Re-sending after transmit error..... -- Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz> Wainuiomata, New Zealand
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- To: Mediterannean Plants List <m*@ucdavis.edu>, l
- Subject: Re: california plants
- From: T* &* M* R* <t*@xtra.co.nz>
- Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 09:36:26 +1300
- References: <Pine.GSO.3.95.980225163258.14005E-100000@oso.slonet.org>
Lillian Armstrong wrote: > > > > > I am curious to know what people think of our 4000+ native and non-native > > California plants... > > > > > > Dan Segal, Yolo Co., 30 miles west of Sacramento > > > > > Dear Dan, > I have lived in both Los Angeles County and in San Luis Obispo County and > have had very bad luck with native plants. My theory is that native > plants are very specialized in where they decide to grow ( anywhere in > the world) and really do hate to be moved. It takes a long time to get > plants to live in other environments but they do. Most of the native > plants I have planted have not done well in my yard because the were > really not native to my yard, but native to a hillside quite a long ways > away. But the plant I buy from the nursery that has be aclimated to our > area seems to grow well for me. What I am saying, I think, is that native > plants have not really been aclimated to any area than their local area. > I may just not have the green thumb where they are concerned. > Lillian Armstrong > Succulent garden at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. > The native plants in the Botancal Garden are not under my care and do > quite well. Dear Lillian We find in New Zealand that native plants from "ordinary", not extreme, habitats very easily adapt to the cultivated life, but a lot of those highly-adapted to some special niche tend to just fade away if moved to different conditions. Foremost of these prima donnas are the high-altitude true alpines of our southern mountains. If you live in the right area they will grow in your garden like (or AS) weeds, but in lowland areas you will usually get only one, or at most two, seasons from them before they collapse or simply fade away. I have tried coaxing with special gritty soils and moist shade to accomodate some of these really beautiful and desirable plants to my Mediterranean-type lowland climate, but have now regretfully decided to stop committing phytocide and concentrate on species for my scree bed which actually feel at home in my garden. It saves a lot of heartbreak (and MONEY). Moira -- Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz> Wainuiomata, New Zealand
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