GOING WILD WITH NATIVES: Exploring Possibilities And Covering Ground!
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Susan Lewitt, for Let’s Talk Plants! April 2026.
“Where Native Plants Thrive, We Thrive.” Graphics by Artefact Design.
CNPS San Diego 2026 Native Garden Tour, Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12,
9am - 4pm
Got Tickets? Yes? Wonderful! See you there!
No? If you’re waiting for a written invitation, here it is:
The inspirational California Native Plant Society’s Garden Tour is this month. This is a must see to view the many possibilities for your own landscaping with native plants. 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. If you have not purchased tickets yet, they are still available through the CNPS website: https://cnpssd.org/2026-garden-tour/ And remember children 17 and under are free!
Native plants are important for biodiversity and supporting native fauna, and beyond that, there are many that have been used for different purposes along with landscaping.
“Indigenous people thrived for thousands of years in the fertile California lands, migrating from coast to desert oases to harvest select ripened fruits, acorns, seeds, berries and bulbs. Some of these edibles can be grown at home and the traditions of the past kept alive. Roasted Yucca root kept for months in a cool root cellar for example. With all food and medicinal choices, take caution and be aware that many threats exist for improper preparation or plant id. These selections are meant to diversify the palette and bring us closer to the rewards of a native garden.” (WWW.CNPSSD.ORG)
Mojave Yucca in bloom and a group showing several years of growth. Left photo by Jean Pawek. Right photo by Keir Morse.
MOJAVE YUCCA (Yucca schidigera) is a plant with many uses. It can be a highlight in your garden and more. In the past Yucca fibers were used to make cordage which became ropes, fishing nets, shoes, baskets, sleeping mats, and thatch for shelters. Need shampoo? The Yucca’s juice extracted from its roots makes a soapy lather which works as a primitive shampoo. This liquid was also used in rituals of purification. The seeds were eaten roasted, or raw, or dried and ground into flour. Decorations and musical instruments were made from the flower stalks (Yucca benefits: Mojave yucca plant uses (Yucca schidigera), EthnoHerbalist. https://www.ethnoherbalist.com/southern-california-native-plants-medicinal/mojave-yucca-benefits/) If you have a Mohave Yucca, you might try some of these uses or just let it grow and look majestic.
Flowers of the Mojave Yucca. Photos by Keir Morse.
The Mojave Yucca, an evergreen plant needs full sun and very low water in fast draining soil. It should not be watered once it is established. After flowering in the spring, it will continue to grow and support bats, caterpillars, butterflies and moths. This useful plant does have sharp spines on very stiff leaves, and should be located in an area away from where people could get poked, especially young children.
Leaves and Grapes of the California Grape. Photos by Neal Kramer.
NATIVE GRAPE SPECIES have been grown in San Diego including California Grape (Vitis californica, and Desert Grape (Vitis girdiana). A third species, Rogers Red (Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’). is a hybrid, not naturally occurring in the wild, while the other two are indigenous to the San Diego area. Imagine growing luscious grapes in your own landscape that you can pluck off the vine or leave to share with wildlife. These grapes support wildlife and give you a tasty treat. These species have also been used to make wine. The sturdiest part of this plant is the root stock which is more disease resistant than other species. As stated in an online article, “This species (Vitis californica) was used to save the European wine industry between 1870 and 1900 when most wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) were killed by leaf- and root-attacking grape phylloxera aphids” (https://thewatershedproject.org/whats-in-your-watershed-lots-of-good-wine-some-bad-wine-but-most-wine-stems-from-california-wild-grape/).
Desert Wild Grape new grapes and leaves. Left photo by Jean Pawek. Right photo courtesy of Calscape.
These three grape vine species grow in full sun to partial shade, and are winter deciduous, leafing out in late winter to early spring with clusters of tiny grapes that grow and mature during the summer. This makes wildlife, especially birds, very happy. The grape vines need little water, once a week in the summer for established California Grape, and a bit more for Roger’s Red. Desert Wild Grape also takes very little water. All three may be placed in moderate draining soil, while California Grape and Roger’s Red will work in slow and fast draining soil. Roger’s Red will also tolerate standing water. The Desert Grape prefers not to be too near to the coast and will fruit more reliably if located more inland. They all support native birds, caterpillars, butterflies, and moths. California Grape and Desert Wild Grape also support bats. Mohave Yucca and California Grape do well with Toyon as a native plant companion. There are other companion plants listed for some of these species on Calscape.
Roger’s Red grapes and leaves showing off its namesake color! Upper left: "'Roger's Red' Grape Leaves" by CountryMouse13 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND. Upper right: 2.0.'Roger's Red' Grapes" by CountryMouse13 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND. Bottom: 2.0. "H20111116-3910--Vitis 'Roger's Red'" by John Rusk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Many more native plant species have been used for food, medicine, shelter, tools and more. It is a good idea to check with professionals and experts before using a species for medicinal purposes or food especially if you are not sure what native species you have. More information may be found in the following resources: In the September 2024 article, Holly Leaf Cherry and Coast Live oak (Quercus agrifolia) are highlighted. In the October article you will find information on Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), and Strawberries (Fragaria spp. and cultivars). You may find further information on the Native American’s uses of native plants at: https://www.ethnoherbalist.com/southern-california-native-plants-medicinal/
