Wild, Wispy, and Captivating Native Flora

As head gardener of the Steven S. Koblik Education and Visitor Center (EVC), one of my guiding principles is “no flyover beds.” Every part of the garden should hold visitors’ interest, inviting them to pause and appreciate the beauty around them. With the replanting efforts that began in fall 2024, my goal is to ensure that every part of the EVC—from the smallest nooks to the largest planter beds—is both captivating and a reflection of the California I love and call home.

I moved here about 13 years ago from Austin, Texas, for graduate school in a field completely unrelated to botany or landscaping. During the week, I spent most of my time indoors, in classrooms and research labs. But on weekends, I found increasing relief and joy in exploring the outdoors. This was especially true once I ventured beyond city parks and into the Santa Monica Mountains. The more time I spent hiking and camping in California’s diverse landscapes, the more I came to appreciate the unique beauty of its native plants.

Typically, doctoral students continue their research during the summer, but after my first year, I chose a different path. Instead of spending the summer in a lab, I embarked on a monthlong camping trip along the West Coast, driving from California to Vancouver Island. That journey solidified my decision to step away from academia. Through a series of fortunate twists and turns, I discovered and deepened my passion for California’s beautiful and diverse flora.

When selecting plants for the gardens, I consider the natural features of the space, such as light conditions and how they shift throughout the day. I also factor in existing trees and plants, as well as hardscape elements like paths and buildings. And, of course, I think about the plants themselves—how their colors and textures will complement one another, which plants will add fragrance to the air, and which companions will thrive together.

With California natives, toughness and beauty are inseparable. I am particularly drawn to the plants of the Transverse Ranges in the central and southern parts of our state. These plants have evolved to withstand extreme and often unforgiving conditions. Their resilience manifests in an incredible variety of forms, colors, and scents. Their beauty is not in immediate, showy bright flowers or lush green foliage. Instead, it has a tough and subdued elegance that invites us to slow down and look closely. A chaparral-covered mountainside may appear gray and brown at first glance, but with patience, its dusty rainbow of purples, blues, silvers, yellows, and rust emerges.

Among my favorite native plants are buckwheats. It’s difficult to choose just one, but ashyleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum) stands out, with its delicate, sweet flowers and silvery leaves that seem both matte and shimmering at once. Dudleyas are another favorite—I love how, after spotting one on a rocky cliffside, suddenly the rest reveal themselves like gravity-defying jewels. The seemingly endless varieties of Ceanothus and Arctostaphylos (manzanita) bring me a quiet joy, while the scent released by a gentle brush against a California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) or woolly bluecurls (Trichostema lanatum) is equally powerful. Even tiny leaves from plants like coyote mint (Monardella villosa) and yerba buena (Satureja douglasii) can carry remarkable fragrance.

The small planters near the vehicle drop-off and pick-up area next to Admission serve as a great reminder of the importance of scale when selecting plants. Originally, each planter held two or three jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), a beautiful native shrub. However, jojoba grows into a large shrub or small tree—not a great fit for a tiny curbside box. Keeping one there was like trying to house an elephant in a backyard. So, last year, I decided to start fresh and with plants better suited to the space.

This redesign gave me the opportunity to highlight some stunning dudleyas, nestled among rocks to mimic their natural environment. From there, I built out the planting with a variety of textures at a miniature scale—colorful sedums, delicate Lewisias, and small perennials with bold, beautiful blooms like coyote mint (Monardella villosa) and red-flowered buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens).

I hope the garden captures the rugged beauty of California landscapes—a little wild, a little wispy, and completely captivating. I hope when you look at the dainty wildflowers and sturdy shrubs, you will feel the same sense of peace and wonder I feel when I’m outdoors, and that you enjoy slowing down to watch these plants grow and change over time.

Derya Kadipasaoglu is head gardener of the Steven S. Koblik Education and Visitor Center at The Huntington.