GARDENING WITH NATURE

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Use Fire-smart Plant Choices to Resist Wildfire

When designing landscapes in wildfire-prone areas, homeowners face the challenge of finding a balance between creating beautiful outdoor spaces while maintaining crucial fire protection for their homes.

Fortunately, several native plants offer both aesthetic appeal and FireSmart™ qualities.

Three standout choices, Mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii), Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra), and Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) demonstrate that fire-wise landscaping doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty.

Visit the FireSmart website to learn about the best fire-resistant choices for your landscape.

MOCK ORANGE

Philadelphus lewisii, our native Mock Orange, is a deciduous shrub that typically reaches six to 10 feet tall, producing masses of white, fragrant flowers in late spring that evoke the scent of orange blossoms.

It earns its place in fire-smart gardens through several key characteristics–

• From a fire-safety perspective, Mock Orange excels because of its high moisture content and low resin levels. The plant’s broad, green leaves retain substantial water content throughout the growing season, making it less likely to ignite quickly.
• Unlike many ornamental shrubs, Mock Orange doesn’t accumulate significant dead material within its structure, reducing the fuel load when properly maintained. Its deciduous nature means it naturally drops leaves in fall rather than accumulating layers of dry, flammable debris as pyramid cedars tend to.
• Mock Orange responds well to pruning, allowing homeowners to maintain open spacing between branches that helps to prevent fire from easily moving through the plant’s structure.

Position Mock Orange 1.5 to 30 metres away from a structure where it can still provide privacy and beauty without endangering your home.

If you garden in a small space, consider the diminutive cultivar ‘Snowbelle’ which reaches only three to four feet tall and wide.

SMOOTH SUMAC

Rhus glabra, or Smooth Sumac brings both striking ornamental value and practical fire resistance to Okanagan landscapes.

This native shrub features compound leaves that turn brilliant shades of orange and red in autumn, followed by persistent crimson fruit clusters that feed overwintering birds.

Growing eight to 15 feet tall, Smooth Sumac spreads through rhizomes to form colonies, making it excellent for erosion control on slopes.

The fire-smart qualities of smooth sumac lie in its structure and composition–

• The plant maintains relatively high moisture levels in its foliage and stems during active growth.
• Its leaves are broad and flat, with smooth surfaces that don’t trap heat or encourage rapid flame spread.
• While Smooth Sumac does produce some woody material, it lacks the volatile oils found in many drought-tolerant plants.
• This species naturally self-prunes lower branches as it matures, creating vertical separation from ground fuels, a critical feature in fire-safe landscaping.

Regular maintenance enhances Smooth Sumac’s defensive qualities. Remove dead canes annually and thin colonies to prevent excessive density.

Space individual clumps of plants at least 10 feet apart to create natural firebreaks within your landscape.

SASKATOOON

Amelanchier alnifolia, commonly known as Saskatoon, is also suitable for planting along the perimeter of the intermediate zone, which is 1.5 to 10 metres away from a structure. It possesses several characteristics that make it a valuable addition to FireSmart™ landscaping.

This native Okanagan shrub is considered a fire-resistant plant due to its high moisture content in leaves and stems, which helps slow the spread of flames.

It maintains relatively lush foliage throughout the growing season, contributing to its lower flammability rating compared to many conifers or plants with resinous leaves.

Additionally, the Saskatoon can be pruned and maintained at a manageable height, allowing homeowners to keep it as a compact shrub rather than allowing it to develop into a taller bush, which could provide ladder fuel that may carry fire from ground level into the tree canopy.

When planted as part of a well-maintained FireSmart™ landscape with adequate spacing, Amelanchier alnifolia can serve both aesthetic and protective functions, offering beautiful white spring flowers followed by edible berries while contributing to a defensible space around structures in our wildfire-prone valley.

All three of these plants share critical FireSmart™ characteristics– high moisture content, low volatile oil production, deciduous habits that prevent excessive dead material accumulation, and growth habits that make them amenable to maintenance pruning.

Combine them throughout your defensible space, maintaining adequate spacing that prevents fire from jumping between bushes.

Remember that even fire-resistant plants require proper maintenance, such as regular removal of any dead material.

With these three beautiful fire-smart plant choices, you can create a landscape that’s both defensible from fire and drought-tolerant.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

Use Native Plants to Create a Natural Garden

Article by Josh Smith, Xeriscape Endemic Nursery (XEN)

Consider transitioning a section of your landscape to native plants, where you can reduce both maintenance and water use, conserving a vital resource in this arid valley, along with your own energy.

A side benefit is that you are providing valuable feed and habitat for all sorts of indigenous wild things– from insects to birds, to small and large mammals– by your restoration.

Do not embark on this project unless you are prepared to accept that you are collaborating with your environment, not conquering it.

Rabbitbrush, Eericameria nauseosa

WHAT ARE NATIVE PLANTS?

Native vs Endemic vs Exotic vs Naturalized vs Invasive
The scientific definition of a native species is an organism that occurs naturally in a region without human introduction, having evolved there or arrived via natural dispersion over evolutionary time.

• NATIVE plants belong here.
• ENDEMIC plants belong ONLY here.
• EXOTIC plants are introduced by humans from elsewhere.
  *NATURALIZED plants are exotic plants that behave themselves.
  *INVASIVE  plants are exotic plants that are ecologically harmful.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOICES

Consider first where a plant is native— Canada, B.C., or the Interior. Winter cold, summer heat, humidity/precipitation, and competition are all factors in limiting where exactly a plant is native.

Lots of plants native to B.C. are completely inappropriate in the Okanagan, so they’re unlikely to thrive here.

Then, within the Okanagan, first you must also consider whether a plant is native to our particular region of the valley; then, in which ecoregion it belongs: upland, riparian, high elevation, etc.

Further, consider whether it would thrive on a dry silty slope, a creek edge, or in a bed of clay.

Provenance (original seed source) and site matching (right plant, right place) matter more than just choosing a native plant.

Within the Okanagan, there are extremely diverse ecosystems in close proximity to each other, and ignoring sub-regional differences can cause failure unless you are careful to plant native plants in their natural environment.

Elevation, temperature, sun exposure, drainage, and soil texture often matter more than region.

In general though:

• The South Okanagan is hot and dry and of low elevation
• The Central Okanagan is transitional
• The North Okanagan is cooler and wetter

Pre-settlement landscapes in the Okanagan featured native plants that evolved with disturbance, not with watering, fertilizer, or mulch, such as we use on our man-made landscapes. This is a fire-adapted ecosystem that consists of drought-tolerant plant communities in patchy, disturbed, open landscapes.

Many native plants expect stress and respond poorly to pampering, so, as gardeners, we should take advantage of these attributes.

Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa

ADVANTAGES OF NATIVE PLANTS

LESS WATER
The use of native plants in your landscape reduces the amount of supplemental water needed, but it does not necessarily mean they require no water. All plants require enough water when first planted to help them to settle in, so at least for the first year, they are likely to need some supplemental water over the summer and during drought.

LESS MAINTENANCE
Over the longer term, inputs such as fertilizer, replanting, chemicals and other maintenance are greatly reduced with native plants grown in a natural garden. Plants that evolved here are used to our weather swings. This is their home, and they are climate-resilient.

SUPPORT LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS
Native plants also support the local ecology, including pollinators, birds, mammals, and beneficial microorganisms, as well as their companion native plants.

Native plants overwhelmingly provide better habitat than non-native ornamentals and are the entry point for energy into our local ecosystem. They are the foundation of all food webs and feed everything, or everything’s food. Birds depend on insects as part of this food web: over 95% of land-based birds in North America feed insects to their young, and this includes species of birds that exclusively eat seeds as adults.

Birds cannot survive without insects, and insects are highly-specialized and often have evolved specific digestive enzymes and life cycles that require native plants as food or as a larval host for reproduction.

For an extreme example, the Okanagan has some species of butterfly that are at risk or endangered because they have evolved to only use one specific plant, or plant family, as a larval host.

Behr’s Hairstreak Butterfly depends on Antelope Brush; Monarch Butterfly larva can only survive on Milkweeds (Showy Milkweed is the only native here), and the Mormon Metalmark Butterfly relies on Buckwheats.

Human activity and climate change have reduced the population of these plants, which results in a reduced butterfly population, which in turn reduces pollination and seed production for these plants. This type of negative feedback spiral is often the cause of species extinction.

Pollinators also require native plants. Most ornamental, non-native flowers produce nectar that can be used by native adult bees as food, but the 500-600 species of bees native to BC are often pollen specialists that require specific plants or plant families for the pollen they need to feed their larva. Although the bees are very important, flies, other insects, and birds also do their share of pollinating plants.

In addition to pollination services, these insects and birds also often provide pest control, such as being predatory on pests like aphids.

PLANT OF THE MONTH- March

by Sigrie Kendrick

Lenten or Christmas Rose, or Hellebore

Helleborus orientalis, commonly known as the Lenten or Christmas Rose, or simply Hellebore, is an excellent choice for Okanagan gardens.

Native to Greece, Turkey, and the Caucasus region, this elegant perennial has been favored by gardeners for centuries for its remarkable resilience and quiet, understated beauty.

Despite its common name, the Lenten Rose is not a true rose but a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It produces nodding, cup-shaped flowers in a stunning range of colours from pure white and soft cream to deep plum, burgundy, and near-black.

Many cultivars feature attractive spotting, veining, or picotee edges, adding further visual interest. Helleborus orientalis blooms appear from late winter through early spring, often pushing up through frost and snow, earning the plant a reputation as a harbinger for the warmer days ahead.

The leathery, dark green foliage is evergreen in many climates, providing year-round structure and ground cover. Leaves are deeply divided into palmate segments, giving the plant a bold, architectural quality even when not in bloom.

Hellebore thrive in a woodland garden

Helleborus orientalis thrives in partial to full shade, making it an invaluable choice for woodland gardens and shade borders. It prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant and long-lived, with individual plants surviving for decades with minimal care.

Few plants offer so much for so little effort. The Lenten Rose naturalises freely, self-seeding to gradually form impressive clumps. It is also deer-resistant, a significant advantage in many Okanagan gardens.

However, gardeners should note that all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, so care should be taken in gardens frequented by children or pets. Some people may even experience mild skin irritation after touching Hellebore.

With its late-winter blooms and easy-going nature, Helleborus orientalis remains an essential plant for any shade garden.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

PLANT OF THE MONTH- FEBRUARY

by Sigrie Kendrick

Why are snowdrops remarkable?

Galanthus nivalis, commonly known as the snowdrop, is a small bulbous perennial plant that has captured the hearts of gardeners and nature enthusiasts worldwide. Native to Europe and parts of the Middle East, this delicate flower is one of the earliest bloomers in the garden calendar, often pushing through frozen soil and even snow cover to display its pristine white flowers.

The botanical name offers insight into its nature – “Galanthus” derives from Greek words meaning “milk flower,” while “nivalis” refers to snow, aptly describing both its appearance and its winter-blooming habit. The snowdrop typically grows to about 15 centimeters in height, with narrow, blue-green leaves and a single pendant flower consisting of three outer tepals and three shorter inner tepals marked with green.

What makes snowdrops particularly remarkable is their ability to flower in the coldest months of the year, usually between January and March in the Northern Hemisphere. This is made possible by several adaptations, including antifreeze proteins in their tissues that prevent damage from freezing temperatures. The drooping posture of the flowers also serves a practical purpose, protecting the plant’s reproductive parts from rain, snow, and cold winds.

Galanthus Nivalis – the promise of Spring

Snowdrops contain compounds of medical interest, notably galantamine, which is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This alkaloid was first isolated from snowdrops and related species in the Amaryllidaceae family, showcasing how even the smallest garden plants can hold significant pharmaceutical value.

For garden enthusiasts, snowdrops inspire a particular passion, sometimes leading to “galanthomania” – the obsessive collection of different snowdrop varieties. Despite their seemingly simple appearance, there are over 20 species and hundreds of cultivars differing in size, flowering time, and the patterns of green markings on their inner tepals. Some rare varieties can fetch prices in the hundreds of dollars for a single bulb.

Planting snowdrops is straightforward, though they prefer partial shade and humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. They naturalize readily in suitable conditions, forming impressive carpets over time. Most effectively, they are planted “in the green” – that is, shortly after flowering when still in leaf, rather than as dry bulbs.

For many gardeners, the sight of the first snowdrops emerging marks a significant moment in the yearly cycle – a promise that spring, with all its abundance, is on its way.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

PLANT OF THE MONTH- JANUARY

by Sigrie Kendrick

Wild pansy, heartsease, or Johnny-jump-up

Although not typically considered a xeriscape plant, these diminutive beauties, sited on my patio, receive very little supplemental irrigation and are actually quite drought-tolerant. They have been blooming since September and, with our recent mild weather, continue to do so, brightening the gloomy winter days, making them worthy to feature as Plant of the Month.

Viola tricolour, commonly known as the wild pansy, heartsease, or Johnny-jump-up, is a delightful European wildflower that has captured hearts for centuries. This small but mighty plant, belonging to the violet family Violaceae, displays cheerful blooms in combinations of colours, hence its scientific name “tricolour,” meaning three colors. Blooming in shades of blue, purple, orange, yellow, burgundy, white, and near-black, with many multicoloured varieties, these are tough, fast-growing, self-seeders.

Native to Europe and temperate regions of Asia, this hardy annual or short-lived perennial thrives in meadows, wastelands, and cultivated fields. The plant typically grows 6 to 8 inches tall, with delicate flowers measuring about half an inch across. Each bloom features distinctive face-like markings, with dark lines radiating from the center.

Viola tricolour – folklore and symbolism

Throughout history, Viola tricolour has been steeped in folklore and symbolism. Medieval Europeans called it heartsease because of its supposed ability to mend broken hearts and ease emotional pain. In the Victorian language of flowers, it represented loving thoughts and remembrance. Beyond its ornamental appeal, the wild pansy has practical uses. Herbalists have traditionally employed it to treat skin conditions, respiratory ailments, and inflammation. The flowers are edible and make attractive garnishes for salads and desserts, offering a mild, slightly minty flavor.

Viola tricolour is also the ancestor of the modern garden pansy (Viola × wittrockiana), developed through extensive breeding in the 19th century. While cultivated pansies now boast larger blooms in countless color combinations, many gardeners still cherish the wild pansy’s modest charm and natural grace.

This resilient little flower continues to brighten gardens and wild spaces, reminding us that beauty often comes in small, unpretentious packages. Viola tricolour are typically more heat and drought-tolerant than pansies and worth including in any garden.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

GARDENING WITH NATURE

Not all plants like the Okanagan

Popular Garden Plants That Struggle Here

Rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, and most Japanese maples (Acer species) may dominate garden centres but they’re fighting an uphill battle against this valley’s unique environmental conditions.

The most fundamental obstacle these plants face in the Okanagan is soil chemistry.

Rhododendrons, azaleas, and most hydrangeas are acid-loving plants that thrive in soils with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0. Unfortunately, Okanagan soils typically range from neutral to alkaline, often sitting between 7.0 and 8.5 pH. This alkaline environment creates a cascade of problems for acid-preferring plants.

In alkaline soils, essential nutrients become chemically bound and unavailable to plant roots, particularly iron, manganese, and zinc.

The result is chlorosis – that telltale yellowing of leaves while veins remain green – which weakens plants and makes them susceptible to other stresses.

While gardeners can attempt to acidify soil with sulphur or aluminum sulphate, maintaining the necessary pH in naturally alkaline conditions requires constant intervention and expense.

Dry Summers and Low Humidity

The Okanagan’s semi-arid climate presents another insurmountable challenge.

With annual precipitation ranging from just 250-400 mm in many areas, the region experiences genuine water scarcity.

Rhododendrons and azaleas evolved in moist, humid environments where their shallow, fibrous root systems could rely on consistent moisture and lots of organic matter. Their large, thin leaves are designed for environments with high humidity and reliable rainfall—not this valley’s dry summers and low humidity.

Hydrangeas also struggle with the Okanagan’s drought conditions. These plants require consistent soil moisture and suffer significantly when subjected to water stress, which is virtually inevitable during the valley’s hot, dry summers.

Most Japanese maples face similar challenges. These delicate trees prefer consistent moisture and protection from harsh afternoon sun and drying winds – conditions opposite to what the Okanagan typically provides.

Temperature Extremes and Wind Exposure

While the Okanagan enjoys warm summers perfect for viticulture, it also experiences significant temperature fluctuations and harsh winter conditions that stress some of these ornamental plants.

Many rhododendron and azalea varieties that appear hardy on paper struggle with this region’s combination of cold winters followed by rapid spring warm-ups, which can trigger premature budding. That can then be followed by frost damage to those tender new buds.

The valley’s frequent winds compound these problems. Strong, dry winds increase water loss from plant tissues and can physically damage the brittle branches of Japanese maples.

Rhododendrons and azaleas, with their broad evergreen leaves often lose moisture faster than their root systems can replace it.

Choosing Plants That Belong Here

Rather than fighting against the Okanagan’s natural conditions, successful valley gardeners embrace plants that thrive in alkaline soils and dry conditions.

Native and adapted plants like penstemon, lavender, yarrow, ornamental grasses, and xeric trees and shrubs provide beauty without the constant struggle.

The Okanagan’s unique climate offers opportunities to grow plants that would struggle elsewhere – Mediterranean herbs, drought-adapted perennials, and heat-loving annuals that coastal gardeners envy.

By choosing plants suited to local conditions, gardeners can create stunning landscapes that celebrate the region’s natural character while conserving precious water resources.

The key to successful Okanagan gardening isn’t forcing unsuitable plants to survive, but discovering the remarkable beauty of plants that naturally call this unique valley home.

A variety of sedums and ornamental grasses instead of coastal perennials

The relationship between plants, pests, and beneficial insects represents a natural system of checks and balances. By supporting these natural predators, we align ourselves with ecological processes refined over millions of years.

Rather than fighting against nature with chemicals and barriers, we can harness these allies to create gardens that not only produce beautiful plants but also support diverse wildlife communities.

The next time you spot a lacewing, soldier beetle, or even a spider in your garden,
consider yourself lucky to be witnessing nature’s pest control experts at work.

GARDENING WITH NATURE

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Living with Deer in the Okanagan

Living in the beautiful Okanagan Valley comes with many perks, but for gardeners, there is one persistent challenge that stands out: marauding deer.

While deer may be lovely to observe from a distance, they can quickly transform a carefully-cultivated garden into their personal buffet. Understanding deer-resistant plants, particularly those suited to our semi-arid climate, can help you create a thriving landscape that both you and the local wildlife can appreciate—each in your own ways.

Deer are opportunistic feeders, but with surprisingly-discerning palates. They typically avoid plants with certain characteristics that make them either unpalatable or difficult to consume.

The most effective deer-resistant plants share common traits: strong fragrances, fuzzy or textured foliage, bitter or toxic compounds, thorny structures, or tough, leathery leaves.

Plants with high essential oil content, such as herbs and aromatics, are particularly unappealing to deer, as their sensitive noses find these scents overwhelming.

It’s important to emphasize that no plant is completely deer-proof. When food sources are scarce, particularly during harsh winters or drought conditions, deer will eat almost anything, a behavior that was especially obvious in West Kelowna gardens since the 2023 McDougall Creek Fire.

I have a client in Casa Loma who has gardened at her property for decades and accepted that the deer would munch on her Bergenia cordifolia flowers, but more recently, both flowers and foliage are missing.

Deer in an urban garden

Deer-Resistant Plants for a Semi-Arid Climate

The Okanagan’s semi-arid climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and relatively mild winters, makes it ideal for xeric plants, those adapted to dry conditions. These water-wise plants not only conserve our precious water resources but often possess natural deer-resistant qualities.

Many xeric plants have evolved tough, waxy, fuzzy or aromatic foliage as adaptations to conserve moisture—characteristics that coincidentally make them less appealing to browsing animals.

Check out the plant database on this website for examples of some plants we’ve found that normally deter deer.

Perennials: Okanagan deer-resistant, xeric perennials include Achillea cultivars (Yarrow), with its ferny foliage and flat-topped flowers in various colours, and Nepeta (Catmint), which produces spikes of blue flowers and aromatic foliage that deer find objectionable.

Lavender stands out as perhaps the perfect Okanagan deer-resistant plant. Its intense fragrance, drought tolerance, and beautiful purple flowers make it both functional and ornamental.

Similarly, Perovskia atriplifolia (Russian sage) offers aromatic silvery foliage and tall spikes of blue flowers while requiring minimal water once established. Both plants thrive in our alkaline soils and intense summer sun.

Ornamental grasses provide excellent deer resistance while adding movement and texture to the landscape. Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass), Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem), and Pennisetum alopecuroides (Fountain Grass) all perform well in our climate, requiring little supplemental irrigation after their first year. Their thin, sharp-edged leaves are simply not appealing to deer.

Shrubs: consider Mahonia species, formally Berberis (Barberry) species, which combine drought tolerance with thorny branches that deer actively avoid.

Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) offers bright flowers throughout the summer in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and white while requiring minimal care. Appreciated more for its foliage than its flowers, Sambucus racemosa “Lemony Lace” (Elderberry) offers yellow-green lace-like foliage with highly dissected leaves and, as of yet, has not been browsed by deer in our West Kelowna demonstration garden.

Annuals: Tagetes tenuifolia (Signet Marigolds), Zinnia elegans (Zinnias), and Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) provide bright blooms while being generally deer-resistant, though they’ll need a little regular watering in our dry climate.

Lavender

Designing a Water-Wise Garden with Deer-Resistant Plants

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate. Deer-resistant plants are included.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association.