Tag Archives: firewise gardening

Fire-wise Native Plant: Grey Rabbitbush

Posted on by

Plant Name: Ericameria nauseosa, synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosa
Common names: Grey Rabbitbrush, Rubber Rabbitbush, Chamisa
Plant type: Broadleaf Deciduous Shrub
Height: 3’-9’
Spread: 3’-9
Bloom Time: July to October
Flower Color: Golden Yellow

Exposure: Sun
Soil Requirements: Sandy, fast, well-Draining
Water Needs: Drought Resistant with Deep Tap Root; Little or NO Supplemental Water

Attributes: Woolly Leaves; Attractive to Bees, Butterflies; Other Late Season Pollinators; Supports Bats, Caterpillars; No Serious Disease or Insect Problems

Note: Pungent Smelling Flowers; Cut Twigs Exude Milky Latex; no maintenance except annual shearing; prune in the Winter. Plant has a nauseous disagreeable ordor when the leaves or flowers are crushed, described as pineapple-like by some and foul and rubbery smell by others.
Uses: Desert Landscape; Water-wise plant; Pollinator Gardens; Hedge; Xeriscaping; Erosion Control

Fire-wise Plant: YES
Native To: Southern BC, Great Plains, Mexico, West to Pacific Ocean, Central North America

Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashland & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members
Photos from Oregon State University: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/ericameria-nauseosa

Horticulture Report – Fire-wise & Native Plant

Posted on by

Common name: Deer Fern
Botanical Name: Blechnum spicant
Plant type: Fern
Height: .75’ – 4’
Spread:  1’ – 2’
Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements:  Humusy, Acidic, Evenly Moist, Well-drained
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes:  Winter Interest; Tolerates Heavy Shade; Two Different Types of Fronds; Deer Resistant
Note: Spreads somewhat slowly by short creeping rhizomes; May be divided in Spring; Leaf Spot & Rust May Occur; May Go Dormant in Winter; Cut back dead fronds in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges; Fertilize Frequently During Growing Season
Uses: Shade Garden; Shaded Border; Rock Garden; Containers
Firewise: YES
Native To:  Temperate Northern Hemisphere
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8

Horticulture Report – Fire-wise & Native Flower

Posted on by

Plant Name: Brodiaea coronaria
Common name: Crown Brodiaea
Plant type: Deciduous Perennial Herb
Height: 10” – 24”
Spread:  1’
Bloom Time:  April – July
Flower Color: Blue, Lavender, Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements; Well-drained; Clay to Sandy Loam
Water Needs:  Low;
Attributes:  Attracts Butterflies; Nectar Source for Adult Butterflies; Bees & other Insect Pollinators
Uses: Rock Garden; Meadowscapes
Firewise: YES
Native To:  Western North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a – 10a

 

 

 

Photo Credit: “Brodiaea coronaria” by davidbroadland is marked with CC0 1.0.

Horticulture Report: Asarum caudatum, aka: Western Wild Ginger

Posted on by

Native Firewise Plant

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plant Name:  Asarum caudatum

Common name: Western Wild Ginger

Plant type: Evergreen Herbaceous Perennial

Height: 1’

Spread:  6” – 1’6”
Bloom Time:  Spring

Flower Color: Brown Purple to Green Yellow

Exposure:  Full Shade

Soil Requirements: Good Drainage; High Organic Matter; Acidic

Water Needs:  Regular Water

Photo Credit: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Attributes:  Ginger Aroma when Leaves Rubbed; Winter Interest;    Showy Flowers; Attracts Ants as Pollinators

Note:  Spreads by Rhizomes; Flowers are Unique Shape, but Hidden under Leaves

Uses:  Containers; Groundcover; Lawn Alternative; Rock Gardens;    Borders

Firewise:  YES

Native to: Western North America

Oregon Native: YES

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10

 

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Horticulture Report – Western columbine

Posted on by

Native & Firewise Plant

Plant Name:  Aquilegia formosa

Photo by: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Common name: Western columbine
Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread:   1’
Bloom Time:  Late Spring to August
Flower Color:  Red, Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun to Deep Shade
Soil Requirements: Good Drainage, Organic Material
Water Needs: Low to Moderate; irrigate once a month once established
Attributes:  Nectar in Flower Blooms are appealing to Hummingbirds;
Seed Heads provide Bird Food; Deer Resistant; Supports Bats, Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars
Note:  Self-sows, but Deadheading controls spread
Uses:  Containers; Native Plant Gardens; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Firewise:  YES
Native to: Lower 48 state, Alaska, Canada
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Firewise Plant: Evening Primrose

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Oenothera species

Common name:  Evening Primrose
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial or Biennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 6’
Plant Width:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Flower Color:  Yellow or Pink or White
Exposure:  Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements: Rocky or Sandy Soil; Well-Drained
Water Needs: Low to Medium
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 8 – Plant 30’+ from Structure
Attributes: Attract Moths; Birds Eat Seeds; Attracts Hummingbirds; Fragrant Flowers; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant
Uses: Full Sun Ground cover; Rock Gardens; Erosion Control; Native Plant Gardens
Note: Flowers Open in the Evening
Native to: Eastern North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener