Corralitas Public Staircase: Native Wild Hyacinth Attracts Skippers

Photo: Diane Edwardson February 15, 2015.  After a couple of years without native Wild Hyacinth (AKA "Blue Dicks") on Corralitas due to drought, I was particularly pleased to see the long stemmed plants topped with paper-thin purple flowers attracting a small brown butterfly, a type of Skipper (of which there are dozens species in LA County).

Wild Hyacinth is a perennial, returning to the same location, every year (when we have rain). 

The Butterfly Bonanza continues tomorrow.

Corralitas Public Staircase: Cold Weather Brought Out The Native Blue Dicks

Photo: Diane Edwardson, February 13, 2013.  Native Wild Hyacinth, also known as "Blue Dicks," returned about a week ago to the steep slope adjacent to the Corralitas Public Staircase. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Corralitas Public Staircase: Blue Dicks

Photo: Diane Edwardson, February 17, 2012.  Just the other day, a biologist asked if I'd seen any Blue Dicks, also known as native Wild Hyacinth, this year.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

At the time, I had not.  Today, while waiting for my dog to eat some grass on the Corralitas Public Staircase, I happened to notice a half dozen stems topped with the small purple flowers, scattered among the non-native grasses and native Morning Glories (white flowers above). 

Blue Dicks seem to do better in years with lots of rain and if the brush clearance is done after they've gone to seed.

The only place I've seen the Blue Dicks in the Red Car Property neighborhood is on either side of the lower 2 flights of the Corralitas Public Staircase at Corralitas Drive & Rosebud Ave. 

Corralitas Public Staircase: Blue Dicks

Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 1, 2011. If you look closely on the slope adjacent to the Corralitas Public Staircase, you can still see Native Wild Hyacinth, also known as "Blue Dicks." (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Corralitas Drive: Gardening With Natives

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 9, 2010. Native Wild Hyacinth (long stem purple flowers) grows in my neighbor's front steps. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

A few years ago, my neighbor dropped Native Wild Hyacinth seeds in the cracks in his staircase. They've reseeded themselves ever since. The seeds were originally gathered from the Hyacinth growing near the Corralitas Public Staircase. His flowers come up later than those on the public staircase (which bloom in late February).

Click here for our neighborhood native plant catalog.

Corralitas Public Staircase: Blue Dicks

Photo: Diane Edwardson, February 24, 2010. Native Wild Hyacinth, also known as Blue Dicks, is starting to bloom off the lower levels of the Corralitas public staircase. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here for our neighborhood native plant catalog.

Native Wildflowers in Bloom on Corralitas

Photo: Diane Edwardson, February 23, 2009. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

California native hyacinth (Dichelostemma capitatum capitatum, also known as "Blue Dicks") is in bloom just off the second level of the Corralitas Staircase. The tiny purple flowers will even grow from cracks in the staircase if they get enough rain.

Learn more about native plants at the Theodore Payne Foundation.