Relocating Sensitive Mediterranean Climate Shrub Species

Abstract

We evaluated direct transplantation of the sensitive California adolphia (Adolphia californica) in southern California and relocation of this species by means of container plants propagated from similar genetic sources. Three years after planting, container plants had significantly higher rates of survival and only slightly lower rates of growth. The higher survival rate combined with the significantly lower cost of container plantings (transplantation is ten times more expensive owing to the labor and heavy equipment required to transplant mature plants) suggests that container propagation is a cost-effective technique for relocating deep-rooted Mediterranean climate shrub species. The author also shares general guidelines for relocating Mediterranean shrub and tree species.