Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Greetings from the Pacific Coast! While my husband and I have been enjoying the beautiful beaches, mountains, and canyons of the California coast to attend a wedding, I thought I would bring our readers along for a peek at the amazing flora of the West Coast.
In a climate of warm, dry summers and cooler, wet winters, Mediterranean gardens are the norm, and drought-resistant plants thrive. Succulents and flowers that barely survive or succumb to our cold winters in Southern New Jersey grow to amazing sizes along the coast of California. Like the Jersey Shore, proximity to the ocean keeps temperatures moderate. But in the California gardening zones of 9 and 10, tropical and subtropical plants abound, and what we consider annuals in New Jersey can grow year-round in this paradise of weather and natural beauty.
Bougainvillea, with its vibrant colors of purple, red, pink, and yellow, is a ubiquitous tropical flower found cascading over walls throughout California. Though it’s a native of Central and South America, you can find bougainvilleas sprawling in California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. What we perceive as the vibrant “flowers” are actually paper-like leaves called bracts that thrive in the sun with very little water. Because of the papery appearance of these bracts, bougainvillea is also called paper flower. While it cannot handle the cold in our area, you can bring bougainvillea indoors as a potted plant to overwinter in a sunny window.
You may recognize the thick, fleshy, oval leaves of the houseplant jade. But in California this plant can grow four feet high outdoors as an attractive shrub; some varieties will grow even taller. In late winter and early spring in California, they can bloom with loads of starry white flowers. Back in South Jersey, grow as a houseplant in a sunny window and water sparingly. The thick succulent leaves will tell you that it’s drought-tolerant. Grow in a succulent/cactus mix since potting soil can hold unneeded moisture.
Gigantic aloes grow with abandon in Southern California. Depending on the variety, their spiny leaves take on different sizes, shapes, and colors. One type, called candelabra aloe, grows vibrant red torch-like flowers. This flowering succulent attracts birds, bees, and butterflies. Candelabra is a heat-loving succulent that prefers temperatures between 68°’and 100°.
Palm trees and banana plants set the Southern California vibe. The Canary Island date palm reaches heights of 40-60 feet, and graces many yards in Southern California. It’s often called a pineapple palm due to its pineapple-like appearance when young. Though this type of palm does produce fruit, it’s not said to be very tasty. Banana trees also set the tropical mood. Unlike most of the drought-tolerant plants growing in Southern California, bananas need moist soil in the summer months to thrive and fruit. In winter they will be practically dormant. Did you know that you can also grow banana trees in South Jersey? Musa bajoo is the most cold-tolerant banana plant. Gardeners recommend covering them with burlap in winter for the first two years. Though they won’t produce bananas to eat, you can enjoy a New Jersey tropical “staycation” with these hardy banana plants.
Dudleyas are another group of succulents growing along California’s coasts and rocky habitats. But I prefer their other name, liveforevers, in the stonecrop family. One of the varieties we found is called giant chalk dudleya. This variety grows in rosettes and produces reddish-brown flowers that are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. The leaves are covered in a white chalky, dusty, waxy film that creates a surface of high ultraviolet reflectivity. Once mature, they are fairly cold and heat-tolerant. In recent years, California passed a new law protecting dudleyas from rampant poaching that has threatened the plants.
Of course, giant cacti, agaves, and aloe also fill the cliff sides of the California coast. Beautiful flowering plants such as hibiscus, lantana, plumbago, and oleander grow lush and almost wild in California while we on the East Coast baby them to grow as annuals in the summer. Citrus trees are heavy-laden with fruit while homeowners seem oblivious to their bounty.
Yes, California is a beautiful and fertile part of our wonderful country. But while the clear water is breathtakingly picturesque, the water is also freezing cold and the waves will thrash you with their force. Alas, we must return to reality while dreaming of the Pacific Coast. Thank you to our friends for bringing us to this beautiful place. Best wishes for a long and happy marriage to Kathleen and Eric.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
