Many, many years ago my landscape designer group was fortunate to get a private tour by the head gardener at Filoli Gardens. One of the takeaways from this informative afternoon was the plants that have survived there since the early 1900s without any care. They are true survivors.
Growing in out-of-the-way places in the over 600 acres of Filoli are plants that you see blooming around here right now.
Old-fashioned shrubs, like flowering quince and forsythia, figure prominently in many old gardens because they are tough plants able to survive neglect and still look beautiful. The bare stems of forsythia are completely covered with deep golden-yellow flowers in late winter and early spring and become the focal point of the landscape when in full bloom. The showy stems of this easy-care shrub are great for cutting.
Forsythias are native to eastern Asia, but a chance discovery in Germany by a grower who specialized in breeding for the cut flower industry led to the especially vivid variety “Kolgold” in the 1800s. Forsythia has long been used in Chinese medicine. The flower petals contain powerful bacteria-fighting properties, which make it an important dressing.
Flowering quince is another old garden staple providing early color. They are easy to care for and nearly indestructible in almost any soil that is well drained and not overly fertile. Once established quince is a very drought tolerant plant and their spiny branches make them an excellent choice for hedges, screening or as a security barrier. There are red, pink, orange and white flowering varieties. The Toyo Nishiki cultivar even has pink, white and solid red flowers all on the same branch.
Recently, while reviewing plant preferences with a client, they mentioned that spirea has done very well in their poor draining soil. I haven’t thought about this workhorse plant in quite a while. They’re not “trending,” but they are good, love-lived, easy-to-grown beautiful shrubs that deserve a second look.
Spirea japonica is drought tolerant once established. Bunnies and deer don’t like them and they are not invasive in our area. Blooming for a very long time they attract pollinators and can control erosion. Several varieties are grown and available including the classic “Antony Waterer.” Other popular varieties include Double Play Gold, improved form of “Goldmound” and “Goldflame.” The brighter yellow foliage covers a more compact shrub and it blooms profusely with hot pink flowers from early to late summer.
Another early flowering plant that is easy to grow in the shade is Clivia or Kaffir Lily. Buds are just starting to form on mine. Every year I look forward to their huge flower clusters that emerge between dark green, strappy leaves. Even in dark shade they will bloom and brighten the late winter/early spring garden although they would do fine in morning sun. If you have a north facing window you can grow them as houseplants. Clivias are hardy to several degrees below freezing. Clivia bloom best when crowded.
Jan Nelson, a landscape designer and California-certified nursery professional, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Email her at ja******@ao*.com, or visit jannelsonlandscapedesign.com.
