The path leading into the Gardena
Willows Wetland Preserve features panoramic views of a seasonal stream that has
fed the wetlands for hundreds of years. Recently
a group of local Girl Scouts from troop 5965 in Redondo Beach cleared the
area to the north of the path and planted some local native honeysuckles. These vines will soon cover the fence,
providing a living green wall as visitors enter the Preserve.
Honeysuckles are woody vines or
groundcovers. While honeysuckles from
Asia can be hard to contain, California native honeysuckles have all the
advantages of honeysuckles without the invasive qualities. Two native Honeysuckles once grew abundantly
on the Southern Channel Islands and in canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains
and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. These
two – the Purple Honeysuckle (Lonicera
hispidula) and Southern or Santa Barbara Honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata) – are what the Girl Scouts planted along the
entry path.
Honeysuckles are really
sprawlers. They climb up fences,
trellises or other supports with a little encouragement. In nature they clamber over other shrubs and
trees. They will also spread out on the ground and make
an easy-care groundcover. Honeysuckles
have pretty fragrant flowers that produce abundant nectar. That’s what attracts the hummingbirds (the
main Honeysuckle pollinators) as well as the larger butterflies. Children also like to sip the sweet nectar
from the bottom of the flower!
Our local Honeysuckles have either
cream-colored or pink-purple blooms depending on the species. The plants bloom in spring, usually between
April and June. After that, the plants
produce berries that turn bright yellow or red in late summer and fall. While the berries are edible they are not
very tasty; they are best left for the birds who enjoy them as a fall treat. Small
birds sometimes even nest in a mature vine, so the new Honeysuckle wall should
attract many types of birds and butterflies.
In nature, native Honeysuckles
often grow in canyons where they get some afternoon shade. The Preserve’s
entry area provides similar conditions. Once established, native Honeysuckles are
very drought tolerant. Volunteers will
give the ‘Honeysuckle Wall’ occasional summer water to keep it green and lush. They will also train the vines to climb the
fence for the first year or two until the wall is established.
Be sure to notice the ‘Honeysuckle Wall’ the next time you
visit the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve.
The plants are small now, but next year you’ll marvel at the flowers, the
fragrance and the wildlife they attract.
