Native Plant Propagation Workshop

I recently attended a native plant propagation workshop sponsored by Bring Back the Natives. After last year's focus on pollination and plant propagation, the workshop sounded like a good next step. Judy Addler teaches "California native plant propagation: How to create native plants from seeds, cuttings, and divisions". Judy is a passionate sustainable gardener and educator, with an experimental garden in Walnut Creek. She loves to teach kids and adults about native plants, biodiversity, ecology, and sustainable gardening.

Judy prepping for the workshop

Native seeds used for plant propagation

In the outdoor workshop, we learned about seed propagation, seed collection, and the importance of seed saving. We toured the dry garden that Judy has developed over the last 20 years, the teaching garden close to the nearby elementary school, and her personal test garden with its fruit trees, chickens, and water harvesting.

Dividing bunch grass for propagation

Native elderberry started from woody cuttings

Scions for edible walnuts may be grafted on to hardy native root stock

Judy demonstrated her approach to plant propagation – collecting seeds for later planting or just tossing them nearby the parent; dividing bunch grass and sticking the divisions in the ground; pinching off soft and hardwood cuttings for replanting; describing how English walnut scions were grafted onto native walnut root stock; layering native honeysuckle and grape vines; and sticking woody stems in the ground to sprout roots from the nodes.

Milkweed, favored by migrating Monarch butterflies, propagate through underground runners

Coyote bush (foreground) are dioecious so propagate with this in mind

Layering was used to start the native honeysuckle and grape vines on the fence

The whole-time Judy layers in information about observing the land, taking clues from nature, and using native plants to create a wildlife habitat. Her approach is fearless and experimental (not a root hormone or coddled plant in sight). We left with our collection bags full and ready to try it for ourselves. I highly recommend this workshop, and any other offered by Bring Back the Natives.

Ready to propagate plants collected in Walnut Creek