Woodland Garden
Native plants under an existing tree.
If you have large, existing trees or a shady area, this style is for you. Perhaps a wandering bark path leads to a sheltered garden bench. California native plants will attract birds and butterflies, and a bird bath or bird feeder would be a welcome addition. We will select the proper plants to plant under your trees. If you have redwoods, they will be compatible moisture-tolerant plants and if you have an oak, they will be summer-dry tolerant.
Don’t forget add-ons such as a flagstone path or boulders.
Plants will be chosen from the following lists:
MOIST SHADE (Suitable under existing Redwoods, Birches)
|
Botanical Name |
Common Name |
Notes |
|
Medium plants |
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|
Polystichum munitum |
Western Sword Fern |
|
|
Woodwardia fimbriata |
Western Chain Fern |
|
|
Carpenteria californica |
Island Bush Anemone |
White flowers |
|
Mahonia aquifolium |
Oregon Grape |
Yellow flowers |
|
Low plants |
||
|
Heuchera maxima |
Island Alum Root |
White flowers |
| Carex divulsa | Berkeley Sedge | green mophead |
|
Asarum caudatum |
Wild Ginger |
Heart shaped leaves |
|
Heuchera sanguineum |
Coral Bells |
Red or pink flowers |
|
Accent Plants |
||
|
Ribes sanguineum |
Flowering Currant |
Pink flowers |
|
Juncus patens |
Rush |
Architectural |
|
Alternates designer may consider |
||
|
Aquilegia formosa |
Western Columbine |
hummers |
|
Dicentra formosa |
Bleeding Heart |
Pink flowers |
|
Liriope ‘Silver Dragon |
Varigated Lily Turf |
green & white striped |
DRY SHADE (Suitable under existing Oaks)
|
Botanical Name |
Common Name |
Notes |
|
Tall Plants (screening) |
||
| Myrica californica | California Wax Myrtle | birds |
| Prunus ilicifolia | Catalina Cherry Laurel | birds |
| Medium Plants | ||
|
Carpenteria californica |
Island Bush Anemone |
White flowers |
|
Mahonia aquifolium |
Oregon Grape |
Yellow flowers |
| Ribes sanguineum | Flowering Currant | Pink flowers, hummers |
| Mahonia aquifolium | Oregon Grape | Yellow flowers |
|
Low plants |
||
|
Heuchera maxima |
Island Alum Root |
White flowers |
| Fragaria vesca | Wild Strawberry | edible |
|
Iris douglasiana |
Douglas Iris |
Many colors |
|
Accent Plants |
||
|
Rhamnus ‘Eve Case’ |
Coffeeberry |
birds |
|
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
Toyon |
birds |
| Festuca california | California Fescue | tall grass |
|
Alternates designer may consider |
||
|
Aquilegia formosa |
Western Columbine |
hummers |
|
Mimulus hybrids |
Monkeyflower |
orange |
|
Salvia spathacea |
Hummingbird flower |
pink |
| Satureja douglasii | Yerba Buena | fragrant leaves |
| Holodiscus discolor | Ocean Spray |
white flowers |
| Heuchera sanguinea | Coral Bells | Pink or red flowers |