Plant California Natives and Mediterranean Plants Now

November 20, 2004

By Lee Oliphant, Master Gardener

Fall is the season for planting California native and Mediterranean plants. They are well adapted to our climate of wet winters and dry summers. Most are deer resistant and all have a unique beauty that blends with our natural landscape. By planting Mediterranean plants in the fall, the home gardener can take advantage of winter rainfall. New plantings will have time to establish themselves before the dry months of summer.

There are five regions in the world that have what we refer to as Mediterranean climates. They are characterized by their locations on the western sides of continents, 30-40 degrees from the equator, and having dry summers and mild, wet, winters. Areas of the world that are considered to have Mediterranean climates are the southwestern tip of Africa, portions of western Australia, the central coast of Chile, the Mediterranean basin, and coastal California.

What we refer to as Mediterranean plants are valued not only for their “unthirsty appetites” but also for their resistance to browsing deer and their general independent nature. Plants that fall into the hardy Mediterranean category often have spiny, furry, thorny, and/or pungent leaves. The flowers on these resilient plants can be spectacular and their seedpods exotic.

From the Mediterranean climate come many species common in our coastal gardens. Alstroemeria, called Peruvian lily, is native to Chili, as are the common Nasturtium, Fuchsia magellanica, Podocarpus, and the mayten tree.

South Africa has given us scented geraniums, calla lily, Agapanthus, Kniphofias (red hot poker), and the African daisy.

From Australia’s southwest come Eucalyptus, Acacias, and the Calistemon (bottlebrush shrubs) species that attract hummingbirds. Some Australian plants have become so cozy in our coastal climate they are considered downright invasive.

The Mediterranean basin is the most complex and varied of this climate zone. It spans southern Europe from Spain to Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula, and east to Israel and Lebanon. African countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia are included. From the Mediterranean basin come Iris, lavender, daffodil, Narcissus, rosemary, tulips, rockrose and Cyclamen.

Our own California contributes other drought tolerant, deer resistant natives to the noble list of common Mediterranean plants. Examples are Ceanothus, Fremontia (flannelbush), Clarkia, California poppy, Matilija poppy, California buckwheat, Santa Barbara daisies, and hummingbird sage.

One of the best resources in helping the home gardener select Mediterranean plants is the San Luis Obispo Botanical Preview Garden. Across from Cuesta College in El Chorro Regional Park, the flora has been carefully grouped as they grow in their natural habitats in the five Mediterranean climate zones. Visitors to the garden have an opportunity to observe plants sizes, shapes, and color. The garden has no protection from browsing wildlife so thriving plants are considered deer resistant. While spring is the most spectacular blooming season, the fall puts on its own show with changes of leaf color and an array of seedpods of every shape and size. Choosing and planting Mediterranean plants now will provide years of easy-care landscaping.

University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can provide additional gardening information upon request. Call the San Luis Obispo office at 781-5939 on Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 PM, the Arroyo Grande office at 473-7190 on Wednesdays from 9 AM to 1 PM, or the Paso Robles office at 237-3100 on Wednesdays from 9 AM to Noon.  The San Luis Obispo Master Gardener website is at http://groups.ucanr.org/slomg/. Questions can be e-mailed to mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu.