B2_DRAFT_03.7_Section_C_Appendix F_SLAC_Landscape_Vegetation_Planting_Guidance.pdf

SLAC I-750-0A15E-001

ES&H DIVISION

February 2021

Landscape Vegetation and Planting Guidance

This document, Landscape Vegetation and Planting Guidance, SLAC I-750-0A15E-001, has been:

Approved by:

Micki DeCamara, Environmental Compliance Head Date

ES&H Division SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Prepared by:

Wendy Greene, Environmental Protection Department Date ES&H Division

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Work Supported by Department of Energy contract DE-AC03-76SF00515

Wendy Greene (Feb 11, 2021 10:59 PST) Wendy Greene 02/11/2021

02/16/2021 https://stanford.na1.echosign.com/verifier?tx=CBJCHBCAABAAicy6ndjWRSfzElpopAgJNJhDI1dqeYXi https://adobecancelledaccountschannel.na1.documents.adobe.com/verifier?tx=CBJCHBCAABAAicy6ndjWRSfzElpopAgJNJhDI1dqeYXi

February 2021 SLAC I-750-0A15E-001 1 of 4

PURPOSE

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)’s Environmental Safety and Health (ESH) Division has developed this document to assist project managers and contractors during the project design process by providing planting guidance and recommendations. This guidance is designed to protect and enhance the surrounding natural communities and set a standard for sustainable landscaping at SLAC.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The project manager and/or the designated contractor is responsible for developing planting lists and landscaping plans. SLAC’s Biological Resources Protection Program Manager should be notified of upcoming projects involving new landscaping or plantings so that the necessary review, if any, can be completed.

PLANTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

SLAC recommends implementing the following best management practices to the extent possible:

Avoid the use of invasive species (a full list of invasive species is available online at the California

Invasive Plant Council’s website [www.cal-ipg.org])

Minimize the use of irrigated turf

Use local species and stock; if San Francisco Bay Area natives are not available or appropriate, species native to the South Coast are next preferred1

Use drought-tolerant, Mediterranean-climate plants to conserve water and energy

Schedule irrigation systems to water at frequencies based on species’ water needs to prevent under or over-watering

Avoid planting ground cover, such as grass, around tree trunks to prevent tree root rot and soil compaction; instead, opt for spreading a wide, even layer of mulch around the perimeter of trunks

RECOMMENDED PLANTS

Plants should protect, enhance, and renew the native vegetative cover while creating a sense of cohesiveness with the surrounding visual resources. Project managers are encouraged to select species from the attached Recommended Plant List at SLAC (Appendix A). All listed species are native to

California, and most are drought-tolerant. The list is organized by plant type (e.g., tree, shrub, grass, etc), and the specified characteristics can be used to determine each species’ project suitability.

If a project wishes to plant a species not included in the Recommended Plant List, SLAC’s Biological

Resources Protection Program Manager should be notified.

1 Baldwin, B.G., Goldman, D.H., Keil, D.J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T.J., and Wilken, D.H. (Eds.). 2012. The Jepson

Manual: Vascular Plants of California. (2nd ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press.

http://www.cal-ipg.org/

February 2021 SLAC I-750-0A15E-001 2 of 4

For more biological and landscaping information, consult the California Native Plant Society’s Calscape website (https://calscape.org).

PLANTS TO AVOID

The following list of plants includes several locally popular and accessible species that are non-native and/or invasive, and therefore not compatible with the native landscape and should not be planted at

SLAC. This list is not all-inclusive.

Plants to Avoid at SLAC

Scientific Name Common Name

Acacia baileyana Bailey Acacia

Acacia cultriformis Knife Acacia

Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood Acacia

Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven

Bamboo (all running types) Golden Bamboo, etc.

Cortaderia jubata Purple Pampas Grass

Cortaderia selloana Uruguayan Pampas Grass

Cytisus (all species) Scotch Broom

Eucalpytus (all species) Eucalyptus

Festuca myuros Zorro Fescue

Foeniculum vulgare Common Fennel

Genista monspessulana French Broom

Ligustrum (all species) Privet

Nerium oleander Oleander

Populus (all species) Poplar, Cottonwood

Pyracantha (all species) Firethorn

Robinia (all species) Locust

Salix (most species) Willow

Schinus molle Peruvian Pepper Tree

Spartium (all species) Spanish Broom

Trifolium hirtum Rose Clover

Vinca major Periwinkle

HYDROSEEDING

A hydroseed mix comprised of compatible species from the Recommended Plant List is preferred. It is recommended to spray seeds before covering with slurry, rather than mixing seeds and slurry for one application (mixing may result in seeds being trapped in dried slurry). A mix of local stock is preferred, but if local species are not available, regionally native species are acceptable. Application rates (lbs/acre) should be determined by the project management staff on a project-by-project basis in accordance with https://calscape.org/

February 2021 SLAC I-750-0A15E-001 3 of 4 design specifications, manufacturer instructions, and other factors. In general, the higher the seed application rate, the better. An example of a SLAC-approved hydroseed mix is provided below:

Bromus carinatus – 14 lbs/acre

Clarkia purpurea – 1 lbs/acre

Elymus glaucus – 12 lbs/acre

Eschscholzia californica – 2 lbs/acre

Hordeum brachyantherum – 8 lbs/acre

Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons – 4 lbs/acre

Nassella pulchra – 6 lbs/acre

Poa secunda – 4 lbs/acre

Festuca microstachys – 6 lbs/acre

NATIVE PLANT AND SEED SOURCING

There are several native plant nurseries in the vicinity of SLAC which carry the plants listed in Appendix

A, subject to availability. Some nurseries also propagate plants from locally harvested seed to maintain genetic integrity. These nurseries may also be able to provide further recommendations of plantings beyond those in Appendix A appropriate for the local landscape.

California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Santa Clara Valley Chapter Nursery

26870 Moody Rd, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, (650) 260-3450 cnps-scv.org/index.php/events/plant-sale

The CNPS Nursery has year-round plant sales for CNPS members, and a sale in the fall for the public. A current inventory is usually available the week of the sale on their website.

Grassroots Ecology Native Plant Nursery

3921 East Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303, (650) 419-9880 grassrootsecology.org/nursery

This is a wholesale nursery and supply plants upon request and can also do contract grows for large restoration and landscaping projects. They offer locally-native species from seeds and cuttings gathered within Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties, then distribute plants for reintroduction within their watershed of origin. Grassroots Ecology also grows rare and threatened native species and participates in native plant research.

Yerba Buena Nursery

12511 San Mateo Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, (650) 851-1668 https://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/

Yerba Buena Nursery offers a wide range of California native plants for sale and is open year-round.

San Bruno Mountain Watch Mission Blue Nursery

44 Visitacion Ave, Ste 206, Brisbane, CA 94005, (415) 467-6631 https://www.mountainwatch.org/missionbluenursery http://cnps-scv.org/index.php/events/plant-sale https://www.grassrootsecology.org/nursery https://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/ https://www.mountainwatch.org/missionbluenursery

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Mission Blue Nursery has quarterly plant sales open to the public and is also open by appointment. They grow plants for large-scale landscaping and restoration projects and can propagate locally-harvested seed.

Bay Natives Nursery

10 Cargo Way, San Francisco, CA 94124, (415) 287-6755 www.baynatives.com/

Bay Natives offers a range of California native plants for sale and is open year-round.

RELATED RESOURCES

Chapter 26 of the ESH Manual, Stormwater, https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/environment/stormwater/

Chapter 11 of the ESH Manual, Excavation Safety, https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/hazardous_activities/excavations/

SLAC Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and Stormwater Best Management Practices, https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/groups/ep/water/stormwater/

Stanford University Facilities Design Guidelines, Tree and Plant Protection (Section 01 56 39), http://web.stanford.edu/group/lbre_apps_forms/maps/fdg/fdg_documents_pdf/01_56_39_Tree_and_Plant

_Protection.pdf

SLAC CONTACTS

Planting Policy and Vegetation Compatibility: SLAC Biological Resources Protection Program Manager

Grounds, Maintenance, and Tree Removal: SLAC Facilities Support Services Manager

Sustainability: SLAC Energy and Sustainability Program Manager

Storm Water Protection: SLAC Storm Water Program Manager http://www.baynatives.com/ https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/environment/stormwater/ https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/environment/stormwater/ https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/hazardous_activities/excavations/ https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/hazardous_activities/excavations/ https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/groups/ep/water/stormwater/ https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/groups/ep/water/stormwater/ http://web.stanford.edu/group/lbre_apps_forms/maps/fdg/fdg_documents_pdf/01_56_39_Tree_and_Plant_Protection.pdf http://web.stanford.edu/group/lbre_apps_forms/maps/fdg/fdg_documents_pdf/01_56_39_Tree_and_Plant_Protection.pdf

A-1

APPENDIX A

Recommended Plant List at SLAC

Scientific Name Common Name Characteristics

Trees

Aesculus californica California Buckeye

Max height: 13.1 – 39.4 ft. (4 – 12 m)

Max width: 40 ft. (12.2 m)

Water requirement: Very low/Low Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Insects (including butterflies)

Arbutus menziesii Madrone

Max height: 15 – 100 ft. (4.6 – 30.5 m)

Max width: 25 ft. (7.6 m)

Water requirement: Low or Moderate Growth rate: Slow

Wildlife attracted: Birds, Insects (including butterflies)

Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry

Max height: 30 – 49.2 ft. (9.1 – 15 m)

Max width: 20 ft. (6.1 m)

Water requirement: Very low Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds, small mammals

Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak

Max height: 25 – 82 ft. (7.6 – 25 m)

Max width: 15 – 35 ft. (4.6 – 10.7 m)

Water requirement: Low Growth rate: Moderate/Slow

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, mammals, reptiles, insects (including butterflies)

Quercus douglasii Blue Oak

Max height: 16 – 82 ft. (4.9 – 25 m)

Max width: 30 ft. (9.1 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Slow

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, mammals, reptiles, insects (including butterflies)

Quercus lobata Valley Oak

Max height: 60 – 100 ft. (18.3 – 30.5 m)

Max width: 50 ft. (15.2 m)

Water requirement: Low Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, mammals, reptiles, insects (including butterflies)

2 Those denoted with an asterisk are those preferred for areas adjacent to waters or wetlands 3 Unless otherwise indicated, species information was obtained from California Native Plant Society’s Calscape website (https://calscape.org).

https://calscape.org/

A-2

Quercus wislizeni Interior Live Oak

Max height: 15 – 50 ft. (4.6 – 15.2 m)

Max width: 10 – 50 ft. (3 – 15.2 m)

Water requirement: Very low/Low Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, mammals, reptiles, insects (including butterflies)

Salix exigua* Sandbar Willow

Max height: 10 – 23 ft. (3 – 7 m) Max width: 20 ft. (6 m)

Water requirement: High (good in moist areas)

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, mammals, amphibians, insects

Salix lasiolepis* Arroyo willow

Max height: 7 – 35 ft. (2.1 – 10.6 m)

Max width: 15 ft. (4.6 m) Water requirement: High (good in moist areas)

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, mammals, amphibians, insects

Sequoia sempervirens Coast Redwood

Max height: 60 – 380 ft. (18.3 – 115.8 m)

Max width: 45 ft. (13.7 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast

Shrubs, Flowers, and Perennial Plants

Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow

Plant type: Perennial herb/wildflower Max height: 3 ft. (1 m)

Water requirement: Low

Wildlife attracted: Birds, butterflies, Insects

Adenostoma fasciculatum

Chamise

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 3 – 13 ft. (0.9 – 4 m)

Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Slow Wildlife attracted: Birds, butterflies, bees

Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting

Plant type: Perennial herb/wildflower

Max height: 3 - 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Butterflies, Insects

Arctostaphylos spp. Manzanita (genus)

Only some species approved including Arctostaphylos hookeri

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 1 – 6 ft. (0.3 – 1.8 m) Water requirement: Moderate

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Birds, butterflies, bees

Artemisia californica California Sagebrush Plant type: Shrub Max height: 6 – 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m)

A-3

Growth rate: Fast Wildlife attracted: Birds, butterflies

Artemisia douglasiana Douglas' Sagewort

(Mugwort)

Plant type: Perennial herb

Max height: 8 ft. (2.4 m)

Water requirement: Medium to High (damp areas) Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Birds, butterflies

Baccharis pilularis consanguinea Coyote Bush

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 3.5 – 8 ft. (1 – 2.4 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Bees, butterflies, birds, reptiles

Ceanothus spp.

California Lilac

(genus)

Only some species approved, including Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 10 – 20 ft. (3 – 6.1 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds, bees, butterflies

Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 10 – 20 ft. (3 – 6.1 m)

Water requirement: Low Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds

Clarkia purpurea Purple Clarkia

Plant type: Annual herb/wildflower

Max height: 3.3 ft. (1 m)

Water requirement: Low

Wildlife attracted: Insects

Corylus cornuta ssp.

californica

California Hazel

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 10 – 18 ft. (3 – 5.5 m)

Water requirement: Low/Moderate

Growth rate: Slow Wildlife attracted: Insects

Dirca occidentalis Western Leatherwood

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 6 ft. (1.8 m)

Water requirement: Moderate (prefers moist shaded slopes)

Growth rate: Slow

Wildlife attracted: Butterflies

Dryopteris arguta Coastal Wood Fern

Plant type: Fern

Max height: 2 ft. (0.6 m)

Water requirement: Very low

Eriogonum spp.

Wild Buckwheat

(genus)

Only some species approved including Eriogonum fasciculatum and Eriogonum latifolium

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 1.6 – 3.3 ft. (0.5 –1.0 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Butterflies, bees

A-4

Erysimum franciscanum

San Francisco

Wallflower

Plant type: Perennial herb Max height: 1.5 ft. (5 m)

Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Insects, butterflies

Eschscholzia californica

California Poppy

Plant type: Annual herb/Perennial herb

Max height: 0.16 – 2 ft. (0.05 – 0.6 m) Water requirement: Very low/Low

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds, small mammals, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators

Garrya elliptica Wavyleaf Silktassel

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 6 – 16.4 ft. (1.8 – 5 m) Water requirement: Very low

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon

Plant type: Shrub Max height: 6 – 30 ft. (1.8 – 9.1 m)

Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds, bees

Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris

Plant type: Perennial herb

Max height: 0.6 – 2.6 ft. (0.18 – 0.8 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Insects

Lupinus albifrons var.

albifrons Silver Lupine

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 3 – 5 ft. (0.9 – 1.5 m)

Water requirement: Low Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Butterflies, bees

Lupinus nanus Sky Lupine

Plant type: Annual herb Max height: 0.33 – 2 ft. (0.1 – 0.6 m)

Water requirement: Very low/Low

Growth rate: Fast Wildlife attracted: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Diplacus aurantiacus Bush Monkey Flower

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 3.9 – 5 ft. (1.2 – 1.5 m) Water requirement: Very low

Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Insects, hummingbirds

Monardella villosa Coyote Mint

Plant type: Perennial herb

Max height: 2 – 3 ft. (0.6 – 0.9 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Bees, hummingbirds

A-5

Myrica californica Pacific Wax Myrtle

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 6 – 33 ft. (1.8 – 10.1 m) Water requirement: Low/Moderate-High

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Penstemon heterophyllus Foothill Penstemon

Plant type: Perennial herb

Max height: 3.3 – 5 ft. (1 – 1.5 m) Water requirement: Very low

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Bees, hummingbirds

Polystichum munitum Western Sword Fern

Plant type: Fern

Max height: 1.6 – 5.9 ft. (0.49 – 1.8 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Moderate

Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 6 – 15 ft. (1.8 – 4.6 m)

Water requirement: Very low/Low Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds

Other: Fire-resistant

Ribes sanguineum Red Flowering

Currant

Plant type: Shrub

Max height: 6.5 – 13 ft. (2 – 4 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Hummingbirds, insects (including butterflies)

Rosa californica California Wildrose

Plant type: Shrub

Max Height: 8 - 10 ft. (2.4 – 3 m)

Water requirement: Very low

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate Wildlife attracted: Birds, butterflies, bees

Salvia mellifera Black Sage

Plant type: Shrub Max height: 3 – 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m)

Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast/Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Birds, insects (including butterflies)

Viola pedunculata Johnny Jump Up

Plant type: Perennial herb/Wildflower

Max height: 0.25 – 1.3 ft. (0.08 – 0.4 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Moderate

Wildlife attracted: Butterflies

Epilobium canum California Fuchsia

Plant type: Perennial herb

Max height: 0.25 – 1.5 ft. (0.08 – 0.46 m) Water requirement: Very low/Low

Wildlife attracted: Hummingbirds

A-6

Native Grasses and Groundcovers

Carex tumulicola* Foothill Sedge

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 0.5 – 1 ft. (0.15 – 0.3 m)

Water requirement: Moderate

Juncus patens* Common Rush

Plant type: Grass Max height: 1 – 3 ft. (0.3 – 0.9 m)

Water requirement: Moderate-High

Other: Popular for restoration projects

Bromus carinatus California Brome

Grass

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 1 – 5 ft. (0.3 – 1.5 m) Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Various birds, insects (including butterflies)

Elymus glaucus Blue Wildrye

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 1 – 5 ft. (0.3 – 1.5 m)

Water requirement: Low Growth rate: Fast

Wildlife attracted: Insects, especially bees and butterflies

Festuca microstachys Pacific Fescue

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 2.5 ft. (0.8 m) Water requirement: Very low

Hordeum brachyantherum Meadow Barley

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 2 – 3.3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m)

Water requirement: Low/Moderate-High

Growth rate: Moderate Wildlife attracted: Insects

Nassella pulchra Purple Needlegrass

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 3.3 ft. (1 m) Water requirement: Very low/Low

Wildlife attracted: Insects, birds, small mammals

Other: Suppresses invasive plant species

Poa secunda One Sided Blue

Grass

Plant type: Grass Max height: 1.4 – 3.3 ft. (0.43 – 1 m)

Water requirement: Low

Growth rate: Fast

Carex barbarae* Valley Sedge

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 1.6 – 3.3 ft. (0.49 – 1 m) Water requirement: Low/Moderate-High

Other: Spreads aggressively if uncontained; useful on margin of ponds or in bioswales

Carex nudata* Dudley’s Sedge Plant type: Grass Max height: 1 – 2.5 ft. (0.3 – 0.8 m)

Water requirement: Moderate-High

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Juncus effuses* Soft Rush

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 4.9 – 6.6 ft. (4.5 – 2 m)

Water requirement: Moderate-High

Juncus patens* Common Rush

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 1 – 3 ft. (0.3 – 0.9 m) Water requirement: Moderate-High

Juncus patens ‘Elk

Blue’*

Elk Blue Spreading

Rush

Plant type: Grass

Max height: 2 – 3 ft. (0.6 – 0.9 m)