I live in a neighborhood whose original houses were built 75 years ago.
Those homes are modest single-story bungalows on 6,500-square-foot lots. However, as is the case in many Los Angeles neighborhoods, such homes are slowly being removed. In their place, two-story homes are being built. From the second story, you look down into your neighbor’s backyard. A transformation of this sort occurred a few years ago on a property next to mine. The new neighbors had a house party, and from their second floor, although set back at some distance from our property line, I had a perfect view of my backyard. However, the new neighbors did plant a privacy hedge along the redwood fence between us.
Unfortunately, this hedge was planted just two feet from our fence and the plant chosen was Indian laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa), the most popular tall hedge, growing up to 40 feet or more, in Southern Califronia. While it has grown up quickly and now blocks my neighbor’s second-story view of my backyard, it will push against our fence soon enough, cracking it here and there.
When planted as a hedge or as a screen, Indian laurel fig should be at least 10 feet away from any fence or wall. Even if the wooden fence were not to crack under pressure of the Ficus limbs pushing against it, the aggressive roots of this plant would eventually crack the concrete footing of the fence posts. On the plus side, there is no worry about having to replace the fence — a redwood fence lasts around 15 years — since the Ficus hedge, once the existing fence collapses, will serve admirably as a living fence for the next 100 years. We are also lucky that it will not be allowed to grow more than 20 feet tall since that is the height of overhead electrical wires; the hedge must be regularly pruned by the utility company to maintain clearance. If it were allowed to grow unchecked, it would steal much of the day’s sun from my backyard garden.
Throughout our state, living fences consisting of California native plants are the best option for privacy hedges along property lines. They last for decades and, once established, seldom – if ever – need to be watered. As opposed to Ficus species and various other traditional hedge plants, whose green visage is the only gift they have to give, native plant hedges may produce colorful flowers, aromatic leaves, or edible fruit, and nearly all of them attract wildlife, especially native bees, butterflies, and birds.
At buckwheatbringsbutterflies.com, a website of the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, Dan Songster solicited the thoughts of a number of native plant mavens regarding privacy hedges. The most recommended species for this function was lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia). Although it can grow to a height of 10 feet, with an equal or greater girth, lemonade berry may be kept to half that size with occasional pruning. Some people have a dermatitic reaction to contact with lemonade berry sap – it is a relative of poison ivy and poison oak – so, to be safe, wear gloves while pruning it.
Lemonade berry has undulating, leathery sea-green foliage and dense clusters of pink and white flowers followed by acidic fruit. The fruit should not be eaten whole but can be masticated or sucked for its juice, after which its pulp should be discarded. Soaking the fruit in cold water also makes a tart and refreshing drink. In fact, all plant parts are edible and/or medicinal, as attested to by the many Native American tribes who relied on it for a variety of uses. The only caveat is to experiment with this plant in small quantities for its edible and curative properties, since some people experience allergic reactions to it. Because it can be pruned without harm to subsequent growth, lemonade berry is the leading California native when it comes to use as a formal hedge.
The second most recommended native hedge plant, based on the discussion referenced above, is birch-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides). It has mahogany colored bark and evergreen foliage shaped like birch leaves. Its growth habit is more erect and less spreading than that of lemonade berry. Its sweetly fragrant white to yellow flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and its foliage is spicily fragrant, too. Cercocarpus means “fruit with a tail” and refers to its distinctive fruit, a tubular achene with a long and curvaceous, feathery style (female flower part) attached. Mountain mahogany can grow to 30 feet, but may be kept shorter by pruning.
Toyon or Christmas berry (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is also extolled as a hedge due to its massive bloom of white flowers in spring and its red berries from now into winter. The problem here is susceptibility to diseases that result in its quick decline and death so that it is unlikely to live as long as other native hedges. Catalina cherry (Prunus ilicifolia lyonii) puts on a majestic display of white caterpillar blooms followed by dark red fruit. The fruit is edible, although not everyone finds it sweet and pulp is meager, as each fruit consists mostly of a large seed. The fruit is highly attractive to birds but stains concrete when it drops, so keep plants away from patios and sidewalks. Catalina cherry trees are self-sterile. This means you must plant at least two of them to get fruit.
Nevin’s barberry (Berberis/Mahonia nevinii) also receives high marks as a hedge plant, especially since it may serve as a security fence due to its prickly, impenetrable foliage. Nevin’s barberry grows 10 feet high and wide, blanketed with yellow flowers in the spring, followed by scads of bird-pleasing red fruit. Nevin’s barberry is endemic to Southern California and is endangered. Of the 21 remaining populations, nearly all have less than 20 individual plants, and some have less than five. By planting it as a hedge or even as a single specimen, you will be helping to ensure its future. This plant is extremely hard to find in the nursery trade but is available at Las Pilots Nursery (laspilitas.com). The nursery is located near San Luis Obispo but makes deliveries to Southern California.
Speaking of yellow flowers, you will also want to consider island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), a moderately endangered species. It grows up to 20 feet tall and wide but may be kept to a lower height through pruning. It has soft blue-green to blue-gray foliage, depending on the light, and luminous yellow flowers.
California native of the Week: When it comes to fragrant flowers on a native hedge, one plant stands out: wild mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii). With white blooms two inches across, it can grow up to 10 feet tall and is suitable as a hedge with the caveat that it is deciduous, so it will experience leaflessness during the winter. Flowers appear in clusters, covering the plant, and their fragrance has been compared to orange blossoms with a hint of pineapple. You will need to keep the soil somewhat moist. You can also grow it as a single specimen, of course, as its fountainesque growth habit, planted on its own, is an appealing ornamental feature.
If you have a native plant to recommend for a hedge, let us know about it. Send its description to Joshua@perfectplants.com. Your gardening conundrums and successes, as well as questions and comments, are always welcome.
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