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Re: The Great Shrub Search

Rebecca,

In answer to your request:

I have a spot in my S.California yard (USDA 9/Sunset 24) that is
shaded and damp in the foggy winter ( and this year, soggy
winter!) and exposed to blazing sun in the dry summer. Violets
thrive until July then practically desiccate waiting for October.
I'm looking for a flowering shrub with an upright habit that will
tolerate these conditions and provide a bit of shade for the
ground cover.

the plant for you is the Southern Californian native Berberis nevinii (used
to be Mahonia nevinii). With attractive yellow flowers in Winter and
handsome evergreen foliage that is slightly glaucous (bluish) it will take
shade for much of the year as well as direct sun at the hottest times as
long as the soil is well drained, even if damp in winter. I should tell you
that the leaves are slightly spiny but not not so much that they would
scratch you. It will provide some shade for a groundcover and is very
drought tolerant.

If you want an Australian try Callistemon speciosus, the Albany
bottlebrush. It has beautiful large red flowers with golden anthers in
Spring and has leaves that are larger than the commonly grown bottlebrush
Callistemon citrinus. It will also take these conditions and will give
shade to a groundcover. It is not quite so drought resistant as the
Berberis but it even likes winter wetness.

Andrew
San Diego, California
awilson@fda.net
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