Z

Zantedeschia aethiopica    CALLA LILY    blue house    with cactus and stairs    old fence    purple    I like purple!    a clumping winter evergreen perennial (unless cut back by frost), dormant and deciduous in summer, easily recognized by its large, dramatic, rather tropical looking arrow-shaped dark green leaves to 3' and giant funnel form white flowers on stalks to 4'. Full sun to mostly shade. Tolerates a complete lack of summer watering, going dormant and reappearing with winter rains but thrives under conditions of ample availability of water. Does best in soils that retain good moisture in winter. Invasive in wet, boggy habitats and naturalized in many places in coastal Central California. It seems to do very well under cool summer conditions. Blooms initiate with short days. A dramatic, first class and expensive cut flower! Hardy to around 15-20°F. South Africa. Araceae. rev 3/2004

'White Giant'   garden    closeup   'gi-normous' fits this plant, with flower stalks up to 6' or more, and large, white-spotted green leaves to 4' making for a robust presence in the garden. Our collector strain features better-than-normal white markings on the leaves. This is a short day, cool weather species (unlike the long day flowering, colored hybrids), emerging in fall, blooming in winter, and going dormant with late spring heat and drought. Summer watering will keep it evergreen. Likes average soils and regular watering but will tolerate poor drainage and boggy, constantly wet conditions.Sun or part shade near the coast, more shade inland. Protect from severe cold. Sunset zones 5-9, 12-24/USDA 7. rev 2/2011

Zauschneria   CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA   being related to, and also now often classified as Epilobium. We retain this prior designation in homage to the humble, hardworking and hopelessly happy hummingbird, which is the pollinator for this Zauschneria-group, as opposed to the bees that work the Fireweed/Epilobium-group. These plants grow as low (a few inches) to upright, loose to compact, trailing to very (30"), winter deciduous perennials, spreading by underground runners, often quickly. They bear extremely showy terminal sprays of tubular, brilliant red flowers to 1 1/2" long starting in early to late summer, depending on the specific genetics, often becoming wildly colorful on impossibly dry, hot, exposed, rock or scree slopes and roadcuts. The best forms have strikingly silver, grey or almost white foliage. You would think this would be the archetypal California perennial, intolerant of much cold or summer watering. But my beloved Aunt Pat once dug up her fine, mail-ordered plant completely out of her inland Westport, Connecticut garden because it was doing so well it threatened to take over. Didn't mind the Zone 5 or 6 winters, didn't mind the stiflingly hot and humid summers, just didn't care. Another example that shows you have to kill a plant, several times, to be sure it won't grow well where you are. All these varieties below will do well in containers with a bit of well-timed cutting back. Sun to part shade, little or no summer watering when established. All species are tetraploid except for Z. septentrionalis, which is diploid. Onagraceae. USDA zone 6? Lower? rev 10/2019
'Calistoga'   (Z. canum)   compact grey green foliage and red orange flowers summer through fall. Low, spreading, about 15" tall by 30" across. rev 3/2021

‘Cloverdale’ (Z. canum ssp. canum)   on California St.     selected by Ray Collett in the 1970's from a rock slide at Squaw Rock, a.k.a. Frog Woman Rock, along the Russian River in the hills of Sonoma County. This outstanding selection forms a dense, compact mat of wide, soft, felty grey green leaves, growing to 8" tall by 3’ wide. It covers itself clusters of tubular, brilliant red to red orange flowers to 2" long in summer and early fall. One of the most formal looking varieties and a heavy bloomer it usually doesn't survive long without at least average drainage. Along with its sister selection 'Select Matthole' it really shines on banks, sloped sites or raised planting areas with good drainage and dry mineral soils. UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. rev 10/2019

'Coral Canyon'   silvery grey mature foliage topped by spikes of coral orange flowers in summer and fall. A find by Nathan Limprecht of Cistus Nursery, who spotted this variant seedling growing in a canyon of the American River in the Sierra foothills. To about 12-16" tall by about that much across, spreading variably with time. Full/half sun, little to no summer watering required (especially with more shade) but if my Aunt Pat's experience can be used as a guide this might just take the climate and summer growing conditions of Westport, Connecticut just fine, like others. USDA zone 7(6?). rev 10/2021

'El Tigre'  (Z. canum)  inflated flower tubes    alien shape     a couple more      this is an interesting selection, very different from the others by its very narrow, almost needle-like leaves, arching branches, dense, compact growth habit and inflated flower tubes. This started showing color late this year (August, 2018), we'll need more experience to say if that's usual. The alien form, almost hair-like leaves and unusually shaped, intensely coloerd flowers make a captivating presentation. rev 8/2018 

'Everett's Choice' (Z. californica)  flower spikes    grey-green foliage, tall, open spikes of bright red flowers. To 1' tall by 3' across. rev 2/2016

'Hurricane Point' (Z. canum ssp. canum)  flowers and leaves   competing with Rumex on a recent burn site   mature leaves, no irrigation    originally brought in from the wild by the late Ray Collette of the UCSC Arboretum, along with his outstanding 'Cloverdale' and 'Select Matthole' and the rarely-seen 'San Andreas.' This Big Sur form grows extremely low to the ground (almost always under 4" tall) with very narrow, grey-green to grey-white leaves and shows a strongly stoloniferous habit. You can see it successfully competing with creeping dock (Rumex sp.) in a couple of the images above. This could probably be successfully worked into a large-scale planting of a more stem-durable, semi-walk-on groundcover, like Dymondia or Zoysia tenuifolia. We recovered our line from a plant we recently discovered surviving in a 30-year-old abandoned landscape planting. It is the cleanest source we know of, being untouched by virus/viroid-infected cutting-instruments since planting. And you know it's very, very tough, having survived since planting on zero irrigation whatsoever, ever. rev 6/2018

'Marin Pink'  (Z. canum) (not currently in production) wonderful light pink flowers   spreader!!    fast, horizontal, spreading growth with flat, grey green, fuzzy leaves and light salmon pink flowers that flare at the mouth. To 12-18" tall by 2-3' across, slightly higher and much broader with age if unrestrained. rev 8/2018

'Schieffelin's Choice'  reddest red   this is one of our favorite varieties, growing as a low, tightly arching mound of silver grey foliage. Typical spectacular red orange flowers in more condensed clusters than most. To only 8-12" tall and 2-3' wide, it's a real attention-getter, spilling over pots, or walls, or covering the ground. Sunset zones 2-11, 14-24/USDA 6. rev 3/2021

seedlings ('Silver Select' parent, selfed)  (Z. californica)   (not currently in production)  seedling variation    flowers (parent)    wonderful plant (parent)    so why grow seedlings? Because we like Jeff Rosendale's original selection so much we decided there might be something else good hiding in those chromosomes. These seedling plants all have the same spectacular summer and fall show of intensely red tubular flowers that draw annoying numbers of hummingbirds. All differ modestly, in size, habit, leaf size and color on both juvenile and mature foliage, and stem color. All are looking shorter than the often-tall parent so far, and a few are even looking like horizontal growers. Pick the one you like, name it after someone (me?) and bingo! you have your own, personal plant variety! Then you can stroll visitors around your garden and oh-so-casually mention "oh yes, and that Zauschneria is yet another of my numerous introductions." You might even end up famous. Full to half sun, moderate to zero summer watering when established, depending, average to good drainage. A good container plant for medium size pots, or in larger pots combined with other varieties. USDA zone 6-7. rev 8/2018

'Select Mattole' (Z. septentrionalis)   closeup    habit    my personal favorite, along with 'Cloverdale' and the amazing 'Silver Select' and its various seedlings.  This is the most silvery variety, and probably the pickiest as far as siting. When well grown it forms a dense, low clump of very broad, very silver leaves, to 2’ wide, 8" tall and topped with those startlingly brilliant red-orange flowers beginning early to mid summer. Needs very good drainage, especially in wet-winter climates, but tolerates ferociously hot, dry climates. Found on a dark, south-facing roadcut somewhere in the interior of Northern California by Ray Collette in the 1970's, director of the Arboretum at UC Santa Cruz. rev 10/2019

'Sierra Salmon'  (Z. canum)  flowers  grey green foliage,  light salmon orange flowers barely flare at the mouth and start appearing in summer. Leaves are mostly green, with silver grey hairs, growth habit is compact, rounded, upright, to about 18" or more and spreading slowly. rev 8/2018

'Silver Select' (Z. californica)  great flowers   why you grow it   good foliage when not blooming   backlit   silvery grey green juvenile or short daylength foliage on mounding to spreading stems, very white foliage on tall, vertical, mature blooming stems which eventually arch over with age and weight of the brilliant red flowers. One of the most striking varieties among a very striking group of plants. To 30-36" tall by 2-3' wide, much broader if unrestrained as with all these varieties. Selected by Jeff Rosendale, Sierra Azul Nursery in Watsonville. rev 8/2018

'Summer Snow'  (Z. canum)  green to somewhat grey green foliage to 6-10", low, spreading form, nice white flowers from early summer well into fall many years. A superior white garden form found by Walt Wisura of Rancho Santa Ana BG, from the San Bernardino Mtns., it is best in part shade. rev 5/2021

'Wayne's Silver'   (not currently in production)   leaves and flowers  taller and more upright than 'Select Matthole,' leaves narrower and not quite as silvery, but still very, very close to that A-grade selection. Eventually forms a very dense dome of flowers and foliage, with a heavy show of those typical, intensely red flowers that can be hard on the eyes if viewed in full-sun conditions. rev 3/2021

'White Flower Form'  (not currently in production)  flowers     more!    spreading growth habit   grey green leaves, low, spreading, ground-covering habit, cream-and-almost-pure-white flowers that put on a good show. Don't turn brown until they're on the ground, nice touch. rev 8/2018

Zingiber  TRUE GINGERS   subtropical to temperate climate evergreen to deciduous perennials. Many are important horticultural or culinary items. A few are quite hardy (Z. mioga, Japanese or Myoga Ginger, to ~0F) but even so are rarely seen as ornamentals in most of the continental US. As with the related genus Alpinia plants are usually dimorphic, with shorter, often narrower juvenile leaves closely set on their stems and mature-phase culms distinguished by longer, wider leaves with longer internodes and, eventually, terminal spikes of flowers. Native primarily to Southeast Asia, also Southern and Eastern Asia, and New Guinea. rev 3/2020
malaysianum  BLACK GINGER, MIDNIGHT GINGER (not currently in production)  happy young plants    mature plant - Huntington Botanic Gardens greenhouse?    MBN 2g plant flower spike   a compact subtropical species grown for its shiny, dark chocolate-maroon to green-black foliage. Juvenile foliage is shiny, deep bronzy green in color with bright maroon reverses, shorter in length and more closely set on the stems, mature leaves are much larger, darker blackish green above and bronzy green below, with conspicuous vein ribbing and noticeably longer internodes. Mature plants in warm, subtropical climates can reach 3-4' tall by 4-6' across or more. Small hot yellow flowers emerge from light pink, pine cone-like flower clusters perched vertically just above the soil, usually late fall to early winter, on mature plants (facultative short day? Chill modification? Obligate short day?). This proved to be a weak overwintering subject for us, even in unheated greenhouses, almost certainly indicating it is sensitive to wet soils plus temperatures below ~50F and thus making it a difficult outdoor subject for most of California except maybe the warmest SoCal sites. Houseplant or indoor/outdoor porch-patio subject anywhere, garden plant in USDA zone 9b (the warmer half!)/Sunset zones 21-24. Malaysia. rev 3/2020

zerumbet  SHAMPOO GINGER, PINECONE GINGER (not currently in production)  typical Kauaian clump  spent cones full of free shampoo  forms a dense mass of upright stems and apple-green foliage to 24-40" tall, deciduous at least part of the year even in tropical climates. Pine cone-like flower spikes emerge from the roots and remain well below the foliage. They produce short whitish tubular flowers then after flowering turn a deep, glossy red and produce a strongly and very pleasantly fragrant clear, slightly soapy liquid that smells and behaves just liquid soap or Hawaiian Ginger Shampoo - bubbles, tropical-spice fragrance, everything! The roots are also used in cooking, for their perfumy aroma, but they also contribute bitterness. Medicinal compounds can also be extracted from the roots and are used in herbal remedies. This is one of the first documented domesticated plant species and remains have been recovered from excavations of living sites in New Guinea dating to 10,000 BP. This species grew moderately vigorously in my Santa Cruz yard for about a year and a half but I removed it before it reached mature/flowering phase - I didn't know about such things back then. I suspect in a warmer-summer climate it would have flowered by the second year. It is reportedly deciduous with a hard freeze but root hardy to at least 25F and should be tried by anyone in any similar climate who wants to be constantly reminded of their epic vacation trip to Maui or Kauai. Full sun or very warm part shade, average watering, probably needs fertilizing anywhere but Hawaii and Florida, good in containers plus then you can see the flowers. USDA zone 8, Sunset zones 7-9, 12-24. Tropical Asia, Australasia. rev 3/2020
Zoysia tenuifolia   KOREAN ZOYSIA GRASS  Richard Josefson's Yard - May    Richard Josefson's Yard - November   an evergreen to deciduous, very slowly-creeping grass, tight, dense and extremely fine-textured but also very tough and durable. It is much like a larger, darker green version of Scleranthus biflorus, and will eventually  form similar convoluted, brain-like swells and mounds. It is strictly a long-day grower, and shuts down from about October 1 through around March 10, becoming darker in color as well. Outstanding for use between stepping stones, to fill up spaces in rock walls or on difficult corners. As a lawn it is slow but can be mowed once or twice a year, and should have little foot traffic. With below-freezing temperatures it will turn brown but sprout from roots and resume growth in spring. Use this medium-scale ground cover in full to part sun. Very drought tolerant when established but summer dormant under extremely dry conditions. USDA zone 9. Eastern Asia. Graminae/Poaceae. rev 7/2016
note: all above text and images ©Luen Miller and Monterey Bay Nursery, Inc. except as otherwise noted