Mostly Natives Planting Guides

Native Hedgerow

A hedgerow of Silk Tassel, Creek Dogwood and Wax Myrtle

Hedgerows are what divide the fields, border the estates, line the driveways and grace the vineyards. They are the inbetween, the buffer, the place where the interesting stuff happens if you do it right. They often are made up of a variety of plants to create more diversity to the eye and to the beneficial insects that you wish to attract. They provide food and habitat for small mammals, insects and birds, all of the creatures that make up the balance that keeps the environment healthy.

An example of a natural hedgerow would be a creek bed meandering through a field. You'll notice that that is where all the activity is, the nesting birds, the wild bee hives, the frogs and fish and insects that everything else consumes. Hedgerows can also be planted to create the same benefits to your fields or garden. Traditionally they were placed close together and formally clipped to create a tight barrier forming a sort of living fence but more recently the trend has been to allow them to grow freely increasing the blooming and fruiting of each plant and thus attracting a wide variety of beneficials.

With this in mind we have put together a list of plants, all California natives, with an emphasis on food production for wildlife. They are mostly fairly drought tolerant and can be clipped if space is an issue. This is just a starting point, feel free to experiment to create your own unique hedgerow.