Hayes Iva

Hayes iva is a native subshrub of the coastal sage scrub, sandy washes and disturbed ground of San Diego County and northern Baja California, and nowhere else. It forms a low, spreading mat 12 to 18 inches high and 2 to 3 feet across, of narrow, slightly sticky, resinous grey-green leaves, with small greenish flower heads along the stems that are wind-pollinated and barely noticed. In California-native and low-water landscapes it fills the role of a tough ground cover for dry, open slopes.

It spreads by rooting along its prostrate stems. Plant it 24 to 36 inches apart in fall, in step with Southern California's winter rains, so the roots develop before the first dry summer, in sandy or rocky soil low in organic matter in full sun to part shade. Drainage is critical; standing water rots it. Once established it needs little or no irrigation and tolerates heat and salt wind. Shear it lightly in late winter if it gets ragged.

It is a bank-holding plant for erosion control and a nurse for other coastal sage scrub species. The foliage is aromatic when brushed and deer rarely touch it. It is hardy in zones 8 to 10 and is listed as a rare plant in California, so buy nursery stock rather than collecting it.