The flora of California includes a wealth of silver and gray-leaved plants to consider for our gardens. Matilija poppies, buckwheats, artemisias, and sages have been stalwarts of the waterwise garden for decades. Now two new cultivars of lesser knownnatives join the list, both members of the sunflower family, Catalina silver lace (Eriophyllum nevinii 'Canyon Silver') and branching beach aster (Lessingia ftlaginifolia 'Silver Carpet'). Both merit a place in the drier portion of any garden. Catalina silver-lace occurs on rocky coastal bluffs on Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara, and San Clemente islands. This rare island endemic is a four- to five-foot shrub with deeply lobed woolly leaves that give the plant its characteristic white color. In spring theflower stalks elongate, and by mid to late summer carry four- to eight-inch-wide flat-topped clusters of golden daisy-like flowers. As the flowers fade and form seed they become chocolate brown, contrasting richly with the luminous foliage. It is said not to tolerate frost.
展开▼
