St. Catherine's Lace — Bay Area Native Plants

Care

Sun

full sun

Water

very low

Soil

Fast; Rocky, gravelly.

Size

2–5ft tall , 4–10ft wide

Bloom

Mar-Nov

Foliage

Deciduous

Deer

Resistant

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Edible

Seeds eaten raw or ground into flour; traditional Indigenous food

Native Range

Coastal bluffs and scrub of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, below 1500 ft elevation

Care Guide

Planting

Plant St. Catherine's Lace in full sun with fast-draining, rocky or gravelly soil - it tolerates clay as long as drainage is excellent. Space it according to its mature size, which ranges from 2 feet to over 9 feet wide depending on variety, so check your plant's expected spread. Plant in fall or winter to let it establish before summer heat. Avoid planting in areas where hard freezes below 15°F are common, as this plant does not tolerate frost well.

After Planting

Water regularly through the first growing season until established, then cut back dramatically to just once a month or less during summer once established. After bloom, cut the plant back to encourage shape and vigor. The #1 mistake is overwatering: once this plant is established, it wants very little water and is prone to problems in wet conditions, so err on the side of dry rather than wet.

Visit Calscape for more information about St. Catherine's Lace