Why Use California Natives?

The benefits of using California native plants in landscaping are economic, aesthetic, and ethical. First, planting California natives will lower your water bill, eliminate the need for fertilizing, and reduce the time and energy spent maintaining the landscape (less mowing, hedging, and trimming). Second, California native plants will enliven the landscape, whether through colorful blooms, aromatic foliage, or the hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife this vegetation attracts. Finally, too much of our world is becoming homogenized, and the landscaping in one part of the country (or the world) is largely the same as in another. Let's keep California's unique identity by using our state's natural abundance.

This site will have its primary focus on plants that will grow in Bakersfield and surrounding environs.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Baja Fairy Duster

I went to Theodore Payne nursery on Saturday, and among the plants I brought back to Bakersfield were three more Baja Fairy Dusters.  Known in Mexico as Zapotillo, Calliandra californica can grow up to five feet tall and wide and is native to San Diego County south to Baja California and Mexico.  The plant loves sun and heat and because it is used to monsoonal summer moisture, it thrives on getting some water in July and August (which might kill other California natives).  The plant in my front yard attracts hummingbirds like crazy, and while it died back in last winter's hard frost, it looks as good as new this summer.  The leaves are interesting, almost like a mesquite, and the flowers themselves are evocative of bottlebrush.  The plant I have blooms year-round, unless a hard frost takes a bite out of it.

All in all, this is a great plant for Bakersfield gardens.

 
On the entryway to our house.


A swallowtail butterfly enjoying the flower.


A close-up of the flower.
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