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January in Your Garden

image of Arctostaphylos in flower in the Manzanita Section at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, photo by Tricia Wardlaw
Pause

Winter is the wet season, and your garden is a magical retreat from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Toyons burst with red berries, wildflower seedlings carpet the ground, and manzanitas bloom.

January plant highlights:

image of pink Arctostaphylos flowers in bloom ~ photo by Tricia Wardlaw image of Ceanothus in bloom ~ photo by Carol Bornstein image of Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifloia) with red berries ~ photo by Elizabeth Collins image of Salvia spathacea in bloom ~ photo by Lawrence Wallin

  • Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) in bloom – some species bloom through winter, others in spring, attracts hummingbirds &  butterflies
  • California lilac (Ceanothus spp.) in bloom – different species bloom January into June, attracts hummingbirds &  butterflies
  • Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) – brilliant red berries in December & January
  • Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) in bloom - blooms January into July, attracts hummingbirds & butterflies

Gardening tips:

If winter rains have been scarce, water new natives plants and annuals.

Water the rest of the garden as needed.

Wildlife activity:

Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the fragrant blooms of manzanita and the vibrant, red-velvet whorls of flowers on the Hummingbird sage. The bright red Toyon berries are a favorite food of robins and waxwings in winter, with more than 20 species of birds utilizing them for food.