A Summer Tour of the University of California Botanical Gardens - FineGardening

Abstract

One of the most diverse landscapes you'll ever visit, the University of California Botanical Gardens were originally established in 1890 in order to create a living collection of the native trees, shrubs, and plants of California. These collections boast gorgeously landscaped naturalistic plantings filled with over 10,000 types of horticulturally important plants, many of them rare or endangered, and all of them fascinating. The garden's living plant collections are not only invaluable resources for the scientific community but are wonderfully inspiring for us "Regular" gardeners too. South American native plants that are well-suited to Northern California gardens There were so many intriguing plants in the South American collection, but I narrowed my list of favorites down to these beauties. It's not just the plant that is giant; the flowers of red angel's trumpet are supersized as well. Lesser-known South American plants that are worth a try in NorCal These plants aren't as readily available in nurseries but are great options for adding continuous color to a NorCal garden-if you can find them for sale. For more on Northern California native plants, go here.