Category Archives: Horticulture Reports

Oregon Native Plant: Rubus ursinus (Pacific Blackberry)

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Plant Name:  Rubus ursinus
Common name:  Pacific Blackberry, or Dewberry
Plant Type:  Evergreen, Semi Evergreen Shrub or Low Trailing
Plant Height: 6’ – 10’
Spread:  6’
Bloom Time: February to May
Flower Color: White to Pink
Exposure: Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements:  Medium to Slow Drainage.
Water Needs: Moderate to High
Attributes:  Hosts several Butterflies & Moths. Leaves can be used to make herbal tea. Produces Edible Berries.  Sometimes plants are referred to as ground berries. 

Note: 1st Year Stems (Primocanes) produce only leaves;                                 2nd Year Lateral Branches (Floricanes) produce flowers & fruit.                 Canes are very prickly; Prune during winter dormancy.

Uses: Ground Cover; Bird Garden; Native Gardens; Pollinator Gardens, Native Berries.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members

Photo Credit:  Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Horticulture Report: Douglas Spirea

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Plant Name:  Spiraea douglasii
Common name:  Douglas or Western Spirea
Plant Type:  Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height:  3’ – 7’
Plant Width:  3’ – 6’
Bloom Time:  June to August
Flower Color:  Deep Pink
Exposure:Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Well drained, acidic, loamy, sandy soil.
Water Need:  Does well in wet areas;
Attributes: Retains brown seed heads; Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Other Pollinators; Deer Resistant.
Note:  Needs consistent moisture; Remove suckers; Susceptible to Fire Blight, Leaf Spot, Powdery Mildew, Aphids, Scale.  Prune after Flowering.
Uses: Hedge; Rain Garden; Cottage Gardens; Borders; Slopes.
Native to:  Oregon to Alaska
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member                                                                  Photo Location: Hyatt Lake, Oregon – July 25, 2020

Today in the Garden

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  • Astrantia ‘Billion Stars’
  • Bruñnera
    ‘Jack of Diamonds’
  • Itoh Peony & Daphne.
  • Lida Rose
  • Nicotiana sylvestris
  • Viburnum maresii, variegated
Lucretia Weems’ Garden

 Lucretia is a member of Ashland Garden Club & a Landscape Designer 

Photos by: Lucretia Weems

Oregon Native: Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry)

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Plant Name:  Rhamnus californica/Frangula californica
Common name: Coffeeberry
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 8’
Spread: 5’ – 15’
Bloom Time: Spring/Summer
Flower Color: Greenish White Flower with Red, Purple, then Black Berries over Summer.
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Soil Requirements: Not particular about soil, but good drainage.
Water Needs: Low
Attributes:  Valued by Birds; Butterflies & Moths Hosted; Deer Resistant; Bee Garden.
Note: Takes well to Pruning.
Uses: Fire Resistant Hedge.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  7-10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Flower Image Credit: Evangele19 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Berry Image Credit: Brofri / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Today in the Garden

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‘Teddy Bear’ Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), Easy to grow Annual, Full sun, Well-drained soil, Semi-Drought Tolerant: Water deeply when top 2 inches of soil is dry,  Height: 18-24 inches, Flowers: 3-6 inches unique double blooms (pompom-style) Color: Deep golden yellow, Attracts: Pollinators, Provides seeds for Birds

Photos by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member