California Native Plants

California native plants are plants that existed in California prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in the late 18th century. California includes parts of at least three phytochoria. The largest is the California Floristic Province, a geographical area that covers most of California, portions of neighboring Oregon, Nevada, and Baja California, and is regarded as a "world hotspot" of biodiversity.

Introduction

In 1993, '' The Jepson Manual'' estimated that California was home to 4,693 native species and 1,169 native subspecies or varieties, including 1,416 endemic species. A 2001 study by the California Native Plant Society estimated 6,300 native plants. These estimates continue to change over time.

Of California's total plant population, 2,153 species, subspecies, and varieties are endemic and native to California alone, according to the 1993 Jepson Manual study. This botanical diversity stems not only from the size of the state, but also its diverse topographies, climates, and soils (e.g. serpentine outcrops). Numerous plant groupings exist in California, and botanists work to structure them into identifiable ecoregions, plant communities, vegetation types, and habitats, and taxonomies.

California native plants include some that have widespread horticultural use. Sometimes the appreciation began outside of California— lupines, California fuchsias, and California poppies were first cultivated in British and European gardens for over a century.

Selected trees

Coniferous trees

Sequoias and redwoods

* Coast redwood (''Sequoia sempervirens'') - in the fog-shrouded coast ranges.
*Giant sequoia (''Sequoiadendron giganteum'') - in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Pine trees

* Bishop pine (''Pinus muricata''): coastal species grown in gardens
* Coulter pine (''Pinus coulteri'')
* Gray pine, ghost pine, or digger pine (''Pinus sabiniana'')
* Knobcone pine (''Pinus attenuata'')
*Ponderosa pine (''Pinus ponderosa''): well known in mountains
* Lodgepole pine (''Pinus contorta''): used for early construction of buildings and other structures.
* Monterey pine (''Pinus radiata''): naturally limited endemic range; widely planted horticulturally around the world
* Limber pine (''Pinus flexilis'')
* Jeffrey pine (''Pinus jeffreyi'')
*Parry pinyon (''Pinus quadrifolia'')
* Shore pine (''Pinus contorta'')
* Sugar pine (''Pinus lambertiana'')
* Torrey pine (''Pinus torreyana'')
* Western white pine (''Pinus monticola'')
* Single-leaf pinyon pine (''Pinus monophylla'')
* Great Basin bristlecone pine (''Pinus longaeva''): the Methuselah, a 4,700-year-old specimen
* Foxtail pine (''Pinus balfouriana''): endemic to California; 2,000-year-old specimens

Western Cypress

* Arizona cypress (''Cupressus arizonica'')
* Baker cypress (''Cupressus bakeri'')
* Cuyamaca cypress (''Cupressus stephensonii'')
* Gowen cypress (''Cupressus goveniana'')
* McNab's cypress (''Cupressus macnabiana'')
* Monterey cypress (''Cupressus macrocarpa'')
* Paiute cypress (''Cupressus nevadensis'')
* Pygmy cypress (''Cupressus pigmaea'')
* Santa Cruz cypress (''Cupressus abramsiana'')
* Sargent's cypress (''Cupressus sargentii'')
*Tecate cypress (''Cupressus forbesii'')

Other conifers

* Santa Lucia fir (''Abies bracteata'') and seven other native '' Abies'' species.
* Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'')
* Bigcone Douglas-fir (''Pseudotsuga macrocarpa'') - Central Coast and Santa Susana Mountains.
* California nutmeg (''Torreya californica'')
* Incense cedar (''Calocedrus decurrens'')
* Port Orford cedar-Lawson cypress (''Chamaecyparis lawsoniana'')
* White fir (''Abies concolor'') - at high elevations
* Mountain hemlock (''Tsuga mertensiana'')
* Red fir (''Abies magnifica'')
* Pacific yew (''Taxus brevifolia'')
* Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)

Oak trees

:California is home to many deciduous and evergreen oaks, often occurring in oak woodlands:
*Valley oak (''Quercus lobata'') - the largest of the oaks.
*Leather oak (''Quercus durata'') - an evergreen shrub endemic to serpentine chaparral.
* Blue oak (''Quercus douglasii'') - in the Central Valley foothills and Coast Ranges.
* California black oak (''Quercus kelloggii'') - in the higher hills and mountains.
* Canyon live oak (''Quercus chrysolepis'') - found mainly in northern mountainous regions.
* Interior live oak (''Quercus wislizeni'') in the Central Valley region.
* Island oak (''Quercus tomentella'') - endemic with distinctive large evergreen leaves.
*Engelmann oak (''Quercus engelmanni'') - an endangered species with a cool blue-gray cast to the foliage.
* Coast live oak (''Quercus agrifolia'') is found in the Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and along the coast's hills and adjacent interior valleys, and many other habitats and gardens.

Riparian trees

:In riparian areas (streamside and moist habitats) some of the trees include:
* California sycamore (''Platanus racemosa'')
* White alder (''Alnus rhombifolia'')
* Quaking aspen (''Populus tremuloides'')
*Fremont cottonwood (''Populus fremontii'')
* Black cottonwood (''Populus trichocarpa'')
*Arroyo willow (''Salix lasiolepis'')

Other trees and tree-like shrubs

* Tanoak (''Notholithocarpus densiflorus'')
* California bay laurel (''Umbellularia californica'')
* Pacific madrone (''Arbutus menziesii'')
* Toyon (''Heteromeles arbutifolia'')
* Bigleaf maple (''Acer macrophyllum'')
* Western blue elderberry (''Sambucus mexicana'') is found throughout the state, an important host for birds, butterflies, pollinators, and beneficial insects ('' integrated pest management'')
* California buckeye (''Aesculus californica'')
* Western redbud (''Cercis occidentalis'')
*California black walnut (''Juglans californica'')
*California hazelnut (''Corylus cornuta'')

Selected shrubs

* Chamise (''Adenostoma fasciculatum'')
* Serviceberry (''Amelanchier alnifolia'')
* Manzanita (''Arctostaphylos'' spp.)
* California sagebrush (''Artemisia californica'')
* Coyote brush (''Baccharis pilularis'')
* Calliandra (''Calliandra'' spp.)
* California lilacs (''Ceanothus'' spp.)
* Desert willow (''Chilopsis linearis'')
*Flannelbush (''Fremontodendron'' spp.)
*Hollyleaf cherry (''Prunus ilicifolia'')
* Spicebush (''Calycanthus occidentalis'')
* Bush anemone (''Carpenteria californica'')
* Bladderpod (''Peritoma arborea'')
* Creosote bush (''Larrea tridentata'')
* Lupines (''Lupinus'' spp.)
* Snowberry ('' Symphoricarpos mollis'' & spp.)
*Huckleberry ('' Vaccinium ovatum'' & spp.)
* Coffeeberry (''Frangula californica'')
*Lemonade berry (''Rhus integrifolia'')
* Sugarbush (''Rhus ovata'')
* Gooseberries and currants (''Ribes'' spp.)
* Sages (''Salvia'' spp.)

Selected desert plants

* California fan palm (''Washingtonia filifera'')
* Joshua tree (''Yucca brevifolia'')
* Jojoba ('' Simmondsia chinensis'')
* California juniper (''Juniperus californica'')
* Blue palo verde (''Parkinsonia florida'')
* Yellow foothill palo verde (''Parkinsonia microphylla'')
* Single-leaf pinyon (''Pinus monophylla'')
*Fremont cottonwood (''Populus fremontii'')
* Ocotillo (''Fouquieria splendens'')
* Creosote bush (''Larrea tridentata'')
* Indian mallow (''Abutilon palmeri'')
* Brittlebush (''Encelia farinosa'')
* Desert agave (''Agave deserti'')
* California barrel cactus (''Ferocactus cylindraceus'')
*Banana yucca (''Yucca baccata'')
* Mojave yucca (''Yucca schidigera'')
* Rush milkweed (''Asclepias subulata'')
* Purple desert sand-verbena (''Abronia villosa'')
* Sacred datura (''Datura wrightii'')

Selected perennials

Sunny habitats

* California poppy (''Eschscholzia californica'') are found in drier places. California poppies are also an annual in many places.
* Douglas iris (''Iris douglasiana'') and 'Pacific Coast' hybrids
*Monkeyflower e.g.: '' Mimulus aurantiacus'', ''Mimulus guttatus'', ''Mimulus cardinalis'' and cultivars.
* Columbine (''Aquilegia'' spp.)
* Coyote mint (''Monardella'' spp.)
* Buckwheats (''Eriogonum fasciculatum''), ('' Eriogonum giganteum''), ('' Eriogonum umbellatum'')

Shady habitats

* Western wild ginger (''Asarum caudatum'')
* Pacific bleeding heart (''Dicentra formosa'')
* Island coral bells (''Heuchera maxima'')
* Canyon coral bells (''Heuchera hirsutissima'')
* × ''Heucherella''
* Threeleaf foamflower (''Tiarella trifoliata'')
* Redwood sorrel (''Oxalis oregana'')

Ferns

* Polypody ferns (''Polypodium''), e.g.: '' Polypodium californicum''
* Native sword ferns (''Polystichum''), e.g.: '' Polystichum munitum''
*Giant chain fern (''Woodwardia fimbriata'')
* Goldback ferns (''Pteridium'' spp.)
* Wood ferns (''Dryopteris'' spp.), e.g.: '' Dryopteris arguta''
*Maidenhair ferns (''Adiantum'' spp.) e.g.: '' Adiantum jordanii''

Selected bulbs

*Ithuriel's spear (''Triteleia'' spp.)
* Meadow onion (''Allium monticola'')
* Goldenstars (''Bloomeria crocea'')
* Brodiaeas (''Brodiaea'' spp.)
*Blue dicks-ookow (''Dipterostemon capitatus''): one of the most common native bulb species throughout California; found in grassland and dry meadow habitats
* Mariposa lilies (''Calochortus'' spp.): available from reputable horticultural sources; taking from the wild is illegal and is resulting in significant declines of some species from over collecting.

Selected annuals and wildflowers

*Baby blue eyes (''Nemophila menziesii'')
* Blazing star (''Mentzelia lindleyi'')
* California poppy (''Eschscholzia californica'')
* Chinese houses (''Collinsia heterophylla'')
* Elegant clarkia (''Clarkia unguiculata'')
*Farewell to spring (''Clarkia amoena'')
* Meadowfoam (''Limnanthes douglasii'')
* Miner's lettuce (''Claytonia perfoliata'')
*Tarweed (''Madia elegans'')
*Wind poppy (''Papaver heterophyllum'')

Selected vines

* Dutchman's pipe vine (''Aristolochia'' spp.)
* Morning glory (''Calystegia'' spp.)
* Chaparral clematis (''Clematis lasiantha'')
* Western virgin's bower (''Clematis ligusticifolia'')
*Calabazilla (''Cucurbita foetidissima'')
* Wild cucumber-manroot (''Marah fabacea'')
* Cucamonga manroot-bigroot (''Marah macrocarpa'')
* California wild grape (''Vitis californica'')
*Vitis girdiana, Desert wild grape (''Vitis girdiana'')

Selected grasses

: ''Grasses:''
*Aristida purpurea, Purple three-awn (''Aristida purpurea'')
*Bouteloua gracilis, Blue grama (''Bouteloua gracilis'')
*Festuca californica, California fescue (''Festuca californica'')
*Festuca idahoensis, Idaho fescue (''Festuca idahoensis'')
*Festuca rubra, Red fescue (''Festuca rubra'')
*Koeleria macrantha, Junegrass (''Koeleria macrantha'')
*Leymus condensatus, Giant wildrye (''Leymus condensatus'')
*Melica californica, California melic (''Melica californica'')
*Muhlenbergia rigens, Deer grass (''Muhlenbergia rigens'')
*Nassella pulchra, Purple needlegrass (''Nassella pulchra''): The state grass of California
*Oryzopsis hymenoides, Indian ricegrass (''Oryzopsis hymenoides'')
*Poa secunda, Pine bluegrass (''Poa secunda'')

: ''Grasslike:''
*Carex, Sedges — (''Carex'' spp.) (taller 'bunch grass' specimens and lower meadow spreaders)
*Juncus, Rushes — (''Juncus'' spp.)
*Sisyrinchium bellum, Western blue-eyed grass (''Sisyrinchium bellum'') ''and'' yellow-eyed-grass (''Sisyrinchium californicum'').

Selected succulents

;''Dudleyas''
*Dudleya pulverulenta, Chalk lettuce (''Dudleya pulverulenta'') - garden-plant
*Dudleya caespitosa, Coast dudleya (''Dudleya caespitosa'') - [CA endemic]
*Dudleya cymosa, Canyon live-forever (''Dudleya cymosa'') - garden-plant
*Dudleya edulis, Fingertips (''Dudleya edulis'') - garden-plant
*Dudleya brittonii, Giant chalk dudleya, Britton's dudleya (''Dudleya brittonii'') - garden-plant
*Dudleya lanceolata, Lanceleaf liveforever (''Dudleya lanceolata'') - garden-plant
;''Sedums''
*Sedum spathulifolium, Broadleaf stonecrop (''Sedum spathulifolium'') - San Bruno elfin butterfly host plant.
*Sedum oreganum, Coast sedum (''Sedum oreganum'')
*Sedum albomarginatum, Feather River stonecrop (''Sedum albomarginatum'') - [CA endemic, Sierras]
*Sedum eastwoodiae, Red Mountain stonecrop (''Sedum eastwoodiae'') - [CA endemic, Mendocino]
*Sedum laxum, Roseflower stonecrop (''Sedum laxum'')
*Sedum obtusatum, Sierra stonecrop (''Sedum obtusatum'')

Environmental challenges

Some California native plants are in rapid decline in their native habitat due to urban sprawl, agriculture, overgrazing, recreational impacts, pollution, and Invasive species, invasive non-native species (invasive exotics) colonization pressures (animals and other kingdoms of life, as well as plants).

California also has 1,023 species of non-native plants, some now problematic invasive species such as Centaurea solstitialis, yellow starthistle, that were introduced during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, Spanish colonization, the California Gold Rush, and subsequent immigrations and import trading of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

See also

*California Native Plant Society
*Theodore Payne Foundation

References

Further reading

Books: flora

*''A California Flora and Supplement'', Philip A. Munz and David D. Keck, UC Press
*
*''Grasses in California'', Beecher Crampton, UC Press
*''The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California'', James C. Hickman (Editor), UC Press
*''The Jepson Desert Manual: Vascular Plants of Southeastern California'', Bruce Baldwin (Editor), UC Press
*''Oaks of California'', Bruce M. Pavlik, Pamela Muick, Sharon Johnson, Cachuma Press
*''Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region: Mendocino to Monterey'', Linda Beidleman, Eugene Kozloff, UC Press

Books: gardening/landscaping

*''Landscape Plants for California Gardens'', Bob Perry, Land Design Publishing
*''California Native Plants for the Garden'', Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien, Cachuma Press
*''California Native Trees and Shrubs'', Lee W. Lenz, Rancho Santa Ana
*''Ceanothus'', David Fross and Dieter Wilken, Timber Press
*''Complete Guide to Native Perennials of California'', Glenn Keator, Chronicle Books
*''Complete Guide to Native Shrubs of California'', Glenn Keator, Chronicle Books
*''Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens'', Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook, UC Press
*''Growing California Native Plants'', Marjorie Schmidt, UC Press
*''Native Landscaping From El Paso to L.A.'', Sally Wasowski and Andy Wasowski, McGraw-Hill
*''Native Plants for California Gardens'', Lee W. Lenz, Day Printing Corp.
*''Native Treasures: Gardening with the Plants of California'', M. Nevin Smith, UC Press

External links

CNPS—California Native Plant Society website
provide
CalScape Database
an extensive database of California native plants searchable by region, as well as other useful resources.
CalFlora Database
— extensive searchable database of California native plants.

— extensive database of California native plants
U.C. CalPhotos: Flora homepage
— searchable images database
Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants
— including horticultural information

— including bunchgrass species and habitats
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Recommended Species
— provides a national searchable supplier directory for landscaping, environmental consultants, seed sources and nurseries; recommended plant lists that can be filtered to include plants native to California; and plant recommendations for specific regions of California.
Audubon Society
— includes a national searchable database of native plants suitable for attracting wildlife, especially birds.

— an extensive searchable national database of numerous native and non-native plants with various filters.
EPA Ecoregion Research
— provides research data on ecoregion levels III and IV of California with some useful native plant information.
National Wildlife Federation
— a functional national native plant database in the beta testing phase.
Eugene Otto Weber Murman Watercolors of California Flora, 1941-1961

{{DEFAULTSORT:California Native Plants
Lists of flora of California, Native plants
Endemic flora of California, *