Categoria: Home + Garden

Orchids are commonly thought of as delicate plants for indoor use, yet there are at least three species that can readily be grown outdoors in Southern California. There are an additional four species I have observed thriving outdoors on separate occasions, although I cannot vouch for their general suitability for outdoor growing in our area.

Cymbidium: Locally, this is the best orchid for growing outdoors in containers. I recently received a photo of a glorious cymbidium orchid growing in a container in Huntington Beach. The photo was taken six years after its caretaker, Janet Guillen, divided an orchid she inherited when her mother passed away. She had split the original plant in two, planted the divisions in Miracle-Gro Potting Mix in medium-sized containers, and situated them on a patio sheltered from direct sun.  

Cymbidium orchid in Huntington Beach. (Photo courtesy of Janet Guillen) When I asked Guillen what she does in terms of maintenance, she replied, “I just water them,” but also wanted to know what to do going forward since roots were growing through the bottom of her pots. Many orchid species, and cymbidiums in particular, flower at their maximum potential when crowded. In the case of cymbidiums, roots can be growing over the side of the pot or through drainage holes and continue to bloom heavily for many, many years. 

There is a great temptation to repot when roots are not confined to the interior of the pot, but you need to be aware that should you divide your plant, you may have to wait several years until you see flowers again. In nature, cymbidiums may be either epiphytes (tree dwellers), lithophytes (meaning they grow on rocks), or terrestrial (meaning they grow directly in the earth). There are also miniature cymbidiums that grow as small as eight inches tall with tiny flowers to match. 

Interestingly enough, if you keep Cymbidiums exclusively indoors, they will never bloom. According to Tony Glinskas of Huntington Beach, who is a member of the Cool Growing Orchid Society of Orange County, “Cymbidiums must have about a 20-degree Fahrenheit change in temperature between day and night in the fall or flower spiking will not occur. I have seen cymbidiums bloom in Hawaii only because they truck them up to the high mountains for a few days to get that temperature spread.” 

Glinskas adds that “most orchids require more light, humidity, and temperature variation than we normally have in our homes.” The one exception is the ubiquitous moth orchid (Phalaenopsis), seen wherever indoor plants are sold. Its temperature range for growth resembles that of human beings (a constant 60-85 degrees) although it will need 10-12 hours of daily light exposure to bloom the way it should. 

When I first visited the unforgettable garden of Richard Lynch in San Pedro, large clumps of cymbidiums planted in the ground had burst into bloom. Speaking with him the other day, he tells me that due to the many different cymbidium cultivars that he grows, he sees a steady show of cymbidium flowers starting in November and continuing at least through the month of March.

Epidendrum: I first encountered this plant, known as reed orchid due to its slender stems, growing in a large flower bed in Granada Hills that faced south but backed up to the facade of a house. It has been my experience that walls have a moderating influence on extreme temperatures where plant growth is concerned. This was definitely the case here although these orchids are known for growing in both full sun, which may turn their stems red, and partial shade. 

Epidendrums make excellent container plants as well and, like cymbidiums, bloom in a wide range of colors including yellow, orange, red, burgundy, bronze, pink, lavender, purple, and white. Inflorescences consist of clusters of small, star-shaped blooms. I have encountered Epidendrums – whether growing in the ground or in containers – throughout the San Fernando Valley, and all points south of there. They spread vegetatively through underground rhizomes.

Bletilla: Known as Chinese ground orchid or simply hardy orchid due to its cold tolerance down to 25 degrees, this is a carefree terrestrial orchid that is highly suitable for use as a ground cover, proliferating through its aggressive rhizomes, and I once saw a front yard in Sherman Oaks that had been completely overtaken by it. Flowers are fuchsia, purple, or white, and resemble diminutive versions of Cattleya or corsage orchids.

Oncidium: Its common name of dancing ladies refers to the form of its small yellow flowers that are studded in great profusion along its stems. I once saw this orchid growing in a container under an arbor in Thousand Oaks.

Zygopetalum: Planted in the ground, I witnessed the purple flowers of this most fragrant of all orchids and enjoyed their scent as it wafted through the San Pedro garden previously mentioned. This orchid’s caretaker informed me that it blooms on and off throughout the year.

Dendrobium: I was privileged to encounter pink rock orchid (Dendrobium kingianum) in a small backyard planter in Westwood. Its delicate blooms were quite enchanting. 

Laelia: Closely resembling cattleyas, with which they freely hybridize, there are cold-tolerant cultivars that grow outdoors as far north as San Francisco. My first encounter with a Laelia was when I saw a dazzling specimen vining up the trunk of a large cycad in Glendale. 

You are invited to tell me about your orchid-growing experience so I can share it with readers of this column.

A musical version of “The Secret Garden” is now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre, located in The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. This is a classic story of personal transformation, as well as achieving family peace, through the restoration of a garden. Performances will continue through March 28th and tickets are available online at centertheatregroup.org.

Manzanita Arctostaphylos densiflora var. Howard McMinn.(Photo by Joshua Siskin) California native plant of the week: I am astonished each year at the spectacular bloom of my manzanita, a plant that never gets any attention from me except when I gaze or gawk, glare or stare at it. Each year, it blooms with more flowers than the year before and it has been doing this for the past two decades. 

I am privileged to have planted Arctotsaphylos densiflora ‘Howard McMinn,’ a variety second to none when its abundant bloom and symmetrical form are considered. It is slowly approaching its ultimate size when height and girth will reach eight feet. 

Alas, I have never seen the fruit (manzanita means “little apple” in Spanish) for which this plant is named. There can only be one explanation for this: the native bees responsible for causing vibrations that move pollen to stigma – which is needed for fruit and seed development – are not present in this part of California when this manzanita is in bloom. 

With all manzanitas, these native bees grasp hold of the flowers and through “buzz pollination” or sonication dislodge pollen, allowing it to move down the flower, an inverted urn, until it rests on a stigma. This same phenomenon happens with the flowers of blueberry bushes, which are relatives of manzanita and prove this relationship with urn-shaped flowers of their own. Manzanitas run the gamut when it comes to form with mat-like ground-hugging species, compact bushes, large shrubs and trees all included in the wide-ranging repertoire of the Arctostaphylos genus.

Send questions, comments, and photos to joshua@perfectplants.com

Vegalab (vegalab.com) is a company that has developed biopesticides that highlight a select group of plant and fungal extracts for their pest control properties. 

Biological control, where compounds from living organisms are utilized in pest control, is a rapidly expanding field. Vegalab has utilized a saponin found in Camellia sinensis – the same tropical plant whose leaves are used for making common tea – for slug control. This Chinese camellia species is not to be confused with the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), the camellia with enormous flowers that bloom each winter. However, the tea plant is also suitable for growing in Southern California, reaching a height of 15 feet with fragrant white flowers that bloom in the fall. 

You can find tea plants, in addition to hundreds or varieties of ornamental camellias, as well as several dozen other camellia species, at Nuccio’s (nuccionurseries.com) in Altadena. The saponin in tea leaves belongs to a group of botanical compounds that confer resistance to certain insect pests, as well as immunity to bacterial and fungal diseases. Saponins have a soapy or emulsifying property, meaning that they act as surfactants, sticking to leaf surfaces and thus minimizing the amount of product that needs to applied for slug, as well as ant, deterrence. 

Another Vegalab biological control product utilizes the root of shrubby sophora (Sophora flavescens) to combat mites and larvae of all kinds. It has also shown effectiveness in controlling aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and planthoppers. The pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) is a related species that is grown ornamentally in our part of the world. It grows 25 feet tall and forms a perfectly symmetrical dome that casts enough shade to picnic under it on hot days. A leguminous pod-forming tree, its fragrant yellowish-white flowers bloom abundantly in the summer.

Vegalab is using a by-product of fungus metabolism to combat fungus – powdery mildew fungus, to be precise. Powdery mildew is the most common foliar fungal pest, which may appear as spotty, tactile white growth on virtually any plant when conditions for its proliferation – leaf surfaces that stay moist for several hours in warm temperatures – are present. Fungi that produce enzymes that break down cell walls are grown under controlled conditions and then these enzymes are isolated and sprayed on plants susceptible to powdery mildew fungus. The enzymes break down the cell walls of the developing fungus before it can get a foothold and cause damage. A similar product is used for control of fungal spore germination and is derived from thyme, the popular culinary herb; even where the fungus is already established, this product can be effective in halting its spread.

With the heavy rains we experienced this winter, mushrooms are being noticed in our gardens that have not been seen in years. Forays into the wild are also yielding large crops of edible mushrooms such as morels and chanterelles that connoisseurs of these saprophytic treasures have not encountered in two decades. To learn more about our local mushrooms, you might want to attend a meeting of the Los Angeles Mycological Society. This group meets the third Monday of each month from October through May (except February), at 7:30 pm in the Verdugo Room of the Sparr Heights Community Center, 1613 Glencoe Way, in Glendale. A mushroom identification hour, starting at 6:30 pm prior to the monthly meeting, is an opportunity to determine the edibility of mushrooms you may have foraged, whether at home or on a hike.

Ellie Gardner is an African violet variety whose leaves are dappled with cream and pink markings. Its flowers have the appearance of miniature pink roses and it blooms non-stop as long as plentiful ambient light is available. There are a plethora of African violet varieties with variegated foliage and you can find more than a hundred of them, listed as sports, at africanvioletsocietyofamerica.org  

Browsing the site, you will also discover everything you need to know about growing African violets. Buckeye Cranberry Sparkler, winner of the Society’s outstanding African violet of the year three years in a row, has green leaves with broad cream-colored margins topped by a large clutch of raspberry-colored flowers. Search “variegated African violets” for an adventure in unexpected and unpredictable foliar design among the seemingly endless number of varieties of this most popular of all indoor flowering plants.

California native of the week: Of the 12 species of California native lilies, leopard lily (Lilum pardalinum) is the easiest to grow. It is recognizable by its pendant, reddish-orange, turban-like flowers with multiple spots. It can grow in the sun but usually does better in partial shade since it prefers somewhat moist, if well-draining soil. Wayne Roderick, writing in “Pacific Horticulture,” regales the leopard lily as follows. “It is so easy to grow that it can become almost invasive! It grows to about five or six feet high with as many as 15 bright red flowers on each stem. If the plant likes the location, a single bulb can become a large clump of 40 or 50 in less than five years.” That’s an invasive problem I’m sure all of us would welcome. Carole Bernstein, in “California Native Plants for the Garden.” suggests planting it under riparian trees such as sycamore and alder, in the company of “giant chain fern, coral bells, and western azaleas.”

Please send questions, comments, and photos to joshua@perfectplants.com

Have you ever noticed that certain plants that undergo dormancy flower before leafing out? This phenomenon, known as hysteranthy (hyster = after, anthy = flowering) is evident during late winter and early spring when many fruit trees as well as certain ornamental trees and geophytes (plants that grow from underground storage structures we call bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes) come into bloom. The reasons behind this flower-followed-by-foliage sequence are varied, but all confer distinctive advantages to the plants in question.

I was inspired to write about this subject after seeing almond trees in bloom earlier this month. I learned that 25% of deciduous trees, including most Prunus species (almond, cherry, plum, peach, apricot, nectarine) are hysteranthous. While both leaf and flower buds of deciduous trees require a certain number of hours of winter chilling (during dormancy, the total number of hours below 45 degrees) to open, once this number has been reached, flower buds on certain tree species are more responsive to warming temperatures and thus open prior to leaf buds. All the mineral nutrients stored in the stems of such trees can then be channeled into the developing flowers without any of these resources being diverted to the leaves. 

Almond tree flowering before leaves appear. (Photo by Joshua Siskin) It is important to remember that the sole purpose of a plant’s growth is to make seeds, the end product of a process that begins with flowering. Indeed, all the photosynthesizing activity of a plant’s foliage is directed towards providing the biochemical compounds needed to produce robust flowers that attract pollinators so that fruit and especially seeds can form. Ultimately, seeds drop in place or are distributed far and wide by wind or water or in the excretions of birds and various other critters that have feasted on the fruit.

In the absence of leaves, flowers will also be more abundant which means more insects will visit them and more pollination and seed formation will occur. Wind also affects pollination and will be more of a factor in blowing pollen from one flower to another without interfering leaves. Furthermore, flowers are more sensitive to water loss than leaves, so should a water deficit in a plant occur if warmer temperatures should suddenly prevail, the flowers will have already been pollinated and will not suffer from lack of hydration.

Pink trumpet (Tabebuia impetiginosa) and golden trumpet (Tabebuia chrysotricha), with brilliant pink and neon yellow trumpet flowers respectively, have been called the “eye-candy” of flowering trees.

Their growth habit is described as semi-evergreen since they are briefly deciduous before they bloom. In the tropics, this bloom period depends on the weather since a wet winter will delay flowering and a spell of dryness encourages it, as a trumpet tree may persist in forming leaves as long as soil moisture is high. Pink trumpet tree is the national tree of El Salvador, where tourism spikes during its bloom period. For this reason, predicting when pink trumpet trees bloom in a particular year has become a matter of economic interest in that country.

The coral trees (Erythrina spp.) that we grow here originate for the most part in South Africa, whose Mediterranean climate is similar to our own. These hysteranthous trees, in the manner of trumpet trees, also bloom at the onset of dry weather. In the case of coral trees, however, there is another advantage when leaves are absent at flowering time. Passerine birds, those that perch and make up 60 percent of all avian creatures, play a significant role in coral tree pollination.

Finally, many geophytes, including certain crocus, squill (Scilla), and cylamen species, all orginating in Mediterranean climates, produce flowers at the end of the rainy season so as to remain hydrated as long as it takes to produce seeds before the stress of a long dry spell – which lasts through the end of the fall – begins.

California native of the Week: Bird’s foot fern (Pellaea mucronata) is perhaps the toughest among California native ferns. Another common name for it is birdfoot cliffbrake (brake and bracken are synonyms for certain fern species) and it does actually grow in cracks on cliffs, no doubt drawing moisture from underlying rock strata. The legendary Bert Wilson of Las Pilitas Nursery testified to this fern growing in rocks where the temperature “reached 130 degrees” during the summer and “where the December 1990 frost froze most things off this slope but the ferns looked better than ever.” Yet this fern has a delicate look that belies its reputation as an indestructible garden selection. It is resilient to drought and strong winds and will grow in full to partial sun, reaching one foot in height. You can acquire bird’s foot fern through Suncrest Nurseries, a plant grower near Watsonville that supplies a number of nurseries in Southern California. To find local retail nurseries in your area that would have access to this plant, go to suncrestnurseries.com and, when you get there, click on “Retail Sources” on the left side of the home page. 

Please send questions, comments, and photos to joshua@perfectplants.com.

Nearly 40 years ago, at Kibbutz Sde Boker in Israel’s Negev Desert, I spent a summer doing research on Spirulina. You may have heard of it. Spirulina has been called a wonder food since it’s dense in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and is noted for its anti-inflammatory properties. Its consumption is rising rapidly throughout the world with a market value set to reach a billion dollars over the next five years.

Spirulina was originally classified as a blue-green algae but towards the end of the 20th century was reclassified as a photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, although it is still popularly labeled as an algae. In any case, it lives in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, a physiology shared with legumes such as peas, beans, and lupines. As in the case of these edibles, Spirulina also has a high protein content.

At the kibbutz, we grew spirulina in large outdoor pools but now you can now grow it at home. Type “Spirulina growing kit” into your search engine and you will find several companies that provide everything you need to grow Spirulina in a fish tank-type apparatus, set up in your office or living room. Sprirulina can be eaten fresh or dried and turned into powder for addition to stews, soups, or smoothies. It can also be harvested for use as a garden mulch.

Algenair (algenair.com) has manufactured an attractively designed lidded flask for your desk or kitchen counter where Spirulina is grown for air purification purposes. In addition to the removal of carbon dioxide and addition of oxygen that all photosynthesizing organisms provide, the Spirulina acts “synergistically with your home garden as the algae can be used as an all-natural organic fertilizer for your plants.” Incidentally, if you have seen green beer on St. Patrick’s Day, know that its color was produced by the addition of Spirulina powder to the brew. In China, various formulations of Spirulina wine are now imbibed.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), whose growth habit will remind you of corn to which it is closely related, is another plant not customarily selected for cultivation by the home gardener. However, it is a magnet to pollinating insects and, thanks to its plethora of bronze flower tassels, provides an ornamental touch as well. Grass family plants such as sorghum are generally overlooked as pollinator plants yet their pollen and nectar are rich targets for honeybees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and predatory beneficial insects such as parasitoid wasps and hoverflies.

Recent research also revealed that the aphid infestations regularly found on sorghum are a positive since the copious sugary plant sap or so-called honeydew excreted by aphids serves as a nectar substitute for many families of beneficial insects. The presence of aphids and their honeydew on sorghum may persist into months when other pollinator plants are no longer producing nectar; thus, sorghum may be a powerful force in keeping nectar-needy pollinators in the garden.

If you had any doubts about the capacity of lilacs to bloom in a mild climate, the following testimonial from Patti Hugh, who gardens in the balmy coastal community of Huntington Beach, should put those doubts to rest. “I have had a lilac tree in my home for over 20 years and I love it,” she writes. “It kind of does its own thing as long as I keep watering it. Right now, it is about to burst into leaves and blooms. It blooms several times a year instead of all at once. The blooms are lilac-colored and smell heavenly. Our tree was purchased at a small single-owner nursery that had lots of unusual plants. The owner was a special lady who really knew her plants. My lilac was the only kind she had and was adapted to this area. It is special to me as I remember lilacs from the Chicago area which made spring a wonderful time of the year.” The variety to which Ms. Hugh refers might be Lavender Lady, since it has a solid reputation for blooming in Southern California.

Ms. Hugh also had a question concerning her lemon tree, asking me to “come up with a solution for getting rid of whatever is peeling my Meyer lemons, eating the peel and leaving the flesh in the tree for the bugs.” The lemon-peeling critter involved in this debacle is most probably a rat, but could also be a mouse (or mice), and possibly a possum. There are two solutions to this problem. Either cover your fruits with some sort of protective covering such as QYFIRST fruit protection bags or neutralize the critter by trapping it.

In response to a recent column on dwarf citrus trees, Nancy Terrebone, who gardens in Encino, wrote about her large collection of productive dwarf specimens as follows: “I have had dwarf Valencia and navel orange trees in pots for over 25 years. My Meyer lemon of the same age looks weak but it still produces at least 25 lemons twice a year. I transplanted these three trees into larger pots about 10 years ago and pruned their roots at that time. My potted semidwarf Mexican lime and semidwarf grapefruit are five years old and both produce a lot. I have a potted three-year-old dwarf Cara Cara (red-fleshed navel orange) and Meyer lemon of the same age that are very productive. I also have a semidwarf grapefruit growing in the ground that took seven years to produce. I use Dr. Earth organic fertilizer one or two times a year, in spring and sometimes summer. In winter, I water, at most, once a week and, in summer, sometimes up to two times a week.”

California native of the week: White alder (Alnus rhombifolia), properly sited, is one of the most glorious California native trees. I say properly sited since, although it adapts to drought, it would much prefer a riparian habitat, or at least a soil that is somewhat moisture retentive. Where it is regularly watered and has good light on all sides, it grows into a handsomely symmetrical, almost cone-shaped specimen that you will swear is the most verdant tree you have ever seen. Perhaps it owes its verdure to the fact that it lives in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria so that it is never deficient in nitrogen, the main constituent element of the chlorophyll molecule that makes plants green.

Ceanothus is another nitrogen-fixing plant and perhaps that explains its brilliantly verdant foliage as well. White alder may grow over 50 feet tall so you will probably have to prune it once in a while unless you live on a large estate. I may also be drawn to this plant because my namesake birds, the pine siskins, consume its seeds, as do its goldfinch cousins. Alas, in the typical manner of trees that grow quickly, alders do not usually live longer than a hundred years and often meet their end much earlier.  White alder bark is pleasantly gray in color and is fully revealed after the leaves of this deciduous species have fallen.

Please send questions, comments, and photos to joshua@perfectplants.com

Whether it’s the puffy white seed balls of the dandelion or the creeping succulent stems of purslane, weeds are a constant challenge to gardeners everywhere. 

But it turns out, one person’s weed can be another’s prized greenery. 

A great number of the plants we consider weeds are not only edible, but many are considered superfoods, according to Douglas G. Kent, a professor at the Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona and author of the book “Foraging Southern California: 118 Nutritious, Tasty, and Abundant Foods.” 

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent poses for a photograph following a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent describes London Rocket (Sisymbrium) during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Douglas Kent is the author of “Foraging Southern California.” (Courtesy of Adventure Publishers)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent picks a Brazilian Pepper tree during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent describes Stinging Nettle (Urtica Urens) during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent poses for a photograph during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent gives a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent describes Aloe Vera during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent describes Bitter Lettuce (Lactuca Virosa) during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent gives a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent poses for a photograph during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent describes Nopal during a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Cal Poly Pomona professor Doug Kent gives a foraging tutorial at the Santiago Nature Center in Santa Ana on Friday, January 27, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Kent has been foraging and growing the plants that gardeners would just as soon pluck and throw away in their compost bin for decades, and he is an advocate for the ways those things can be cooked and used. 

He gets excited as he discusses how weeds and humans have a long and shared history. Many of these plants were things that our early hominid ancestors adapted to eating, he said, and there’s also a reason you can find these plants all over the globe. 

“It was a coevolution,” he said. “Our system was evolving to them; their system of seed distribution was evolving to us. And so we went together. We traveled the world.” 

Ground rules 

Before foraging for weeds, Kent recommends following some safety tips. He said would-be foragers should only consume those plants for which they can make a positive identification, and it’s best to wash foraged plants with water warmer than the leaves because warmer water expels potential toxins from the plant while cooler water can cause the toxins to be pulled in. 

Kent also recommends starting in the place that’s most familiar to you – your own garden. 

“And once you’ve nailed your own garden, then work on your neighbor’s garden and then go out into the wilderness,” he said. 

In his book, Kent encourages would-be foragers to also consider the legal risk before they go out and collect weeds. He notes that it’s important to not enter private land without permission. There are also places such as commercial properties and state colleges that sometimes do not allow collection of plants. Kent recommends checking the restrictions for those places online before heading out. 

On the hunt 

Want to know what weeds Kent regularly finds in Southern California? From wild mustards to curly dock, here are some weeds that are commonplace. 

Black mustard: This is a wild mustard that is very common in Southern California. Its leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds are edible, Kent said. He said the plants are high in fiber as well as vitamins A, C and K. The mustard can be eaten raw, added to salads or made into pesto, but because the leaves have a strong flavor they’re best added to flavors that will dull its own.

Cheeseweed: This weed prefers dry, disturbed soils and some of the locations it can be spotted include trailheads and the sunny sides of buildings. Kent said the leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowers and immature green fruits can also be eaten. The plants are rich in pectin, which Kent said is good for the skin. 

Curly Dock: The leaves of this weed can be eaten raw, boiled, steamed or roasted, but it’s best harvested midwinter to mid-spring. If harvested later in the summer or fall, the plant’s leaves may need to be seared to get rid of some of the bitterness and acids that it may have developed. 

Dandelion: Kent called this common weed “the bell of the ball of herbology,” and noted the root, stalk, leaves, flour and seeds can all be eaten.

Goosefoot: This plant, a relative of modern spinach, can be found all over Southern California, but is more common within 125 miles of the coast. Leaves could be eaten raw or cooked, and the seeds are also edible. It’s high in vitamin D, A and C, according to Kent.  

London Rocket: This plant is abundant across Southern California, from the coasts to the mountains. Up close, it looks similar to arugula and has flavors reminiscent both of that plant and of mustard – and it makes sense since it is a part of the family Brassicaceae that also includes mustards, arugula and broccoli. Leaves of this plant can be eaten raw or cooked. It’s best to pick the lower leaves of the plant and younger plants taste better than older ones. 

Purslane: This weed is another example of a weed that follows people and it tends to be more common in more populated areas. It pops up in areas where the dirt has been disturbed and in areas of “incidental irrigation,” according to Kent’s book. This weed has a tart and lemony kick and is used in all sorts of recipes. Some of Kent’s recommendations include adding it to salads with other greens such as nasturtiums and mustard; putting it into juices and on top of eggs; and cooking it by itself. 

Grow your own 

Want to bring a piece of the wild weedy world home? It’s not only possible to forage many of the weeds common in Southern California but to grow them as well. 

Kent grows his own weeds at his home and is excited about the purslane that has spread out over a section of gravel in his yard. 

“Everybody that comes, I tell them to stay on the tracks,” he said, with a smile. “Don’t ruin my crop!” 

Seed companies such as Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds sell some of these plants, according to Baker Creek horticulturalist Randel Agrella. They sell an improved version of purslane with slightly larger leaves and several different varieties of dandelion. 

Agrella said that potential weed gardeners can also obtain seeds by collecting them as they forage but they should do their research before they start to grow seeds from those things. 

He recommends not only reading up on the plants but also observing the kinds of conditions they’re growing in.

For example, a plant that is only growing at the edge of pavement could be growing there because of the water runoff that it gets, which may be a sign that it needs more water than what it would get out in the open.

Agrella suggests that gardeners pay attention to when things are sprouting. If a particular kind of plant sprouts in February, it’s a good idea to plant the seeds from it just before February instead of July. 

“After they’ve identified some plants that they like and they know of an area where maybe the plants come back year after year, go there and just observe,” he said.