'Roger's Red' and other 'new' plants

I finally made it over to the Payne Foundation for some bread and butter / meat and potatoes types of native plants.  Plant prices haven't stood still at any nursery I've been to recently, so I was happy to get the 15% members discount.

I picked up Vitis 'Roger's Red' ($8.00 in 1 gal).  I had previously purchased what I thought was one of these in a 4" pot at the local Ca. native plant sale, and I spoke to the grower at that time but I think he said something odd: That he'd grown the plant from seed.  Vitis 'Roger's Red' is an F1 hybrid of Vitis Califonica and Vitis vinifera.  F1 hybrids don't usually grow true from seed, instead assuming characteristics of one or the other of their parents, so they are usually grown from cuttings.  As I looked into it further, I decided that I didn't want to take a chance on the seed-grown specimen not being true to expectations so I purchased a "second" 'Roger's Red' and planted it last weekend.

I purchased three Iris 'Canyon Snow' ($10 in 1 gal.) and probably need two more to create the start of a drift of Iris that will begin to replace the Agapanthus near the driveway.  This area is visible from the street and I'm trying to plant it with natives that have good public appeal.  'Canyon Snow' is a hybrid and San Marcos Growers has this to say about it, "Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris that was introduced into the nursery trade by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. It was hybridized by the late Dara Emery, who in 1979 received the prestigious Mitchell Award from the American Iris Society for this beautiful hybrid Iris. In spring emerge the large flowers, which are white with bright yellow central markings on each petal. Iris 'Canyon Snow' is also noted for its vigor and bright glossy green foliage. As with other Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris, plant in a light acidic soil in full sun (coastal only), light shade, morning or late afternoon shade and water sparingly in coastal areas and more regularly inland."

Arctostaphylos 'Lester Rowntree'.  ($10 in 1 gal) This is for my hillside planting.  Tree of Life Nursery writes, "Lester Rowntree Manzanita was originally collected and named for the enthusiastic California plantswoman of the 1950’s and was introduced by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in 1982. It is thought to be a hybrid between two central coast species, Arctostaphylos obispoensis and Arctostaphylos pararoensis."  I've started reading Hardy Californians, by Lester Rowntree, and it's been an interesting read so far.  She definitely marched to the beat of her own drum.

Ceanothus 'Frosty Blue'.  ($8 in 1 gal) Another per plan for the hillside planting, which is detailed in another blog post.

Fremontodendron 'California Glory'.  ($14 in 1 gal) California Flora Nursery writes, "One of the Golden State's numerous native shrubs is the Flannel Bush, an inelegantly named shrub notable for at least three reasons: 1) strong yellow flowers; 2) lengthy bloom season; 3) horribly irritating hairs. The first two reasons sufficiently outweigh its drawback, supposing that gardeners plant it in the right location --ideally, where it is seen but not handled. Your neighbor's garden, for example." This was my  third purchase of the day for the hillside planting, and it's almost going in the neighbor's yard.

 "The generic name Fremontodendron dates from 1893. Before then, the genus was called Fremontia (1851), because it had been discovered in 1846 by John Charles Frémont (1813 - 1890), a celebrated soldier, general, politician, explorer and natural historian. Alas, Fremontia the name, however, had already been used in 1843, and so Fremontodendron (Fremont's tree) had to be substituted to be legal." - http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Feb10.html

Chlorogalum pomeridianum (soap plant) and Calochortus venustus (Butterfly Mariposa Lily).

I also purchased some really superior plant tags the kind that are soft metal that you write on with a ball point pen, using the pen to indent your script rather than for its ink.