Oregon Native: Ceanothus prostratus

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Ashland Garden Club

Plant Name: Ceanothus prostratus
Common name: Mahala Mat
Plant Type: Evergreen Groundcover/Subshrub
Plant Height: 6”
Plant Width: 8’
Bloom Time: May – July
Flower Color: Pale Purple to Pale Blue to White
Exposure: Sun
Soil Requirements: Average, Gritty Soil.
Water Need: Regular; Drought Tolerant; Dry in Summer.
Fire Resistant: YES; Plant 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Attracts Bees; Fixes Nitrogen; Host Plant to Some Butterflies; Attracts Other Insects; Deer Resistant.
Uses: Erosion Control; Bee/Bird/Butterfly Gardens.
Note: Verticillium Wilt Resistant.
Native to: California into Nevada; Pacific Northwest
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener

Photo Credit: Adam Schneider, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mahala_mat.jpg

Horticulture Report: Creeping Thyme

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Ashland Garden Club

Plant Name: Thymus praecox
Common name: Creeping Thyme
Plant Type: Groundcover
Plant Height: 1” – 4”
Plant Width: 6” – 18”
Bloom Time: May – August
Flower Color: Pink White, Purple
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Average, Dry – Medium, Well-Drained; Tolerates Rocky or Poor Soil.
Water Need: Drought Tolerant Once Established
Fire Resistant: YES. Plant 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Leaves in Shades of Light to Dark Green Yellow, or Variegated; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.
Uses: Rock Walls; Between Pavers; Rock Garden; Path Edging.
Note: Cut Back Stems to Maintain Plant Appearance; Susceptible to Root Rot in Poor Draining Soils.
Native to: SW & Central Europe; Greenland; Turkey
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo Credit: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Horticulture Report: Veronica Ground Covers

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Ashland Garden Club

Plant Name: Veronica species
Common name: Speedwell
Plant Type: Perennial Groundcover
Plant Height: 4” – 8”
Plant Width: 18” – 24”
Bloom Time: May/June
Flower Color: Blue, Pink, White
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Well-Drained
Water Needs: Drought Resistant; For Best Bloom Water Moderately About 1” a Week.
Fire Resistant: YES; Plant 30’+ from House.
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies/Hummingbirds; Deer Resistant. NOTE: Veronica tends to be deer-resistant, though extreme conditions deer with graze on plants they otherwise wouldn’t eat.
Uses: Rock Gardens; Flower Bouquets; Perennial Border.
Note: Showy in Full Bloom; Cut Back for Overwintering; Deadhead to Extend Bloom.
Native to: Northern Europe; Asia
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8

Veronica species