Sun-Loving Plants for a New Paradise

It has been two years since the Camp Fire destroyed most of the foothill community of Paradise.  In the years since, residents have been steadily returning to reclaim their town.  As of November 1, 2020, four hundred and twenty-six homes have been rebuilt, according to the Town of Paradise building department. These range from small manufactured houses and modular dwelling units to large custom-built homes.  My husband and I have been among the pioneers in this process.

The landscape of Paradise has changed. Gone are most of the stately Ponderosa pines and California black oaks. Taking their place are acres of French, Spanish, and Scotch broom; pokeweed; and other invasive plants. Lots are gradually being cleared of the invaders. Absentee property owners too have received letters advising them to clear their properties of weeds and, for the most part, people have complied. Those who have rebuilt their homes have had to reimagine the outdoor areas of their property. Lots that may once have included many shade plants underneath the pines now receive full sun. Although some plants came back after the fire, returning residents are mostly working with a blank slate.

Happily, one thing that nature has offered up to help with the process of replanting is many young ceanothus shrubs. Part of a large genus of diverse, versatile, and beautiful North American species in the buckthorn family, ceanothus is one of the most common and widespread native plants in California. These shrubs have serotinus seeds that remain on the shrub and only disperse and germinate after being exposed to the extreme heat of a wildfire. There must have been quite a few ceanothus seeds lying dormant in Paradise, waiting for the right conditions to sprout, because these shrubs can now be seen all over town.

What else can returnees plant that will do well in this changed environment?  We moved into our rebuilt home in April 2020 and have spent the past six months landscaping and replanting our yard. For those like us in Paradise and other fire-ravaged areas, there are three important characteristics to keep in mind when deciding what plants to add to a newly sunny yard.

1) the plants should be drought tolerant. California has seen a lot of drought in recent years, and that situation is not likely to change.

2) the plants need to be deer resistant. While deer are not nearly as numerous as they were before the Camp Fire, they still come through the area regularly. Unless your property is surrounded by a high fence, deer will treat your yard like a salad bar. Although deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough, some plants, such as those with strong smells or furry leaves, are less likely to be eaten.

3) it's a bonus if the plants attract pollinators to your property. After the devastated moonscape left by the Camp Fire, we all want to see LIFE in our yards, and plants that attract birds, bees, and butterflies create a beautiful garden full of life.

Plants that meet all three criteria are winners, and there are lots to choose from!

Salvias may be some of the best plants for meeting all three criteria. One that does particularly well in our climate is Salvia leucantha or Mexican bush sage. This shrub grows three to four feet tall and wide, with gray-green leaves and velvety purple flower spikes. The hummingbirds love it!  Another salvia to consider is Salvia greggii “Lipstick,” which produces a profusion of deep red flowers that the hummers also love. We are in November now and these plants are still putting on quite a show. Bees and butterflies also love this salvia. Salvia apiana (white sage) is another sage that thrives in the hot sun and needs little water. The white sage is quite pungent and can grow to four feet tall, with flower spikes up to eight feet, so it may not be to everyone's taste.

Salvias are not the only plants that meet the criteria of being drought tolerant, deer-resistant, and pollinator attracting. To fill in the spaces between salvias, try planting “Walkers Low” catmint, a low mounding shrub with light blue flowers. These plants bloom and look good for months, with very little care. If you like warm-colored flowers, add in some Euryops (African bush daisy), a shrub with yellow daisy-like flowers. These too are prodigious bloomers that add color to the landscape. Another option for color is gaillardia (blanketflower). These perennials will bloom all season long.

For groundcover, consider trailing lantana (Lantana sellowiana).  Lantana flowers come in a variety of colors and the plants are covered with masses of flowers nearly year-round. Deer don't normally eat any of these plants, bees and butterflies love them, and all are drought-tolerant once established. The weather is finally cooling down and this is the perfect time of year for Paradise residents to plant some of these sun-loving perennials in their new gardens. The cooler temperatures and soon-to-come rains will help these plants get established, and we will all be rewarded next spring as Paradise comes back to life once again.

For more plants that do well in our environment see the Butte County All-Star plant list on our website. These are plants that are suited to our climate here in Butte County, are drought tolerant, and attract beneficial wildlife. For an extensive list of deer resistant plants, see the list compiled by the UCCE Master Gardener Program of El Dorado County.

UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu (preferred) or call (530) 538-7201.