madioides Spring tarweedPentragramma triangularis Goldback fernPolypodium californicum Polypody fernRosa gymnocarpa Woodland roseSymphoricarpos Creeping snowberryTellima grandiflora Fringe CupsTrieleia laxa Ithuriel's spearTrillium chloropetalum Western wakerobinTrillium ovatum Western wakerobinWhipplea modesta Modesty

Outer zone, under dripline:

Arctostaphylos species Manzanitas, low growingBerberis repens Creeping barberryFestuca californica California fescue grassMimulus aurantiacus Sticky monkeyflowerRibes menziesii Prickly gooseberryRibes sanguineum Pink flowering currantCorylus cornuta Western hazelnutIris douglasiana Douglas irisIris purdyi, I. fernaldii Purdy's & Fernald's irisSisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed grass

This is a 'dry shade' planting situation - NO summer water. Some plants will not spread far, and may look a bit stressed during summer. Many woodland plants survive dry summers by going dormant: bleeding heart, milk maids, goldback, maidenhair and polypody ferns, trilliums, etc.Plant under oaks only in the fall, and nothing right next to the trunk. In the shadier zone, plant from 2' or 4' pots, or from seed, so as not to dig big holes and damage the tree's roots.

People ask if they can water under oaks during dry spells in the rainy season. The answer is YES, you can water during the period when rain could be expected to fall. The non-watering period would then vary depending on normal rainfall where you live. Your dry period might be May through October, or June Through September.

Hope this helps,

Lori</p>

You might look at the following book available from http://www.californiaoaks.org/html/merch2.html



Compatible Plants Under and Around Oaks



California Oak Foundation revised 2000Homeowners, developers, landscape professionals,and planners will find the plant charts and careguidelines essential. 69 pg.Paperback $12.00, Members $10.80</p>