Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies: Southern California

By George Oxford Miller

Plan Your Landscape or Garden to Help Beloved Backyard Visitors

The presence of birds, bees, and butterflies suggests a healthy, earth-friendly place. These most welcome guests also bring joy to those who appreciate watching them. Now, you can turn your yard into a perfect habitat that attracts them and, more importantly, helps them thrive. Professional nature photographer and botanist George Oxford Miller provides all the information you need in this must-have guide for Southern California. Learn how to landscape and create pollinator gardens with native plants.

The book begins with an in-depth introduction to native pollinators and to birds. It’s followed by a “field guide” section to more than 100 native plants that are widely available to utilize, are easy to care for, and provide great benefit to birds, bees, and butterflies. The species are organized by level of sunlight needed and then by plant types. Each species includes full-color photographs and information about hardiness zones, what they are most likely to attract, soil requirements, light levels, and George’s notes. As an added bonus, you’ll make use of blooming charts, tips on attracting specific species, and more! Plus, the invaluable garden plans and projects show you just what to do and can be customized to suit your own specific interests.

Plan, plant, and grow your beautiful garden, with native plants that benefit your favorite creatures to watch and enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adventure Publications
• Release date: Mar 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781647551919

Book preview

DEDICATION

Dedicated to my wife Carole Price who has enriched my life through the decades with her constant encouragement and loving companionship.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is but one additional step built on the decades-long efforts of numerous individuals and organizations who champion landscaping with native plants to remediate the environmental damage caused by human development.

O Friend!

In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love.

—Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Baha’i Faith

Cover and book design by Jonathan Norberg

Edited by Brett Ortler and Ritchey Halphen

Proofread by Emily Beaumont

Photo Credits:

All cover photos by George Oxford Miller unless otherwise noted.

(Front cover) birdhouse: Suzanne Tucker/shutterstock.com; Calliope Hummingbird: Richard Seeley/shutterstock.com; Two-Tailed Swallowtail: AZ Outdoor Photography/shutterstock.com; Yarrow: Anna Gratys/shutterstock.com; Scarlet Bugler Penstemon: Mr. Meijer/shutterstock.com

(Back cover) bumble bee: irin-k/shutterstock.com; Sidalcea malviflora: moranat, this image is licensed under the CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication license, which is available at https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Interior photos by George Oxford Miller except as noted at end of book. All photos copyright of their respective photographers.

Carol Price: 280

These images are licensed under the CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication license, which is available at https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ or licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0, which is available at https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/: ALAN SCHMIERER: 79, 121, 131, 211; Alex: 270 (California dogface butterfly), 270 (California Sister butterfly); Alex Heyman: 209; Elizabeth Praetz: 143; Jesse Rorabaugh: 270 (Echo Azure larva); Marcus Tamura: 272 (Edith’s Checkerspot larva); moranat: 191; NPS/Robb Hannawacker: 199, 271 (Checkered White larva); stickpen: 221

These images are licensed under the Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license, which is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/: B Smith: 270 (Gray Hairstreak larva), no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/twiztedminds/50355917511/; chuck b.: 87, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/82479320@N00/7315542048/; Clive Bagshaw: 229, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/20456595@N04/15264285120/; JKehoe_Photos: 125, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnjkehoe_photography/12258968084/; Ken Bosma: 69, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/kretyen/2544288909/; K M: 228, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/131880272@N06/50314638076/; NatureShutterbug: 245, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/deinandra/3457457413/; Peter Stevens: 239, no modifications, original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nordique/5921241888/; Steve Jurvetson: 21 (moth #6), no modifications, original image at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyrrharctia_isabella.jpg

These images are licensed under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, which is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/: Ben Keen: 272 (Tiger Moth), no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/133253179; Casey H. Richart: 101, no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/127528533; Craig Hensley: 272 (Sleepy Orange larva), no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/70917602; Daniel: 103, no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/135886244, 175, no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/123948872, 249, no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/122896685; Ken-ichi Ueda: 270 (California Sister larva), no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/22178281; Matt D’Agrosa: 272 (Chalcedon Checkerspot larva), no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/30738866; Sula Vanderplank: 97, no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/42917741, 141, no modifications, original image at https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/37678421

Images used under license from shutterstock.com.

Akash Lanjekar: 270 (Queen larva); Amanda Wayne: 201; Autumn Sky Photography: 220; avkost: 109; Bankiras: 234; Barbara Sullivan: 115; Christine Stafford: 271) Two-tailed Swallowtail larva); creativeneko: 213; DailyGarden: 123; Danita Delimont: 47, 159; Danny Hummel: 172; Debra Bernal: 272 (Chalcedon Checkerspot butterfly); delobol: 108; Dmitry Fch: 270 (Painted Lady larva); Dominic Gentilcore PhD: 225, 270 (Juniper Hairstreak larva); EASYWAY: 212; Elvira Werkman: 93; goran cakmazovic: 15, moth syndrome; guraydere: 261; Gurcharan Singh: 140; inimma: 255; irin-k: 264 inset; Jack N. Mohr: 152; Jacob Hamblin: 271 (Western Tiger Swallowtail larva); James Lesser: 99; Jared Quentin: 50; Jayne Gulbrand: 181; Jennifer Bosvert: 151; Jeffrey B. Banke: 20, Western Tiger Swallowtail inset; J Gillispie: 45; Jiujiuer: 256; Judy M Darby: 271 (Common Buckeye larva); Karpova Natalia: 251; Katie Flenker: 260; K E Magoon: 173; kzww: 19, bumble bee inset; Laurens Hoddenbagh: 202; lenic: 92; Lisa Parsons: 104; Lloyd Carr: 10; Lu Lovelock: 205; Marvin Lo: 153; Marygdobson: 174; Massimiliano Paolino: 271 (Mourning Cloak larva); melissamn: 122; Michael G McKinne: 271 (Variegated Fritillary butterfly); Naaman Abreu: 84; Nahhana: 80; Nancy Bauer: 241; Natalie C Bell: 85; NowhereLand Photography: 61; OlenaSA: 163; OlgaOtto: 150; OpsimathPhotography: 135; Patrick Alexander: 257; Patrick Poendl: 48; photosgenius: 139; Pieter Bruin: 145, 266 inset; Praphaporn Anontachai: 179; Robert Lessmann: 235; Sari ONeal: 271 (Variegated Fritillary larva), 272 (Five-spotted Hawkmoth butterfly); sc_images: 76; Sean Xu: 231; ShutterstockProfessional: 133; steve estvanik: 52; Steve JM Hamilton: 110; Sundry Photography: 62, 64, 75, 77, 78, 87, 90, 100, 106, 107, 147, 154, 155, 161, 165, 168, 183, 186, 187, 189, 203, 210, 236, 237, 250, 272 (Edith’s Checkerspot butterfly); SunflowerMomma: 224; Thani Normai: 178; tntphototravis: 53; Tom Grundy: 41; Tom Meaker: 157; vebboy: 98; Vladimir Staykov: 59; William Cadena: 208; yhelfman: 169, 197; yuliya ivanenko: 214

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies: Southern California

Copyright © 2022 by George Oxford Miller

Published by Adventure Publications

An imprint of AdventureKEEN

310 Garfield Street South

Cambridge, Minnesota 55008

[phone]

www.adventurepublications.net

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-1-64755-190-2 (pbk.); ISBN 978-1-64755-191-9 (ebook)

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Photo Credits

Introduction

Why Plant a Pollinator Garden?

Gardening in the California Floristic Province

Plant Communities of Southern California

Before You Plant: Create a Master Plan

Soil: Minerals, Nutrients & Air

Precious Water, Poor Soils

Gardening from the Ground Up

Weed or Wildflower?

ABCs for a Pollinator Habitat Garden

Selecting Plants

Planting Using Plant Syndromes

The Basics of Plant Anatomy

Flowers

Flower Clusters

Leaves

The Desert Palette

Urban Wildlife

Embracing Our Biological Heritage

Meet the Pollinators

Bees

Butterflies

Moths

Flies

Beetles

Birds

Native Plant Conservation

How to Use This Book

Southern California Plants at a Glance

Southern California Native Plants

Desert Accents

Trees

Shrubs

Wildflowers

Vines & Grasses

Garden Plants for Butterflies

Garden Plants for Bees

Container Gardening for Pollinators

Bird Food & Nesting Plants

Hummingbird Plants

Larval Host List (By Butterfly/Moth Species)

Retail Sources of Southern California Native Seeds & Plants

California Native Plant Society

Botanical Gardens & Arboretums

About the Author

Introduction

In 2008, when I published my book about landscaping with native plants of Southern California, climate change, reoccurring mega-wildfires, the 1,000-year drought engulfing the West, and the global insect apocalypse were possible regional concerns but largely ignored in the press, politics, and the national and global conversations. Now old voices and new paradigms are coming to the forefront. In Southern California, a century of efforts by advocates for native plant landscaping, starting in 1915 with Theodore Payne’s first demonstration garden in Los Angeles, have exhibited the intrinsic beauty, landscape adaptability, and low-maintenance values of native species over thirsty exotics from a water standpoint. Native plant landscaping has emerged as a cornerstone issue for public water policy, budgets, and lifestyles—and now, more than ever, of conscience.

The first two decades of the 21st century have witnessed an alarming increase in environmental destruction caused by urban sprawl, industrial expansion, global-scale pollution, and planet-wide climate change. In California, population densities along the South Coast top 22,000 people per square mile, and wildfires have destroyed millions of acres of native habitat. Pollinators around the world have been hit particularly hard, with some regions losing up to 80% of their insect numbers and diversity. From farmlands to virgin rainforests, the broken food chain has decreased bird numbers by up to 50% and California Monarch Butterflies in the coastal overwintering groves by 99%. Now, a major emphasis in native plant landscaping is to mitigate the habitat lost due to human activity. A pollinator garden that restores native habitat will help repair our local environment one yard at a time.

Why Plant a Pollinator Garden?

The complex relationships in nature can fill us with a deep sense of mystery and awe. You can look into the starry night sky and either feel insignificant in the scope of the universe or thrill at being a part of the vast majestic cosmos. You can get the same feeling in your backyard when you see a butterfly or bee dancing from flower to flower, sipping nectar and gathering pollen. When you watch a butterfly perched on a flower you get a glimpse into an evolutionary pathway that stretches back unbroken for 150 million years.

From our backyards to the tropical rainforests, the intricate web that sustains life on the planet depends on native pollinators. Globally, insects pollinate nearly 80% of all flowering plants. Closer to home, pollinators fertilize one-third of all human food crops—the fruit, vegetables, and nuts we eat (grains are wind pollinated). In our backyard gardens, tomatoes, squash, peppers, fruit trees, and flowers all depend on pollinators.

Yet, across the planet, the population of all insects is plummeting radically year by year. One overriding reason is that human activities have significantly altered 75% of the planet’s landmass. Of the natural area in the continental United States, 40% has been altered, including 75% of the original vegetation in the California Floristic Province. With the South Coast’s burgeoning population—its growth rate among the highest in the state—pristine plant and animal communities that have evolved together since the last ice age have been replaced by sprawling cities, suburbs, industrialized farms, and energy development.

A significant portion of the natural habitat sacrificed for urban expansion is replaced by homes, businesses, and public medians and roadsides that are landscaped with gravel and exotic ornamentals originally from other parts of the world. For native pollinators, such landscapes offer about as much sustenance as an asphalt parking lot. The simple fact is that native pollinators need native plants to survive.

What good will a small backyard garden do to help sustain local pollinator populations? You will be pleasantly surprised! Wildlife in California’s coastal sage scrub, chaparral, valley grasslands, deserts, and mountains lives in what ecologists call a patchy environment. Butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators forage over large areas, depending on their mobility, to find often-ephemeral patches of food, water, shelter, and nesting sites. Spotty thunderstorms may stimulate a desert or foothills mass bloom that lasts only a week or so. Likewise, seasonal rains may trigger a temporary bloom of grassland wildflowers, while a perennially trickling spring may support a small, summer-long succession of blooms.

Credit: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for Southern California, 2012. Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture. Accessed from planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Many of the temporary oases that pollinators frequent on their daily foraging routes are no larger than the average backyard. But our yards can be more than a here-today, gone-tomorrow stopover. The greater gardening goal goes beyond planting a patch of pretty flowers, though that’s certainly commendable in itself. It encompasses the long-term development of a mini backyard refuge— a wildlife habitat that supplies the food, water, shelter, and nesting sites that butterflies, bees, and birds require to support a year-round sustainable population.

Gardens start with a dream and build into a passion. This book will help you create a pollinator garden encompassing a diversity of plants with a variety of sizes and shapes, and with plants that bloom nearly year-round. So, literally, grab your spade—plant it and they will come.

GARDENING IN THE CALIFORNIA FLORISTIC PROVINCE

Santa Barbara garden

Designing and maintaining a pollinator garden, or any type of garden, in Southern California requires considerations not required