Edgeland Garden Area

An Edgeland is defined as any area or elevation where humans, animals or nature has destroyed the natural vegetation, creating a stark transition. This creates a new ecosystem within another, or between two other ecosystems. The plants that grow here are often versatile types that will grow in sun or shade, wet or dry, in soil with basic nutrients. Some examples are; Wax Myrtle, Silk Tassel Bush, Flowering Currant and Wild Strawberry.  (Scroll down for plant list.)

IN THE WILD: Any area disturbed by the activities of humans (i.e. the building of homes) or the forces of nature (i.e. severe weather or fires from lightening). This ecosystem normally gives rise to noxious weeds of all sorts, which are fast to colonize newly disturbed and exposed soils.

IN KUL KAH HAN’S GARDEN:  In this case, the picnic shelter, symbolic of a domestic residence or commercial building, displays a variety of plant choices for restoring the site. The structure creates areas of full sun, partial sun, partial shade and full shade for plants requiring these conditions. A native cutting garden is planned. The collection of rain from the roof provides water for plants needing extra moisture.

IN YOUR GARDEN-Note the amount of sun or shade that naturally occurs during the growing season on each side of your house. Is the soil more damp or less damp in each area? Then, determine which native plants to  choose by reading the information on the i.d. sign next to each plant in Kul Kah Han’s Garden.

Edgeland Native Plants

(Click on plant names to view photos and descriptions)

SHRUBS
Amelanchier canadensis – Serviceberry
Aruncus dioicus – Goatsbeard
Berberis (formerly Mahonia) nervosa – Low Oregon Grape
Cornus stolonifera – Red Osier Dogwood
Garrya elliptica – Silk-tassel
Garrya fremontii -Fremont’s Silk Tassel  
Mahonia nervosa – Low Oregon Grape
Myrica californica – California Wax Myrtle  
Philadelphus lewisii – Mock Orange
Rhododendron occidentale – Western Azalea
Ribes sanguineum – Red Flowering Currant (also in Dry Forest)
Vaccinium ovatum – Evergreen Huckleberry

VINES
Lonicera ciliosa-Orange Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula – Hairy Honeysuckle

GROUNDCOVERS
Arctostaphylos uva ursi – Kinnikinnick, Common Bearberry
Asarum caudatum – Wild Ginger
Fragaria chiloensis – Coastal Strawberry
Fragaria vesca – Woodland Strawberry
Fragaria virginana – Wild Strawberry
Maianthemum dilatum – False Lilly of the Valley
Mitella pentandra – Five Stemmed Mitwort

FLOWERS
Aquilegia flavescens –  Yellow Columbine
Aquilegia formosa – Red Columbine
Aster chilensis – Pacific Aster
Delphinium nuttalii – Upland Larkspur
Erigeron glaucus – Seaside Daisy
Erigeron speciosus – Showy Fleabane
Geranium Viscosissimum – Sticky Geranium
Geum triflorum – Prarie Smoke, Old Man’s Whiskers
Heuchera micrantha – Small Flowered Alumroot
Iris inominata – Golden Iris
Phacelia bolanderi – Bolander’s Phacelia
Romanzoffia tracyi – Tracy’s Mistmaiden
Sidalcea oregana – Oregon Checker Mallow
Sisyrinchium californicum – Golden Eyed Grass
Solidago spathulata – Spikelike Goldenrod

GRASSES AND  SEDGES
Carex comosa – Longhair Sedge
Carex lyngbyei – Lyngbye’s Sedge
Carex stipata – Sawbeak Sedge
Carex vesicaria – Inflated Sedge
Panicum thermale – Western Panicum

Damp Forest, Dry Forest, Edgeland, Meadow, Montane, Subalpine, Wetland.