— Nan Sterman
Nan Sterman (left), Here and Now’s Robin Young (right) and Nan’s clients
Major change has come to western gardens and gardening! This past week, I was interviewed by
reporter Robin Young of National Public Radio’s Here and Now. Robin traveled to San Diego from Boston this week and was surprised to see so many people tearing out lawns. I took Robin to see clients of mine in Rancho Santa Fe, to talk about the why’s and how’s. The interview airs Thursday morning, June 4th, sometime between 9 am and 11 am.
A few weeks before Robin’s interview, KPBS’s Claire Trageser’s reported for national NPR about turf rebates in San Diego County. In that segment, Claire asked me why people are so connected to lawn, and which plants to grow in its place (click here to listen).
What to grow is question I get regularly. The best plants, I always respond, are those from other Mediterranean climates around the world. They are the best suited, most beautiful and easiest to grow plants of all.
Here is a sampling of my favorite drought tolerant flowering perennials.
Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’ South African daisy
Arctotis, South African daisies whose soft, fuzzy gray leaves form broad mats about eight inches tall and several feet across. In spring and fall, thse plants are covered in big, daisy-shaped flowers in shades ofred, pink, orange, or yellow. I especially like ‘Pink Sugar’, an unusual pink and orange bi-color . Plant Arctotis in full sun.
Calylophus drummondii, sundrop
Calylophus drumondii ‘Southern Belle’ is a mounding perennial, just a foot tall by two feet wide. These are dainty looking but tough
growing plants whose stems are covered with narrow green leaves, and lemon yellow flowers the size of a quarter. Each flower opens for just a day, but they smother the plant in blooms nearly year round. Plant this bulletproof plant in
full sun, at the front of the border where it will catch your eye. This plant is also sold as Calylophus berlandieri and Calylophus drummondianus
Kniphofia ‘Christmas Cheer’ red hot poker
Kniphofia ‘Christmas Cheer’ is bulb-like with strappy, three or four-foot tall green leaves. Around Thanksgiving, it puts up a tall flower stalk topped with an orange and yellow, poker shaped flower cluster. These “red hot pokers” are perennials related to asparagus. Humming birds love these flowers. Grow in full sun.
Tall verbena, Verbena bonariensis.
Tall verbena, Verbena bonariensis, has three-foot tall wands topped in tufty clusters of tiny purple flowers that are magnets for butterflies. Watch for new, smaller selections like the shrubbier, two foot tall by three foot wide ‘Pompous Purple’. ‘Meteor Shower’ grows to the same height but only 30 inches wide, making it perfect for growing in a container. Both are bloom on and off, from spring through fall. Plant in full sun.
Pelargonium sidoides, South African geranium
Pelargonium sidoides, South African geranium is a beautiful little (less than a foot tall by two feet across) mounding plant with gray-green heart shaped leaves and frilly edges. Each mound supports dozens, maybe hundreds of narrow flower stalks topped with velvety pinkish claret colored flowers. The flowers are small but plentiful. The color contrast between the flowers and leaves are part of what make this plant a knockout. Grow in full sun.
Check back next week for Nan’s tips for success with your waterwise garden
