Re: Re. Olive understory

Hi Ben, 

Karrie has given you some really good advice about how your garden will change over the years creating more shade etc.  I would add that tree roots will become larger & more filling of the space under the canopy. So in 10 years when an underplanting becomes poor or dies, it is very difficult to get  new ones established.

Your mention of ceanothus reminded me of C. 'Diamond Frost' which in my garden takes sun or shade and really lights up the garden in the off season with it's cream variegation.  I wonder how it would take your summer heat.

Jan Smithen
Upland, CA



On Feb 18, 2009, at 10:48 AM, Ben Wiswall wrote:

Hi Karrie,
I do go to Theodore Payne, in fact I buy enough from them that I've become a member.  I also am close to Matilija Nursery in Moorpark, which is slightly closer and slightly cheaper.  Both have very knowledgeable staff.
With herbaceous plants, I'd like to encourage the Fragaria chilensis, which I have growing very well in another area in almost full sun with almost lawn irrigation.  Heuchera maxima hybrids might do well under the same conditions.  A drier alternative might be Salvia spathacea, which Matilija Nursery has naturalized under Peruvian Pepper trees.  It can get powdery mildew though, so I don't want to plant it en masse just yet.
Maybe some background shrubs would do: Ceanothus 'Frosty Blue' and Rosemary planted in sunnier times are still healthy in the shade, though not very floriferous.  Manzanitas have not been happy; I don't think they really belong in the lowland south, just up in the mountains.  Carpenteria have done well enough to plant more though.
Let me know if you think of anything else.
-Ben



Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index