Take out those spades and shovels; spring is only 15 days away and it’s time to get your garden on! We’re celebrating spring with our own series of modern plantings, featuring different plants each week in Modernica’s Case Study Ceramics.
This week, we’ve looked in our own proverbial backyard to bring you four lovely plantings – all native to our local California climate.
Monterey Cypress (Hesperocyparis Macrocarpa)
Monterey cypress is a species native to the Central Coast of California. Some say this particular species is over 2,000 years old. You can find seedlings in nurseries throughout central and southern California.
We chose a Case Study Ceramic Cylinder for the cypress because it’s deep enough to support the little tree’s future root growth. Here’s a how to:
For this tree, it is important to loosen up the roots and tease out any coiled roots. Then, you want the top of the root ball to sit approximately 2 inches above the surrounding soil. Once it is in place and at the proper depth, fill the hole with soil to within about four inches from the top and water gently. Then, continue filling the container with soil, firming the soil as you go. Cover the area around the base of the tree with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. This particular tree needs good drainage, lots of sun, and regular watering to thrive.
Wendy Bells (Heuchera ‘Wendy’)
This California native sports delicate pink flowers in the spring and summer that are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
We chose a large Case Study Ceramic Bowl for our Wendy Bells to set off their long stalks and flowers. Like most flowers, planting is relatively simple. Fill the pot about 2/3 full with potting mix and gently place the roots into the center of the container. Then, gently pat in the the remaining soil until no roots show through and add water to make the soil moist. Wendy Bells need to sit in a partly shady spot and only require water about every 2 weeks.
Figueroa Purple Sage (Salvia Leucophylla Figueroa)
This aromatic sage is native to the southern coastal mountain ranges of California and blooms in spring and summer with lovely bunches of purple flowers.
Given space and sunlight, the plant can grown into a nice low-lying shrub, so we chose a relatively-deep Ceramic Bowl to give it plenty of room to grow. The little shrub wants clay, loam or sandy soil with excellent drainage and lots of direct sunlight. It requires water once a week for the first 6 weeks, after which it should only be watered when the soil becomes completely dry.
Sea Lettuce (Dudleya Caespitosa)
Growing along the SoCal coastline, this pretty little succulent is a great option for rock gardens and container gardens. Every once in awhile it sprouts a tall clump of rosettes that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Sea lettuce likes sandy, well-draining soil, but doesn’t need a lot of root space, which is why we placed it in our smallest Table-top Bowl. Like most drought-resistant succulents, it only needs to be watered occasionally.
All of the above plants were acquired at the Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery, a non-profit company that is dedicated to the understanding, preservation and use of California native flora. Please click here to learn more about their organization and inventory.