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Artemesia californica

>From: Jane Stanley <atstan13@iol.ie>
>Subject: Artemesia californica and books on RSA gardens
>Sender: atstan13@gpo.iol.ie
>Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 20:12:52 +0100 (IST)
>
>  Sorry everyone! In my query about A. californica I should of course have
> written ' min of 20F' ,not 20C...   <snip>

Hi Jane -

Artemesia california is native to the area in which I live, its
northern-most reaches being Marin and Napa counties (just north of
San Francisco), extended southward through cismontane coastal Calif.
Some of the areas in which it is found can go down under 20oF some
years, as low as 11o-16oF.  I suspect that cold might not be a
problem.

Wetness may, but perhaps this is a good species to be growing.  The
leaves are finely divided into thread-like segments, and the
chaparall hills in which is grows locally are often densly bathed in
our fog, heavily wetting the foliage of all plants.  Many Artemesias
are quite tolerant of wet, some prefering to grow in heavy, wet
clays, even those with grey leaves.

I've had a bit of trouble rooting this plant as well - I wonder if
it the time of year that's the trick (I might try some again now, as
it is cooling off a little - many natives seem to prefer this).

People should know that this plant can be very flammable - an
adaptation for our local hill fires.  The plant burns very quickly
due to volatile oils found in the leaves, and therefore it burns
less hot.  It then regrows from the roots and woody stems.  Many
Australian plants have similar adaptations.  It has been indentified
as a plant to keep away from your house if you live in the hills
around here (though it is native and well adapted to those hills).

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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