Down to Earth Plants for Colusa County
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Arboretum All-Stars
Down to Earth plants for Colusa County are from the UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars collection. To see more plants click here.
Iris 'Canyon Snow' - Canyon Snow Pacific Iris
| Latin Name: | Iris ‘Canyon Snow’ |
| Common Name: | canyon snow Pacific iris |
| Type: | Perennial |
| Size: | Medium |
| California Native: | Yes |
| Description: | California native plant; most dependable hybrid iris of the Pacific coast; white orchid-like flowers light up shady gardens; grows with little maintenance; narrow leaves form an attractive, evergreen, grass-like mound. |
| Pruning Needs: | little or none; can dig up and divide in fall |
| Sun Exposure: | Part Shade |
| Water Needs: | Low |
| Color(s): | White |
| Bloom Season(s): | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Beneficial Insects |
Berberis aquifolium 'Compacta' - Compact Oregon Grape
| Latin Name: | Berberis aquifolium ‘Compacta’ |
| Common Name: | compact Oregon grape |
| Type: | Shrub |
| Size: | Small |
| California Native: | Yes |
| Description: | California native plant; dark, grape-like fruits provide food for native birds and can be made into preserves; tough plant that tolerates a variety of garden conditions; attracts beneficial insects and birds. |
| Pruning Needs: | little or none |
| Sun Exposure: | Part Shade Shade |
| Water Needs: | Low |
| Color(s): | Yellow |
| Bloom Season(s): | Spring Winter |
| Wildlife Value: | Beneficial Insects Birds |
Mandevilla laxa - Chilean Jasmine
| Latin Name: | Mandevilla laxa |
| Common Name: | Chilean jasmine |
| Type: | Vine |
| Size: | N/A |
| California Native: | No |
| Description: | Attractive, twining vine; clusters of white, funnel-shaped flowers blossom in the summer with a delightful tropical fragrance; tolerant of both full sun and partial shade. |
| Pruning Needs: | little or none; prune in winter to shape |
| Sun Exposure: | Full Sun Part Shade |
| Water Needs: | Very Low Low |
| Color(s): | White |
| Bloom Season(s): | Spring Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | None |
Cerastium tomentosum - Snow-in-Summer
| Latin Name: | Cerastium tomentosum |
| Common Name: | snow-in-summer |
| Type: | Groundcover |
| Size: | N/A |
| California Native: | No |
| Description: | Gives a cool look to hot Central Valley gardens; can thrive in low to medium amounts of irrigation; silver foliage good for contrast with green-leaved plants. |
| Pruning Needs: | little or none |
| Sun Exposure: | Full Sun Part Shade |
| Water Needs: | Low Medium |
| Color(s): | White |
| Bloom Season(s): | Spring Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | None |
Festuca californica - California Fescue
| Latin Name: | Festuca californica |
| Common Name: | California fescue |
| Type: | Perennial |
| Size: | Medium |
| California Native: | Yes |
| Description: | California native plant; tolerates summer drought and various soil types, and is long lived; has graceful, gray-green leaves and airy flowers that mature to a golden yellow color. |
| Pruning Needs: | remove old flower stalks in fall for tidy appearance |
| Sun Exposure: | Part Shade |
| Water Needs: | Very Low Low |
| Color(s): | None |
| Bloom Season(s): | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | None |
Lagerstroemia hybrids and cultivars - Crape Myrtle
| Latin Name: | Lagerstroemia hybrids and cultivars |
| Common Name: | crape myrtle |
| Type: | Tree |
| Size: | Medium |
| California Native: | No |
| Description: | Provides year-round interest with summer flowers, fall color, and handsome ornamental bark in winter; comes in pink, white, lavender-purple, or red-flowering varieties; hybrid forms are more mildew resistant; attracts beneficial insects. |
| Pruning Needs: | prune in winter to shape |
| Sun Exposure: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Low Medium |
| Color(s): | Pink Purple White Yellow |
| Bloom Season(s): | Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Beneficial Insects |
Kniphofia "Christmas Cheer' - Christmas Cheer Poker Plant
| Latin Name: | Kniphofia ‘Christmas Cheer’ |
| Common Name: | Christmas cheer poker plant |
| Type: | Perennial |
| Size: | Large |
| California Native: | No |
| Description: | Dramatic plant brightens up the winter garden; at the top of its tall flowering stems, brilliant orange buds open to deep-gold tubular flowers; long, narrow leaves form an attractive, medium-large clump over time; attracts hummingbirds. |
| Pruning Needs: | remove old flower stalks |
| Sun Exposure: | Full Sun Part Shade |
| Water Needs: | Low |
| Color(s): | Orange Yellow |
| Bloom Season(s): | Winter |
| Wildlife Value: | Hummingbirds |
Echeveria 'Imbricata' - Hens and Chicks
| Latin Name: | Echeveria ‘Imbricata’ |
| Common Name: | hen and chicks |
| Type: | Perennial |
| Size: | Small |
| California Native: | No |
| Description: | Lovely, drought-tolerant edging plant for partial shade; sculptural foliage rosettes look like blue-green succulent “flowers;” spreads by producing plantlets that slowly form a groundcover. |
| Pruning Needs: | remove old flower stalks |
| Sun Exposure: | Part Shade |
| Water Needs: | Low |
| Color(s): | Red |
| Bloom Season(s): | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Hummingbirds |
Bergenia crassifolia - Pigsqueak
| Latin Name: | Bergenia crassifolia |
| Common Name: | pigsqueak |
| Type: | Perennial |
| Size: | Small |
| California Native: | No |
| Description: | Dense clusters of pink flowers bloom in winter and early spring; classic California garden plant for dry or moist shady border; broad, shiny leaves provide textural contrast to small-leaved plants; attracts beneficial insects. |
| Pruning Needs: | remove old flower stalks |
| Sun Exposure: | Part Shade Shade |
| Water Needs: | Low Medium |
| Color(s): | Pink |
| Bloom Season(s): | Winter
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| Wildlife Value: | Beneficial Insects |