Hi i'm trying to grow more native plants under my redwood grove, the area has dappled shade on most days
I have tried sorrell, native ginger plants, ferns and a few lily of the valley. The plants need to be somewhat unattractive to deer and gophers, and like the soil under a redwood tree.
any ideas?
Diane
growing in a redwood Grove
Diane, I don't know about natives, but what is happy under my redwood trees are Camellias, Azaleas, Ligularia, Mondo Grass, and ferns, Astilbe. There used to be quite a lot of Fuschia there but the mites came and the Fuschias went. There are certainly native ferns that you could find to grow there. There are also native Rhodies I believe, and orchids. So many of the Redwood forests are bare due to falling debris covering the ground. And the forests with a lot of plants are on the rainy side of the coast like Portola State Park and Muir Woods. Isn't there a native plant nursery somewhere near you? I can't remember the name of it. And you should go take a hike in the woods. I'm not telling you to take a hike mind you. :-)
You might want to post this question in the new California forum. There seem to be a lot of native savvy plant people there.
Here's another view of the same area. The stones of the bench fell down in the 1906 Earthquake at Stanford University. Don't imagine they are native stones but they've been here longer than most native Californians. Hostas like it under the Redwoods, but with those and the Ligularias, you're fighting the snails. I keep trying new things. There are a lot of things that haven't worked. And I try not to pick up after the redwoods so that they continue to keep their natural 'duff'. Although my little fluffy dogs can come back all balled up with redwood twigs. Do you have a photo of your Redwoods?
One other thing. I find that the rain really doesn't get to plants that are under the redwood trees, so I do have to run the sprinklers once in awhile, even in a rainy season like the past one.
This message was edited Apr 30, 2005 7:24 PM
will take the picture of the grove and post....give me a few days to work it out :)
Diane
I'll be here Diane. Also let me know what your ideas are.