What's a California native plant that's almost a cactus in water need?
December 14, 2019 12:00 PM Subscribe
I have porch-covered planters and don't want to water. What plants are appropriate?
I'm in Sunnyvale, California renting a house with an east-facing porch with planters on the east (2' x 6') & north (1.5' x 8') sides. The roof of the porch completely shields the soil from perfectly vertical rain, though it is a little damp after the last few days of showers.
There's little shading from sun to the north or east- no trees near the house on that side.
I like the idea of native plants, but a true native for this area would be used to good soakings in the winter and probably dry seasons that are historically a bit shorter than they've been lately. I expect cacti (cholla, maybe, so native to this meridian if not latitude?) would survive, but they can be quite expensive because they're slow growing and they wouldn't really fit with the 1910's bungalow style of the house & other plants.
The poppies that were there when I moved in in April are coming back, but they'll die again next summer. The landscapers (mandated by the property mgmt. co.) ripped out the dead ones a while back, but didn't turn the soil.
I don't want to water. My thought was that planting in winter would give plants enough time to establish before the dry & heat comes. The house had irrigation, but most of the valves don't work even with the manual knob & the timers are ancient & in a dirt-floor basement. The basement door is rotting, so I don't want to open it & hasten it's demise. The prop. mgmt. & owner are aware of this. I filed a maintenance request, then when they finally got back to me with some wishy-washy b.s. I said I'd hand water.
I will set up my own hose bib fed drip system on a timer if it's a must.
I'm in Sunnyvale, California renting a house with an east-facing porch with planters on the east (2' x 6') & north (1.5' x 8') sides. The roof of the porch completely shields the soil from perfectly vertical rain, though it is a little damp after the last few days of showers.
There's little shading from sun to the north or east- no trees near the house on that side.
I like the idea of native plants, but a true native for this area would be used to good soakings in the winter and probably dry seasons that are historically a bit shorter than they've been lately. I expect cacti (cholla, maybe, so native to this meridian if not latitude?) would survive, but they can be quite expensive because they're slow growing and they wouldn't really fit with the 1910's bungalow style of the house & other plants.
The poppies that were there when I moved in in April are coming back, but they'll die again next summer. The landscapers (mandated by the property mgmt. co.) ripped out the dead ones a while back, but didn't turn the soil.
I don't want to water. My thought was that planting in winter would give plants enough time to establish before the dry & heat comes. The house had irrigation, but most of the valves don't work even with the manual knob & the timers are ancient & in a dirt-floor basement. The basement door is rotting, so I don't want to open it & hasten it's demise. The prop. mgmt. & owner are aware of this. I filed a maintenance request, then when they finally got back to me with some wishy-washy b.s. I said I'd hand water.
I will set up my own hose bib fed drip system on a timer if it's a must.
Best answer: You could look at chaparral plants at a native nursery. They may be ok with the extreme soil heat and do have low water use. See also here, or contact the California native plant society directly to see if they have more specifics on what will work.
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:47 PM on December 14, 2019
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:47 PM on December 14, 2019
the Santa Clara County Master Gardeners provide a help line and a lot of advice about this sort of stuff on their website.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:21 PM on December 14, 2019
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:21 PM on December 14, 2019
Ceanothus.
Fun fact, the Ohlone indians used the flowers to make soap.
posted by humboldt32 at 5:15 PM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Fun fact, the Ohlone indians used the flowers to make soap.
posted by humboldt32 at 5:15 PM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Succulents.
Jade (Crassula ovata), though a non-native, is very low maintenance.
posted by artdrectr at 10:04 PM on December 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Jade (Crassula ovata), though a non-native, is very low maintenance.
posted by artdrectr at 10:04 PM on December 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
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Creeping rosemary would do well in that planter, with drip irrigation, and spill over the brick.
posted by the Real Dan at 12:26 PM on December 14, 2019 [1 favorite]