I recently wrote about pomegranate trees and the fact that although they can survive without irrigation, they will benefit from two or three soakings per month during the summer. In response to this assertion, I received the following email from Kathy Stewart. “You are 100 percent incorrect about watering pomegranate trees,” she wrote. “Particularly in Costa Mesa (in Orange County). I live 1.5 miles from the ocean in Costa Mesa and have three pomegranate trees producing about 50 to 70 fruit per year. They are 12 feet tall, 12 feet wide and have been in the ground about 20 years. I watered them the first few years but almost never since.” Stewart’s success growing pomegranates with virtually no water is an illustration of how those who garden in a coastal environment have a significantly different horticultural experience from those of us who garden inland, where the moderating influence of coastal proximity is less pronounced or, depending how far we are from the coast, absent altogether.
When it comes to growing deciduous fruit trees in general, however, an inland environment is more advantageous than a coastal one. The reason for this is that colder winter temperatures expand the number of deciduous fruit tree varieties as opposed to those suitable for coastal growing. The reason for this is that most deciduous fruit trees will need more hours of winter chill (hours between 32 and 45 degrees) to flower and fruit than what a coastal climate has to offer. Even though Southern California is far less hospitable to the success of deciduous fruit trees than Northern California due to our warmer winters, a Southern California inland environment still offers more winter chill than you find along the coast.
There is an irony here since the primary limiting factor, geographically speaking, to plant growth is winter cold. When it comes to ornamental plants and tropical fruit trees, we are forever wondering how far north we can plant them with assurance that they will not be damaged by a frost. Yet when it comes to deciduous fruit trees, the concern is the opposite: Will the environment provide enough winter chill to promote flowering and the fruit production that follows in its wake?
Stewart is growing the Wonderful pomegranate variety, highly popular due to its vivid orange flowers and sizeable crops. She is also experimenting with Parfianka, a cold-tolerant Russian variety. Four Winds Growers, a legacy nursery in Northern California, notes that Parfianka is its “best selling pomegranate tree” and that it “always receives the highest praise for overall flavor.” A bonus of growing Parfianka is its height which is no more than 6 to 10 feet at maturity. You can order this and other seldom seen fruit tree varieties through the nursery’s website at fourwindsgrowers.com.
Stewart’s pomegranates testify to the importance of nurture versus nature in creating optimal conditions for growth. Pomegranates are indigenous to the Middle East, a climate that is known for extended periods, if not years, of drought. I have seen pomegranate trees growing wild in Israel and their fruit is not nearly as impressive as those seen in nearby, scrupulously cultivated orchards. Stewart says the climate of Costa Mesa is characterized by a layer of moisture laden fog and summer temperatures that rarely exceed 77 degrees. This climate is a far cry from the pomegranate’s natural habitat, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees. But pomegranates grow much better in a coastal climate that is the opposite of the climate they call call home. It reminds me of an experienced grower of California natives who told me that although these plants do not require much water, if any, and never need to be fertilized, he has found that some of them, at least, respond positively to regular water and fertilizer and will flower more and show off lusher foliage with benefiting from these inputs.
Winter bloomers
Many plants that grow best here, whose habitat includes a Mediterrranean climate — wet in the winter and dry during long hot summers — wait until winter to flower. It’s the only safe season to do so since, at any other time, withering heat could quickly cause flowers of these dry climate plants to fade and prevent seed development. Thus, certain Mediterranean climate plants that you may have forgotten about for months suddenly burst into bloom in January and February —especially succulents.
Common jade plant (Crassula argentea), native to South Africa, is one of the most pleasant surprises of the winter garden. At this time of year, it is completely covered in pinkish white flowers, despite requiring minimal water throughout the year. Jade makes an excellent hedge, growing up to eight feet tall but generally kept under four feet since it tends to lose its bushiness above this height. Jade plant is easy to propagate as even stout branches, two inches or more in diameter, may be detached and stuck in pots or fast draining soil where they will push out roots in due course.
My appreciation for fairy crassula (Crassula multicava), a succulent ground cover, grows from year to year. This is a plant for full sun to somewhat shaded, as well as north facing, locations. It requires a pittance of water in the sun, although it will burn there in very hot weather, virtually no water in the shade, and grows well under every type of tree. One of the advantages of growing fairy crassula is the ease of propagating it. You merely break off stems and stick them in the ground. It bears copious pinkish flower sparklers this time of year, roots wherever its stems bend and touch the ground, and also drops seeds that quickly germinate in place. However, it is not invasive at all and is quickly deracinated with a gentle tug.
Many aloes are presently blooming with their characteristic clusters of tubular salmon orange blooms. At the NOHO (North Hollywood) mall on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, extensive plantings of an elfish aloe are currently in bloom.
California native of the week: Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica) puts on an ostentatious display of flowers that is second to none among California natives. As many as twenty white blooms cluster themselves on stem terminals. It’s a free form shrub that grows to around 10 feet. Its large white flowers appear as if hybridized from a camellia and a wind flower (Anemone spp.). It should be grown in full sun and, once mature, may be watered sparingly and will survive temperatures of 15 degrees. While it grows in full sun along the coast, it must be protected from afternoon sun when planted inland. Bloom time is late spring to early summer although some flowers may appear as late as the fall season. Bush anemone grows to 10 feet tall although the Elizabeth variety has a more compact form, reaching a height of four to six feet at maturity. Now is a good time to plant natives of all kinds so that they can benefit from winter rain and send out water-seeking roots before warm weather arrives in the spring.
Do you have a plant flowering now that more people should know about? If so, send your experience with it to joshua@perfectplants.com. Your questions, comments, gardening conundrums and successes are always welcome.