What do Plants Want? Just Ask Them!

I'm not a scientific kinda girl.  When it comes to plants I'll learn their names and growing conditions, but ask me how many pistils one has and I'll give you a pretty blank look.  Sometimes I'll find myself at the nursery and will come across a little lovely with no label.  Hmmm, what might this be?  And what kind of home would it like to be in?  I'll typically take a pretty non-scientific approach.

Plants have their own ways of coping with their natural environments, just like us.  When you go to the beach, you take your sunscreen.  Well, sometimes plants do, too!  If you have the clues, you can begin to make educated guesses as to what climate your mystery plant prefers.

Take this thistle shown above, for example.  It has gray-green foliage that will not absorb as much heat from the sun.  Not only that, but if you look closely there are small hairs growing between the leaves.  Sunscreen!  If you had to guess, you'd think to put this in a desert-like setting.  (And you'd be right- this was taken at the base of the Eastern Sierra)

Let's be clear:  this is not a fool-proof method at all.  Being non-scientific has its risks and guesses should always be followed up with a cruise through the Sunset Western Garden Book or laspilitas.com for California natives.  Listen to the scientists!

So if foliage color provides one clue, leaf size will help with another.  This Mimulus sports long, narrow leaves.  Not a ton of surface area, huh?  It doesn't need it, because it prefers a sunny spot and gets plenty of opportunities to absorb the light.  Likewise, large, broad-leaf plants will typically prefer part shade conditions.

And what about foliage texture?  This Dudleya hassei has thick, fleshy fingers.  Why is that?  Well, Dudleyas typically live in places that don't get much rainfall.  They need the extra closet space to store all the water they'll need throughout the year.  So a flimsy green leaf?  Probably a more water dependent guy.

Let me say again that this is only a way to make educated guesses, but it's also a fun way to experience the garden- like a conversation at a cocktail party.  "Where are you from?  What do you do?"  The plants are talking.  Ask the right questions and listen carefully!