SHRUBS AND VINES 
FOR 
CALIFORNIA GARDENS 
WILLIAM TYLER MILLER 
A Practical System of Choosing Kinds Best Adapted to Soil, Climatic, and 
Other Conditions of the Individual Householder’s Garden and Grounds 
Editor’s Note: The author of this article who will he remembered, by many old readers as the 
first editor of The Garden Magazine, is now a resident of California. The lists of plants pre- 
sented have been prepared with Mr. Miller’s customary careful attention to detail and as a close student and ob- 
server of plants and take cognisance of the most recent recommendations of the leading plantsmen of the section. 
WJJHIS article deals with the permanent planting materials 
|l|p3fp of the typical garden or yard in California — the shrubs 
Iratli an< ^ v * nes - Obviously, these should be located on the 
garden plan before filling in with temporary material. 
There is one previous question — the trees — but the average 
home has room for few of these and their varieties are too 
numerous to mention now. 
The beginner commonly chooses by jumping at what he likes, 
with little regard to practicality or suitability. Effort and 
time may be saved by considering each list in the order here 
given where the garden maker can find what will really grow 
on the shady side of his house, and what plants are adapted to 
his peculiar conditions of soil, climate, etc. Having reached 
a decision on these points he can consult with an easy mind the 
list of plants that bloom the year round, or nearly so. This is 
usually the only list which the beginner considers and the 
nurserymen commonly put it first. I have placed it toward 
the end, because practical questions must be solved before 
aesthetic ones. 
Personal observation has been fortified by free use of such 
authorities as Wickson, Gregg, Davy, Braunton, Gill, and 
Bailey. 
The aim of this article is to supply in the most convenient 
form all the information necessary to a choice of plant material. 
The lists serve as a storehouse of useful fact much of which can 
not be secured from catalogues. A set of abbreviations is used 
in order to simplify the lists and render them easily readable. 
ABBREVIATIONS USED 
Shrubs for Protected Sunny Situations (Tender) 
Coming from warmer countries these often require a sunny situation, 
moist (if possible), and protected from heavy frost, can stand about 
io degrees. 
Acacias (A. armata, cultriformis, longifolia). T. 
Natal Plum (Carissa grandiflora). B, F, T. 
Mexican Orange (Choisya ternata). E, F, T. 
Breath-of-Fleaven (Diosma ericoides). F, T. 
Grevillea Thelemanniana. Ruddy Pink. E, T. 
Shoe-black (Hibiscus Rosa -sinensis). Southern Cal. only, T. 
Oleander (Nerium Oleander). E, T. 
Evergreen Thorn (Pyracantha coccinea). B, T, W. 
Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum). E, F, T. 
Shrubs for Full Shade 
DECORATIVE FOLIAGE ONLY 
The great surprise in this group for the Easterner is the popularity 
of the Coprosma, used everywhere for hedges and foundation planting. 
The following plants do fairly well on north side of buildings, in bunga- 
low courts, or under Live-oaks: 
Coprosma (C. Baueri). Lvs. very shiny; fruit yellow, showy. 
Boxwood (Buxus, all kinds). Tree, hedge, and edgings. 
Aucuba (Many kinds). Red Berries. 
European Myrtle (Myrtus communis). Small lvs; fls. white, spicy; fr. 
black. 
FLOWERING SHRUBS 
Fuchsia (Many species). Crimson, purple. D. E. Half-shrub. 
Garden Hydrangea (H. opuloides). Blue, etc. D. E. Half-shrub. 
India Azaleas (A. indica). Many colors; early spring. 
Nandina (N. domestica). FIs. white; fr. red. 
Cascara (Rhamnus californica). Fls. greenish; fr. red, turning black. 
A — Extremely showy, often over- 
done to point of vulgarity. 
B — Both fls. and fr. attractive. 
D — Deciduous. 
E — Everblooming, free. 
F — Fragrant flowers. 
G — Ground cover, banks. 
H — Herb, herbaceous. 
W — Winter col 
L — Leaves, foliage plant. Flowers 
unimportant. 
N — Native to California. 
O — Open, light tracery. 
S — Full shade. 5S — Half Shade. 
T — Tender, but stands 10-12 de- 
grees frost when established. 
U — Unsightly objects, screen for. 
r, flowers or fruits. 
Shrubs that Blend with the Native Landscape 
Shrubs for Partial Shade 
If there is any danger of lack of water during the long, dry summer 
it is better to put the following in partial shade. Those in the full 
shade” list will generally do better in half shade. 
Camellia (C. japonica). White, pink, red, winter. Commonly treated as 
shrub. 2 S. W. 
Rock-spray (Cotoneaster horizontalis). Fls. pinkish whiteffr. scarlet. 5 S. 
Mediterranean Heath (Erica mediterranea). Fls. pink, winter. 2 S. 
Banana-shrub (Michelia fuscata). Fls. yellow, fragrant. E. 
Laurustinus (Viburnum Tinus lucidumj. Fls. pinkish white. 5 S. 
The following native shrubs are nearly all available in the form of 
nursery plants, as well as collected stock, and most of them can be 
grown from seed which is easily obtainable. All evergreen, except D. 
Others in more general cultivation are marked N, in previous lists. 
Button Sage; small with silvery foliage and lilac fls. Dry places. 
California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus), compact, glossy; fls. deep blue. 
Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus), white, free. 
Oso Berry (Osmaronia cerasiformus), D, Small white fls; fr. purple. 
Scarlet Honeysuckle (Pentstemon cordifolius), 6-8 ft, half-shrub, orange- 
scarlet. 
Pink-flowering Currant (Ribes glutinosum), deep pink. 
Mallow Currant (Ribes malvaceum), pale pink fls. midwinter or early 
spring. 
Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry (Ribes speciosum), cardinal red. 
California Rose (Rosa californica), fragrant, pink. Heavy soil, sun or 
shade. 
Shrubs that Bloom a Long Time 
Some of these are in flower the year around, with little intermission; 
some have several periods of bloom ; most of them can be counted on for 
winter flowers. 
Mexican Orange (Choisya ternata). E, F, T 
Grevillea Thelemanniana. E.T. 
Lantana Amiel. Red and yellow. E, W. 
Fuchsias. D, E, S, Half-shrub. 
Streptosolen Jamesonii. E. 
Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum). E, F, T. 
Mediterranean Heath (Erica mediterranea). E, 2 S. W. 
Plumbago (P. capensis). E. 
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). E, F. 
African Trumpet (Tecomaria capensis). E. 
Oleander (Nerium Oleander). E, T. 
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