Western Hazel is a widespread large deciduous shrub west of the Cascades. Its a common understory component of dry woods from the coast where it is uncommon to interior western Oregon where it is one of the most common plants. In the Willamette Valley it can be found under douglas fir and oak canopies often with Amelanchier, Philadelphus, Lonicera hispidula. The large ellipical to oval leaves are slightly rough with a toothed edge. A rambling shrub rarely taller than 12′ but spreading twice as wide. Extremely drought adapted when established and it even prefers a dry rest in summer. In winter 2″ silver catkins arrive with the tiny magenta ribbon like flowers. They produce round hazelnuts that are loved by wildlife and are born in pairs of two with a rough green husk. In fall the leaves take on yellow and russet tints before they drop. Excellent wild land plant. Masses of this shrub have been removed in the metro area and we should replace those. This form of western hazel or California hazel ranges from BC south throughout the wooded areas of California. Very long lived shrub that gets by on very little. Moderately fast growing. Fantastic native shrub for wildlife. Water to establish then only what falls from the sky. Part shade, shade to full sun. Limited quantities Oregon native plant.
Sun Exposure: Part Shade
Part shade can fall under a number of categories. It may be very dappled shade from a high overstay of trees. It could be the east or west side of a building where the sun is at its maximum for just one half day. Another site that acts like part shade is what is referred to as an open north exposure. The north side of a building or fence, where the sky is unobscured but obstructions and sun angle never completely penetrates. This is a cool aspect but bright enough for almost full sun lovers.
Climate Adapted Plants for Gardeners in the PNW
Strange name for this Camellia. The flowers are decidedly fresh pink, and vivid but not burgundy. It could refer to the new growth which arrives with a raspberry tints. Either way it is one of the best Sasanquas I have grown. A dense upright shrub with smaller upturned deep green foliage. To 8′ x 6′ in 7 years . In October to December a continuous display of vivid double pink flowers. They are about 2.5″ wide and profuse. They open over several months and if the open flowers are spoiled by a freeze this will cause a rapid re-bloom with a thaw. Full sun, including hot locations to part shade. Less flowers and lankier growth in more shade. Water regularly for the first several years and then it can get through summer with 2 – 3 deep soaks. Mulch with bark. Not as good a candidate for espalier as this cultivar is dense and somewhat tear drop shaped and wide. Rich soil with mulch for the first several years. Excellent screen or hedge. Takes pruning well, which should be done after flowering has ended and into spring. Very dependable variety with weather resistant flowers – a good performer in our climate. Long lived, cold hardy to near 0ºF.
Exquisite October to December blooming Sasanqua Camellia with fully double, large flowers for a Sasanqua, 3″ of rich pink. It is a seedling of a more famous cultivar C. s. ‘Showe No Sake’ . To me this seedling is a deeper and richer pink. The substantial flowers have great weather resisitance and the large flowers are prolifiic. A handsome shrub with slightly smaller deep green foliage. Moderately fast growing evergreen shrub for FULL SUN to very light shade. Sasanqua Camellias love full, hot sun. They will grow in shade as well but flowering is much less profuse. This gorgeous shrub is a great candidate for training as an espalier. The large double flowers are quite a display on a single branch. Rich soil with regular summer water to establish, then about once every two weeks to a month after several years. Summer water speeds growth. To 7′ x 7′ in 8 years. Attractive as a large, fall blooming evergreen hedge. Very easy to grow Sasanqua Camellia with exceptional flowers. Excellent hardiness to cold. If blooms are frozen it will also spur this shrub to open flowers like crazy when a thaw arrives. Very long lived.
Fascinating and cold hardy Bromeliad relative from the cooler and wetter parts of Chile. It forms large 2′ wide grassy rosettes of leaves, After a year each large rosette blooms in the middle and the results are spectacular. The center of the rosette hosts a dozens of turquoise blue flowers set tightly together. At the same time the innermost leaves become a brilliant scarlet red. This happens in our climate in late spring to summer but the red leaves remain showy long after the flowers are spent. Excellent plant for a rock garden in gritty soil with regular irrigation. In containers it excels as well as long as its very large-at least 20″ across. REGULAR irrigation through the summer, let it dry between watering. Full sun with protection during the hottest parts of the day. The first winter in the ground cover it with a cardboard box if arctic air – sub 20ºF, threatens. Remove with a thaw. Excellent tilted into rock walls and with regular irrigation it will adhere to the small areas of soil. After blooming each rosette dies and is replaced by new pups, remove the spent rosettes with a quick brush of your hand, they will detach with a light tug. Very easy and hardy greenhouse plant. Protect containerized plants from prolonged temps below 20ºF. Limited quantities.
This is an interesting discovery in my garden. I bought this plant as part of a 6 pack of annual color years ago. This species is hardy in our climate but it usually comes back in a wimpy way. Enter this individual seedling that is extremely vigorous, cold hardy, and unlike the species it blooms continuously through the heat of summer. This Nemesia does not take a break in the mid summer heat. To just 6″ tall by 2′ wide this continuously blooming perennial has small snapdragon-like flowers in clusters that have a lower lip of white with a touch of yellow and upper petals that are gray and change to purple. Best in enriched soil with regular water in summer. It begins blooming straight away in May and continues until frost. Loved by hummingbirds and pollinators. It makes a great perennial container plant that is so prolific in bloom for such a long period you might think it was an annual. Loves rich soil and organic fertilizer. Cold hardy below 10ºF and disappears completely in cold winters, emerges in April. Excellent at the front of borders and trailing down rock walls. Easy and pretty perennial. Not bothered by rabbits. Native to high elevation South Africa. Mix with other smaller scale perennials such as Armeria or Diascia, Campanula ‘Dickson’s Gold’. Remove spent flowers to encourage more.
Xera Plants Introduction
Chilean Jessamine, this is a large growing sub shrub that blooms on new wood and produces clusters of small tubular yellow flowers that pump out a heady perfume at night. Large mid green leaves line sturdy stems. Freezes to the ground in winter in the mid-teens or lower. Roars alive with warm weather and can become a shrub 5′ x 5′ even if cut to the round in one season. The flowers at terminal ends of the shoots close during the day and yawn open at night. Its a good light yellow and is a great companion for other bold plants. such as Aralia californica and cannas. Excllent in very large containers. Rich soil with regular irrigation speeds growth and bloom. Begins growing when temperatures remain in the 70’s for highs, be patient. The fragrance is fruity in a citrus kind of way and doesn’t appear until nightfall. Not bothered by deer or rabbits. Excellent plant for the back of a border. Mulch for the first winter. Chile/Argentina.
Another selection of Epilobium (Zauschaneria) that our friend Mark Wade made in SW Oregon. This is a lovely low growing form with smaller but profuse vivid lighter orange flowers and this selection supports pink stamens and pollen as well. To less than 6″ tall but spreading to an area of several square feet in a season. ‘Horse Sign’ bears sheets of these tubular flowers for several months beginning in August. Loved by hummingbirds it forms a vivid orange carpet of color. Enriched soil with a bit of all organic fertilizer will send this hardy perennial soaring. Water regularly for the first season, letting the soil dry in between. In subsequent years you can water much less if at all. Full sun to very light shade. Ideal for a slope and along rock walls at eye level. Very showy late season native perennial. Completely deciduous in winter with excellent hardiness to cold. This roaming perennial can inhabit and spill around other perennials, shrubs. Low and spreading, avoid large perennials nearby that could flop on top. Long lived and easy to grow excellent for late season pollinators and vivid color. Mix with other low growing, sun loving perennials such as Scuttelaria, Orginanum ‘Xera Cascade’ and Erodium ‘Spanish Eyes’. Mulch with compost the first winter, this will help energize it to roar out of the ground in mid spring. Foliage is smaller and green but with a silver cast. Very good looking native perennial. Oregon native plant
Xera Plants Introduction
Pearly everlasting is a widespread North American perennial that is common in our area at slightly higher elevations but it is found in every biome. A vigorous spreading perennial in the daisy (Aster) family with thin olive green leaves with a silver underside. On average to 2′ tall. In richer conditions and following disturbance it can become prolific and overwhelm clear cuts and fire scars until it is out competed and shaded out. The bright white phyllaries appear as pure straw petal -like flowers that gives its common name. Once the golden center of the flowers goes over it emits an incredible amount of fluffy seed. So prolific it can coat nearby trees and shrubs with downy seeds. It makes a very useful native perennial that can be used to out compete invasive non native weeds. Very easy to grow. Water regularly after planting let the soil dry between summer irrigation. Water until established, then tolerant of summer drought in subsequent years. Full sun to very light shade. A great perennial for bioswales. and rain garden. It can have a brief lifespan- 3 -5 years, but copious seed constantly regenerates this plant. Loved by native bees and bumbles. Combine with other vigorous natives such as Douglas aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) and our native Golden rod (Solidago c. elongata) to keep everyone in check and provide a summer long display of pollinator flowers. Blooms, depending on elevation from May in the lowlands to mid summer in alpine areas. Cut back hard in winter to emerging leaves. 1′ to 5′ wide per plant. Do not enrich or amend the soil, water, water to establish in virtually any soil that is not boggy. Drought adapted when established. Deer and rabbit resistant. Dislikes nursery pot culture, often looks poor in containers. Easy in the ground where its roots can spread. Oregon native plant.
We love cold hardy plants in the Protea family, not only do they have exotic flowers, they can sport foliage that is just as interesting , Hakea nodosa is another shrubby Hakea that is known as yellow Hakea. Multiple fine stems emerge from the ground and are staunchly vertical. They have few side branches and each stem is clad in slightly swollen blue phyllodes, these are not prickly and are about 1 cm long. In spring, very small yellow flowers crowd the leaf axils on older wood.- not conspicuous but hummingbirds find them. An upright small shrub to about 6′ tall and 2′ wide. Pollinated flowers produce large seed pods that can cause the stems to nod, not sure if this is what the specific name refers to. Moderately fast growing in native, un-amended soil that drains, including clay soils that dry in summer. Water to establish then extremely tolerant of drought. A wonderful textural evergreen that we love at Xera. An excellent companion to Grevilleas, Ceanothus, Halimium, Arctostaphylos.. Fulll sun to very very light shade. This form has been cold hardy below 10ºF in western Oregon with a probable lowest temperature around 5ºF. Native to areas of South Australia into Tasmania. Ours are grown from high elevation, cold hardy seed from Tasmania. Lovely soft, rare shrub . Pronounced HAY- kee -uh. But with an Australian accent. Well adapted to the Oregon coast and can be cultivated on sand. Deer resistant, but protect newly installed plants from rabbits. Very easy to grow, a natural with ornamental grasses and large hardy succulents, Cactus, Agaves. Not prickly but rather soft.
We selected this Abutilon from a seed batch eons ago and it still holds up as one of the best. Upright growing sub-shrub to 6′ tall in a season. Profuse bloomer produing ginger / parchment colored pendant flowers from a contrasting russet/ beige calyx. This incredibly unique flower color mixes with a huge range of hues. It can even hold its place with bright red flowers. Everblooming, rich soil, and regular water with several handfuls of organic fertilizer scratched around the base of the plant- 2, 3 times per growing season. Surprisingly cold hardy its spring appearance would not lead you to believe that. In a normal winterF – above 15º, it will likely freeze back by 2/3rd below that it will die to the ground. Spring recovery is a combination of all organic ferilzer and water and warmth. Seemingly from dead sticks life will emerge and if you are consistent with water recovery and bloom is fast , usually in bloom by June and continuing until frost. Excellent container plant and it may act as a seasonal plant that way. Loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. A wonderful, blendable, sophisticated flower color. Mulch for its first winter to protect the base. Full sun to part shade. Naturally fine branching with large arrow-shaped mid green leaves. Protected location. 3′ x 4′ in a season.
Xera Plants Introduction
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