F

Falkia repens    clean leaves and white flowers   a low, evergreen, creeping perennial from the winter rainfall (Mediterranean-climate) region of South Africa, that grows as a cushiony mat of cute, rounded, Dichondra-like leaves. The penny-sized white flowers are blushed pink, and look just like the morning glories to which they are related. Takes sun or shade, wet or seasonally inundated/summer dry soils. So far they like average sun, average soil and average water. This fast grower might be a low or medium-traffic lawn substitute. USDA zone 7/ Sunset zones 8-9, 12-24. Convolvulaceae. South Africa. rev 10/2014 

Fargesia   clumping bamboos of small to medium size, often with soft textured foliage and attractive culms. Many do well in cool summer climates, and  with at least a little shade, even along the coast. Graminae/Poaceae. rev 12/2009-Luen Miller

apicirubens RED TIPPED FARGESIA  foliage  formerly sold as F. dracocephala, a larger, closely related species. this is a very cold hardy clumping bamboo with dense, dark green foliage that has the typically pendant, angular Fargesia/Borinda look. It is distinctive in being a very hardy, very small, evergreen clumping species. It usually seems to reach just 6-10' by most reports, usually with arching to semiweeping growth. Plants in 5g cans in our nursery struggle to reach 6' in height. It forms dense stands of 1/4" thick culms and makes a good screen if you trim up the sideways-arching branches. Supposedly it is more sun tolerant than most species of Fargesia but that probably won't get you very far if you don't have adequate humidity. Reportedly hardy to -15F, but not good in dry, hot zones without copious watering. It makes a good screening container plant. Sunset zones 4-9, 14-17, 22-24/USDA zone 6. rev 12/2009-LM

denudata   5 gallon crop   a fine-textured, arching fountain of rich green foliage to 10' or so max, with dense culms and a tightly clumping habit. It is heat tolerant but also tolerates cold to -10F, meaning it could even be grown in many areas of the Sierra Nevadas. This is a great "good neighbor" variety with bright golden yellow new culms and that great green color, which holds through winter. Due to stock plant label confusion our first crops went out as F. robusta 'Pingwu,' a slightly shorter grower with larger leaves. rev 7/2019-LM

nitida  CHINESE FOUNTAIN BAMBOO  former Strybing specimen   dense blue-white stems   part shade, Blue Bamboo Nursery   closeup, Blue Bamboo Nursery  a usually very narrow but sometimes eventually spreading clumping species, compact, fine-textured and extremely cold hardy. Seedlings vary somewhat and new selections arise every time they flower - which happened here a few short years ago. This shouldn't happen for another 110 years or so, but that was recently enough that new varieties haven't made their way around the trade yet. The large specimens in the images linked above no longer exist as far as I'm aware, all having died after flowering, as did our then-current crops. The very fine culms have a white coating, which lasts several years, and are probably this plant's best feature. The fine, delicate foliage and narrow habit are also often highly desirable. Less useful for most of California is its extreme cold-hardiness - it's been grown successfully in New Hampshire with protection. This plant could survive Lake Tahoe winters, probably without damage most winters. It needs cool summers though and doesn't do well in many parts of the Central Valley and Southern California. To about 10-15' tall by about half that wide, full-part sun, good soil, moderate watering. This is one of the species Giant Pandas rely on for food. China. USDA zone 5. rev 4/2019-LM

'Select Maroon' ('Jiuzhaigau')    young shoots   a wonderful, new, impressively cold hardy form of this species (-20F). It is a very narrow, fine-textured, dense clumping form, with very thin, very dense new stems attractively coated with a powdery white bloom over red-black  culms, which slowly age to deep maroon the second  year then rich yellow with increasing age. The stems grow vertically for a year or two then gently arch partly over. With the right amount of sun, at maturity the dainty blue green, horizontal leaves show wonderfully against glowing, purplish-maroon stems. A natural featured as a medium size specimen or featured in a container, but can be used as a relatively dense hedge as well. Grows to 10-12' tall in full (cool coastal only!) or part sun, average to rich, well-prepared soils and moderate to very infrequent watering. Tony Avent at Plant Delights states this is their most heat tolerant form of this species. USDA zone 5. China. rev 1/2021-LM

"Rufa" ("Green Panda")  nice 5g, typical form   large, lush leaves   bluish reverse   brilliant stems     a very nice, very compact variety with notably large, lush foliage for a moderate-size grower. The deep green to olive green leaves reach 3-4" long and are clustered in dense whorls on reddish twigs then splay gracefully in a flat cluster from the tips of the culms, like a ballerina's fingers. The blades often stand at a rakish horizontal angle relative to the more vertical stem, looking especially nice in any light breeze when they all orient in the same direction and almost the same angle. This selection will reliably stay below 10' with almost no pruning needed, and can easily be kept 6' or even lower if desired. It will retain branches to the ground with adedquate light, if desired, or display those striking yellow culms if cleaned up, with color best when lit directly by sunlit. It is impressively cold hardy to boot, surviving to USDA zone 5. Prefers cooler Northern California, and higher foothill/mountain climates, dislikes Central Valley/SoCal temps and low humidity. rev 5/2019-LM

Fatshedera lizei   lush green foliage   a scandent shrub, vine or even groundcover depending on how it is trained and pruned.  Dramatic maple-shaped leaves can get to 10" across and are nicely glossy and ivy-like. A hybrid of Fatsia japonica and Hedera helix, it scrambles yet doesn't cling. Does very well in a container and can make a spectacular specimen, tolerating mostly full sun through dark, dry shade under extended overhangs. It is commercial-situation tough, resilient, resistant to damage and hard to kill. To 4-8' tall and wide unrestrained, easy to grow in part sun or shade with average to minimal watering. Train or prune while stems are still green. All varieties can be used as houseplants. USDA zone 7/Sunset zones 4-10, 12-24. Araliaceae. rev 8/2020-Luen Miller

'Annemieke'   splashed leaves   another look    wonderfully variegated foliage, soft jade green and chartreuse irregularly marbled in the center of the leaves. Also known as 'Media-Picta' and 'Aureo Maculata.' USDA zone 8/Sunset zones 5-9, 13-24. rev 8/2020-LM

'Variegata'  pretty leaves  leaves edged in creamy white About 4-6' tall and up to twice as wide. USDA zone 7/Sunset zones 4-10, 12-24. rev 8/2020-LM

Fatsia japonica     foliage    this evergreen foliage plant to 10' by about 6' across (20' with great age, and perfect conditions)  provides dramatic foliage displays, especially effective against walled backgrounds or as a "canvass" background for other plants with distinctive or colored foliage. It makes a very durable, forgiving container plant and has a well-deserved reputation for holding up extremely well in difficult commercial applications, such as northern exposure with long overhangs, against grocery store walls where it endures daily shopping cart scuffing, etc. Sun to full, dark shade, drought tolerant when established. Growth will be slow and minimal under the darkest, driest conditions. Tolerates sandy, open soils through rather heavy clay, but won't take stagnant, boggy, sour conditions. USDA zone 7/Sunset 4-9, 13-24. Araliaceae, the genus is monotypic (means this is the only species!). Japan. Araliaceae. rev 8/2020

'Murakumo Nishiki'   on the dock, juvenile-phase   on the trailer, juvenile-phase    reverse variegation pattern, with lime green to chartreuse yellow centers blotched and irregularly bordered with deep green. Slower growing, juvenile-phase foliage is less strikingly marked, as is foliage growing in full shade. According to Tony Avent's Plant Delights site the name means "gathering clouds brocade." We'll take that on faith. rev 8/2020

'Spider's Web'    finely variegated leaves    a really nice collector's form of variegation, easily recognized by the frenetic, finely detailed white lining that edges, spots, and streaks the leaves under high-light conditions. Evergreen, and slow to get going, with a mostly-columnar habit when young. Smaller and much slower than regular green seedlings, reaching perhaps 4-5' tall and a couple of feet wide in a reasonable amount of time, then clustering and spreading its crown of leaves and branches slowly. See comments on shade tolerant for the species, above. Under very dark conditions the variegation will be minimal to completely lacking. Just as drought tolerant when established as the parent species when established, tolerating average down to very infrequent watering. It is also just as tolerant of container culture, and will make a wonderful, featured, bragging-rights specimen for your patio, porch or entryway. You will definitely see this one brighten a moderately shady spot! Try it as a houseplant too, again with at least some sun to preserve that variegation. Burns in full, hottest sun in warmest areas (Southern California, Central Valley, or anywhere with reflected light). USDA zone 7/Sunset 4-9, 13-24. rev 8/2020

'Variegata'    nice mature plant, Westlake    foliage close up    Blue Bamboo Nursery   cut foliage at Hortifair  a very nicely variegated form to 10' or more, with somewhat greyer leaves and margins splashed irregularly with warm, easy-to-use creamy white. For shade to very little sun,  relatively drought tolerant when established. USDA zone 7/Sunset 4-9, 13-24. rev 8/2020

cinerea   BLUE FESCUE   a European species, native to southeastern France and northern Italy. Seems to sweep up many blue to grey forms being offered these days. USDA zone 5/Sunset all zones. rev 7/2017

'Beyond Blue'  PP23307   color    the best blue fescue yet? Powdery blue blades hold that color through summer's heat and drought without browning out. Makes a soft halo of silvery blue in the garden or spilling from containers. About 9-12" tall, 18" wide. Sun or part shade. Little watering once established but wouldn't mind moist soil with good drainage. rev 10/2014-Suzy Brooks

‘Elijah Blue’    growing with Carex flagellifera    toupe-like planting    a dwarf, very glaucous variety, with almost white foliage. This seems to be the smallest variety out there among the blue fescues, and is best maintained as a small scale accent plant. The problem with allowing it to get large is that while it spreads out with time, it never gets any taller, so it just looks like a giant blue pancake. rev 7/2004

idahoensis   IDAHOE FESCUE, BLUE BUNCHGRASS   a clumping perennial species native to relatively drier hilly or forested habitats, ranging from British Columbia and Sasketchewan south to New Mexico and California. rev 7/2017

‘Siskiyou Blue’    long blue hair    this is a wonderful variety, probably the best of the Blue Fescues, with long, lush, blue blades reaching well over a foot in length and often laying horizontally to form broad blue masses of foliage. I think this would make a decent hanging basket. It is probably the bluest variety overall and therefore definitely my favorite. A neighbor up the street has it used simply but very effectively in front of a trellis of the dark green leaves of Star Jasmine and below the deep burgundy foliage of Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy.’ With the bright green lawn bordering the planting it looks colorful all year. Jeff Brooks says it did well in the northern Central Valley, with beautiful blue, arching flower stalks, very satisfying. rev 2/2010

'Stanislaus River'  dewy foliage   a compact selection, to about 12-14" tall and wide, distinguished by its very fine textured blue green leaves. Sun or part shade, infrequent to very little summer watering. rev 7/2017

'Stony Creek'  leaf color   this is a Del Norte County selection of this species, meaning it is more adapted to our unusualultra-long California summers, the longest and most variably rainless of all the various Mediterranean climate regions. It is not quite as blue as 'Siskyou Blue,' but makes up for it in toughness and durability. Sun (coast) to some shade (likes it in scorching summer areas) with infrequent to just occasional summer watering. It will survive all but the most desert-like zones without any watering at all but it will look very dormant under those conditions. To 30" in flower. Sunset zones 5-9, 12-24/USDA zone 8, probably 7. rev 7/2017

'Tomales Bay' BUNCHGRASS   fine, blue foliage   a California native grass and a very nice blue one too! Small and dense, under a foot tall, it will grow in sun or part shade. This is a good choice for lawn substitutes and meadows, blending easily with other natives or drier growing perennials. Easy to edge a path, fill a small area as groundcover, dot about in the garden, and lovely in containers. Some watering in the summer to look its best. Sunset zones 8, 9, 14-24/USDA 9. rev 7/2011-Suzy Brooks

punctoria  HEDGEHOG GRASS   young clump   this is a very blue, very stiff, hard species you grow because you want it to be blue, stay small (under 8" tall and wide), and not die out in the middle. The leaves are quite firm and stiff, and have a sharp tip. They aren't as dangerous or troublesome as Australian Needlegrass, but they do need a little respect. This subject has a strong following in the PNW because of its resistance to wet weather and the previously mentioned tendency to not die out in the center with age. The older leaves will turn straw colored in fall and eventually drop out, but otherwise it survives with little or no care in well drained, preferably mineral soils.  Grow it in full to mostly full sun, give it little or regular summer watering. It can be mass planted for a very effective ground cover. Asia Minor. Sunset zones 5-9, 14-24, USDA 5. rev 2/2010 (not currently in production)

rubra 'Patrick's Point'  fine blades  coming from 'Patrick's Point' near Agate Beach on the coast of Northern California, this is a fine bladed, clumping blue grey grass that spreads moderately quickly underground and makes a wonderful meadow grass or groundcover. About 6-12" tall and can be mowed. Does like some water in the summer, sun, or part shade in hot areas. USDA 5/Sunset zones 1-10, 14-24. rev 2/2019

Ficus (ornamentals)   mostly tropical to subtropical trees and vines, with a few hardier temperate or Mediterranean outliers. Valued for foliage and habit because flowers are almost always inconspicuous to almost unnoticeable. Evergreen tree types are all experimental north of Santa Barbara although a few old patriarchs have survived our epic record freezes (with heavy damage) if they are in especially favored situations. Moraceae. rev 1/2013

binnedijkii 'Alii'   4" plants    a tree native to the Philippines recognized by its very long, narrow leaves. I would bet this is the very common street tree I saw lining boulevards and highways in the Jakarta area, growing as a dense, neat, narrow pyramid to 20-30' tall with conspicuously long, narrow foliage and never any visible flowers. It's fast, easy, not prone to dropping foliage in response to stress and maintains its neat appearance indoors as well as outdoors in the tropics. No frost but would probably do well as a porch/patio container plant in warmer winter climates such as SoCal. rev 3/2021

lyrata  FIDDLELEAF FIG   a large tropical or subtropical tree, this is mostly known as a specimen houseplant subject. Leaves can easily reach 12-15" long by 8-10" across, trees can reach 20' outdoors in areas like San Diego or other warm coastal or frost-protected microclimates of Southern California. As a houseplant give it bright indirect light, or a small amount of direct, non-scorching sunlight and allow to dry between waterings (lift or tilt container to judge when it is light) at all times except outdoors during strong active growth. There are several selections offered, mostly as houseplant-oriented variations. USDA zone 9a/Sunset zones 23-24. Tropical Africa. rev 6/2021

'Suncoast'  giant leaves on 4" plants   faster, with shorter leaf internodes (more compact), reportedly more cold tolerant - and thus probably better able to tolerate wetter-than-is-wise conditions in cool house, or outdoor use. rev 6/2021

macrophylla ssp. columnaris   LORD HOWE ISLAND FIG   our dock area specimen, 15 years old (2020)  aerial roots   basal roots   juvenile leaf (left) against mature leaves   also published as a variety or form of F. macrophylla, this distinct island population has smaller leaves and a shorter height. It grows as a strangler fig, germinating on a branch then sending roots down the ground. It is notable for vigorously producing aerial roots from the trunks and branches even in relatively dry climates, which is unusual. Almost all aerial root producers require quite humid conditions. These roots quickly grow from spaghetti size to trunk size, lined up under the source branches, forming curtains and even rooms/chambers. Incredibly, with the resulting support this form can thus spread even wider faster than the already worryingly monstrous regular mainland-Australia form of Moreton Bay Fig. Amazingly, specimens can eventually cover up to 5 acres and no, that's not a typo. Expect 10 to 25-year freezes to prevent that from happening in California. Surprisingly, if propagated from mature (fruit-bearing) stems leaves are smaller, growth is slower and it can make a fine houseplant. Sun to mostly shade, average to very little watering when established, hardy to 28-25F if it has leaf canopy above. Our plants are cuttings derived from a seedling grown from fruit brought back from Lord Howe Island itself. Our plant matured and began flowering/fruiting about 7 years after planting. USDA zone 9. rev 10/2020-Luen Miller

'Variegated'   juvenile foliage leaves cleanly margined with ivory white. Very slow. Watch for reversions! When maintained this is a real gem of a container or small-area subject, but don't plan on being able to use it to cover large areas as the reversions are obnoxiously persistent. I don't think I've ever seen mature foliage on this form. rev 1/2013

Figs are delicious all by themselves or gussied up with blue cheese, then wrapped in prosciutto, skewered, and grilled. They are free of sodium, fat, and cholesterol, and a terrific source of fiber. They're also outrageously expensive at the store. There is no reason not to grow your own except simple laziness, or ignorance. Since you are reading this list clearly you are neither. Full ripeness in figs only occurs in the very last day or two before fruit fall, when the neck suddenly relaxes and the fruit droop down sharply (and the the fruit suddenly fill with sugar). This therefore means they can't be picked at proper ripeness if they need time for transport to market or harder skins to resist handling. At this point properly ripened figs have to be bought from local specialty markets, farmers markets or be picked from your own tree. Period.

Almost all figs sold in the trade today are a type known as "common figs," meaning they set sterile fruit all by their lonely selves and don't need a pollinating insect or another variety nearby. Essentially they are self-sterile but fertile females and they will produce fruit whether they receive pollen inside, transported via a tiny wasp, about the size of a common fruit fly (Drosophila) or less. These are hosted in the small, dry flower-fruits of a second type of seedling, a male-equivalent ("caprifig") nearby. They are small enough to force their way up the tiny occluded pore at the distal end of the female flower-fruits. All figs can set seeds if caprifigs and their pollinators are nearby, and the seeds improve the experience, bringing a richer, nuttier flavor. Some fraction of the seedling population will not produce fruit at all unless pollinated, these are known as "Smyrna-type" or "true" figs. The identifier "Smyrna" is actually protected from unauthorized marketing use except by fig growers in that region of Turkey, formerly Anatolian Greece. They are also imported as Kalamata figs, another protected designation. Grown here they are sold as Calimyrna®, also protected, by registered trademark). A fourth type, "San Pedro" figs, bear a seedless breba (overwintered) crop but need pollination for the main growing-season crop. In any crop of seedlings you grow out from the seeds in that bag of Smyrna, Kalamata or Calimyrna® figs you bought will find common figs, caprifigs, true figs and San Pedro figs. You could select one and name it after yourself!!

Four of the varieties below performed extremely well in a 2012 evaluation - in containers even! - right here in our cold, miserable, wind tunnel location. This wasn't a definitive test, as such old coastal stalwarts as 'Osborne Prolific' and 'White Genoa' weren't available to trial. But the superachievers, 'Violeta de Bordeaux' (already in production), 'Blue Celeste,' 'Bourjassote Grise,' and 'Flanders' ripened their first "crop of the year" (versus an overwintered, spring to early summer ripening breba crop) even before ubiquitous but usually lackluster 'Brown Turkey.' Most importantly all had substantially superior density, sweetness and flavor as well. Performance was in the order just listed, with 'Violeta' coming in first. All four should be considered to be at or near the top of the list in cool-summer areas and of course anywhere warmer as well. The others, below as already in our catalog, are best sited  in warm to hot summer climates.

If you are comfortable reading formal research papers this one, Genetic structure and differentiation in cultivated fig (Ficus carica L.) [Aradhya, Stover, Velasco, Koehmstedt, Genetica (2010)138:681-694], suggests many cultivars are, not surprisingly, synonymous renames of previously existing varieties. rev 6/2020

Fragaria chiloensis 'Aulon'  WOOD STRAWBERRY   at UCSC   huge flowers   a very nice Northern California selection by Brett Hall that has tough, very shiny, vert dark green leaves against red runners, and huge, creamy white flowers to about an inch and a half across. This clone apparently forms almost exclusively male flowers, we are on the lookout for a female variant or similar counterpart because the species does bear tasty fruits. Runs quickly, tolerates sun along the coast or more shade inland, and needs little summer watering. This is a very nice native that deserves wide distribution and should have a nice niche in today's water-aware garden schemes. Sunset zones 5-9, 14-17, 21-24/USDA zone 8. Rosaceae. rev 2/2010

Fremontodendron ‘California Glory’    FLANNEL BUSH    Mission Hill    closeup    large, fast California native shrub to 15-20’ tall and wide, though often to only half that size. Bears 3-lobed, grainy leaves to 3" across, sweetly scented with a resinous fragrance much like that of Rainbow Popsicles, most evident on warm spring days. Masses of open, well displayed, bright yellow to yellow orange flowers to almost 4" across appear in spring and early summer. Hybrid varieties will bloom as long as they are pushing new growth. With a deep water supply, this can extend the bloom season into early summer, and plants can repeat bloom in fall. This variety seems almost indistinguishable from the next two, but has been in the trade longer and so is better known. It is definitely harder to propagate than either ‘Pacific Sunset’ or ‘San Gabriel’. Sun to part shade, little or no summer watering when established. Needs good drainage. Makes an excellent large espalier for a dry situation. Keep the grainy fuzz ("flannel") away from sensitive areas such as face, neck, or eyes. Malvaceae these days, formerly Sterculiaceae.rev 5/2018

‘Ken Taylor’    closeup    habit    to 3-4’ tall, 6-12’ wide, with a horizontal to semipendant habit. Leaves are somewhat more grey green, flowers hang horizontally to pendantly and thus show their orange backs more than other hybrids. The flowers are also smaller by about an inch. A selection of, or hybrid involving  F. decumbens.
‘Pacific Sunset’    closeup    same parentage as ‘California Glory’ and ‘San Gabriel.’ Flowers are faintly oranger, supposedly larger.
‘San Gabriel’    flowers    very closeup    flowers like ‘California Glory,’ leaves are slightly more lobed.

Fuchsias    tender evergreen shrubs or scrambling vines, well known for their beautiful flowers. The majority of our varieties are sold as staked, including trailers, since they are much easier to merchandise at the retail level. Varieties range in growth from narrow upright growers, scandent vine-like shrubs, compact bushes, or trailing to mounding creepers. There are even some flat groundcover species available from specialists ( F. procumbens, for example). The genus is native to South America. Onagraceae. rev 9/2003

     Culture for Fuchsias is usually going to include mostly shade to part sun unless you are along the immediate coast, where they can take mostly sun at the expense of somewhat redder, sparser foliage. Flowering tends to be heavier the more light they have, but any direct sunlight can result in scorching and bleaching on the hottest days. Soil or container mixes should be rich, freely draining, and heavy on humus or organic material. They are going to need regular to copious watering. None would be considered drought tolerant except in the mildest of cool summer, near-coastal plantings. They are going to respond well to soluble fertilizers applied monthly or even semimonthly, and should be cut back (if needed) as they begin to break growth in spring.

     They are wonderful for attracting hummingbirds, but those, along with bees, can also spread the almost microscopic Fuchsia Mite, so they are a mixed blessing. Overall Fuchsia Mite has been a much less severe problem recently, and speculation is that they are now being fed upon by a predatory mite, though I haven't seen anything to confirm this.

Furcraea  Agave-like plants from the Americas. Some are gigantic and spiny, others are much easier to live around. Agavaceae. rev 8/2008

foetida    CUBA HEMP, MAURITIUS HEMP    large container plant    an evergreeen, agave-like plant to 4-5' tall by 12' across, with leaves to 6-8' when happy (warm and partly shaded with regular watering), with leaves that are softer, greener and more watery than an Agave, and unarmed. It is subtropical in origin and will start to show disfiguring damage below 25F. Use it when you want an Agave or Yucca form but don't want spines or teeth. It sends up a central stalk to about 25' when it blooms, which it will do after a few years, but the flowers are greenish and not particularly showy. A 25' spike can't be ignored, however, and it is dramatic due to its sheer size. In addition the flowers are highly fragrant. The plant is monocarpic, and will die after flowering, but bulblets on the flower spike will grow into new plants. For sun (coast) to part shade (hot inland) and infrequent to average watering. Very good in containers, of course. The leaf fibers are used in making bags, cloth, and twine. Sunset zones 8-9 (with protection), 14-17, 21-24/USDA zone 9. Northern South America. Agavaceae. rev 10/2005

note: all above text and images ©Luen Miller and Monterey Bay Nursery, Inc. except as otherwise noted