We are still getting a little “June Gloom” in the early part of the day but for the most part the sun is out and the temperatures are climbing. We are probably 10-15°F short of the average midsummer high so some of the spring bloomers are maintaining a late season show while some of the plants that thrive in the summer heat are starting to come to life.

The hummingbirds are happy to see the California Fuchsia (Epilobium Canum) flowering now. The scarlet trumpet-shaped flowers should be with us right the way into fall. Other summer blooming plants here include Indian Mallow (Abutilon Palmeri) and Red or San Miguel Island Buckwheat (Eriogonum Grande var. Rubescens). Some of the flowers that we normally only see blooming in Spring are making the most of the higher precipitation this year along with the lower than normal temperatures. These include Island Bush Poppy (Dendromecon Harfordii), Red Fairyduster (Calliandra Californica) and the Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon Heterophyllus ‘Margarita BOP’).

Two new plants in the garden are flowering right now. A hybrid Penstemon x mexicali named ‘Sweet Joanne’ has pretty deep pink to lavender flowers that the hummingbirds have been checking out. I’m happiest to report that I now have a Trichostema Lanatum specimen (Woolly Blue Curls). It seems pretty hard to get a hold of this plant and so far attempts to propagate from seed have failed. I have not given up on the seeds though, I consider it a challenge!

The weather remains changeable. Warm dry days continue to be punctuated by cool wet days and these conditions are serving the plants well. Everything looks so lush when El Niño comes to town. So we are enjoying it while we can. The smart money is on drought for the next few years.

In the garden we are enjoying our first blooms from the iconic California favorite – Matilija Poppy (Romneya Coulteri). The gorgeous fragrant sages have also burst into color much to the delight of the hummingbirds. Purple Sage (Salvia Leucophylla) and Aromas Cleveland Sage (Salvia Clevelandii ‘Aromas’) dominate while some pretty blue flowers on the Brandegees Sage (Salvia Brandegei) have started to show. I’m expecting the later to flower more profusely over the next few weeks so that will be pictured in the June showcase.

Our Bonita Linda Coffeeberry (Rhamnus Californica ‘Bonita Linda’) recently woke from its winter slumber and now displays lots of tiny white to light green flowers. While unspectacular this is hopefully a precursor to a healthy fruit production.

The mystery Irises continue to impress. Most recently blooming is a variety of Pacific Coast Hybrid named “Gold Dust” which sports bright purple petals with a sprinkle of gold colored specs towards the center.

The biggest surprise so far is a solitary bloom on the Red Fairyduster (Calliandra Californica). The bright red puffs are quite unique in our garden and for our young specimen to show one off is a pleasure.

Our newest plant, Santa Barbara Sage (Salvia Leucantha) is a compact hybrid of Mexican Sage. So while not strictly native to California, it certainly does well in our climate. Potentially blooming most of the year, it slots into the May display since that’s when we planted it.

Can’t wait to see what June has in store!

California is enjoying an El Niño year and through late winter and spring the hillsides have been awash with more yellow than I can recall seeing at any other time in my six years in the US. Much of that sunny glow comes from our native sunflower Encelia Californica. This fast growing plant is common in our chaparral and coastal sage scrub. In the garden it is easy to grow; full sun, a little summer liquid refreshment and deadheading spent flowers can extend the bloom season right into autumn.

California Bush Sunflower can grow quickly to 4′ tall with a similar spread. The fragrant flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees and your local bird population will enjoy the seeds should you choose to let those develop.

Arctostaphylos Pacific Mist is a hybrid Manzanita produced for garden use by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. It is considered groundcover but it does grow is tall as 2′ so it may be useful as a low hedge with careful pruning. A healthy specimen can produce a mounding spread up to 5′. Manzanitas are slow growers in general but this particular variety grows faster than average. Does well in full or part sun, inland it may need some extra water during hot Southern California summers.

Like other manzanitas Pacific Mist produces pretty urn-shaped flowers. On this variety they are white and appear in winter. That should keep the hummingbirds happy while they wait for spring and its explosion of color. Pacific Mist Manzanita grows well in a planter with good drainage and some protection inland from afternoon sun.

Royal Penstemon is the king of Southern California penstemons. The flower show is spectacular with spikes up to 4′ covered with bright, almost glowing blue/purple blooms. In my garden I found out the hard way that this perennial must have very good drainage and full sun. In a planter it will grow well but some type of fast draining succulent soil mix and maybe some extra holes in the base will help.

In favorable conditions Penstemon Spectabilis is fast growing and long lived. It can grow is tall as 4′ with a similar spread. This drought tolerant California native is very sensitive to moisture so one must be careful not to overwater. The symptoms of overwatering and underwatering are unfortunately very similar to each other so you may go through a few specimens before you figure out how best to look after this plant. Don’t get disheartened though, the results are well worth the extra effort.

Since the last “What’s Blooming” update a month ago, many new splashes of color have appeared around the garden. Most of the bloomers from the previous month are still with us although the wildflowers are starting to look a little tired. In spite of their youth, we are enjoying flowers on many of our plants. Spring time really is wonderful for California natives.

We are delighted to have our first Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium Bellum) flowers. I’ve previously mentioned how short lived our first two specimens were. The third time is a charm for sure as this plant is showing off its tiny but impressive blooms.

Three brand new plants in the garden came with flower software pre-installed; Purissima Tree Mallow (Lavatera Purissima), Wayne Roderick Seaside Daisy (Erigeron Glauca ‘Wayne Roderick’) and a beautiful PCH Iris called ‘Orchid Eyes’. The Ray Hartman Ceanothus is boasting some pretty blue flower clusters right now and it continues to grow quickly making “Air conditioner corner” look a whole lot nicer.

In non-native news the Bougainvillea Brasiliensis that I heavily pruned in the winter to remove an aphid infestation has bounced back beautifully and right now lots of pretty purple bracts are opening up in the warm spring sunshine. The tiny white flowers are sure to follow.

Our Purple Hopseed Bush is doing very well so far this year. It’s grown a good 6″ taller since it was last photographed in November and right now it’s carrying some pretty little seed cases that look a bit like Potpourri. Not had to water much at all this year, El Niño has taken care of much of the garden in that respect. No pests to speak of, no sign of disease. A couple months ago I pruned away some of the lower stems and the plant has responded beautifully, lots of thick new growth. The purpose of Dodonaea Viscosa ‘Purpurea’ in our garden is to act as an informal screen. So far it’s doing a great job.

Erigeron Glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’ is a perennial daisy native to California. Most Erigeron Glaucus selections grow best on the coast where the sun is cooler but this variety is considered more heat tolerant. Hopefully that quality will serve it well in our patio garden. We are fairly close to the coast but not enough that we are subject to a strong marine influence.

Wayne Roderick Seaside Daisy is a fast growing evergreen with a long blooming season. The foliage grows to about 1′ tall by 2′ wide and the flower stalks grow a little taller, topped by pretty lavender and yellow blooms. To encourage almost year-round blooming, all you need to do is water occasionally and remove any dead flowers (dead heading).

These plants are attractive to bees and butterflies.

Lavatera Purissima is a tropical looking shrub, a hybrid of L. Assurgentiflora and L. Venosa which are native to California (http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Lavatera/californian.html). It will grow very quickly to over 8′ tall with dense foliage making it a good choice for a screen. The large purple hibiscus-like flowers appear from Spring through Summer. The blooms are very attractive, a glossy purple with dark veins. This evergreen plant grows in full or part sun and is drought tolerant once established.

I picked up this specimen from the Theodore Payne Foundation this past weekend. I had a chance to get Lavatera Assurgentiflora a couple of weeks prior to that but after some research I found that L. Assurgentiflora can have problems with insect pests that I know to frequent our garden. L. Purissima is known to be more garden tolerant and less prone to those pests so I decided that would be more appropriate for us.

Southern California residents will have the chance to experience the beauty and ease of gardening with California native plants at the seventh annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour. Admission to all gardens on both days is $20. To buy tickets or for information, visit www.theodorepayne.org/Tour or call (818) 768-1802.

Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, 2010
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Gardens throughout the L.A. area. Tour is self-guided.

Learn how to save water, eliminate or reduce pesticides and attract wildlife (birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, etc.) to your garden.

Fifty gardens – in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Theodore Payne Foundation – are featured. This year’s tour includes cities and communities throughout the Los Angeles Basin, including Long Beach, Lakewood,Torrance, Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Sylmar, Reseda, North Hollywood, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Topanga, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, Echo Park, and Atwater Village.

To buy tickets or for information, visit www.theodorepayne.org/Tour.

The picture used in this post is taken from the Theodore Payne Foundation website.