Grow these 5 easy-to-grow plants in Fallbrook area

With its mild Mediterranean climate, Fallbrook provides favorable weather conditions for growing a wide host of trees, plants, fruits, vegetables and ornamentals.

For those that may not possess the world's greenest thumb, the following five selections might be worth considering, as many residents have experienced success with them.

Lantana, (Lantana camara)

Lantana is a hardy, colorful, drought-tolerant plant that trails attractively and can be used in myriad locations within a landscape. It consists of an evergreen shrub with brilliant flowers in many color combinations.

"There are a couple of different kinds, one is a trailing type and the other is a mounding variety, a shrub-type," Connie O'Brien, plant specialist for Emerald M. Growers, Inc., 136 Ranger Road, in Fallbrook, said.

Lantana is commonly used in Fallbrook, especially to adorn long driveways and as a climber along fence lines. With proper care and light, it stays green year-round.

"It's an evergreen shrub and likes full sun, but it doesn't flower as well in shade," O'Brien said.

It is also quite suitable for rocky areas, where its trailing qualities can cover an uneven ground surface quite well.

Lantana repeatedly blooms with flower clusters at various times throughout the year and has a distinct aroma. A plant that loves the sun and bright light, it is very forgiving as to the quality of the soil and can even be shaped into small hedges.

"Shade causes mildew on lantana, so that is to be avoided," O'Brien said. "Lantana also does not like frost."

In the Fallbrook and surrounding area, lantana can be started from seed sown early in the spring. Germination is between 42 and 60 days.

A single lantana plant can be very attractive when placed in a hanging basket. It takes on new energy when it gets cut back, cleaned out and rid of woody debris. Don't be afraid to shape the plant to keep it lush and full.

Lantana is in the verbena family of which 150 species exist. Gardeners should be aware that lantana is popular as a honey plant and does attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Total eradication of a lantana plant can be challenging as it easily regenerates.

It should be noted that lantana plants and their berries are considered toxic. Some individuals may experience skin reactions when working with them and, if ingested, this plant material can irritate the stomach lining.

Red Apple, (Aptenia cordifolia)

A small, succulent ground cover that makes quick work out of covering a hillside when favored with regular watering, red apple is a hardy member of the ice plant family. When planted at the recommended intervals, gently fertilized and regularly watered, this attractive ice plant forms a tight ground cover that smothers out weeds. O'Brien said, however, for red apple to perform well, it does like shade and plenty of water.

"It's not one of my favorites, but I've seen it used pretty successfully in ground covers where it doesn't get too hot," O'Brien said.

Perfect for covering hillsides that may be uneven and contain segments of rock surface, the only drawback to red apple is that it attracts bees. If the area of red apple is not in close proximity to the pathway of day to day living, the bees generally do not present a problem as they favor staying close to the plants.

Red apple not only attractively covers slopes, but the root system helps bind the soil, protecting the area from soil erosion during rain. It is also effective as a fire-resistant surface due to the plant's high-water content.

"If it gets too hot, the coverage the plant provides will be sporadic," O'Brien said.

A perennial, red apple features small, plump heart-shaped green succulent leaves and small reddish pink flowers that open to the sun. It is easy to propagate by taking cuttings from areas where the plant is dense and simply sticking them in empty spots. It is important to water those new plantings while they are getting established. In warm months that might mean two or three times a day for a brief period. If that is difficult to accomplish within an individual's schedule, take the cuttings and plant them in a container that can be placed in a shady/higher moisture location until they are rooted and can be transplanted.

Gazania, (Gazania leucolanea-trailing and Gazania splendens-clumping)

Given the amount of sun that Fallbrook is favored with year-round, gazania plants flower more often than in other parts of the country where the climate is more seasonal.

"They come in all different colors and shades, and they are a drought-tolerant perennial, which means they will reseed themselves," O'Brien said.

Both the trailing variety of gazanias and the clumping type are hardy, easy-to-grow plants, do well in a variety of soil types and feature varieties with vibrant-colored flowers.

Many gardeners favor the clumping variety, claiming it is easier to maintain over the long run as it is nicely drought resistant.

"There are varieties that will take shade and those that will take full sun," O'Brien said.

Many area residents have chosen gazanias as a ground cover choice, but it is also ideal for bursts of color in designed areas of the manicured landscape.

While the daisy-like flowers are said to bloom more in the late spring and early summer, this plant appears to like the mild Mediterranean climate of Fallbrook so much that it blooms off and on year-round.

Gazanias are sun worshipers, not picky about soil quality and fill in nicely when planted 6-9 inches apart. The gazania plant's bold flowers are day-friendly but shy at night, closing up when the sun goes down.

The best time of year to take cuttings from adult plants to start new ones is September, gardeners said. O'Brien said gazanias look better when watered regularly, but one should be careful of using overhead water especially if the weather runs to a series of overcast days.

"They can mildew a little bit when overcast days and overhead watering is combined," O'Brien said and offered a solution. "If that happens, just use a fungicide."

The gazania is called the "treasure flower" and is native to South Africa.

Aloe Vera, (Medicinal aloe)

The medicinal qualities of the aloe vera plant make it of dual benefit to Fallbrook residents, whether there is room on the property to plant one or if one simply wants to grow it in a container. And compared to some succulents, it has an attractive growth rate.

"Aloe veras are relatively fast growing in the grand scheme of succulents," O'Brien said. The aloe vera plant likes being in full sun or partial shade. It grows 1-2 feet tall and produces a yellow flower from the center of the plant.

Not only is aloe vera in the drought-tolerant succulent family, making it easy on the water bill, it can be used for healing purposes, even by the layman. Some simply cut a stem from the plant and use the clear fluid contained within the inner leaf on burns and wounds. It is also said to be helpful in the treatment of diabetes and other maladies.

"It's great for sunburns, and other burns and bites," O'Brien said.

The plant contains leaves/stems that are green to grey-green in color, with some varieties containing white flecks on the upper and lower steam surfaces. The edges of the leaves are serrated, so gardeners must be careful when working with the plant.

The aloe vera plant typically produces a spike flower in the summer months, in a yellow color. Featured in xeriscapes due to its low need for water and fondness for sun, the aloe vera has a somewhat exotic look for a succulent with its interesting bloom.

Aloe vera plants can be grown in large containers, but an easy-to-drain sandy environment must be provided for success. The plant likes to completely dry out before its next watering. Specialized cactus fertilizer is recommended for optimal outcome with this plant.

For those who wish to grow multiple plants or share with a friend, cuttings from an aloe vera plant can be taken and started in the ground fairly easily.

"Just break off a piece and stick it in the ground," O'Brien said. "They are fabulous plants to put out there and watch. I consider them pretty bomb-proof."

It should be noted that the aloe vera exudes two different fluids with opposite properties. The clear fluid from the inner leaf is medicinal; the yellow/green sap found when the green surface of the leaf is cut is an irritant.

Pygmy Date Palm, (Phoenix roebelenii)

The pygmy date palm is one of the most widely used landscape palms in the Southern California. With its graceful crown, the pygmy date palm provides an especially attractive soft effect against the hard angles of Spanish or Mediterranean architecture, or can lend to a tropical environment surrounding a pool or pond.

"(The pygmy date palm) is a good little palm; a good decorative palm and a great small landscape plant," O'Brien said.

These palms are small in stature and grow slowly, typically only 6-12 inches per year, topping out at 12 feet, so they do not quickly become a burden to the homeowner.

"They are very slow growing," O'Brien said.

While a pygmy date palm can be planted in full sun down to full shade, what must be observed is the necessary watering pattern. These palms do not like to dry out. If they are planted in full sun, it's best to water them three times per week in warm months and two times per week in milder or chilly weather. When the weather turns cold, this palm can suffer, but it is resilient.

"Two or three winters ago, when we had a cold snap, I saw some pygmy date palms that lost some of their fronds, but they came back," O'Brien said.

If planted in a shady setting, watering does not need to be as frequent, but they should be hosed down every 10 to 14 days to avoid dust and insect issues.

The composition of this palm consists of feather-type leaves and a slim but hairy trunk. It can bear some small flowers and the female variety produces small fruit in a purple-red color.

If small plants are selected for a planting, they are many times grouped in double or triple plantings and many nurseries sell multi-trunk specimens already cultivated in that fashion. It can be propagated from seeds and dividing offsets from the plant.

A fertilizer rich in potassium and magnesium sulfate used lightly works best on this variety of palm. Be sure to trim and clean out dead older leaves as they appear, but wear protective gloves when doing so.

For those that might like one indoors, O'Brien said that is possible.

"They can easily be grown indoors, just be sure to place them next to a window that gets bright light," she said.

This article is reprinted from an issue of the Village Lifestyle magazine.