Stephen Rosenthal’s San Jose Garden

CNPS Garden Ambassador:  Stephen Rosenthal

CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter
Garden Location:  Front and back yard
Garden Size:  12,500 sq. ft.
Year Planted:  2010

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Jays planted the large valley oak and coast live oak that shelter the side about 15 years ago.

Ten years ago, Stephen Rosenthal was looking for low water use plants when he happened on a native garden in his town.  He began converting his tired juniper/lawn combo front yard to a garden featuring an impressive collection of native wildflowers and shrubs.  He has since fallen in love with native plants and the pollinators they attract!

Front Yard

Jays planted the large valley oak (Quercus lobata) and coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) that shelter the side about 15 years ago.  These trees are an essential source of food and shelter for the variety of wildlife that visit Stephen’s garden.  Creating a focal point near the walkway to the front door is a ‘Louis Edmunds’ manzanita. Other shrubs include groundcover flannel bush (Fremontodendron decumbens), western elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea), island mallow (Malva assurgentiflora), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), island mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae), western redbud (Cercis occidentalis), various manzanitas (Arctostaphylos), buckwheats (Eriogonum), and woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum).

In spring, the sunny areas blaze with wildflowers – all grown from seed. There are several different kinds of lupine (Lupinus), gilia (Gilia), blue flax (Linum lewisii), clarkia (Clarkia), phacelia (Phacelia), monkey flower (Mimulus), and others.  Bee’s Bliss sage (Salvia x ‘Bee’s Bliss’), Silver Carpet aster (Corethrogyne ‘Silver Carpet’), desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), and California aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) are blooming ground covers.  In the center of the “meadow” is a display of six different Dudleya (Dudleya).  In the shade you can see western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Sierra columbine (Aquilegia pubescens), and hillside gooseberry (Ribes californicum) with native ferns.

Back Yard

The back yard features four different gooseberry, a couple of different sages, and several buckwheat species. There are also many containers that house butterfly mariposa (Calochortus venustus), Ithuriel’s spear (Triteleia laxa), and golden brodiaea (Triteleia ixoides), which were grown from seed procured from the plant sale a few years ago.

Stephen uses his back yard primarily for propagation of native plants for Alum Rock Park, as well as his garden.  He has propagated many new plants in his garden from cuttings and seeds, including two California buckeye (Aesculus californica), a bunch of buckwheat, six Ribes, coyote mint (Monardella villosa), and desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua). Other plants he has grown from seed include native forms of gumweed, narrow leaf mule ears (Wyethia angustifolia), hillside gooseberry (Ribes californicum), and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).

The conversion to native plants in Stephen’s garden is still ongoing!  There are three new Manzanita, including Arctostaphylos ‘John Dourley’, Arctostaphylos edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’, and several Carmel creeper ceanothus. His garden is also home to many rare plants, including dwarf flannel bush (Fremontodendron decumbens), bright green dudleya (Dudleya virens ssp. virens), Catalina currant (Ribes viburnifolium), Heckner’s stonecrop (Sedum laxum ssp. Heckneri), roseflower stonecrop (Sedum laxum ssp. flavidum), long petaled lewisia (Lewisia longipetala), and canyon creek stonecrop (Sedum obtusatum ssp. paradisum).

Stephen’s favorite California native plants

• California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)—Absolutely great for attracting bees, easy to grow.
• Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii)—Blooms almost all year long, easy to grow.
• ‘Julia Phelps’ ceanothus—Very pretty plant, great for bees in the early spring.
• Woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum)—More difficult to grow and keep alive, but absolutely gorgeous, when blooming. It’s one of the prettiest in my garden.

About the garden

Garden Location:  Front and back yard

Garden Size:  12,500 square feet

Year Planted:  2010

Design and Installation:  I did both myself.

Go-to Native Plant Nurseries:  CNPS Santa Clara Valley Nursery and Capitol Wholesale

Irrigation:  Drip system and hand-water, once a week.

Maintenance:  I do, weekly.

Wildlife Spotted:  Many types of pollinators and birds, including Anna’s hummingbirds, scrub jays, mockingbirds, titmice, red tail hawks, and an occasional red shouldered hawk.  Even deer and wild turkey have been spotted in the garden!

Favorite Element:  I have an area that is mainly wildflowers, and quite a few annuals, so it’s different each year.

Biggest Challenge:  An attractive design for the back yard which is not quite right yet.

Advice: Take it slow.  If you have the time and interest, get as many locally native plants as you can!

More information about Stephen’s garden can be found at Going Native Garden Tour (#Fleming_GNGT)

Visit Stephen’s garden on the 2019 Going Native Garden Tour in Santa Clara Valley.  The tour is free and will be held May 4th and 5th.  Click here to learn more and register for the tour.  #GoingNativeGardenTour, #GNGT2019

California native plants in Stephen’s garden

CNPS Horticulture Team