California Winter Plants

[calbirder]

Hey everybody, anybody know of some nice shrubs or large plants that will grow next to a small creek? I would like them to attract birds and provide cover for my surrounding feeders. Also, if they will survive or maybe even grow if I planted them now, in the beginning of fall. Any help would be really appreciated.

[Isurus]

Hey everybody, anybody know of some nice shrubs or large plants that will grow next to a small creek? I would like them to attract birds and provide cover for my surrounding feeders. Also, if they will survive or maybe even grow if I planted them now, in the beginning of fall. Any help would be really appreciated.

This link will let you find native plant species for your post (or as you americans say "zip") code:
http://www.laspilitas.com/comhabit/california_communities.html

That might be the ideal starting point. With regard to planting at this time of year, here in the UK its quite normal to plant woody plants in the dormant period. They'll sit still for a while in the period of little growth and then go off strongly when spring comes. I'm not sure to what extent this effect will be reduced by virtue of your milder winter climate but I doubt it will be reversed.

Sorry I couldn't be more help but I'm not up on Cali natives.I do know that there are some fabulously nectar rich sages from Cali that may be good.

[Curtis Croulet]

This link will let you find native plant species for your post (or as you americans say "zip") code:
http://www.laspilitas.com/comhabit/california_communities.html

That might be the ideal starting point. With regard to planting at this time of year, here in the UK its quite normal to plant woody plants in the dormant period. They'll sit still for a while in the period of little growth and then go off strongly when spring comes. I'm not sure to what extent this effect will be reduced by virtue of your milder winter climate but I doubt it will be reversed.

Sorry I couldn't be more help but I'm not up on Cali natives.I do know that there are some fabulously nectar rich sages from Cali that may be good.

I also recommend Las Pilitas. But most of the populated parts of Calif. have a Mediterranean climate regime -- winter rain, summer drought -- and the "dormant" season for many native plants is actually from, say, July through October. When the rain comes, even though it's the cooler time of year, that's when the plants start to grow.

[emupilot]

Hey everybody, anybody know of some nice shrubs or large plants that will grow next to a small creek? I would like them to attract birds and provide cover for my surrounding feeders. Also, if they will survive or maybe even grow if I planted them now, in the beginning of fall. Any help would be really appreciated.

Alot depends on your microclimate (I'm east of the Oakland hills) and shade conditions, but there are lots of good natives with berries that also provide good cover. I've had good luck with Toyon, Coffeeberry, Manzanita, Currant, and Coralberry. Huckleberry (not necessarily easy to find) seems to work for me primarily in the shade. You might have to do some natural selection testing - try a bunch of things and then see what's still alive this time next year. This is a good time to plant, since the rains will be here soon.