The Coastal Gardener: Native or introduced, the gardener’s debate
The debate between which plants should prevail in gardens, native plants or introduced plants, is a contentious one.
Advocates of our native flora will point out such qualities as water conservation, wildlife opportunities, their limited need for fertilizer and reduced maintenance needs.
Traditionalists, favoring exotic plants, speak of their year-round good looks, the large diversity of choices, easy availability and the important security of gardening with plants with which they are already familiar.
The vast majority of our local landscapes employ an array of well-known introduced, non-native plants, such as delphiniums, penstemons, solanums, ranunculus, salvias, clematis, violas, orchids, poppies, lilies, sweet peas, bleeding hearts, even dichondra.
Traditionalists love these familiar and colorful plants. A quick walk around the block would likely uncover most, if not all, of these well-known stalwarts of our gardens.
What most local gardeners may not know is that all of these plants are native to Orange County; maybe not the same species or hybrid growing in your garden, but a native version of the same plant.
Deep blue delphiniums and bright-yellow violas growing wild in Orange County? Yes.
Climbing clematis? Yes.
Golden ranunculus? Yes.
Six-foot orange lilies? Yes, and lots of them.
Remember, I’m not talking about these plants growing in cultivation or being planted; I’m referring to completely native plants, wild and indigenous.
Right here in Orange County, on our hillsides and canyons grow fragrant pink sweet peas, exotic nodding peonies, elusive orchids, stunning purple penstemons, huge yellow bleeding hearts, a wide variety of salvias, several poppies and even a rare but beautiful spreading dichondra.
It is possible to incorporate a few local native plants into your garden, while not venturing too far from the popular, familiar plants to which you’re already accustomed.
Perhaps the gap between the advocates of native plants and those of introduced plants isn’t as wide as we think.
If you’re a traditionalist, and you can’t imagine a garden without your familiar plants, this weekend would be an excellent time to take a slow casual walk at Crystal Cove State Park, the Laguna Coast Wilderness or any one of the many trails in the Cleveland National Forest.
Delphiniums, ranunculus, violas, sweet peas and many other familiar garden friends might greet you there.
RON VANDERHOFFis the nursery manager at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar
Ask Ron
My roses are growing like crazy. I’m so excited. There are lots of big buds, but they are being attacked by a zillion aphids. What should I spray with? I don’t want to damage the flowers.
Elizabeth, Newport Beach
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Aphids are incredibly common at this time of time of year, Elizabeth. I wouldn’t worry too much. In fact, if you did nothing, I’ll bet the aphids disappear in two or three weeks, and the roses are no worse off. If you just can’t bear to see them, you can knock most of them off with a brisk stream of plain water. If that still doesn’t satisfy you, then use a spray bottle of Insecticidal soap to kill them. Whatever you do, don’t go get the heavy chemicals and especially not a dose of systemic insecticide. Aphids don’t really do much harm, but these chemicals sure can.
ASK RON your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger’s Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@rogersgardens.com, or write to Plant Talk at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.