All-Stars wildlife brochure.indd - the UC Davis Arboretum

ARBORETUM ALL-STARS GREAT WILDLIFE PLANTS FOR CENTRAL VALLEY GARDENS
VINE HILL MANZANITA
Arctostaphylos densifl ora ‘Howard McMinn’
Beautiful dark red, smooth bark, glossy
green leaves, and charming clusters of bellshaped,
pinkish-white fl owers in winter add
year-round interest to this evergreen native
shrub. It is one of the few manzanitas that
will tolerate heavy garden soils.
OREGON GRAPE
Berberis aquifolium
Evergreen, spreading shrub, 2 ft. to 6 ft. tall
depending on the cultivar. Spiny, holly-like
leaves and bronzy new growth. Will grow in
sun or shade, and is adapted to infrequent
watering. Fragrant yellow fl owers in spring
are followed by blue fruit in winter.
RAY HARTMAN
CALIFORNIA LILAC
Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’
Early spring brings a spectacular fl ush of
bright blue, honey-scented fl owers to this
evergreen native shrub. One of the best
ceanothus for garden use, it can tolerate
summer irrigation and can be trained as a
small tree. Its fl owers are a nectar source for
benefi cial insects.
WASHINGTON HAWTHORN
Crataegus phaenopyrum
This mid-sized deciduous tree offers many
seasons of interest with profuse white spring
fl owers, ornamental fruit clusters, and brilliant
orange, scarlet, or purplish foliage in
fall. Its graceful open limb structure makes
it an attractive patio specimen.
CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA
Epilobium canum
Spreading ground cover, somewhat invasive, good for
low water landscapes. Beautiful red fl owers produced
profusely, attract hummingbirds. Best with full sun
and infrequnt irrigation. Cultivars vary from 4 in. to
4 ft. in height, are deciduous to evergreen, silver grey
to green in color, and have red to white fl owers.
SANTA BARBARA DAISY
Erigeron karvinskianus
This tough, adaptable perennial blooms over a long
period with dainty, pinkish-white fl owers. Good in
containers or for trailing over a wall, it spreads by
seed in the garden.
CORAL YUCCA
Hesperaloe parvifl ora
This striking plant adds a strong architectural note
to the garden with its spiky leaves and long stalks
of dark coral-pink fl owers. It is especially heat and
drought tolerant and can take full sun, even refl ected
heat. The fl owers are attractive to hummingbirds.
OTTO QUAST
SPANISH LAVENDER
Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’
The best of the Spanish lavenders for this area, with
a compact form, large fl owers, and dark fl ower color.
The gray foliage is attractive all year, and the fragrant
fl owers can be used for sachets, perfumes, or soaps.
It is a good container plant for a sunny location.
JAPANESE SILVER GRASS
Miscanthus sinensis (dwarf varieties)
Many varieites of this highly ornamental grass are
available, with different parrterns of leaf variegation
and a range of sizes. It is easy to divide and
propagate, and the fl owers are good for arrangements
fresh or dried. The leaves turn vivid reds, oranges and
yellows in fall.
Made possible by a grant from the Elvenia J. Slosson Foundation. Photographs by Ellen Zagory, Lauren Broersma, Emily Griswold, Saxon Holt.
MEXICAN DEERGRASS
Muhlenbergia dubia
A striking accent plant for a low-water
garden, this clump-forming grass has
dense tufts of light green, fi ne-textured
leaves. It requires little maintenance
other than cutting to the ground in
winter. Like many grasses, it attracts
benefi cial insects.
GOLDEN CURRANT
Ribes aureum
This deciduous native shrub has beautiful
golden fl owers with spicy fragrance
in late winter and early spring. A good
choice to plant under native oaks.
AUTUMN SAGE
Salvia greggii and Salvia x jamensis
This tough, adaptable evergreen shrub
produces showy red fl owers from spring
through fall. The foliage has a pleasant
citrusy scent. Hummingbirds and butterfl
ies love the fl owers.
HUMMINGBIRD SAGE
Salvia spathacea
This tough, drough-tolerant, native
evergreen perennial has striking spikes
of red fl owers in spring and fall. The
leaves have a pleasant fruity fragrance.
Excellent groundcover for dry shade.

WHY PLANT FOR
WILDLIFE?
As development spreads out from California’s
urban centers, more and more wildlands are
converted to housing and industrial uses.
It’s hard for animals to survive when their
food sources and shelter disappear. Home
gardeners can provide a refuge that supports
local populations of birds and insects and
helps them continue their ancient patterns
of migration. As an added bonus, they will
pollinate your plants and add sound and
motion to your garden.
POLLINATORS & FLOWERS:
CO-EVOLUTION
Flowers attract pollinators in amazing ways.
Some fl owers have evolved special colors or
produce odors; others provide nectar that only
specialized mouth parts can reach. Insect
pollinators are the most common, easily
observable on warm days:
• Beetles visit large fl owers with lots of pollen.
• Bees prefer fl owers with landing pads that
refl ect light in the ultra-violet range.
• Moths zig-zag their way through evening
scents to pale fl owers whose fragrance acts
as a beacon.
• Butterfl ies sip nectar from fl owers with their
long, coiled mouth parts.
In the Central Valley, hummingbirds are agents
of pollination. Hummingbirds prefer long,
tubular fl owers that fi t their slender beaks.
They are especially attracted to red fl owers.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE BIRDS &
INSECTS TO VISIT YOUR GARDEN
• Choose plants that animals use for food and shelter
(see list on back).
• Use a variety of plants that bloom in sequence over
the course of the year.
• Select plants that grow to different heights and
widths to provide many locations for birds to feed
and build their nests.
• Use plants that produce silken fi bers to provide
nesting materials.
• Create perches from bare branches for birds to rest
on.
• Provide a water source—a fountain, pool, or
birdbath.
BENEFICIAL INSECTS
FOR PEST CONTROL
You can choose plants for your garden that attract
benefi cial insects—those that prey on insect pests. For
example, syrphid fl ies are common benefi cial insects that
eat aphids. The adults look like small bees, although they
are really fl ies. They hover in the air and need nectar
and pollen plants on which to lay their eggs. The legless
larvae can often be seen on roses dining on aphids.
A NOTE OF CAUTION
While butterfl ies are nectar-sippers, caterpillars are
voracious eaters and can strip the leaves off their
favorite plants. Plant the nectar sources in the front
of the garden and the larval food plants in an inconspicuous
place in the back. Also, remember that cats
might discourage nesting or kill young birds.
HOW TO
ATTRACT
WILDLIFE
TO YOUR
CENTRAL VALLEY
GARDEN
PROTECT native plants by
supporting the pollinators
they depend on
ENJOY the sight and sound
of birds and butterfl ies in the
garden
HELP combat habitat loss by
making your garden a wildlife
refuge
GREAT PLANTS FOR CENTRAL VALLEY GARDENS