Native plants are suddenly chic. They've certainly been "in" before; every time the West faces a serious drought, we rediscover indigenous plants. Then the danger passes, we go back to our old habits, and natives fall "out" again. The current wave of popularity seems different, though. More permanent somehow. It's no wonder ? native plants are the perfect choice for easy-care gardens with regional appeal.

WHY NATIVES?

They look Western. Many people in the West have grown up with hikes in the hills and summer camp-outs, and we want our gardens to be extensions of those adventures. Instead of copying English cottage gardens, we want our own little bit of wilderness.

Many natives smell like the Wild West. Cleveland and white sage, creosote bush and brittlebush, pine and redwood, for instance, are filled with resins and release their scents on warm afternoons. Think of it as free aromatherapy.

They can attract wildlife. Birds and butterflies are at home in native plant gardens because many of the plants are rich in nectar or seed. Homeowners who grow these plants are used to hearing comments like "Why does your garden get all the birds in the neighborhood?" Children who grow up in these gardens learn to be curious about insects and lizards instead of fearful. It's like having a life-science lab in your backyard.

They're low- maintenance. Don't bother amending the soil? natives are adapted to it. Forget fertilizer; they rarely need it.

Steven Gunther
A front garden in Vista, CA mixes native shrubs such as mimulus, woolly blue curls, and Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'. DESIGN: Greg Rubin, Escondido, CA (760/746-6870).

How to incorporate natives into your landscape

Growing natives doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition; you can have sagebrush and a patch of lawn too, just not side by side. Here are ways to incorporate natives into your landscape. Consult the Sunset Western Garden Book for climate zones and more ideas suited to your area.

Perimeter plants. Plant natives that have low irrigation needs, like brittlebush or ceanothus, on the edges of your property, then spend your water on a more oasis-like planting closer to the house. Or, if you have a wilderness view, use some of the same plants that grow naturally nearby on your property's borders.

Problem-solvers. Some natives solve common landscape problems. To help stabilize slopes, try mahonia, manzanita, Ribes, or sumac. For dry shade, consider bush anemone, Pacific Coast iris, or Western sword fern. Where resistance to oak root fungus is needed, try bush anemone, Catalina cherry, or spice bush. Near windy coasts, where salt spray is a problem, use coyote brush or lemonade berry.

Water-tolerant natives. Some natives will not tolerate summer water at all (flannel bush is notorious for this). But many others happily adapt to a regular garden irrigation regime: coral bells, monkey flowers, wild strawberry, Western columbine, and wild ginger are examples. Match the plant's water needs to the conditions in each part of your garden.

Mediterranean mates. Western natives and Mediterranean plants like similar growing conditions, but many Mediterraneans tend to bloom later than natives--late spring and summer. Combining the two gives you a longer season of interest.

PLANTING TIPS

Follow these guidelines to ensure that native plants will thrive.

Plant at the right time. In mild-winter climates: You can plant natives any time of the year, but the best time is fall through early spring, when cool and rainy weather allows plants to establish themselves more easily. In cold-winter climates: Plant in early fall, stopping six weeks before the ground freezes, or in spring after the ground thaws (after last frost for tender plants).

Check soil drainage. Many natives need well-drained soil. Before planting, test the soil by digging a hole (ideally 2 ft. deep) and filling it with water. After it drains, fill it again; if the soil drains slowly the second time (taking an hour or more), plant in raised beds or use plants suitable for heavy soil.

Forget soil amendments. In most areas, there's no need to add amendments such as compost to the soil at planting time. Set the plant in a planting hole and backfill with native soil. If the topsoil has been scraped off or the soil is compacted, replace 1/3 of the native soil with well-composted organic matter.

Water carefully. All native plants need regular water the first season. If rain is sparse, water deeply once a week (less often on the coast, more often in the desert or in sandy soil) to encourage deep rooting. Slowly reduce watering frequency as plants become established.