Need Spring Color? Get Annuals!
Spring is a week away and we have had very robust rains this winter interspersed with warm sunny days—great growing weather for our dormant plants. The wild lilacs (Ceanothus) and manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) have produced their winter floral show already, providing food for the solitary bees that emerge in February. But the real show comes when the spring bulbs and annuals start blooming.
Annuals complete their life cycle in a season, from seed to flower to seed again in a few months. Some species are terrific reseeders and will show up in your garden forever. Typically, annuals bloom for a longer period than perennials. Although they only last for one season, their beautiful, cheery blooms can provide a colorful display in any corner of your garden. They are a terrific choice for containers, too.
Annuals we will be offering:
- Castilleja exserta, Purple Owl’s Clover (grown with a native grass)
- Clarkia amoena, Farewell-to-Spring
- Clarkia rubicunda, Ruby Chalice Clarkia
- Clarkia unguiculata, Mountain Garland (reliable reseeder)
- Collinsia heterophylla, Chinese Houses
- Gilia capitata, Globe Gilia (also reseeds heartily)
- Gilia tricolor, Birds-eye Gilia
- Helianthus annuus, Delta Sunflower (gets 5–8 ft.)
- Layia platyglossa, Tidy Tips
- Limnanthes alba, White Meadowfoam (not the standard yellow-and-white species)
- Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus, Valley Lupine
- Lupinus nanus, Sky Lupine
- Lupinus succulentus, Arroyo Lupine (reseeds well)
- Madia elegans, Elegant Tarweed (will reseed everywhere)
- Mentzelia lindleyi, Lindley’s Blazing Star
- Nemophila menziesii, Baby Blue Eyes
- Phacelia tanacetifolia, Lacy Phacelia (another terrific reseeder)
- Platystemon californicus, Creamcups
- Salvia carduacea, Thistle Sage (we hope) (for very hot and dry locations)