GOING WILD WITH NATIVES: Clay Isn’t Just For Pots. It Works For Plants Too!
- k-england
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
By Susan Lewitt, for Let’s Talk Plants! January 2026.
Clay Isn’t Just for Pots. It Works for Plants Too!
In San Diego we are blessed with a wide range of soils, and plant communities. Clay soil is one of them.
“Clay soils are both indicative of many rare species and a challenge for many common plants. The soil absorbs and holds water expands, cracks, tears roots, and in the summer – clay soil bakes into a tough block. Plant selection is limited to tolerant species of which … (the ones in this article) are just a few.” http://www.cnpssd.org
SAN DIEGO ABUNDANCEWEED also known as SAN DIEGO MARSH ELDER (Iva hayesiana) is one of the plants that makes San Diego a biodiversity hotspot because it is native to Baja California and San Diego with a very limited range north of San Diego. It occurs naturally in Alkali Sink and Wetland Riparian plant communities. Within those communities, Alkali flats are a preferred site. This perennial herb is fast growing, evergreen, and pleasingly fragrant. It will have nearly invisible blooms of yellow and green. In your garden, this plant is an ideal choice as ground cover, or for bank stabilization. When planted on a slope, it will need supplemental summer watering, but anywhere else, it is fine without irrigation, once it is established. It should be planted in full sun and is adaptable to all soil types whether it is slow, medium, or fast draining.
Plant companions include Menzies' Goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii), Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica), Quailbush (Atriplex lentiformis ssp breweri), Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens), Western False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), San Diego Sedge (Carex spissa), Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), Douglas' Sagewort (Artemisia douglasiana), Spiny Rush (Juncus acutus), and San Diego Sagewort (Artemisia palmer). Another good companion native plant is known as Great Valley Gumweed (Grindelia camporum) with nice yellow daisy-like flowers. Mine have been blooming since August and look like they will continue blooming through the fall, and most likely into the winter.
SOUTHERN HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera subspicata) is a shrub that also has characteristics of a vine and could reach 8 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It is found in Chaparral, and Coastal Sage Scrub. Look for its flowers of yellow, and cream in spring and summer, followed by red and yellow berries. Not only is it visually appealing, it also has an enjoyable fragrance. As a vine it will rely on neighboring plants for support, or it could grow onto a non-plant support such as a trellis or latticework. Full sun to partial shade will be suitable for Southern Honeysuckle. Once it is established in medium, to slow draining clay, decomposed granite, or other soils, it will need summer irrigation twice a month.
This Southern Honeysuckle species has been used for bank stabilization, groundcover, and hedges. It is also deer resistant. It grows well near many other natives including Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Ceanothus spp., Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis), San Diego Viguiera (Bahiopsis laciniata), Barberry (Berberis spp.), Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides or minutiflorus), Bushrue (Cneoridium dumosum), Summer Holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia), Tree Poppy (Dendromecon rigida), California Brittlebush (Encelia californica), Goldenbush (Ericameria spp.), Yerba Santa (Eridoctyon spp.), Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Flannelbush (Fremontodendron spp.), Silk Tassel Bush (Garrya spp.), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Pitcher Sage (Lepechinia spp.), Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus spp.), Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), wild Currant (Ribes spp.), Sage (Salvia spp.), Woolly Bluecurls (Trichotema lanatum), and Mission Manzanita (Xylococcus bicolor). Southern Honeysuckle is relied on by bats, birds, moths, caterpillars, and butterflies. One very small visitor is the Behrensia conchiformis.
NEVIN'S BARBERRY (Berberis nevinii) is another plant that adds to San Diego’s designation as a biodiversity hotspot, since it is somewhat rare, and occurs in a limited area. In the natural areas, you may find it inland in Chaparral plant communities, and near the coast in Coastal Sage Scrub plant communities. It is also found in some desert transition and foothill woodlands communities. This slow growing mounding shrub will give you flowers of yellow and green, with a sweet fragrance in the spring. It may reach up to 7 feet tall, and about 6 to 12 feet wide.
Nevin’s Barberry may be planted in full sun to partial shade, in any kind of soil that is medium to fast draining. In the summer it will need watering twice a month once it is established. It will be happy to grow near Chamise (Adenostema fasciculatum), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Ceanothus species, Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida), Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.), and Sages (Salvia spp.)
An additional plant, in the same genus as Nevin's Barberry, suitable in clay soils, is the DWARF MAHONIA (Berberis aquifolium var. repens), which appears in the (link) Going Wild with Natives article, July 2025. It is another adaptable plant.
Many plants in Calscape are listed as being adaptable to clay soils, so if you have this type of soil in all or part of your landscape there are quite a few native plants that will adapt to this condition, so don’t lose hope if you are having trouble with clay soil. Plant some clay tolerant native plants there and be proud that you are also supporting San Diego’s Biodiversity!
A word on “established plants”. I have been using this phrase in my articles when talking about the watering needs of these native plants, but just in case you are unsure of exactly what that means, here are some clues: Once established, the plant will have new growth, need less water, be more accepting of poor conditions, and it may need pruning. (https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-know-when-plant-is-established-8648828)
CALLING FOR ARTISTS and SPONSORS: If you are an artist and your art is related to native flora, and fauna, you may still apply through the end of January to be part of the California Native Plant Society’s Garden Tour, which occurs APRIL 11th and 12th of 2026. Sponsors are always appreciated for the garden tour and may sign up through February.
WHERE NATIVE PLANTS THRIVE, WE THRIVE: When native plants flourish, they create gardens full of life where everything is connected. Songbirds return, butterflies flutter by, and the landscape feels alive in a way that ordinary gardens do not. Surrounded by this living richness, all garden dwellers find calmer, greener spaces, and neighborhoods become cooler, healthier, and more resilient. That liveliness engages our senses, restores our well-being, and deepens our connection to the natural world. Save the date and spread the word! For more details, please go to: cnpssd.org/2026-garden-tour
Susan Lewitt is a member of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), participating in their Native Gardening Committee, and their Conservation Committee.
Susan uses Wildhero - email that plants trees, and she can be reached at nativebutterflies213@gmail.com.
