by Melody Kendall

The UC Master Gardeners of Napa County in partnership with the City of Napa Parks and Recreation Department continue to develop a botanical teaching garden at the Las Flores Community Center property in Napa. Currently, four gardens at the Las Flores Learning Garden are complete. The California Native and Pollinator Gardens, added in June 2022, are under construction.

 Why plant California Natives in your landscape?  The reasons are many:

• To encourage native insect populations that are on the decline.  We need these native insects to perform duties such as pollination, decomposing plant materials and supporting the food chain.  Studies have generally shown that these native insects are probably attracted to native plants because they have evolved together.  When native insect populations stay in an area they multiply and continue to benefit the overall welfare of the garden and environment. 
• Native plants provide habitats.  Birds, butterflies and other pollinators need places to live and raise their young. Native plants provide compatible places for them. 
• Conserving water. Most, but not all, native plants are, once established, drought-tolerant and/or have very low water requirements. With the current drought here in California native plants become more relevant in considering all aspects of landscape management.
• Fewer pest problems.  For the most part, native plants have fewer pest problems than nonnatives, and can be stronger and healthier because of their evolved adaptation to our climate.

Selecting plants for your garden can be like selecting wallpaper – overwhelming.  Look around your neighborhood and find natives that are growing well in your area. Further research can provide a wonderful selection of California native trees, shrubs, smaller perennials and annuals, vines and groundcovers.  So, though you are not really limited in the plant selection when creating a native plant landscape design, you still have a lot of information to wade through. Here are some information sources to help narrow the search:

• The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) has a wonderful tool to help you in your search.  See CNPS plant search tool  With this tool you can narrow down your options. You can even type in your address to get a list of suggested plants for your exact area. 

• The UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab has a list of best bee plants for California See best bee plants for California

• The UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County have created a list of native plants that attract pest-eating insects 

In our LFLG California Native Garden we have twenty-five plants on display. Because this garden was installed in June, the plants are small. So far, each plant is settling in well and some have even flourished in that short time. See the LFLG Calif. Native Plant list See the LFLG Calif. Native Plant list 

In a future post we will look at the Las Flores Learning Garden Pollinator Garden and the benefits of creating one of your own.

Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Joan Harris