Greening Your Garden — Literally!

You want to do the right thing for the environment by planting water-wise native plants in the garden, but you also want the garden to look appealing during the long, dry California summer. No matter the season, we humans like our gardens to look green. The color green evokes lushness, fecundity, life. Is it possible to have a California garden that stays green through the summer sustainably, without relying on an endless supply of water?

Yes, indeed, it is possible — through a careful selection of plants. Among California’s dizzying array of native plants, there are many that stay green through summer naturally. Here is a short list, covering the range from perennial to groundcover to subshrub, shrub, vine, and tree.

Think about introducing these to your garden and, once established, cutting back on the water. For contrast, combine them with blue-, gray-, silver-, and tan-colored plants to create an inviting display in the garden.

Plants With Summer-Green Foliage

An early summer blooming perennial is the coastal gumplant (Grindelia stricta platyphylla). It grows 6” tall and 3’ wide, and is a good edging plant for full sun. Yellow daisies in June through August attract butterflies, skippers, and other insects. Contrasts well with large plants such as deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens).

Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) is a common upright shrub in many parts of California. Near the coast, mounding forms occur naturally that perform well in gardens as groundcovers. Several cultivars are available in the trade. ‘Twin Peaks’ grows 3’ wide, 1’ tall, and is slow growing. ‘Pigeon Point’ gets 2’, 6’ wide. Prune upright branches to keep it low. Combines well with the gray leaves and red flowers of zauschneria (Epilobium canum) in summer. Resents summer water.

For a year-round display of shiny, dark green leaves, nothing beats Yankee Point ceanothus (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis). This low, mounding shrub loves full sun, and grows 2’ tall and 10’ wide, and forms an excellent groundcover. Prune upright branches regularly to give it a low profile. Lovely blue flowers in early spring attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Bullet proof.

The Channel Islands are home to a lovely subshrub that stays green all year long. The island snapdragon (Gambelia speciosa) grows 2.5’ tall and wide. It does better in part shade, and sports red snapdragon flowers that attract hummingbirds eight months of the year. Easily pruned and easily propagated. Protect from frost.

Among large shrubs, none are as beautiful or versatile as the evergreen toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). In sun, it becomes a dense shrub to 8’ tall and wide; in shade, it can be a 20’ tall lanky tree. Frothy white flowers in May-June lead to green berries which turn bright red by December, and offer a colorful feast to winter visitors such as cedar waxwings.

For summer shade, try draping the California grape (Vitis californica) over a trellis or pergola. In nature, this winter-deciduous creeper occurs near streams, clambering up trees for light. In the garden, keep it in check by holding back on water and pruning a couple of times each year. Produces large-seeded grapes that make superlative juice. Leave some on the vine to make raisins for the birds to snack on all winter long.

Few trees are as well adapted to California summers as our native oaks. For an evergreen variety, try the coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). This is a slow growing tree which for many years will remain a large shrub, frequented by birds and other critters. For a deciduous and relatively fast-growing tree, try the valley oak (Quercus lobata) which is tolerant of clay and grows faster with summer water.

This is just a short list of summer-green native plants that grow well in my San Jose garden. There are many more. I encourage you to explore and experiment and share what you learn.